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WMR 64.65 = Below Standard (60–64.9). After last week’s 42.37 at Fulham and the embarrassment of getting knocked out of the League Cup by Grimsby, this at least looked like football again… sort of. We pushed up the pitch, racked up chances, and controlled territory, but the rating sits middle because we couldn’t turn that into genuine quality. Add in a cheap set-piece concession and Bayindir not making the one big save, and it keeps us stuck just short of Clear Edge.
We were all over them for long spells, especially in the first half, any other top team finishes that game within 45 minutes. xG ~3.5, big chances 4–2, corners 7–1, ~62% possession but did you ever feel comfortable watching it? Burnley had their moments, and the game never felt buried. The 64.65 basically translates to: “Yeah, better. But still not there yet.”
Why It Landed at 64.65
Poor shot conversion rate. SoT% 23% (6/26) - 26 attempts but only six tested their keeper. Too many wild efforts when better options were available.
Set-piece defending costs us again. Dominated corners 7-1 but conceded from their solitary dead-ball opportunity. Season record on set pieces is now: 3 for, 3 against. Three set-piece goals for are an improvement, now we need to stop conceding them.
Goalkeeper unable to positively influence the result. PSxG-GA -0.34. Bayindir conceded more than expected based on shot quality faced. He made routine saves but not the crucial stop. The second goal should be dealt with better.
What This Actually Tells Us
“Below Standard” fits: we’re creating the right situations and building pressure, but the decisive moments that separate good performances from winning ones remain elusive.
The platform is there – xG, possession, chances created – but execution, conceding cheap and killer instinct keep letting us down.
What Needs Sorting for Higher WMR
Shot accuracy must improve. Raising SoT% above 35% will lift the attacking efficiency metric. Better selection in the final third directly impacts the rating.
Set-piece balance needs correcting. Turning 3F–3A positive adds crucial points to the defensive stability component of WMR.
Goalkeeper contribution required. Having our keeper positively contribute to the game (PSxG-GA ≥ +0.20) gives the boost that moves us from Below Standard toward Clear Edge.
Hit these three benchmarks versus City and the WMR moves toward Clear Edge. The underlying performance is there. Now we need to maintain it and keep improving.
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