[THREAD] Why Maty Ryan is having a (much) better season than you realise

#BHAFC

This thread will analyse Ryan across various aspects of goalkeeping, including:

1. Shotstopping
2. Distribution
3. Dealing with crosses
4. Defending 1v1s
5. Penalty saving
6. ‘Sweeper keeping’

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Maty Ryan 19/20 p90 averages: (PL goalkeeper ranking)

- 4.17xGBuildup (2nd)
- 68.5% passes short (5th)
- 52% long pass accuracy (3rd)
- 7.9% crosses stopped (8th)
- 4.7xG prevented (8th)
- 70.1% save rate (10th)
- 68% 1v1 success rate (1st)

( @UnderstatXG/ @fbref)

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1. Shotstopping

He’s been criticised for his shotstopping ability, but Ryan has actually conceded 4.7 fewer goals than expected based on quality of shots on target he’s faced.

That’s his best return in a PL season.

( @fbref)

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Rather, we’ve become a much leakier side defensively. Compared to our previous 2 PL seasons:

- Fewer passes needed to create 1xG against us
- Higher volume of opposition counter attacks
- High proportion of opposition pen area entries shots

Full defensive analysis

#BHAFC https://twitter.com/albionanalytics/status/1245703806916202496

We’re actually conceding goals at our lowest rate per game this season:

17/18: 1.42 GA per 90
18/19: 1.62 GA per 90
19/20: 1.38 GA per 90

Yet, as was covered in the defensive analysis thread, our high possession numbers have masked defensive worries.

( @fbref)

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Therefore, goals we have conceded goals clearly aren’t to do with Ryan’s performance.

Being a goalkeeper, he’s the last player to have an opportunity to prevent a goal, making him an easy scapegoat. Defensive issues have actually occurred further upfield.

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2. Distribution

Ryan deserves immense credit for the transition in distribution he’s shown. Under Hughton he was launching almost 70% of passes. That number has over halved under Potter.

( @fbref)

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He’s got one of the highest proportions of short passes played in the PL, and he’s played the most goalkicks short into the box.

Meanwhile, he’s got the 3rd best long pass accuracy in the league.

Quarterback-esque

( @oilysailor)

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Ryan’s involvement in build-up play is so immense in fact, he’s got the 2nd highest xGBuildup score of any PL goalkeeper this season (4.17).

Only Alisson has more - not bad company!

( @UnderstatXG)

#BHAFC

3. Crossing

Despite being the joint-shortest GK in the league, and often branded as passive in defensive crossing scenarios, Ryan sits 8th for @premierleague GKs this season in cross stop rate.

He’s stopped 7.9% of them.

( @fbref)

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4. Defending 1v1s

Another corner of his game where he gets wrongly criticised - Ryan has the best 1v1 success rate of any PL ‘keeper this season - 68%

The average is 45%!

A fantastic full thread and visual analysis of why he’s so good in these scenarios

#BHAFC https://twitter.com/jhdharrison1/status/1242745436798148608

There’ll obviously be a recency bias and people will mention Ayew’s goals for 1v1 performance and Grealish/Zaha’s goals for shotstopping.

Those are purely outliers which are only remembered because they led to goals.

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Other players have had significantly worse seasons but won’t be criticised - and this is always the case for goalkeepers - because their errors aren’t as likely to lead to goals.

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5. Penalty saving

A non-essential, but desireable attribute for any GK is to be a good penalty keeper.

Ryan saved 2/3 penalties faced in the PL in 17/18. Since then he’s conceded all 10 he’s faced, so he could improve in this area.

( @Transfermarkt)

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6. ‘Sweeper-keeping’

Another trait of a modern day GK is to influence play outside the area. Ryan has made 14 actions outside the area this season.

That’s puts him joint 10th and is his highest in a PL season, double what he achieved last season.

( @fbref)

#BHAFC