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Getting shots on target when there are ten men behind the ball narrowing angles, closing down space and pressuring the shooter is going to be more difficult than it would if our attackers had more space to work with. You can't directly compare our shots on target ratio to other teams in the league because of this.

DD may well disagree with me, but on more than one occasion I have suggested that we shoot for the centre of the goal, since our shooting is so bad that that's the last place it will go. Also gives us the element of surprise If you are not too good at golf, always aim for the centre of the green. If you're not good at darts, aim for the bed (I forget which one it is) that will give you the best results if you miss on either side. Why should football be any different? Sounds flippant, but it's not a new problem, and we really do need to get more shots on target.

Even Kells has alluded to this, saying recently how refreshing it was to play a higher-league team in the Challenge Cup because they played attacking football rather than packing the defence, as is the norm with teams in our own league. I can understand it too. Currently, we are the big-shots and teams will try to prevent us playing, hoping to hit us on the break but playing predominantly defensively. A bit like when teams play Rangers or Celtic.

Yes

Yes you can, because we're all playing each other! Or are you saying that they all play differently when they meet ICT?

With respect, bbb, I don't think it is me who is missing the point. Players are trying to score goals, not just hit the target. Success is not just hitting the target, it is hitting the target and not hitting the keeper. Percentages of shots which are on target are pretty meaningless. For example, in yesterday's North London derby, Spurs had 6 shots, 5 of which were on target - a "success"rate of 83%. Arsenal had 20 shots of which 7 were on target - a "success" rate of 35%. By your reasoning that would suggest that Spurs were twice as good at shooting as Arsenal, yet Arsenal won 4-1. And look at the highlights of our game and the 2nd half efforts from outside the box by Liam and Alfie Stewart. Liam's was well "on target" but lacked power and the keeper simply had to stand still and wait for the ball to fall into his hands. Alfie's shot fizzed narrowly past the top corner with the keeper beaten, but it was "off target". Which was the better shot? Which was the closest to scoring a goal? But whilst I think your "success rate" analysis is misguided, I think the point you are really making is that our shooting could / should be better. And in that I would agree with you. As you rightly say, if the shot is wide or high, it will never be a goal. Equally, if you aim a weak shot from outside the box into the middle of the goal it will only rarely end up being a goal. Players need to aim to get the ball inside the woodwork and out of the keeper's reach. From outside the box, it is a combination of accuracy, pace and swerve and there are fairly narrow margins of error. Closer to goal, different skills are needed. Even top players miss the target more often than not. Cristiano Ronaldo has an overall shots on target record of just over 40% , but he has scored rather a lot of goals. Having said that, I do think we have too high a percentage of shots missing the target, but we need to be realistic in our expectations and, as Stephen says, understand the circumstances of where the shot is taken from and the nature of opposition pressure which will impact on the shooter. I think that with the way we have often dominated possession in games we should be scoring more goals. There are times when we have the chance to shoot from the edge of the box but opt instead to try and get closer into goal. Also, we are too cautious in midfield at times and we miss playing the more difficult defence splitting passes with forwards running into the space behind. We should do that more often to create chances, even if it does mean that the pass "success" rate drops off a bit. Bottom line is that the only stat that really matters is how many goals we score and how many we concede.

I’m told Aaron Doran is the new Head Coach at Strathspey after they parted company with Ryan Esson yesterday.

PS. We have conceded fewest too, 4 less than the next best defence, Alloa.

An interesting discussion, but we are the top scorers in our league with 44 goals scored, 3 more than QOTS who have played a game more, and 9 more than Stenny. Yes we can always do better, but let’s remember er this season is all about getting promotion. As long as we secure enough points to achieve that, preferably without the play offs, then it is job done.

Think you are missing the point DD. The success rate was for hitting the target which all players on the planet are trying to do. We had 9 shots and only 2 of those shots could have got us a goal, a 22% success rate. Never seen a goal awarded for a shot going past the post or flying over the bar. I was pointing out how poor our shooting was compared to 7 other teams in our league. Not forgetting 8 teams are part time. Thanks for the reply though.

Success is measured on how many goals you score. If you always aim for the middle of the goal you will have a higher proportion of your shots "on target" but you'll also find the keeper probably saves them all. Having a shot saved by the keeper is not success.

5 - 1 down at half time, 2 second half goals not enough.

Kellachers post interview he said we need to move the ball a lot quicker, I hope he means forward. We seem to have a deal with other teams that when they break quickly forward and nothing comes from it, we allow them to get defensively set up again playing passes along our back 4 intill they give us the signal to come forward. I maybe glanced across to the bridge a few times but I don’t remember either goalkeeper having to make any saves. Both caught a couple of crosses. Right behind bavidge for his chance and I thought he could have put the laces through the ball quicker or even a toe poke shot rather than waiting for the ball to settle perfectly for him.(Highlight probably show me as wrong) We equalised on 19 mins so 71 mins plus added on time to get a winner. 64/36 possession. Surprised sole was not replaced at some stage by longstaff or willox before the 77 min sending off. At the end though take a point, but that is 1 out of 9 v stenny in the league this season. Are they that much better than us ? Ps…….. I think Allan and Stewart are too similar. Both want a lot of time on the ball. For me Stewart is controlling the game better. Maybe time for alonge or mackinnon to have a go. Ps again…. When billy came on, a few passes into his feet, he controlled and laid off. Zimba next to none as he seems to be fighting/scrapping with the defender. Get it, control it, pass it, old cloughie saying.

That was a definite 'don't lose' match, with Stenny in good form, having beaten us twice already in the league. So coming back from an early goal and surviving a red card a definite plus , that's the two most recent games Stenny have failed to beat us in and sets us up for the final crucial away match with them. Will they run out of steam before then? five goals in 7 games is excellent from Bavidge and comes at a great time We have an interesting run in, …March 4 home games out of 5 then April 3 away games out of 4, helpful that this season our stadium has become a fortress, dropping just 7 points in the league and a league cup loss to St Johnson the only other damage

Absolute belter of a match. Loved every twist and turn, battles and no little bit of skill from both sides as the game swung in favour of either side. Brannon’s sending off was frustrating (as it was our shy) but the right call by the ref. It made the remaining minutes an anxious watch as Stenny sniffed the opportunity of stealing a win. Happened to be however the best chance fell to Alfie B, however instead of shooting when throu continued to carry the ball where he came unstuck (never a penalty). I normally am critical of Danny D, but today I thought he was outstanding! Commanded the centre of defence throughout the match and along side Remi were solid. We gifted Stenny their goal. Our equaliser was a cracker. A draw the right outcome IMO. bc

1-1 FT, with Brannan red carded. Result is ok - Stenny needed to win that more than we did.

A slight surprise. However, the Stenny game is currently very critical to our season. As for the KDM semi final we will need to control Oakley - a case of Ayr on the side of caution.

Have to agree! I do love my stats, but you can typically use most stats to prove how useless stats themselves are ... at least 50% of the time anyway ;) The number of bookings this weekend might make us look (statistically) like a dirty team, but the overwhelming feedback seems to be a shi**y ref and a diving shower on the opposition side. The ones that I still cant quite get my head around are XG and XGA. I read the definitions and my eyes glazed over. Those are now in common use but seem to be of more use to bookies and coaches than the average punter.