For years I’ve been interested in how players contribute to team results.  I’ve sought a measure of player contributions to a win that covered all aspects of a game. While many valuable and informative soccer metrics have been created, common stats are not entirely on point with this issue.

For example, xG stats apply only to scoring attempts, and perhaps goalkeepers. Adding xAssists and key passes broadens the scope of included players. But the contribution of defensive oriented players would not be expected to show up on these metrics. And offensive-oriented players would still rely on teammates to threaten the net before their effort can be measured.

The xGChain metric is useful for identifying players that participate in the most productive attacks, and includes players that play further away from the goal. But this metric does not include non-offensive actions. And each players’ contribution is given equal weight, whether it’s the initial square pass to a CB in the defensive half, or delivering a cross into the penalty area. Experienced analysts consider the dashboard of key performance indicators and piece together insights from the elements.  But I’m looking to consolidate all game elements with a common perspective.