Martin O’Neill launches attack on expected goals as Celtic hero slates ‘clueless development’ in modern football

Add as preferred source on Google

The expected goals (or xG) stat certainly isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.

Whenever Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic are in televised action, you’re likely to see the side’s expected goals stat next to their possession, shots on target, et cetera.

The term refers to a new stat in football which rates chances from 0 to 1 depending on how likely they are to result in a goal.

Despite initially being used only in data analysis circles, xG stats are now widely seen in mainstream football coverage.

For some, they’re insightful. For others, they’re nonsense. Hoops hero Martin O’Neill has made it absolutely clear which side he is on.

Martin O’Neill on expected goals

O’Neill spent five years at Celtic Park, amassing 30 years in football management altogether.

But for not one of those years did he pay attention to his side’s expected goals.

READ MORE: The Billy McNeill Celtic promise which has finally been delivered… almost 40 years on

Speaking to The Guardian, O’Neill didn’t hold back on the metric, and some of the people who use it.

“It’s total nonsense. You’ve got to remember what the game is about: winning football matches, and that means scoring goals, not recording the expectation of them.

‘Expected goals’ have only come about in the last few years. It’s a clueless development. Some people just use these words to try to sound clever.”

O’Neill was infamous for often not being in attendance at training sessions, only showing up for the match at the weekend.

One thing he certainly wasn’t doing whilst spending time away from the players was worrying too much about stats.

Are stats being used too much in football?

It is no secret there is currently a data revolution taking place in football.

Tony Bloom’s ambitions at Hearts tell you the impact that some people think it can have.

But when O’Neill mentions people using it in an attempt to sound clever, it’s difficult not to agree with him.

Some people use numbers to make them sound smart – others, like O’Neill – can show it with trophies.