Thread by @AlexanderBrkr

THREAD 🦊

🔟goals conceded from set pieces since matchday two... no wonder Brendan Rodgers called them Leicester's "Achilles heel".

Well, here's the factos. Leicester are truly AWFUL from dead ball situations, and though the blame is shared, one man could be responsible...

BTW as well as data from FBREF and Sofascore in this thread, stick around for eye test too 👁️

That said, I haven't watched every Leicester game, so take that into account.

"Is this just a freak hot streak that won't last?"

I don't think so. As you can see below, no Premier League side has had more dead-ball passes lead to a shot in the 21/22 season 😬

"Maybe Leicester are just trying to soak crosses up?"

If they are, it's not working 🤣
Schmeichel has conceded the second most goals-inside-the-box in the league, and the 5th most p90.

"So what's causing it? Rodgers is blaming the defenders right?"

Yes, he is. There may be truth in that.
Leicester have committed the (joint) 3rd most errors in the EPL this season, and it's not as if their defensive flaws are limited to set-pieces (5th highest NPXG against ⬇)

However, only 3 other teams in the Premier League have a higher aerial win rate.. so they're not BAD in the air...

Also, no side has had more inswinging corners go against them. If it was simply defensive shambles, why would teams be taking a targeted plan against Leicester? 🤔

So.....Kasper Schmeichel?
"But that's crazy, he's always been good!"

Yah! The Euros was a highlight for him right? We can all agree he was fantastic for 🇩🇰, and the stat Post Shot Expected Goals (Measure of accuracy of shot) backs it up 👏

Using the same stat though, paints a VERY grim picture currently.

Yes, that's him on the end - by this stat, Schmeichel has underperformed more than ANY other GK in the league 😲😲😲

"That's shot stopping though, right? Doesn't mean it's specifically about corners!"

Good point - and as far as crosses stopped % goes, Schmeichel is actually doing about average 👍

Howeverrrrrrrr, when looking at GK data from Sofascore, I'm WORRIED 😅

Schmeichel is just below average for punches p90, and LOW for high claims.

Infact, Schmeichel is 20th for high claims in the league...despite facing the most corners in swinging towards him 🤨

"Okay but let's see that in reality please?"

0:58 - Schmeichel comes to punch before backtracking before Leicester concede

1:20 - can he do better here?

Here, 2:20

Here 0:07

And here, 0;34 are all pretty much the exact same goal.
A near post header beating Schmeichel at his far post, every single time he gets nowhere near it.

Btw I am a GK, but no expert at that side of the game. Would like to hear from a GK coach on it, but to ME;
It seems he is always too close to his near post. Although, there does have to be something with the defenders for losing that near post header every time

"..okay so, Leicester have a set piece problem and Schmeichel's numbers stand out. What can we do? 😅"

Probably start Danny Ward I say, but also study this properly. If a ginger kid on Twitter can find patterns like these, Leicester have to be working on their solution, (I hope)