Why Is Haaland Struggling in Fantasy Premier League Form?
Erling Haaland, the 25-year-old striker for Manchester City, is experiencing an unexpected downturn in form within the Fantasy Premier League (FPL). With a price tag of £15.1m, Haaland has struggled to convert chances into goals, with no open play goals in his last eight matches.
Recent Performance Issues
Since Christmas, Haaland has managed just one goal: a penalty scored in Gameweek 21 against Brighton. This performance has led to frustration among FPL managers who regularly captain him, with his ownership fluctuating between 6.8 million and 7.6 million armbands.
His recent struggles were highlighted following Manchester City’s unexpected defeat to Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League. Haaland took responsibility for his poor performance, apologizing to fans and acknowledging his lack of scoring.
Assessing Haaland’s Shot Frequency
Despite these struggles, Haaland has not significantly decreased his shot frequency. Earlier in the season, during Gameweek 15, he had a standout match with eight attempts. However, in the subsequent five matches, his shot quality has diminished.
- Before Gameweek 17: Average of 3.765 non-penalty efforts per match.
- Since Gameweek 17: Slight decrease to 3.600 attempts.
- Non-penalty box shots: Dropped from 3.588 to 2.800.
This decline in non-penalty shots, along with poor expected goals (xG) metrics, highlights that while Haaland is still attempting shots, the quality of those attempts has not been up to par. None of his recent matches fall into the category of his best nine non-penalty expected goals (NPxG).
Conclusion
In summary, while Erling Haaland continues to take shots, the effectiveness and quality of his attempts have decreased. For FPL managers, understanding these trends is essential as they navigate their captaincy decisions moving forward. As Haaland seeks to regain his scoring touch, fans and players alike will be eager to see if his form improves in the upcoming matches.
