Blues Dont Shoot On Sight

The recent edition of Zoo Magazine shows that the blues are severely lacking in that area. From 9 Premier League games so far the blues have managed just 22 shots from outside the box. That's the lowest amount from any top division side.

Top of the league Arsenal have managed 40 shots from 18 yards out or further, Chelsea have hit 53, high flying Middlesbrough and Bolton have hit 55 and 58 respectively, even the Villa have managed 36.

So does this show the weakness in blues attacking game? Well although only three percent of shots from outside the are have found the net that fact doesn't take into account shots that are rebounded into the paths of incoming strikers, or shots that take deflections or even shots that are saved by the keeper and result in a corner for the attacking team.

You would probably expect the player to have the most shots outside of the box for blues to be Muzzy Izzet or Jesper Gronkjaer but in fact its Robbie Savage. Savage has hit 5 shots from outside the box which means 'attacking' players like Izzet, Heskey, Yorke, Gronkjaer and Dunn have hit less than 5 shots in 9 games. That's less than a shot from outside the area every 2 games.

Just out if interest Frank Lampard has hit 19 shots from outside the box, three less than the entire blues team! So Brucey if your reading - Get the lads practising long range shooting!