Debatt: På vad beror egentligen Premier Leagues målexplosion?

Rekorden trillar också in på löpande band, åt båda håll. Man Citys 36 mål på de första tio matcherna är den högsta målskörden för ett lag sedan Tottenham 1963/64. Man Utd har aldrig gjort fler mål under de första tio matcherna än den här säsongens 27. Arsenal å andra sidan har aldrig släppt in fler mål efter tio matcher än vad de gjort den här säsongen, och bara ett enda lag genom historien har släppt in fler än Boltons 27 mål under säsongens första tio matcher.

Det kan så klart diskuteras vad det beror på. Vi kan i alla fall konstatera att mönstret sammanfaller med lite större problem för engelska lag i Champions League än vanligt. Den shoot out-karaktär som engelska lag har lagt sig till med den här säsongen för alltså med sig större risker inom den kontinentala cupfotbollen. På sätt och vis kan man säga att det blivit något utav ett återfall till Man Utds expansiva spelstil under 1990-talet, som emellertid bara hade begränsad framgång i Champions League.

Kevin McCarra diskuterar dessa saker i en av dagens bloggar på The Guardian, han har också frågat fem före detta spelare och managers om vad de anser att detta beror på. De ger sina perspektiv, och det kan väl vara ett rätt bra bränsle för att debattera vad ni anser att det hela beror på.

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Ray Houghton, före detta irländsk mittfältare

“This goal glut is down to dreadful defending, simply as that. I’ve felt for ages that the art of defending has gone from most Premier League sides, and results this season, like Arsenal’s win at Chelsea, prove that. It’s hard to pinpoint why this has happened, but ultimately it comes down to how teams are being coached. Perhaps they are not doing much defensive work, perhaps the defensive coaches are not good enough. It’s not just about the back four; teams are not defending from the front like they used to, strikers are dropping off and allowing the opposition to build up pressure. When that happens, lots of chances are going to be created.”

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Linvoy Primus, före detta försvarare i Portsmouth

“There have been defensive mistakes but this is largely down to the rise in quality of creative players in the Premier League. Sergio Agüero and Juan Mata have come in, while the likes of David Silva and Luiz Suárez are improving. These are players who not only score goals but create them too, and such is their threat that defenders are struggling to stop them. At Arsenal, it is also their creative players, such as Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey, who are in form right now. As the season goes on we should see defences getting to grips with the talent in the league as well as improving their own form. As such, there should be fewer crazy scorelines.”

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John Scales, före detta engelsk landslagsback

“The teams that have suffered heavy defeats this season have all struggled to put out a consistent defence. Manchester United have not had Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic for long spells, while Arsenal have introduced new players to their back line. Chelsea have also chopped and changed and when a side does that there are going to be problems. Beyond that, the game is undoubtedly changing here. Teams like Manchester City and Chelsea are playing in a more continental, between-the-lines style and that is something English defences are not used to. Once they become more clued up to this, we should start seeing more clean sheets.”

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Joe Royle, före detta manager för Everton

“Most of the goals are being scored by the top sides and Roberto Mancini subtly changing Manchester City’s philosophy from “we will not be beaten'” to “we will win” has made a big difference. Mancini has top attacking players at his disposal and they have arrived at a time when injuries and age are catching up with top defenders such as Rio Ferdinand and John Terry. From an England viewpoint it’s worrying because there is suddenly a shortage of really top English defenders. Equally, a lot of the goals are being scored by foreign players; Wayne Rooney apart, how many truly international quality English strikers are there in the Premier League?”

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Nigel Winterburn, före detta back i Arsenal

“Teams appear to be playing in a more adventurous style, and that not only increases the amount of goals they score but also the amount they concede, as defences become more vulnerable to the counterattack the higher up the pitch they go. Saying that, some sides are just making basic errors, especially at set pieces. What we may see as the season goes on is a reduction in the big thrashings but a wider spread of two- and three-goal winning-margins, including among the promoted clubs. After how Blackpool performed last year they seem to recognise that in the Premier League, attack is the best form of defence and that you might as well go for it.”

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Jag noterar också med visst intresse att åtminstone tre av dessa fem likt mig verkar vara av uppfattningen att det är mindre sannolikt att vi kommer fortsätta se den här typen av halvgalen målproduktion ju längre säsongen lider. Premier League tenderar, tycker jag mig ha uppfattat, att vara mer öppen tidigt under säsongen, men i och med att ligan drar ihop sig till skarpt läge under vintern och våren så brukar också försvaren och spelet täta till sig.

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Kvällens Champions League-matcher känns rätt basic. Arsenal borde onekligen vinna över Marseille hemma, och jag kan inte tänka mig att Chelsea accepterar något annat än vinst borta mot Genk efter helgens debacle mot Arsena. Hur som helst, båda lagens gruppositioner är sådana att de kan spela till stor del utan press.

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Ett skäl att målskörden är högre i början än vad den senare visar sig vara under vintern och våren är kanske helt enkelt klimatet. Det blir lite kallare, lite blåsigare, planerna blir lite sämre, fotbollslivet blir lite hårdare och jobbigare.

Kanske börjar allt med det isande kalla novemberregnet.

Be Champions!!