What's happened to our possession style?

[SambaStyle]

Seems like we don't dominate the ball as much anymore...

Stats back it up.

2017/2018 we had 66.4% average possession for the year, 743 average passes per game
2018/2019 we had 64% average possession for the year, 699 averages passes per game
2019/2020 so far 60.9% average possession for the year, 650 average passes per game

Good trend, bad trend, irrelevant trend?

 

[lmhblue1]

Our pressing's not been as good, meaning we don't win the ball back and regain possession as much as we used to

 

[bugsyblue]

Pressing definitely fallen away and I also think for some reason our passing just isn’t quite as crisp.

 

[toffee balls]

We have stopped DS playing in midfield and moved him up the field.

 

[HypnoticBlue]

I think when Dave plays these days we don’t press as much, I thought yesterday we were back to ourselves in the 1st half with Foden playing.

CTID

 

[Radcliffe 1309]

Losing Ferni in midfield hasn't helped has it ?

 

[Tricky_Trev]

I would love to see the average distance covered stats if anyone has them. Or if there’s any statisticians recording runs of high intensity. Certainly to the eye, our press has vanished in comparison to what it used to be. By strolling around the pitch too much, we’re taking longer to win the ball back, resulting in less possession and fewer passes.

It all stems from the press, and that drop off stems from playing Silva too much and Aguero not being able to press like a year or two ago. Then there’s the psychological aspect... after two great years, we may have lost a bit of drive. It all adds up. It’s like we occasionally need an indifferent league campaign to then have a great one.

 

[Blu KB]

a lot surely has to do with sane out & fern playing at the back

 

[Asa's left peg]

I've always thought its been about the speed with which we move the ball and I think this season that has dropped. Team appear to get back and organised quicker because of this. I don't think anyone in particular is to blame, but obviously Sane would help with that. I've agreed with Pep (sure he'll be relieved about that) about Phil, but he has seemed to be the catalyst recently for our mini recovery.

 

[Pablo ZZZ Peroni]

I would love to see the average distance covered stats if anyone has them. Or if there’s any statisticians recording runs of high intensity. Certainly to the eye, our press has vanished in comparison to what it used to be. By strolling around the pitch too much, we’re taking longer to win the ball back, resulting in less possession and fewer passes.

It all stems from the press, and that drop off stems from playing Silva too much and Aguero not being able to press like a year or two ago. Then there’s the psychological aspect... after two great years, we may have lost a bit of drive. It all adds up. It’s like we occasionally need an indifferent league campaign to then have a great one.

Average time to recover possession under Guardiola:
2016-17: 8.2 seconds
2017-18: 8.5 seconds
2018-19: 8.7 seconds
2019-20: 9.8 seconds

This season top 3 are: Liverpool 8.9 seconds, Chelsea at 9.2 seconds, and then Southampton 9.4 secs.