So, you’re following Leicester City’s push back to the Premier League and you keep seeing terms like ‘xG’ or ‘PPDA’ thrown around in the analysis. It can feel like a different language! This glossary breaks down the essential metrics and club-specific terms you need to know to deeply understand The Foxes' match progress and season narrative. Consider this your cheat sheet for the 2023/24 campaign and beyond.
Expected Goals (xG)
This is arguably the most popular modern metric. It measures the quality of a scoring chance by calculating how likely it should be to result in a goal, based on factors like shot location and type. For example, a Jamie Vardy tap-in from six yards out has a very high xG (maybe 0.7), meaning it should be scored 70% of the time. Analysing Leicester’s xG for and against tells us if they are creating better chances than their opponents, regardless of the actual scoreline.
Possession Percentage
Simply put, this is the share of total match time a team controls the ball. Under Enzo Maresca, Leicester City have often dominated this metric in the EFL Championship, reflecting a tactical philosophy centred on controlling the game’s tempo. High possession isn't an end in itself, but it’s a key indicator of a team’s intent to dictate play from the back.
Passes Per Defensive Action (PPDA)
This measures pressing intensity. It counts how many passes an opponent makes in your defensive third before you attempt a defensive action (like a tackle or interception). A low PPDA (e.g., 8-10) means a team is pressing aggressively and high up the pitch. A high PPDA suggests a more passive, deeper defensive block. It’s crucial for understanding the Foxes' off-ball strategy in any given match.
Shot on Target
A straightforward but vital metric: any shot that would go into the goal if not stopped by the goalkeeper. For a striker like Vardy, his conversion rate of shots on target to actual goals is a key measure of clinical finishing. Tracking this for the whole team shows attacking efficiency.
Clean Sheet
When a team prevents the opposition from scoring for the entire match. For Leicester’s promotion push, a strong defensive record and accumulating clean sheets are fundamental foundations for success, building confidence and securing crucial points.
Promotion Places / Top Six
In the Championship, this refers to the automatic promotion spots (1st and 2nd) and the play-off positions (3rd to 6th). The entire season for Leicester City is focused on finishing in these spots, with the ultimate goal being a top-two finish for an automatic return to the Premier League.
Squad Rebuild
This refers to the significant overhaul of the playing squad, often involving multiple transfers in and out. Following relegation, Leicester underwent a necessary squad rebuild to adapt to the Championship’s demands and Financial Fair Play constraints, bringing in new faces while retaining key experienced players.
Starting XI / Matchday Squad
The eleven players chosen by the manager to begin the match, plus the substitutes on the bench. Enzo Maresca’s selection each week, particularly in midfield where players like Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall are pivotal, is a major talking point and reveals his tactical plan.
Key Pass
The final pass or cross that leads directly to a shot attempt. A high number of key passes from a player like Dewsbury-Hall highlights his creative importance to the team, even if those passes don’t always result in an assist.
Expected Assists (xA)
Similar to xG, this metric estimates the likelihood that a given pass will become a goal assist. It credits the passer for creating the chance, regardless of whether the shooter scores. It helps identify who is consistently creating high-quality opportunities for the Foxes.
Progressive Passes
Passes that move the ball significantly forward towards the opponent’s goal. Leicester’s defenders and midfielders are often judged on this metric, as it shows their ability to break lines and transition the team from defence into attack effectively.
Tackle Success Rate
The percentage of tackle attempts a player or team successfully completes. A high rate indicates effective and well-timed defending, which is crucial for winning the ball back without conceding fouls in dangerous areas.
Aerial Duel Win Percentage
The share of challenges for a ball in the air that a player wins. This is important for analysing both defensive solidity from centre-backs and the target-man capability of forwards, especially when playing a more direct style to change a game.
Final Third Entries
This tracks how often a team moves the ball into the attacking third of the pitch. For a dominant side like Leicester, a high number of entries indicates sustained offensive pressure, even if it doesn’t always lead to a shot.
Set-Piece xG
This isolates the expected goals generated specifically from free-kicks and corners. Given the tight margins in many Championship games, being a threat from set-pieces is a critical component of a successful promotion bid.
Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR / FFP)
The financial regulations, often called Financial Fair Play (FFP), that limit club losses over a rolling period. Leicester’s summer transfer window activity and overall squad rebuild have been heavily influenced by the need to comply with these rules following relegation.
Pressing Triggers
Specific cues or situations that signal a team to initiate their coordinated press. Under Maresca, Leicester might trigger a press when an opponent receives a pass with their back to goal, aiming to win the ball high up the pitch near the King Power Stadium roar.
Transition
The moment a team wins or loses possession and rapidly switches from attack to defence, or vice-versa. Leicester’s ability to attack quickly in transition, potentially through the pace of Vardy, is a devastating weapon against committed opponents.
Post-Shot xG
A more nuanced version of xG that factors in the shot’s placement and power after the player strikes it. It’s a better measure of goalkeeper performance, showing us if a save was routine or exceptional based on where the shot was headed.
Squad Depth
The quality and readiness of players outside the typical starting XI. True squad depth is tested by injuries and fixture congestion, and it’s essential for maintaining a promotion challenge across a gruelling 46-game Championship season.
Tactical Philosophy
The overarching style of play and principles instilled by the head coach. Enzo Maresca’s tactical philosophy at Leicester has been defined by possession-based control, structured build-up from the back, and a high defensive line.
Field Tilt
A possession metric that focuses only on the final third of the pitch. It shows which team is dominating the ball in the most dangerous area. High field tilt suggests Leicester are pinning their opponents back, a sign of offensive dominance.
Minutes per Goal Involvement (G/A)
This measures how often a player contributes to a goal (by scoring or assisting) per minute played. It’s a great efficiency stat for evaluating the direct impact of attackers and creative midfielders throughout the season.
Understanding these metrics transforms how you watch a match. You move beyond just the score to see the underlying performance: are Leicester creating good chances? Is the press working? How is the squad depth holding up? By mastering this terminology, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation for the Foxes’ journey and the intricate details behind each result on the road back to the Premier League. For more on how these metrics play out across the season, check out our Leicester City Premier League Promotion Race Analysis.
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