The third edition of the Premier League power rankings I do with my buddy Bill Connelly just went up on ol’ ESPN dot com. Here’s a tidbit, of me on Spurs:
That said, Spurs are not this good. No other team in the Premier League is beating its xG totals by even two full goals on both ends of the field. Spurs are 4.2 goals ahead of their xG on the attacking end and 3.7 ahead of it defensively. While I'll concede that any team with an all-time great finisher in Son Heung-Min is likely to beat its xG offensively (though not at this rate), there's just no world where Tottenham's incredibly aggressive, live in the opposition box, press you to death style would create any kind of sustainable defensive over-performance. They haven't allowed more than a goal in a game since Sept. 24. I doubt that'll continue to hold.
I was also on ESPN FC Live again today to chat about the rankings and some other quick-hit bits of analysis:
Bye!
Nice article, also enjoyed the money ball one.
Does the Spurs play 6 out of 10 games away from home and that home field advantage is greater for poor teams cancel out some of the water that you poured on them for out performing their xG.
Either way before the season it felt like the goals were less miserable soccer and a return to Europe, so as a fan I’m happy.