cross-posted from: https://mastodon.online/users/hallenbeck/statuses/111293316231491706
I've made an updated graphic based on feedback. Thanks to @nooeh@lemmy.world for the critique. Updated graphic here:
https://thelastboyscout.uk/assets/img/son_xg_stats.webp
Is Son one of the best finishers EVER? Let's look at some data. 👇
We use actual goals minus expected goals (xG) as a proxy for finishing skill. Players who consistently score more than their xG means they are scoring goals other players would miss. Generally, only the most elite goalscorers *consistently* outperform their xG.
And I can find no player who consistently beats Son. It's astonishing.
Can you find anyone better at elite level?
He is an elite finisher, but I actually don't think he's underrated because everyone knows he's an xG monster. He's just rated about right.
Would you say he's THE most elite finisher, though? He's definitely up there when comparing the data of his peers. That's what I mean but underrated. He takes fewer shots than the others, so that could be skewing things. But then again, if you look at other players who take a similar number of shots, they don't overperform like Son consistently does. I don't know, he seems to be a bit of a outlier. I can't find any other player like him. Will be very interesting to see what his numbers are like at the end of this season with him playing as a 9 and without Kane. Will he still overperform?