MLS Stats

MLS 

V. 

Champions League

Was checking out www.mlssoccer.com the other day and noticed something about the Union/Whitecaps matchup.  The chalkboard program (found by selecting a game score, which takes you to the "matchcenter" where there is a tab labeled "chalkboard" for that match) at that website allows you to look at individual players passing, tackling, turnovers, shots and other significant statistics.  The Union, as an example, had one player who completed 45 passes in that game.  I was (as any good soccer snob would be) prepared to mock this "high" score, until I looked at, rather randomly, the Zenit/Benfica matchup from the Champions League, where the most completed passes by an individual on either team was 39.  Looks like the MLS isn't quite so badly run-and-gun as I thought.  I wouldn't yet call it a league based on possession just yet, but I'm encouraged.  And, yes, it is a very small sample size...

But here's Barca...I love these guys if for no other reason than they do things differently.  That they also tend to be the better team 9 out of 10, too, makes a compelling argument for admiring them.  Check out this from the match with AC Milan earlier this week.  Recall that this game was an away match for Barca...the San Siro is not generally a friendly place for away teams!  Granted Milan held the floods back well (though didn't score themselves either).  But look at this completion percentage chart:

Six Barcelona players had more completed passes than Sheanon Williams 44 for the Union...and Xavi completed 122 passes.  Stunning.

post script:
Milan succumbed 3-1 at the Camp Nou Tuesday the 3rd.  Messi converted two penalties, Iniesta finished a rebound the Milan defense fell asleep on, and generally Barca looked comfortable, despite the score even at 1-1 for ten minutes in the first half.  For the griping Milan did after the game, Pep Guardiola's comments at the end of this link are insightful, and it can be little argued that the result did not reflect the qualities of the two teams.  For instance, the 21-3 advantage in shots for Barca...