In the latest Western Gazette column for the Gloverscast, Ben decided to open the briefcase of stats once more to try and crunch the numbers surrounding our lack of goals this season…
So, read on if you dare, the numbers are not great…
To quote to the great striker, Thierry Henry… “sometimes in football, you have to score goals”.
He’s not wrong, and he certainly knew how to find the back of the net and whilst that quote might be taken slightly tongue in cheek on it’s matter-of-fact stance, it actually comes in quite handy for the Glovers.
Our lack of prowess in front of goal has been well documented but it’s only once you break down the numbers do you realise just how poor our strike force have been.
So, if you’re sitting comfortably, here are those all too gruesome numbers.
?Mike Kunz.
28 goals this season is the second lowest in the league, only already relegated (and Yeovil’s next opponents) Dover have scored less.
28 is a full nine fewer than Barnet managed as the lowest scorers last season (37) can the Glovers score 10 in the last 12 games to at least break that barrier?
Of those 28, only 12 have come at home.
12 goals in front of your home supporters, that’s a pretty expensive season ticket if you go by the tried and tested goals-per-pound method.
Of those 12 home goals, 5 have come before the 15 minute mark… don’t turn up late to Huish Park.
We’ve scored 57% of our goals away from home this season, a divisional high.
Some light relief for those who travel away from home.
We’ve not scored twice in the league since the amazing win at Wrexham… in November, we’ve not scored at home in three.
We’ve only got two points from losing positions all season… let’s hope we don’t go behind.
? Mike Kunz,
28 is at least seven less than Aleksander Mitrovic has this season, whilst at our level, its just four more than Kabongo Tshimanga has… and he’s not played since just before Valentines day.
Add together Paddy Madden’s 13 with Angelo Balanta’s eight and seven from Rhys Murphy and you’ve got a former YTFC strike force that matches Yeovil’s squad this season.
And here’s the cherry on top. When we crashed out the EFL we scored 41 goals in 46 games… that’s 0.89 goals per game.
Our current ratio is 0.88
It all makes for rather depressing reading.
Goals win games… goals sell tickets… goals keep the season alive.
I don’t have the answers, we all know the context which surrounds our club right now, but with the season drifting to an end, the least the fans deserve are a few moments to savour.
Channel your inner Thierry Henry, lads, sometimes, you have to score goals.
Don’t forget to read our column in the Western Gazette every week, available in all good local outlets (and the rubbish ones as well)