The Oriol Riera stats showing Wanderers could yet fire this season
Oriol Riera’s goals return offers only a glimpse of his full potential, and the $1.3 million man’s display last weekend was demonstrative of the misfiring Wanderers’ inconsistency.
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HE’S already got three goals to his name but Oriol Riera’s statistics reveal just how much Western Sydney’s main man could further lift his team - if he can sharpen his execution.
Riera sits equal fifth in the Golden Boot standings after five outings this season.
However the $1.3 million Spanish striker’s return offers only a glimpse of his full potential, and his display last weekend was demonstrative of the Wanderers’ inconsistency thus far.
Riera let rip eight shots in last Friday night’s 2-0 loss to Newcastle.
Only two, however, were on target, and the remaining six featured a couple of gilt-edged chances including a free close-range header he skewed wide.
Compare that to Brisbane’s Adam Taggart, who scored two match-winning goals from his seven shots against Melbourne City.
Jets attacker Ronny Vargas also returned a goal for his four shots against the Wanderers, but no other player managed more than three across the round.
According to Fox Sports statistics, Riera has racked up a league-high total 27 shots from five outings so far this season, with nine on target.
It’s already more than a third of the total 76 shots (32 on target) he notched throughout his entire 2017-18 campaign, which he finished with 14 goals across 25 appearances.
His goal return after five rounds is one less than at the same point last season.
Had the off-contract 32-year-old, reportedly the target of a Spanish Segunda club, had his eye more sharpened he might be up there with golden-boot leaders Adam Le Fondre and Adam Taggart, who’ve five goals apiece.
It begs the question of how prolific the Wanderers could be if they’re collectively less wasteful with opportunities.
Against the Jets only five of their 18 shots were on target, but a round-high 41 balls into the area suggest the Red and Black are at least onto a good thing.
Supporting the argument is that German playmaker Alex Baumjohann (15 chances) is the league’s equal second-most-prolific chance-creator behind only Keisuke Honda (17) and boasts a competition-high 45 crosses.
It’s not like the Wanderers haven’t come close – they’ve hit the woodwork seven times this season, four more times than any of their rivals.
Coach Markus Babbel noted finishing was the biggest issue for a side showing encouraging build-up play, and that will be the key to making a statement against a Honda-led Melbourne Victory on Saturday.
The Wanderers sit eighth with one win, two draws and two losses, and could slip further if they draw a blank against reigning champions Victory at Marvel Stadium.
A win, however, could springboard them north ahead of the next home clash with bottom-placed Central Coast.
In their favour, at least, Kosta Barbarouses is still yet to score this season despite his 18 shots, though he forms part of an attack that’s started to hum with the introduction of Swedish striker Ola Toivonen.
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