You do not compare a defender’s goals with a striker’s goals. Each position has a different job, so different numbers. First ask what the player did on the pitch, then pick the measure.
The table by position
| Position | What to look at | Careful |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Goals conceded vs PSxG, save percentage | Few shots on target, lots of noise |
| Centre-back | Duels, aerial duels, progressive passes, clearances | Depends on how high the team presses |
| Full-back | Crosses, progressive actions, defensive duels | Role: teams ask different things of them |
| Midfielder | Progressive carries, key passes, ball recoveries | Recoveries rise when the team has less of the ball |
| Winger | Shots, shot quality (xGi per shot), xA, dribbles | Dribbles are attempted often and lost often |
| Striker | Shots, xG per shot, touches in the box | Several penalties change the picture |
A goalkeeper example
PSxG (post-shot xG) rates a shot after it has been struck, including where it is headed. A hard shot into the corner has a high PSxG. A goalkeeper who concedes fewer goals than PSxG did better than expected.
How to read the other positions
- Centre-back: winning 70% of aerial duels in a team that faces many crosses says more than the same rate in a team that rarely does.
- Midfielder: progressive carries show who brings the ball forward. Key passes show who creates shots.
- Winger and striker: first look at how many shots they take per 90, then how good they are. Many long-range shots give a low xG per shot.
Position measures also reflect the team’s style. A team that plays high gives its midfielders more recoveries in the opponent’s half and its defenders more progressive passes. So you always ask how the team plays as well.
In every position, the comparison is with players of the same position and the same role. A full-back who pushes up constantly and one who stays back cannot be compared.