Gianfranco Zola – the stats

There has to be an element of sympathy for Gianfranco Zola when you dissect the stats since his arrival as Birmingham City manager in December.

While stats do not collate into points, evidently lady luck has not been smiling down on the Italian.

Since his arrival 22 games ago, Blues have been denied by the woodwork on 15 occasions – 11 of which would have drawn Blues level or ahead in the game. Over that time, Zola’s side have averaged 59% possession – compared to 41% from August to December – and produced an average of nine shots on target per game – previously two.

The main problem is the affliction. Only 17 goals have been scored during Zola’s tenure (and Blues have only scored more than one goal in a game on two occasions during that period) whereas 37 have been conceded, with only three clean sheets.

Undoubtedly, Blues would be significantly higher in the Championship table with the luxury of a proven goal scorer. They cost a great deal of money, though. Zola can live in hope of finding a poacher in the summer transfer window and maybe then, a future at St. Andrews could be feasable.