Who’s Had The Most Shots?

My pet hate with current technology in football, is that pundits feel the need to pull out pointless stats just to try and highlight their own agenda. Often these facts are not relevant and they don’t enhance the knowledge of the viewer in any way shape or form.

However, I do love a good stat, when they are done properly and it gives a clear indication about how that particular team is doing. When delving deep into the official Birmingham City website, I noticed a stats section which I had a browse at. To my great interest, the shots stat (which is just for the league and doesn’t take into account cup competitions) shows that Donaldson hasn’t had the most shots. Despite being injured earlier in the season, this still came as a surprise to me.

With 18 shots on goal, and all 18 coming on target, the highest shot taker for Birmingham City so far this season is Jon Toral. This boy has always either scored or tested the goalkeeper which is some achievement in itself, but he has also managed to have more shots than any of his team mates. I would also like to add that our shot accuracy appears to be very good. 11 out of 16 players who have had 1 or more shots this season, have all been on target. This shows a real eye for goal and that we are not snatching at chances when they come our way.

Kieftenbeld has only had 7 shots this season which I would like to see improved. He, as we have all seen with his recent thunderbolts, can strike a ball very well so I would like to see him getting more shots off to try and test the opposing goalkeeper. This could be very effective and I feel that 7 isn’t the greatest total from someone who possess such an amazing goal threat.

The shooting stats did highlight to me how willing Maghoma is to have a shot. After Toral and Donaldson, he is the third highest shooter with 17 shots, 16 of them on target and one hitting the woodwork. He has always been the kind of player to drive at defenders and it’s good that he is starting to add finishing to his game. More than anything it shows confidence in himself and if a player believes in his own ability, then often they go on a good run of form. He has had by far the most shots in cup competitions which is where he has been utilized most.