Stats Analysis: Are We Better Under Laudrup?

Vital Swansea has been looking into the stats to see how Michael Laudrup's Swansea City compare to last season under former manager Brendan Rodgers.

With ten games played so far, it's a good stage to take a look at the stats and compare the two teams.

How have the teams changed? Are they winning more games? Creating more chances? In a higher position with more points? Vital Swansea takes a look...

You can view all the stats and comparison graphs here

STATS - AT A GLANCE: (2011/12 first)

Goals: 12 vs 15
Position: 10th vs 11th
Points: 12 vs 12
Chances: 94 vs 109
Clean sheets: 4 vs 2

You don't need stats to know that this season, Swansea City are creating more chances per game compared to Brendan Rodgers' side did last year. A major criticism of our play in the previous campaign was a lack of goal opportunities created, but that doesn't seem to be a problem this year. However, despite creating more chances and scoring more goals, we've picked up the exact same points compared to this time last season - 12. Brendan Rodgers' side were able to pick up more clean sheets and therefore got some valuable points in the process - thus making up for a lack of activity in front of goal.

Compared to Michael Laudrup's style and tactics so far, Brendan Rodgers liked to play things safe, with an extra emphasis on maintaining possession and keeping a clean sheet. No wonder chances on goal were few and far between on some occassions, while Laudrup prefers his Swansea side to take more chances and risks. Passes are generally longer, to avoid the threat of the ball getting lost in dangerous positions. The wingers are also tucked in more centrally to combine more with the main striker, compared to last year when they hugged the touchline to create link-up play with the fullback.

In terms of table position, the Swans are just 1 place lower compared to 2011/12, despite having the same points - 12 after 10 matches.

With the likes of Michu arriving in the Summer, the Swans are a far more attacking threat. They've scored 3 more goals so far, whilst the chances created tally has been significantly higher throughout the season.

There has been some criticism of the defensive performances so far this year, and while it's clearly been evident that the Swans haven't looked as strong and reliable at the back, we've still conceded the same amount of goals, although clean sheets are fewer, just 2 so far compared to 4 in 2011/12.

Not only have we looked at the more important stats such as goals scored, games won, points and table position - those that matter - we've also looked at two other stats that are vital to our footballing style - possession and passing accuracy.

Michael Laudrup came in and looked to maintain the attractive passing style that all us fans have grown to love since the arrival of Roberto Martinez in 2007 - whilst making his own tactical tweaks of course. It was going to be interesting then to see if he could maintain the high and consistent levels of passing quality and possession football that Brendan Rodgers had his team playing during his 2-year spell. Has he? In a nutshell yes, and doing so he's increased the emphasis on attack although inevitably sacrificing a slight lack of defensive reliability.

The Swans are looking on course to pretty much replicate last season's achievements in terms of table position and points tally, and with an added extra - more shots and more goals.

Still it's a long season and we're only around a quarter of the way through. Can the Swans keep on course for another mid-table finish? Share your thoughts on the Message forum here

You can view all of the comparison graphs here

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.