So far this season I have been keeping a log of various statistic for STFC, our players and for all other League One clubs for use on this blog when there isn’t much to talk about!

Earlier this week I thought about our performances in the first 10 games, wondering how we compare, statistically at least, to the rest of League One in the key attacking and defensive phases of play.

My impression of 2010/2011 so far has been that Town haven’t set the league alight in terms of scoring and appear far less clinical in the final third than least season with a change to the midfield and formation. In terms of defence, we’ve had many well documented defensive mistakes and appear to be overwhelmed by our opposition at key moments.

So as I had the raw data I set about analysing… in this first of three posts I take a detailed look at the attacking quality of League One.

To establish the ‘best’ attacking team in League One I’ve looked at shots on goal, shots on target, strike rate and corners won. To average these out both shots on goal and corners won are assessed on a ‘per game’ average, whilst shots on target and strike rate are a percentage of success against total number of shots. By expanding the calculation to include these 4 variables, rather than concentrating on just goals or goal difference, the evaluation aims to include general attacking play to see what is the priority of teams.

SPG = Shots per game | SPGr = Shots per game rank

%SOT = % shots on target | %SOTr = % shots on target rank

OSR = Overall strike rate | OSRr = Overall strike rate rank

CWPG = Corners won per game | CWPGr = Corners won per game rank

ATT = Attack (Total of all attacking ranks) | ATTr = Attacking rank

ALP = Actual league position | Diff = Difference between attacking rank and ALP

The table throws up some surprises and shows there is a wide gap between some of the attacking ranks (ATTr) and actual league position (ALP).

Town are surprisingly high (rank 7) and this is all despite a low 9.2 shots per game. We manage to be relatively accurate when finishing as well putting on pressure to win an above average number of corners. As far as I’m concerned this clearly shows the defensive mistakes have cost us as we should be higher up the table.

Expected strong and committed attacking teams like Notts County (rank 1), Peterborough (rank 2), Carlisle (rank 2), Sheffield Wed (rank 4) are joined by Exeter (rank 5), Leyton Orient (rank 5) and Dagenham & Redbridge (rank 8) in the top group showing that you don’t need to spend big to threaten in the final third, although all except Peterborough, Carlisle and Exeter haven’t transferred this attacking advantage into sufficient league points.

Despite topping the division Brighton are currently ranked the 16th best attacking team. So will Brighton start dropping down the table if their resolute defence starts to make more mistakes and their attack doesn’t improve?

Of the ‘worst’ attacking teams, Charlton Athletic don’t surprise me being ranked as low as 22nd. Phil Parkinson’s teams are hardly spectacular or adventurous and do just enough as shown by their 12 goals and 11 conceded.

I’ve previously mentioned our defensive mistakes so it’s very interesting to see Plymouth (rank 16), Brighton (rank 16), MK Dons (rank 23) and Walsall (rank 21) all low down in the rating given the goals we’ve gifted to them. Clearly they needed our assistance.

I’d be interested to hear what you have to say about these statistics. Do they represent what you have seen in the 10 games so far?

I will post the defence rating tomorrow and then some comparisons between attacking and defensive statistics to see if this can correctly confirm the tactical priority of teams.