The Stats that tell the story..

[Papabendi]

….up top.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/ch ... op-scorers

There are 44 slots across goals and assists at this link.

We occupy 1 slot.

Leeds - 6
Sheffield utd - 4
Sunderland. - 3
M’broro - 7


Improvement needed. And quick.

[rufus lumley]

As long as it's not Arne Slot I'm happy.

[Nonayforever]

I don't think it's so much the player, I think it's more the team.

[Darnhill Claret]

It isn't doing M'boro much good.

[Papabendi]

In respect of them being the league's second top scorers. It's doing something.

[jojomk1]

I don't think it's so much the player, I think it's more the team.

It's more the manager !!
Or recruitment
Or Chairman

[Goodclaret]

In respect of them being the league's second top scorers. It's doing something.

Well it is doing something but I'd still prefer our stats and overall chance of promotion over 'Boro's?

[CrosspoolClarets]

Alternatively we can look at defensive stats, where Anthony is 2nd for passes blocked (the only forward in the top 20) and where Esteve and Egan Riley feature in shots blocked before any Leeds player. Or Xpected Goals Prevented where we would have conceded 20 goals with the Leeds keeper in charge.

We are where we are because we deserve to be amd have arguably had the hardest fixtures so far.

Strengthening attack is nonetheless a good thing but we may go up without it.

https://fbref.com/en/comps/10/defense/C ... ship-Stats

[Rowls]

It's a game of two halves, isn't it?

The defensive stats are off-the-charts brilliant.

The attacking stats are dire.

[Sutton-Claret]

We have the 2nd best GD in the league..... GD doesn't care who has scored the most goals

[Ashingtonclaret46]

We have the 2nd best GD in the league..... GD doesn't care who has scored the most goals

It does if the 2nd and 3rd in the League finish with the same GD ----the team scoring the most goals would get automatic promotion.

[Superjohnnyfrancis]

We are playing a super defensive christmas tree formation and relying on on or two attacks per game to score a goal from brilliant crosses from Hump and excellent finishes from Flemming.

At least ask Anthony and whoever plays on the left to go on the outside occasionally! Not really entertaining is it....

[The Shire Claret]

In respect of them being the league's second top scorers. It's doing something.

But they are nowhere near us in the league

[Sutton-Claret]

It does if the 2nd and 3rd in the League finish with the same GD ----the team scoring the most goals would get automatic promotion.

OK forgot about that one detail....

[Bullabill]

It does if the 2nd and 3rd in the League finish with the same GD ----the team scoring the most goals would get automatic promotion.

It ain't necessarily so.

[Papabendi]

But they are nowhere near us in the league

The first part of my post began with the words 'up top'. I am not looking holistically and I am not looking at league positions.

Stats will always draw up anomalies. Norwich are in mid table but figure high on the lists. They score a lot but also let a lot in. No big narrative to have to explain away.

But I do find it interesting that one club sits 3rd in the league and has one player amongst 44 attacking slots. If we take away the story of the defence, that is quite a damning stat of our players in forward positions.

[houseboy]

But you can’t take away the story of our defence. It’s like saying if you take the story of Boro’s attack away they’d be in relegation trouble. It’s the way we play and that’s it. People can talk stats all day but it doesn’t matter. Only points matter and we are doing brilliantly. Here’s a stat: our defensive record, extrapolated over the season, is the best in the history of the football league. Can you get your head around that one?

[ChorltonCharlie]

But you can’t take away the story of our defence. It’s like saying if you take the story of Boro’s attack away they’d be in relegation trouble. It’s the way we play and that’s it. People can talk stats all day but it doesn’t matter. Only points matter and we are doing brilliantly. Here’s a stat: our defensive record, extrapolated over the season, is the best in the history of the football league. Can you get your head around that one?

On course to miss out on a top 2 finish when the target according to our players is to win the league. We're not doing bad, but we're hardly doing brilliantly.

[Newcastleclaret93]

But you can’t take away the story of our defence. It’s like saying if you take the story of Boro’s attack away they’d be in relegation trouble. It’s the way we play and that’s it. People can talk stats all day but it doesn’t matter. Only points matter and we are doing brilliantly. Here’s a stat: our defensive record, extrapolated over the season, is the best in the history of the football league. Can you get your head around that one?

The thing is it’s a totally pointless stat if we don’t get promoted.

