Better sides will overall see more of the ball, end of story.

Overall, yes it’s overrated.

https://understat.com/league/EPL
expected goal 2.31 vs 0.44.

Man City are perfect example of how good possession game is and that Barcelona side under Guardiola.

Leeds a good example. We've had more possession in all bar one game this season yet were second. It's how often you put the ball in the net that counts.

Depends if there's an end product

Pep's Barca would invariably demoralise the opposition with it leading to goals

Then there's the LVG version which ultimately demoralised the fans

We used to dominate most games under LVG though at home.

Yeah but it was boring as fk

The year Leicester won the Prem showed that its not how long you have the ball its what you do with it when you've got it.

It depends on a few things. Possession football can be boring or exciting depending on the teams. Same can be said for most other styles of football.

There isn't one style that is the best. The great thing about football.

Weird conclusion you've drawn from this. You've compared one game where Wolves had more possession and drew to two games where they've had less possession and won, against top six teams.

Firstly you're not going to play a top six team and dominate them as you do the weaker teams, you're going to use a deeper line and counter. Secondly you're not going to user a deeper line and counter against weaker teams when you can be dominating the game on the front foot. More often than not dominating the game as the better team gets the points, obviously.

Having the ball more than your opponent, using only common sense tells you that you have a better chance to score than your opponent, as you have the ball more and your opponent less. The stats back that up if you don't have any common sense.

Possession is only effective if you pass the ball very quick otherwise it is useless.

City is a possesion based team but their passing is 120 mph and they have the players to handle that.

LVG possession is more of a control based style.

Cannot score a goal (rare own goal) if you don't have possession.
Stats get skewed when teams "dominate" possession by constantly passing it across the back without really going forward.

comment by San Miguel (U1449)
posted 10 hours, 31 minutes ago
Depends if there's an end product

Pep's Barca would invariably demoralise the opposition with it leading to goals

Then there's the LVG version which ultimately demoralised the fans
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https://www.fctables.com/england/premier-league/ball-possession/

The possession stats are very similar to the actual league positions, therefore no, it's not really overrated. (Chelsea and Wolves being a slight anomaly here, but still- the top 6 in the league are also the top 6 for possession)

comment by puffinthebushkangaroo (U1950)
posted 1 hour, 1 minute ago
Cannot score a goal (rare own goal) if you don't have possession.
Stats get skewed when teams "dominate" possession by constantly passing it across the back without really going forward.
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The passing the ball around the back is vital to this tactic as it draws the opposition out who are trying to counter your tactic by defending deep and countering. If you pass too quickly and too directly they haven't come out and you have no space. This is why you always hear managers talking about patience and not forcing it. The trick is to find the balance.

OP in "different tactics can be effective" epiphany

Huddersfield are 8th in the possion table, yet find themselves rock bottom of the PL table. They average just over 50% of possession, yet have just two wins and have scored 14 goals in 26 games.

Huddersfield have just 3.5% less average possession than Man United who are 4th in the PL.

Crazy

Maybe they should try standing one player in the goal and pass to him? Shooting doesn't seem to work for them Do they even have any strikers?