Purple Overview & Statistics Week 23

Statistics of Football are the backstage workers of plays and behind the scenes crews of movies. Statistics of a match are the events that lead and add up to produce the final result. I bring to you the most obvious example which many football spectators or so called fans fail to see or understand. Match statistics always tell the truth, but the media chose to focus on general/attacking statistics that do not show evidence of how small team B beat world class team A. In my opinion, it is difficult to find a media organization that tells it as it is. the example simply is a program host and his/her guests staring in disbelief probably because some of them are fans of World Class Team A and do not want to believe what is happening. They start rambling about how team A should have won with all the statistics they choose to show and attribute the loss to refereeing mistakes or call it a bad day in the office ignoring the fact that defensive statistics of team B are superior enough to ensure the victory in that match . The truth showing statistics in this case are team B interceptions, tackles, Goalkeeper saves, percentage of play on different areas of the pitch. You do not want to bother? Sure, the final score is enough.

I will be referring to the statistics teaser of the monthly magazine. Hopefully times will allow me to state the stats every week comparing positive and negative steps taken by the team and individuals.

TEAM OFFENSIVE STATISTICS

With 19 shots against Atalanta this weekend, Fiorentina gained a rank in shots per game to overcome Lazio. Juventus is still on Top with 17.8 shots per game

WEEK 22		WEEK 23
Rank	Shots per Game	Rank	Shots per Game
6	14.1	5	14.3

Fiorentina also managed to increase the shots on target average by getting 5 on net against Atalanta. This says a lot about the poor accuracy but it ranks 6^th in Serie A and it is relatively acceptable. Juventus are still on top with 6.7 shots on target per game and that is 2 more shots on goal per game than Fiorentina.

WEEK 22		WEEK 23
Rank	Shots on Target per Game	Rank	Shots on Target per Game
7	4.6	6	4.7

Dribbles per game average dropped very slightly but keeps the team in fifth among Serie A teams. Inter occupy first spot with 14.8, three more dribbles per game to Lazio in second.

WEEK 22		WEEK 23
Rank	Dribbles per Game	Rank	Dribbles per Game
5	10.7	5	10.6

Fiorentina are second to Livorno in the most fouled teams. No changes in ranking from Week 22 but a slight drop in the average thanks to Atalanta's slightly non violent football and the lack of Rinaudos.

WEEK 22		WEEK 23
Rank	Fouled per Game	Rank	Fouled Per Game
2	16.2	2	16

Fiorentina are creeping closer to the lead regarding pass success percentage following week 23 match against Atalanta. Roma are still on top although they had a slight drop in the average to become 86.6%. Juventus are ahead in second with 86.4% pass success.

WEEK 22		WEEK 23
Rank	Pass success	Rank	Pass success
3	86.2%	3	86.3%

TEAM DEFENSIVE STATISTICS

Fiorentina were 12^th in the conceded shots per game which is fair considering the style the team plays which allows counter attacks that can be converted into shots easier than possession attacks. No change in ranking or average since week 22. The least team conceding shots is Juventus with 9 on average.

WEEK 22		WEEK 23
Rank	Shots Conceded per Game	Rank	Shots Conceded per Game
12	12.3	12	12.3

The following stat should not be all that worrying since Fiorentina depend more on interceptions and blocking the ball paths. Also trying to keep possession does not really give the team many opportunities to tackle or intercept but there is always room for improvement. Viola went down from 19^th place to last in tackle per game. Leading the pack is Parma with 25.2 tackles per game. It is worth mentioning that Fiorentina are currently 10^th in interceptions per game 15.9 which is pretty high for a team that keeps the ball most of the time.

WEEK 22		WEEK 23
Rank	Tackles per Game	Rank	Tackles per Game
19	18.4	20	18.2

Fiorentina continues to hold on to the least fouls committed per game among Serie A teams.

WEEK 22		WEEK 23
Rank	Fouls per Game	Rank	Fouls per Game
20	11.5	20	11.6

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

In this section, only players who make the top 5 or worst 5 depending on the type of stat discussed will be mentioned.

POSITIVE STATS

Although Tevez scored twice against Hellas Verona, Giuseppe Rossi is still top goal scorer with 14 goals. Valero was at the top of the assist table with Cerci, Totti, Higuain and Alvarez all with 7 assists but Romulo's two drill crosses against Juventus put him in the lead with 8 assist. Matias Fernandez leads the pass success percentage with 93.7% well ahead of second De jong at 92.2%. Stefan Savic holds to his 4^th rank for Aerial duels won per game but is joined with Mustafi at 3.9. Savic is also still second after week 23 match against Atalanta in interception made per game at 3.3. Juan Cuadrado is still first and with a huge lead on dribbles per game at 4.2.

Summary

PLAYER	CATEGORY	WEEK 22		WEEK 23
		RANK	UNIT	RANK	UNIT
Rossi	Goals Scored	1	14	1	14
Valero	Assists	1	7	2	7
Fernandez	Pass success	1	93.3%	1	93.7%
Savic	Aerial Duels	4	4	4	3.9
Savic	Interceptions	2	3.4	2	3.3
Cuadrado	Dribbles	1	4.2	1	4.2

NEGATIVE STATS

Bomber Gonzalo ranks fourth along with Coda and Greco of Livorno in most yellow cards with 9 accumulated so far.

Forza Viola!