In football, finishing ability is all about how well a player turns chances into goals. To measure this, we can use two key numbers: Expected Goals (xG) and Expected Goals on Target (xGOT).
The difference between these two numbers gives us a way to see how well a player is actually finishing their chances. This difference is called Shooting Goals Added (SGA).
What are xG and xGOT?
xG (Expected Goals): This tells us how likely a player is to score based on the chances they get. It looks at things like how close the player is to the goal and the angle of the shot.
xGOT (Expected Goals on Target): This looks at how good the shot was after it was taken, based on where it was aimed and how well it was hit.
By comparing these two numbers, we can see how well a player is finishing their shots.
What is Shooting Goals Added (SGA)?
Shooting Goals Added (SGA) is the difference between xGOT and xG. It shows if a player is finishing better or worse than expected.
If xGOT is higher than xG: The player is finishing better than expected. They’re turning chances into goals with great skill. This gives a positive SGA.
If xGOT is lower than xG: The player is finishing worse than expected. They’re not making the most of their chances. This gives a negative SGA.
Why is SGA Important?
SGA helps us understand how good a player is at finishing their chances:
- Good finishers: Players with a high SGA are good at turning tough chances into goals.
- Room for improvement: Players with a low SGA may struggle to make the most of their opportunities.
Example of SGA
Imagine a player has an xG of 5.0, meaning they’ve had chances that should result in 5 goals. But their xGOT is 7.0, meaning their shots have been of high quality once taken.
The difference, or their SGA, is +2.0, showing they’ve added 2 extra goals through good finishing.
Conclusion
Shooting Goals Added (SGA) is a simple way to see how well a player is finishing their chances. If their xGOT is higher than their xG, they’re doing a great job finishing.
If not, they might need to improve. This is a useful tool for coaches and scouts to identify strong finishers.