INTRO
Over the last 18 months, set plays, and in particular the appointment of set play coaches and analysts, has been one of the most noticeable and spoken about changes within elite football. The question is, to what extent are clubs noticing a considerable impact from the appointment of specialist staff, in the form of high-performance results.
This article will analyse Set Piece xG (SP xG) and Set Piece xG Conceded (SP xG CON) for the Premier League and the Championship, and discover whether there is a correlation between these key metrics and the club’s league position.
Premier League
SP xG Data Analysis:
· 66% of highest 6 clubs are in the top 6 (league position).
· 66% of lowest 6 clubs are in the bottom 6 (league position).
SP xG CON Data Analysis:
· 83% of the lowest 6 clubs are in the top 6 (league position).
· 66% of the highest 6 clubs are in the bottom 6 (league position).
This data suggests that the clubs who have a higher league position have both higher SP xG and lower SP xG CON per 90. On the other hand, the clubs which have a lower league position have both lower SP xG and higher SP xG CON per 90.
Key Clubs of Note:
Arsenal, Aston Villa and Chelsea are teams which excel from set plays at both ends of the pitch, generating higher SP xG and lower SP xG CON. All of these clubs have recognised set play coaches, most notable Nicolas Jover from Arsenal. Through the appointment of these specialists, it has translated into the teams excelling at set plays, generating positive results and a corresponding higher league position.
Leicester City, Southampton and Wolverhampton Wanderers are teams who have not performed well from set plays, generating lower SP xG and higher SP xG CON. It is interesting that despite the appointment of set play coaches, these clubs still struggle to produce performance from these crucial moments in a match. It would seem that placing a larger focus on set plays within training and analysis meetings could result in goals being scored and prevented, translating into more points and a better league position. Furthermore, the issue of player quality is evident at these clubs. In terms of set plays, having a squad made from players who are of a lower calibre is only going to place them at a greater disadvantage.
Liverpool is one club that stands out not for their SP xG but rather for their exceptional SP xG CON, only bettered by Manchester City. Much of the media highlights creative set play routines that produce goals, whereas it seems Liverpool choose to prioritise defensive set plays. Fundamentally, conceding less goals will allow a team to have a better chance of winning more games. This epitomises Liverpool’s strategy, allowing them to sit at the top of the Premier League table. It begs the question, should clubs at the lower end of the table focus on mastering defensive over attacking set plays?
In the most viewed league across the world, with the smallest margin for error, it is no question that Set Plays are vital for a club’s performance not only during a match, but throughout a full season.
Championship
SP xG Data Analysis:
· 33% of the highest 6 clubs are in the top 6 (league position).
· 33% of the lowest 6 clubs are in the bottom 6 (league position).
SP xG CON Data Analysis:
· 50% of the lowest 6 clubs are in the top 6 (league position).
· 33% of the highest 6 clubs are in the bottom 6 (league position).
Interestingly the trend is less consistent in the Championship, with most clubs who are in higher league positions not being in the top six for SP xG and SPxG CON respectively.
Key Clubs of Note:
Leeds have the fourth highest SP xG and the lowest SP xG CON per 90, which has clearly been a large factor in their success this season, contributing to them sitting at the top of the Championship table. Similarly to Liverpool, through thriving during defensive set play scenarios, Leeds have conceded less goals and won more matches. At the opposite end of the table, Plymouth Argyle have the lowest SP xG and the second highest SP xG CON per 90, contributing to their poor performance in league position. To address this issue, Plymouth have recently appointed Hubert Auer as their new set-piece coach under Miron Muslic; an example that the trend in set play coaches is beginning to filter down to the Championship. This strengthens the notion that if a team can perform well during attacking and defensive set plays, it can allow them to win more matches and finish higher in the league table.
Derby County and Luton Town are clubs that are outliers. Luton place at the bottom of the table, surpassingly having the highest SP xG, whilst similarly Derby sit 22nd in the table and have the third highest SP xG. In addition, both clubs are not in the highest 6 clubs for SP xG CON, so it would be expected that this should result in them rising up the league table. This asks the question as to what direct contribution can set plays actually provide to a club’s league position? Ultimately, set plays only account for a small portion of a football match. Despite these moments being significant, open play phases dominate, highlighting the fact that excelling at set plays can only supplement towards results if the general performance of the team is at a high level.
Conclusion
As football is becoming more analytical than ever, extracting the highest performance out of its players is at the forefront of all clubs at the elite level. In the Premier League, there is some evidence to suggest that clubs are receiving a noticeable return on investment from employing dedicated set play coaches. The data presented in this article showcases that clubs should prioritise defensive set play situations, reducing the number of goals conceded, providing better opportunities to pick up more points throughout the campaign. In the Championship, a football division where clubs have significantly smaller budgets, the appointment of dedicated set play coaches may be more challenging. This may be one of the reasons why the trend dissipates in this league. Despite this, it is notable that clubs who have recently been relegated to the Championship perform better overall across set play metrics; potentially due to higher budgets and the ability to employ specialists in this field.
All data acquired via Hudl Statsbomb 25/02/2025.
Jem is a final year Sport and Exercise Science student at Loughborough University
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