Morgan Rogers labelled expected goals as ‘a load of nonsense’ after defending his and Aston Villa’s tendency to take on low percentage shots this season.
The expected goals (xG) metric measures the statistical quality of chances created during a game and quantifies the likelihood of them being scored.
A score of zero suggests a chance is impossible to score, while one indicates the player should score evert time.
Broadcasters have increasingly used xG on their coverage and it has regularly been referenced by players and managers.
Aston Villa have defied the metric so far this season, with Unai Emery’s side having scored several goals from long range.
Rogers is among the Villa stars to have exceeded their personal xG this season, scoring seven times in the Premier League from 4.24xG, according to Opta Analyst.
Morgan Rogers has labelled xG ‘a load of nonsense’ as he defended Aston Villa’s tendency to take on difficult chances
The England midfielder has taken 46 shots in the league this season with 19 on target, while his xG recorded at 0.09 per shot.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Rogers claimed xG makes taking shots on ‘feel like a crime’ and stressed that Emery has impressed the need for his midfielders to score more this season.
‘I think it is a load of nonsense,’ Rogers said. ‘It feels like a crime, I’m scoring and xG is putting me down.
‘If you look at the chances and shots we are hitting, they are good options to take.
‘We are not taking pot luck shots and I think they are well within our right to take.
‘The manager is very much wanting goes from the edge [of the area], he said it to our midfielders last season.
‘He said “I’m still waiting for goals from the edge of the box”.
‘You can’t always score the perfect goal, the perfect cross and tap in. There are different ways to score goals.’
Rogers has outperformed his xG so far this season and was awarded the Premier League’s goal of the month for December with his effort against Man United
Aston Villa are currently third in the Premier League, but are down in 12th for the amount of xG created this season with 27.14.
Emery’s side have overperformed their xG by 5.86 so far this season, putting them only behind Tottenham’s 9.03.
Rogers, Emi Buendia and Matty Cash have been among those to score from distance for Villa this season.
While admitting percentages may be against Aston Villa by taking on more difficult chances, Rogers stressed that fans want to see front footed football.
‘We are utilising it to our advantage and it is working. On paper the percentages might be against you, but not if you keep doing it. There has got to be a point where if you keep doing it, it keeps coming off and patterns keep happening.
‘Sometimes when you are in the stadium, 25 yards out and hearing everyone shout ‘shoot’, that’s what the fans want.
‘Fans want excitement, enjoyment, shots and scoring goals and winning games. That is what fans want to see.’
