Headline takeaways

Output: Skubala’s side are scoring more and conceding less (GF 1.7, GA 0.9) than Kennedy’s (GF 1.27, GA 1.09).
Territory/tempo: Possession is slightly higher under Skubala (~46% vs ~42%), but team passes are lower(≈269 vs ≈355) with slightly lower accuracy (≈74% vs ≈79%). That’s a strong hint of quicker, more vertical phases rather than accumulation.
Pressing: PPDA improves from ~15.0 (Kennedy) to ~12.0 (Skubala) — a more assertive press and/or higher defensive activity outside the box.
xG: xG For is broadly similar (~1.11 Skubala vs ~1.14 Kennedy). The big swing is finishing and shot quality selection (goals up without a big xG jump) and defensive outcomes (GA down despite opponents’ xG not collapsing).

Tactical/read of the numbers

Press & rest-defence: The PPDA drop (≈15 → ≈12) signals more frequent ball pressure and earlier engagement lines. Recent match logs show high interception counts and sustained duel volume in midfield — the team are stepping in rather than collapsing to the area.
Shot suppression vs shot quality: Kennedy’s opponents took more shots on average; Skubala’s opponents still see a lot of the ball (opponent passes ≈476 vs ≈524 under Kennedy) but are forced to circulate further from goal. The outcome is fewer goals conceded (0.9 vs 1.09) even if xGA hasn’t cratered — the block looks better at contesting the box and protecting the six-yard line.

Directness: Fewer total passes with similar or slightly higher possession implies shorter, faster sequences(quicker progress rather than long spells). Forward-pass and final-third entries in the match rows back this up: we often record strong forward-pass counts with modest accuracy, the trade-off you see from risk-accepting vertical play.
Transitions: Counter-attack entries appear more frequent and purposeful under Skubala (multiple games showing counterattacks leading to shots; e.g., Posh away, Luton at home). That fits the model: win it higher, go forward early, create higher-value looks without inflating overall xG.
Set plays: Conversion and “set pieces with shots” are consistently present in the recent sample; the team are leveraging dead balls as a dependable chance source to top up open-play threat.

Efficiency bump: With xG roughly flat (≈1.11 vs ≈1.14) but goals up (1.7 vs 1.27), there’s a tangible finishing efficiency and/or shot selection improvement — more shots from central or fast-break contexts, fewer low-probability slashes.
Penalty-area presence: Touches/entries metrics in the game logs trend healthy in wins/draws, pointing to more repeat box arrivals even if total shot volume isn’t huge. It reads like a quality-over-quantity attack.

The Skubala sample shows robust aerial/defensive-duel win rates in games where we control scorelines. That underpins the plan: compete physically, turn first/second contacts into attacks, and keep the back line aggressive to hold territory.

Kennedy (last 10): Lower possession, more opponent passes, higher PPDA — a deeper, more containment-oriented block, longer defensive phases, and reliance on moments, set plays and counter windows.
Skubala (last 10): Slightly more ball, many fewer passes (faster gears), stronger pressing, and better box management. It looks like a vertical, transition-leaning 3/4-man midfield build that prioritises quick progression and repeat arrivals over prolonged circulation.

Net upgrade in both boxes under Skubala (GF↑, GA↓) without needing to dominate the ball. The identity is quicker, bolder, higher-pressure — make more of the same possession, win it higher, and cash in with sharper final-third play and set-piece reliability.

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