15 chances in 3 games ? Really ?
Where are you getting that stat that we conceded in the first 20 minutes in 80% of our games last season? We conceded far too many early goals but I'm pretty sure it wasn't in 80% of our games.
And without accurate stats there's no way of evaluating your claim that they haven't improved at all this season compared to last. (I'm pretty sure it has improved this season. Just not enough.)
To address your questions regarding the stats: I'm referring to what could be termed as 'eyeball stats' or a subjective assessment. These are not official statistics sourced from anywhere. The crux of the matter is straightforward: conceding a goal early in the game and subsequently needing to play catch-up has posed a significant issue for two consecutive seasons now (in their entirety).
Has there been improvement? One could argue there has been some progress since last season, where we were contending for a Europa League spot. However, the real question arises: was the entire season focused solely on surpassing the previous one? Or was it about mounting a title challenge, which seems to be unraveling swiftly, as familiar issues persist and a noticeable lack of quality persists in key positions?
If anyone's idea of a title-contending team involves frequent comebacks, a lack of control in most matches, and a constant need for extraordinary efforts from players while rivals secure easy wins, then perhaps there's no issue. But if we aspire to more than the perpetual narrative of 'oh, we nearly made it, the lads gave it their all, but that pesky City side is just too rich,' then it's clear we're stuck in a cycle. When looking at the bigger picture, I fail to see any significant improvement compared to three or four years ago; if anything, it seems we've regressed. Unless substantial changes occur, we'll likely find ourselves having the same conversation next season.
EDIT:
If you're looking for an official stat regarding the number of times we concede a goal in the opening minutes, here's one: Today's game sees us conceding for the 12th time in the league within the first 15 minutes. That's approximately 40% of our league games where we find ourselves 1-0 down within the opening quarter-hour. I'm uncertain about the statistic for 20 minutes, nor do I have information about our performance in other competitions.
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