IS it any wonder that so few goals are scored during the opening stages of a game? While one side feel their way into proceedings, finding their passing rhythm amidst the chaos around them, their opponents are not only doing likewise but are significantly more alert and organised than they’ll be later when hearts and minds weary. Furthermore, freshly drummed into all twenty-two players is the edict of their managers to keep things tight.
At any and every level the first twenty minutes of a footballing contest is essentially two boxers circling the other, keeping their guard up while throwing range-finding jabs and this is why data compiled from over 2000 Premier League games some years back revealed that only 17.6% of all goals are scored during this period. It was a percentage replicated last year from top to bottom and it’s a percentage almost replicated across the board this term too. Almost.
This season so far Manchester City have scored a substantial 74 league goals and 28.3% of them have come inside the opening twenty minutes. This is not a glitch in the matrix. This is not a statistical quirk. This is a ripping up of the rulebook.
15 – Manchester City have scored with their first shot on target in 15 Premier League games this season – six more than any other team. Clinical. #EVEMCI pic.twitter.com/NziZn6VL3T
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 6, 2019
Because clearly this is not a coincidence and clearly this is born from a mind-set ruthlessly intent on going for the early kill and putting a game to bed before the other lot have even had chance to get dressed into their weekend best. In the north-east at the tail-end of January, Sergio Aguero struck after just 24 seconds and when on that occasion City’s quick dissection back-fired they repeated the feat five days later against Arsenal, this time taking an extra 22 seconds to get off the mark. When Chelsea came to town yesterday Sarri’s men bossed possession from the off, determined to deny their hosts a historic hat-trick. They lasted precisely four minutes before finding themselves behind with a mountain to climb. By the nineteenth minute a top six battle had been reduced to a training exercise.
Here’s a stat that astounds: Manchester City have scored inside the opening 15 minutes on 14 occasions since August. The next highest on the list is Arsenal with seven.
Keeping with the comparisons only greater illustrates the immediacy in which the title holders have teared into one and all, implementing their ideals and enacting their brilliance from kick off. Though Spurs thoroughly deserve a name-check Liverpool are the only side to inhabit City’s stratosphere in 2018/19 and they have scored inside the opening ten minutes on three occasions all season. City have done so five times from their last eight games alone. The average time it takes City to get on the score-sheet this term is 18.7 minutes. For Liverpool it’s 36.4, exactly twice as long. Perhaps the most pertinent comparison however is not with a rival but with their former selves. Last season harvested 106 goals for the Blues along with numerous routs. Yet throughout that record-breaking campaign it took them 31 minutes on average to break the deadlock.
Manchester City have scored 10 times in the first 10 minutes of matches this season.. you just cannot switch off against them☠️ pic.twitter.com/jsW7sAyExz
— Futbol ⚽️ (@futbolnnews) February 3, 2019
Pinpointing how this quickening up process has occurred is naturally extremely difficult to do because were it not then by now an array of erudite track-suited men would have found a solution, or at the very stumbled on a way of postponing the inevitable. What we can determine however are the numerous advantages gained from City’s propensity to score early, over and above the rather obvious one of enjoying a goal head-start.
For one thing it allows the players to conserve energy in the second half of games and this we have witnessed time and again as they collectively slow their intensity to a procession of possession. With the arduous demands of a long season soon due to take its toll we can only speculate how beneficial this will be but can conservatively suggest that it’s a plus. More so, when an early lead has been extended to effectively end the contest at the break it has afforded Pep Guardiola the chance to substitute his key personnel, wrapping them in the proverbial cotton wool. Staying on topic there is also the minimising of the risk of injuries occurring during the latter period of games: as muscles fatigue kicks in and Spurs and Liverpool are still going full-pelt City are stroking the ball about as if on the golden sands of Dubai.
29 – Manchester City have scored 29 goals in all competitions since they last conceded; they haven’t let in a goal in 566 minutes of play since Roberto Firmino equalised for Liverpool at the Etihad on January 3rd. Dominant. pic.twitter.com/2QgEsyd7sJ
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 26, 2019
The swift suppressing of pressure is another factor and this we have seen evidenced this week as the tense twin threat of Arsenal and Chelsea was alleviated in a heartbeat. And speaking of pressure but approaching it from the opposite angle City’s early domination additionally means they rarely need to dig deep when their shirts are still pristine. They have conceded only twice all season inside the first half an hour which is a staggering achievement. That’s two goals conceded in 13 and a half hours of football.
The last benefit is arguably the most trivial but to a supporter is not. As stated City are acing their exams most weeks in record time then counting down the clock by doodling in the margins. And that doodling has produced some stunningly crafted goals.
Yesterday’s sixth, eventually finished off by Raheem Sterling after a minute-long appreciation of space and movement that stole the breath wouldn’t have happened were it 1-0. It happened because City ferociously and expertly dismantled Chelsea much earlier and broke their spirit.
A team with the capacity to do that over and over again should be greatly feared or greatly loved depending on your allegiance but surely admired by all? Should you fall into the former camp however a friendly word of warning: When you hear the parp of a whistle and Sergio and Co. are in the vicinity cover up your jugular. Because City are dispensing with the longest held of conventions.
