Two goals in consecutive games from corner passes was rare from Celtic in the recent Kilmarnock and Ross County ties. One was assisted by McGregor but it is Christie and now Griffiths that dominate free kick and corner duties over the season.
Celtic Set Piece Summary
Celtic have scored 7 times direct from set piece passes. Christie has assisted 4 of them with Hayes, McGregor and Griffiths on 1 each. Jullien has been the scorer with 4 of them.
Now that Griffiths is back on set piece duties, and Christie is on the bench, how do the two main protagonists compare?
Christie v Griffiths – Set Piece Pass Accuracy
At the simplistic level with Christie completing 50% of set piece passes and Griffiths 37%, there appears to be a strong case for Christie being the set piece taker when a delivery is called for.
Christie manages to complete more of his set piece passes than he misses (1.17 To 0.83) whilst both complete a minority of corner passes. Griffiths averages 4.35 failures to connect per 90m.
Based on sheer accuracy then, Christie shades it. Of course, it isn’t that simple.
Christie v Griffiths – Set Piece Pass Quality
We can assess the quality of the passes by considering the volume and xA values of the chances created.
This presents a very different view. Griffiths creates 1.69 chances per 90m from corners to 1 from Christie and 0.36 chances from free kicks compared to 0.31 by Christie. There are more corners in a match typically than set pieces in attacking situations.
What does this mean? Griffiths is more inaccurate overall but is creating the higher volume of chances. This likely means he is putting more risk into his set piece delivery – greater pace and closer to the goalkeeper for example. Many more will not come off as the success margins are smaller, but when they do chances accrue.
And what of chance quality?
And our fascinating tale takes another twist. Perhaps predictably, Griffiths is creating the better quality chances from corner passes – he averages 0.111 xA per 90 compared to 0.078 from Christie.
But it is Christie who is providing better quality opportunities from free kicks despite providing slightly fewer chances. His free kicks result in 0.073 xA per 9m compared to 0.057 from Griffiths.
Conclusion
These are my favourite articles to write. I had no preconception before I started, and the journey revealed by the numbers was twisty and unexpected!
Griffiths is Celtic’s most dangerous set piece taker overall. However, there is a case for the more experienced striker to be the main man for corners but that Christie should be entrusted with set piece passing opportunities.
Now shooting, leave that to Hot Shot Eddy.
Great work as always and a very interesting result.
In my Opinion Leigh Griffiths is better than Ryan Christie in taken Corner Kicks & Free Kicks
Ryan’s Corner Kicks tend to be either too short for example does not get past the near post or
too long (Over-Hit ) other Players in our Team should be able to take Decent Corner Kicks not
just Leigh & Ryan & also they should be practising said Corner Kicks in their Training Sessions
& taught by Leigh how to put in decent crosses in which the rest of the Players who are in the
box (18 Yard box) should attack & try & get the ball on Target
Tall Eddy & Leigh Griffiths should be our main “Free Kicks” takers however that does not mean
to say that the rest of the Team should not be Learning as well how to take decent Free Kicks
A Skill which needs to be practised regularly the same applies to Penalty Kicks in which case
requires 1) Composure 2) Confidence 3) Tricking The Goalkeeper (Giving Him The Eyes) &
Adjusting ones run up to the ball accordingly like not making it obvious to the Goalkeeper in
which way you are going too shoot & 4) Hitting the Target that’s the way to take Penalty’s
Yeah sure not all Penalty’s are going to be perfect/scored however & for example is every
Professional Golfer’s shot perfect in a Round of Golf? Answer Is ‘No’ point being don’t be
frightened if you miss it’s not the end of the World for example every player should be looking
@ out of say every ten penalty’s they take try & reach seven or eight successful penalty’s
(Goals Scored) out of Ten with regular practise this target can be achieved that’s for sure
As for & back to free kicks not all free kicks should be up & down quick & hitting the target
which is a skill in it’s self which & needs loads of practising if the opportunity presents its
self on the Field sometimes try & pass/lay the ball off quickly & get a concentrated like not
leaning back on contact of the ball a powerful shot towards Goal the reason for said set
piece to be quick is to catch the opposition team off guard & preventing them from getting
a block-in ones set piece shot @ Goal with regular practise this option can also produce
positive results (Goals) as for Throw-Ins (Shys) Players should be looking @ getting into
space (Unmarked) to receive the Ball in other words not making it easy for the opposition
to get the ball back use these situations wisely not carelesssly & as for the opposition putting
two & three Men/Players on our Key Players when we have the ball common sense would
show in those situations in a match that if this is the case then good with quick & effective
applience that gives us the opportunity to lay off the ball (Pass) to our free available players
on the field quickly its a no brainer & will nullify that type of tactic/approach from the
Oppositional Team yes there is more to game of football ( A Match & Type of Approach)
& Application of Tactics & Play than meets ones Eyes all the said situations we are referring
to here like 1) Set Pieces 2) Penalty’s 3) Tactical Play can all be practised regularly in
Training Sessions as they say practise makes perfect & for goodness sake don’t let the media
know what you are doing (behind closed doors) because we all know who they are biased
towards & also they can not be Trusted go on the Bhoys you know what I’m saying all makes
sense COYBIG Everyone
Do the numbers for the xA from free kicks take into consideration the number of direct attempts on goal? From recollection, LG will take on a direct free kick whereas I cannot remember RC doing the same (or at least scoring from any attempts).
In my opinion I would say as regards to free kicks set pieces on Goal I would assign those tasks to
1) Odsonne Edouard (Tall Eddy) & 2) Leigh Griffiths
Tall Eddy & Leigh free kicks tend to hit the target & also produce the goods (Goals)
As for Ryan Christie stremgths Ryan is better @ being more direct towards goal in his play he can
also every now & then swing in a good cross for example our second goal against Hamilton recently
for Leigh to get on the end of however I would say Ryan really does need to work on his Corner Kicks
delivery like trying to get the ball to land in the centre of the eighteen yard box often instead of being
either too short or too long with his delivery of said Corner Kicks
I’m sure Ryan with regular practise said better deliveries will come which gives our players a chance
to attack the ball & try & get said deliveries on target where it will produce more goals
Go on the Bhoys get it in there yeah laters Folks