Lots of Leeds United fans have been reacting on social media after LUFC Data shared that the club have spurned the most big chances in the Championship this season.
The data accounts for the number of situations where a player has moved into a position where there is a reasonable expectation of scoring, such as one on ones or failing to convert from close range when there is a clear path to goal.
Marcelo Bielsa’s men have rarely struggled at fashioning chances to score this season, with the United first-team averaging the most shots per game in the second-tier thus far with 16.4 per match, per WhoScored data.
We are also leading the division for shots per game taken from inside the six-yard area with 1.7, while more than half of our general efforts are taken from within the penalty area at 8.8 per game – 1.1 more than second-most Brentford and Swansea City.
However, of our total of 262 shots, we have failed to convert 30 big chances, which is seven more than second-most West Bromwich Albion and ten more than third-most Middlesbrough.
Where do we need to improve in January?
Goalkeeper
Defence
Midfield
Forwards
Patrick Bamford has been responsible for a third of the big chances we have missed with ten, the most by any player in the second-tier followed by Britt Assombalonga (9), Jordan Hugill (7) and several players on six.
Championship promotion rivals Preston North End, Swansea and Nottingham Forest do not feature in the top 13 for big chances missed, while current six-placed side Bristol Side are fourth for big chances missed with 19 – the same as Fulham and Hull.
Our worst games for spurning big chances in the second-tier this season came against Nottingham Forest, Wigan Athletic, Derby County, Charlton, Birmingham City and Preston, when we failed to ripple the net with three, per Sofa Score data.
Here are some of the reactions shared to the number of big chances we have missed…
Keep the big chances coming and we’ll be fine
— mick brown ???????? (@mickleeds23) November 15, 2019
Without doubt our worst problem!
— chris jaques (@cjh4ttie) November 15, 2019
As long as we keep creating chances then ????
— Paul Turner (@st07pat) November 15, 2019
Just need a top striker to gobble up these big chances!
— WeAllLoveLeeds (@AllLoveLeeds) November 15, 2019
What concerns me also is the amount of teams that always seem to score against us with their one chance in a game.
— 8ball75 (@8ballwakefield) November 15, 2019
Same old story and most fell to the useless Bamford lol
— Stephen Karl Hunt (@steve7sisters) November 15, 2019
Just scoring 10 of those big chances missed would probably see us 6 points clear.
— Brandon Yates (@Brandon7Yates) November 15, 2019
interesting that Leeds, Wba, Fulham and Brentford are all in the top third of the table for most big missed chances. Mainly because they create the most big chances?
— Ryan Owen (@whiterosephilly) November 15, 2019
Preston must be converting all of theirs then – they can’t surely keep that up ? But IF we have a purple patch on converting chances then …….????
— Barry Lea (@LeaBarry) November 15, 2019
But – Bielsa’s strategic approach to the championship and the tactical game plan is delivering. The failure to convert is unlikely to continue all season. I’d rather be creating chances and converting very few.
— BROLIN ATE THE PIE (@REDPLANET2025) November 15, 2019