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Analysts,
Stop confusing scoring with finishing. Your “finishing xG map” including shots from 35 yards isn't showing finishing. It's showing total shots. Finishing is a subsection of scoring.
Finishing ≠ shooting
Finishing ≠ scoring
Stop confusing scoring with finishing. Your “finishing xG map” including shots from 35 yards isn't showing finishing. It's showing total shots. Finishing is a subsection of scoring.
Finishing ≠ shooting
Finishing ≠ scoring
Ronaldo's finishing has been elite this season but his overall xG overperformance isn't high. Then, an analyst will say “surprisingly people think Ronaldo is a great finisher but his xG overperformance is bla bla”.
This is an issue of domain knowledge – learn the game.
This is an issue of domain knowledge – learn the game.
Also, players differ in the type of finishing they are good at. Some players are excellent one-on-one whilst they lack precision and reaction time in the 6-yard box. Others are good converting low crosses. Grouping that altogether is fine but not really useful as analysis.
If you truly want to look at “finishing” then separate the sample into the various elements. If a team creates a lot of one-on-ones but not low crosses and Player A is only good at the latter his “finishing map” might look very good and the team may buy him but it's an issue.
A generic shooting map is fine but it doesn't really tell you much with regard to the player's ability to finish chances he receives. Also, it doesn't tell you how well a player does in finishing off the chances he creates himself.
However, a shot map which includes 35-yard shots and then concluding something to do with “finishing” just demonstrates a bad understanding of football. Numbers are one thing – knowing the game is another. The former doesn't mean you have the latter. Learn the game.