Does anyone care if our defensive record is so good if we finish 3rd? I know I certainly don’t

[Papabendi]

But you can’t take away the story of our defence. It’s like saying if you take the story of Boro’s attack away they’d be in relegation trouble. It’s the way we play and that’s it. People can talk stats all day but it doesn’t matter. Only points matter and we are doing brilliantly. Here’s a stat: our defensive record, extrapolated over the season, is the best in the history of the football league. Can you get your head around that one?

The BBC clearly think you can - as they have published a set of numbers detailing top scorers and top assist makers.

[CrosspoolClarets]

But you can’t take away the story of our defence. It’s like saying if you take the story of Boro’s attack away they’d be in relegation trouble. It’s the way we play and that’s it. People can talk stats all day but it doesn’t matter. Only points matter and we are doing brilliantly. Here’s a stat: our defensive record, extrapolated over the season, is the best in the history of the football league. Can you get your head around that one?

Parker clearly believes that to loosen the shackles would cost us points, not gain us points.

That’s why you (and I further up) are right on this.

What Parker needs though is a safeguard against that judgement starting to falter, or our defence getting leaky. If he refuses to loosen the shackles he could buy a couple of top players who will still improve us up top.

[Papabendi]

Parker clearly believes that to loosen the shackles would cost us points, not gain us points.

do you really think that is true against the weaker teams in the league at home?

[Spijed]

Norwich have scored the 3rd highest number of goals.

The fact that they are very poor at the moment in 11th place tells you that scoring goals is pointless if you can't keep clean sheets.

[Papabendi]

Absolutely.

By the same token - we have drawn more games than anyone around us. The reason for this is we struggle to convert draws into wins because we don't score enough goals and we don't have enough players creating good chances.

You see, these data are very useful.

[The Shire Claret]

Absolutely.

By the same token - we have drawn more games than anyone around us. The reason for this is we struggle to convert draws into wins because we don't score enough goals and we don't have enough players creating good chances.

You see, these data are very useful.

I think what got me commenting was the 'Need Improvement, and quick' statement

We are well in with a shout at automatic promotion after a really tough string of results

win away on Wednesday can cancel Leeds out and I think we will win the league playing this way ....

As SP has said many times , always looking to improve and work on things but there is no panic what so ever for me

[Colburn_Claret]

I think what got me commenting was the 'Need Improvement, and quick' statement

We are well in with a shout at automatic promotion after a really tough string of results

win away on Wednesday can cancel Leeds out and I think we will win the league playing this way ....

As SP has said many times , always looking to improve and work on things but there is no panic what so ever for me

It's all about opinions, and I respect yours, but I have no faith in this style. We are playing with one arm tied behind our back.
To use another boxing analogy, we're in a fight where we are trying not to be hit so much that we aren't capable of putting the other guy down.
Imo it's bloody awful to watch, and I also think that if we don't change we won't go up.
That would mean another season in the Championship, only next time with no Trafford, no Roberts, no CJER, no Esteve, no Brownhill.........they'll be gone. That's why it's so important we don't blow this opportunity, it might be the last one we get.

[The Shire Claret]

It's all about opinions, and I respect yours, but I have no faith in this style. We are playing with one arm tied behind our back.
To use another boxing analogy, we're in a fight where we are trying not to be hit so much that we aren't capable of putting the other guy down.
Imo it's bloody awful to watch, and I also think that if we don't change we won't go up.
That would mean another season in the Championship, only next time with no Trafford, no Roberts, no CJER, no Esteve, no Brownhill.........they'll be gone. That's why it's so important we don't blow this opportunity, it might be the last one we get.

And I respect your opinion too ... Which is why i'll turn to boxing analogies too..... like the great Joe Calzaghi ... we wont knock many out ... but we will not take much damage and get the job done all the way to the top of the division !

UTC

[Papabendi]

we won't be going up automatically if we keep failing to beat poor teams at home.

[The Shire Claret]

we won't be going up automatically if we keep failing to beat poor teams at home.

We will if we keep beating good teams away

[jrgbfc]

Its putting a lot of pressure on us to keep winning away though.

[equinox]

The 'stats' suggest that we can't really get any worse in the offensive department, therfore we can only get better (which we will) so where does that leaves us?

[The Shire Claret]

The 'stats' suggest that we can't really get any worse in the offensive department, therfore we can only get better (which we will) so where does that leaves us?

Champions on Toast

[Ashingtonclaret46]

It ain't necessarily so.

Very true ---except if they have the same number of points and finish in second and third positions and have the same goal difference. In that case, the team who have scored the most goals will be promoted automatically.

[equinox]

I personally think we're quite an 'attacking' team, we play two wingers ffs. We're just not very good at it.

[CrosspoolClarets]

do you really think that is true against the weaker teams in the league at home?

