Major changes needed to both PL and EFL Divisions: XG should replace points
“Expected Goals” worth more than points, experts say
Above: Image courtesy of Medium
With the emergence of new, massively important statistics such as XG (expected goals) in recent years, some experts are arguing they should have influence on where sides are in their respective tables in English Football.
“The current system that rewards teams for actually scoring goals is outdated,” argues XG Champion Hugh Janus. “We at the EGGS Institute (Expected Goals Give Satisfaction) feel that teams that try to create shooting opportunities should win games, rather than those that actually convert them.”
Janus’s arguments have been echoed by many analysts and statisticians, with the measure being used far more frequently in the past few years. Rising to fame throughout the Football Manager Franchise, some think that how many goals teams were “expected” to score means more and should be adopted into standings across all four divisions of the Football League.
Norwich City would be top of the overall XG table right now, with West Brom in second and Sheffield United in third. In the equally important XGA (Expected Goals Against) table, Huddersfield Town would be top of this table with Hull City in second place. The Tigers are actually in third position in the current Championship table going into tonight’s Championship fixtures, and Janus argues this can’t be the way the league continues.
“Hull City are in third in the Championship currently - third position,” said the proud Scunthorpe United fan in an interview this morning. “Teams take loads of shots at them, but somehow don’t score. They break up the other end and annoyingly score the only chances they create. They’ve only got one real player who scores their goals - I mean, that isn’t right,” he continued.
“The XGA table suggests Hull are one of the worst teams in the division - and this stat is the one I’d like to rely on. Far better than the outdated system of one point for a draw and three points for a win. It’s time for change.”
It’s worth adding that the best home XGA record currently is Coventry City. We put this to Janus, who argued that this was conclusive evidence that things needed to change.
“You’ve hit the nail on the head there with Coventry,” he enthused. “I mean, they haven’t even conceded any chances or shots at home, and they’re bottom of the actual league? How can that be right? A great club like Coventry are near the top of the XGA table, but bottom of the real one. An absolute disgrace,” he finished.
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