Cissé's Start Is The Stuff Of History

Several weeks ago we did a comparison of what at the time were the two top chance-converters in the Premier League, Demba Ba and Robin Van Persie. We noted that at 27 and 26 percent chance conversion respectively, they were clipping along at more than twice the league average for cashing in scoring opportunities. 

Papiss Cissé is making a mockery of both of them.

After Cissé's two goals Sunday, his Premier League statistics are enough to make one's eyes fall out of one's head. Cissé is now converting an astounding 39 percent of his chances - three times the league average of 13 percent, and miles ahead even of Ba and Van Persie, who have "slumped" to 24 and 23 percent. In our previous comparison, we noted that shot accuracy, the ability to put the ball on target, appears to be the part of chance conversion the striker controls most, with the rest down mainly to the quality of the chance. Ba and Van Persie are the Premier League's leading regular strikers in shot accuracy at 58 percent. Cissé, thus far, is at 67 percent - he's hitting the target on more than two-thirds of his shots.

As an American who didn't grow up with the English game, my grasp of history isn't as extensive as our English readers, and historical stats aren't as readily available for English football as in American sport. But I'm having a hard time coming up with a hotter start by a Premier League striker. Perhaps I'm missing someone, and if so, readers should feel free to chime in. It seems safe to say, though, that Cissé is off to one of the most blazing debuts by a striker that the Premier League has ever seen.

Perhaps we shouldn't let ourselves get too spoiled. It's just a few games, right? No one could keep up anything resembling such a pace, right? But don't forget that Cissé was not far from this torrid with a drop-zone club in Germany. The Spectator's View blog tweeted Sunday that "Cisse currently has the 3rd best goal to game ratio in the WORLD. Only behind Cristian Ronaldo and Lionel Messi." Most of that came without partners in the same solar system as Ba and the suddenly Messi-esque Hatem Ben Arfa.

Never mind stats, though. When Cissé banged his flying header against the inside of the far post on Sunday's first goal, it was clear we were watching someone and something special. Ba commented at the African Cup of Nations that "When Cissé sleeps, he dreams of the back of the net." He's not the only one. With this preternatural scorer at the core of a frightening new triple-pronged attack that has made a short-handed back line seem nearly irrelevant, Newcastle fans can't help but dream about the backs of nets across a entire continent, and soon.

Comments

[beatski]

Apparently Sir Les got 8 in 7 for us after he signed (I also read that there are 12 other debuts that were as prolific as Cisse's)

[Nick]

Great Read! It would be interesting how he stacks up against the old greats of Shearer, Henry etc. Also lets see how he has got on by the end of the season for a fuller picture. He has had an awesome start and clearly has a great eye for goal. Good times ahead for the Toon!

[Deana]

Great article. I think it's a little early to compare stat %s but let's get excited anyway!!!!

[ken]

Fantastic article. When he signed I was hoping for this kind of return by the seasons end. The downfall is Ba's lack of goals, but he makes an excellent left sided forward. And at the moment, Cisse's goals are game deciders

[KatherineSolano]

He has started brilliantly, just what all geordies hope for at the start of a new number 9 era. Goals galore and yes, like one of the other people said, he has a Les-like record and a style and sleekness very much like Andy Cole although maybe of a higher pedigree, being a full on International and having played in different national leagues.

[JP...from The Rock]

A very clinical finisher, my dream signing-way better than Maiga (remember him?- and he's making my dreams come true with goals galore.

[Toon Fan in MN]

Don't forget: he's still struggling to adjust to the English game :-P

[MnToonArmy9]

I think Cisse's start is due to at least three things:

(1) His undeniable talent and skill...hope he adjusts soon to the EPL!
(2) The fact that Hatem Ben Arfa may be playing some of the best football of his life. I have a man-crush on Cabaye and he is clearly a very good player, but HBA is the kind of player that is creating chances...even if once or twice he dribbles one too many times once in a while.
(3) Demba Ba. How can you ignore a guy who has scored 16 goals on the season? Clearly that creates some space for Cisse. I just hope Demba doesn't mind having his friend and countryman eat a bit into his goal total.

To quote Hannibal Smith: I love it when a plan comes together.

[Mathew]

This is all fine and dandy but if Newcastle doesn't lock up Ba I can't get too giddy over all these stats. Cisse is great and a 'fox in the box' however he's helped a lot by having defenders worry and mark Ba so much. It's also amazing to have such hot strikers right now for a combined cost of 10 million?!?! Newcastle would be INSANE to let Ba slip away and not lock him up to a huge contract for at least 5 years. Even if you just get 2 more years out of him then ship him for a tidy sum it'll be well worth it.
I haven't been this excited about a striking partnership at Newcastle since Shearer and Ferdinand!!
Come on Ashley give him a big ol' pay day!!