I believe that Parker believes it. I don’t. Which is why I have panned him consistently on the ratings thread, while praising him away.

But I accept he could get us up, in a very tactically stage managed chess match way.

[blatherwickstattoos]

A week and a bit to find 2 attacking minded players. Can see it being the downfall of us this season. Recruitment should have had them lined up the 1st January. Unless parker feels we can go up with a very poor goal scoring return

[ClaretTony]

A week and a bit to find 2 attacking minded players. Can see it being the downfall of us this season. Recruitment should have had them lined up the 1st January. Unless parker feels we can go up with a very poor goal scoring return

Best defensive record in the league, second best goal difference, third in table - not a lot wrong

[blatherwickstattoos]

Best defensive record in the league, second best goal difference, third in table - not a lot wrong

Defence is incredible. No denying it. But our lack of goals is that of a bottom 3 team. I’d love to know the lowest amount of goals scored to get promoted is and to see if we are on target for anything above it.

[ClaretTony]

Defence is incredible. No denying it. But our lack of goals is that of a bottom 3 team. I’d love to know the lowest amount of goals scored to get promoted is and to see if we are on target for anything above it.

Defending is of equal importance to attacking - the two have to be placed alongside each other

[Goodclaret]

Defence is incredible. No denying it. But our lack of goals is that of a bottom 3 team. I’d love to know the lowest amount of goals scored to get promoted is and to see if we are on target for anything above it.

But the fact our goals scored is bottom 3 is irrelevant when our defence is so good. You could score only 46 goals all season and win every single game if your defence is immense. The only real important stat is the one that places you in the league, ie number of points compared to the other teams. The way you get there isn't important.

[houseboy]

The BBC clearly think you can - as they have published a set of numbers detailing top scorers and top assist makers.

The BBCpublish anything to try to give pundits something to waffle about.

[houseboy]

The thing is it’s a totally pointless stat if we don’t get promoted.

Does anyone care if our defensive record is so good if we finish 3rd? I know I certainly don’t

But I think we will. We have had some tough games recently while Leeds in particular have had a recent easy ride. Defences win trophies unless you can spend ridiculous amounts of money on forwards and pay them half a million pounds a week. But that’s another story.

[Winstonswhite]

So we don’t get promoted this season. We have a good summer wheeling and dealing, get some decent forwards and go again- a bit like Leeds have this season. Is that such a big deal?! No one seems to have any patience these days.

[Papabendi]

we have moved up in terms of representation after last night. We have three slots instead of one. Confused as to why Anthony is not recorded as having 4+ assists, although perhaps there is a 4 'cut off''?

[Papabendi]

Best defensive record in the league, second best goal difference, third in table - not a lot wrong

Still hold this opinion?

[Newcastleclaret93]

But I think we will. We have had some tough games recently while Leeds in particular have had a recent easy ride. Defences win trophies unless you can spend ridiculous amounts of money on forwards and pay them half a million pounds a week. But that’s another story.

You do realise we have the most expensive squad in the league and second highest wage bill.

Defences contribute to winning trophies. Goals have always been what wins you the league. Unfortunately we haven’t scored in 5 of our last 7 games even with the most expensive squad in the league

[dsr]

So we don’t get promoted this season. We have a good summer wheeling and dealing, get some decent forwards and go again- a bit like Leeds have this season. Is that such a big deal?! No one seems to have any patience these days.

We can't afford patience.

In 2022-23, the last season in the Championship, club income was £47m from TV and £17m from everywhere else. Interest paid on loans and other creditors was £9.5m. Wages paid were £54m, Other costs £28m.

If and when the parachute money runs out, then we will have income of perhaps £25-£30m. No more, perhaps even less. The loan interest will be over £10m because or rising interest rates, leaving less than £20m to pay all the club running costs PLUS wages. We won't be able to borrow any more, because we're mortgaged to the hilt. Pace will not repay the £125m that he owes because the only way to pay that back would be to sell the club for more than he paid for it. We'll be skint. In practice, what will happen would be (best case) we would sell all the saleable assets and pay off the loans so we can be in a position a bit like Preston or Blackburn but minus the sugar daddy putting the money in.

[gandhisflipflop]

It's a game of two halves, isn't it?

The defensive stats are off-the-charts brilliant.

The attacking stats are dire.

We need a balance. The last 2 years, the balance was heavily weighted towards attacking with no thought for defending properly. This season the scales have reversed. We need more weight in attaching to balance them out and naturally that may lead conceding more but at this stage of the season, the difference between 3 points and 1 point make the risk worth taking.