The Analytics Laduma team are back with another podcast and as usual, they have a team focus, player focus and league focus. Mamelodi Sundowns * Are they the ultimate club now? * Won as many games as they did last season (19) * Themba Zwane said they are aiming for the Points record * Need 14 points to break but it will not be easy * Must go W4 D2 L1 or W5 D0 L2 (3 wins won’t suffice)

Goals

• They lead the league for goals and for xG
• But the goals-gap is bigger than the xG gap
• More efficient in front of goal

Performances?

• We at season stage where results matter more than performances
• They are not keeping clean sheets, but the fall off inthe 2nd half happens all the time
• One clean sheet in eight games, no clean sheet in six

Playing young players vs last season

• Sundowns played the fewest youngsters last season from a minutes played perspective. Ofentse Mashiane got 19 minutes in the last game of the season which Sundowns won 3-2, Promise Mkhuma was the next youngest (22) who made the bench once but was unused
• 1 player U-23 last season / 24 players in 25-29 bracket / 12 Over 30

Player Focus: Cassius Mailula * The last thing you thought Sundowns needed was a goalscorer (most goals last season, most different scorers) * Shalulile was injured for a while,but it was during the WC break, so he had time to recover * Either way Mailula was ready to step up, 20 goal involvements for a 21 year old is insane

In the league, he has 9 goals from about 6xG, an overperformance of 3xG, placing him first in the league for all players. An overperformance of xG can mean many things, two of which are:

• He is the luckiest player in the division, or
• He is the most clinical
• Touch position across 3 central channels reflected by shot locations
• His selection of shots shows a high volume of attempts at close rang
• All 9 goals come from inside box (all but one of Downs’ goals has)
• All 9 goals come from high value locations + deep in the 6-yard box.

*His league goals come from both left (4) & right (5) feet (0 headers)

Not wasteful. Of players with 20+ shots, he is second most accurate in the league (59%) behind only Ranga Chivaviro (60%) and level with Caleb Bimenyimana (59%). The difference in this is miniscule.

League Focus * It’s almost done * The battles for 8th & relegation all we can focus on now * Only SuperSport can catch Sundowns now * Record title win is 2006/7 Sundowns (5 to play, I think)

Match of the Weekend: Pirates v SuperSport - conundrum for Pirates

• Lose & SuperSport probably seal 2nd

PREDICTIONS:

• 1-1 draw - Lee
• 2-1 Pirates - Alex