Rich

The current problem, as I see it, is the lack of granular data that's publicly available for free when it comes to xG. Models have come a long way in the last decade, but, as punters, we don't really get to have a proper look at the really interesting stuff. I was creating models in the industry professionally ~10 years ago that were far, far better than the stuff that's now in the public domain, and gave a lot more context around the data points. We also did a lot of work on " attacking/defensive efficiency", largely due to Leicester City's insane season, and got quite a long way to explaining how they were able to do what they did. At the point I left that role, things had moved onto AI taking over from human analysts so I assume that's where everything is going now at that level. Fully mapping the pitch, assigning precise probabilities of goals being scored to every single square yard or metre based on thousands and thousands of games worth of data from all over the world, and then going back historically to fill in the data related to each and every player and each and every league/competition using video. The problem is always going to be how small the sample size is for such an undertaking at an individual level, though. Say a professional plays ~35 games per season for 10 seasons, on average, you've only got 350 games to get data from at an individual level. Actions might be repeated a few thousand times, in the main, or up to ~50,000 times at the top end, and although that sounds like a lot of data to work with, it's really not. It will get there, though, it's still incredibly early days, relatively speaking. And even now, with what we have available, xG is by far, by far, the most reliable method of judging team quality in the public domain (if not player quality just yet).

The base "score" has to be the same for every player, because only then can you infer anything from the data created. If you played 10 seasons in the PL and Shearer played 10 seasons in the PL, the data would clearly show the difference between the two of you in terms of penalties, headers, shots from various distances/locations, etc.

Something like this has to be what we're gunning for. Sixth is there for the taking this season. I don't think it's wrong of people to have this sort of hope for the conclusion of the window, because we clearly haven't done enough yet. The people running the show will know that, though, it's not like the old days.

And he'll have Joelinton to look after him up here and Bruno to be his new best mate. No brainer for the lad, surely?

Look at the FFP police over here.

CM target pool: Maddison, Gallagher RW target pool: Pulisic, Hudson-Odoi, Harrison, Gordon, Barnes ST target pool: Isak, Ramos, Broja, Dieng Who am I missing?

Gallagher vs. Willock

It's just parroting that Diego Almeida fella, nothing new at all.

Reckon we low-ball them if they lose to Kiev?

https://www.ojogo.pt/futebol/1a-liga/benfica/noticias/newcastle-afina-mira-em-goncalo-ramos-15092966.html

Gallagher would be perfect for us, but I just can't see it happening.

Them and Southampton are in deep, deep shit.

RW, CM, and ST is definitely the ideal. Still not completely out of hope that it can happen.

From 8th November, when Howe was officially appointed. That was undoubtedly poor on Saturday, but we are definitely moving in the right direction.

Depay to Juventus.

Wildcard could be Joelinton on the left to give an aerial target higher up the pitch, and Longstaff reprising the role in a double pivot from his Rafa days.

Hoping to see the return of five at the back, and a clinical counter-attacking display. Don’t think we should write it off, but a draw would be a very good result. Pope Trippier Schär Burn Botman Targett Almirón Guimarães Joelinton Saint-Maximin Wilson Maxi’s actually the one I’m most torn on, we might be better off structurally with Fraser starting and using ASM as an option from the bench.

Surely it’s Spurs’ time today? Think they’ll finish second this season, if injuries are kind.

I’d go for this as well, drop Willock.

Does he keep the place now?

I love this game.

He’s made about three excellent passes up the line, to be fair.

He’s been fucking awful.

Didn’t realise Hacksjaw Jim Duggan was on Villa’s staff these days.

It’s like Bruce ball vs. Bruce ball.