Jimburst

Really wouldn't be changing anything at the moment. I know Hayden is probably the worst of the three starting midfielders, but he's earning his place by being part of a winning team. His defensive mindedness is also an attribute you can't give Shelvey.

Very glad this has been roundly criticized.

Was Lejeune brought back too early then? Wasn't he back on the bench last week?

I hope he doesn't go down the OJ Simpson route

One stat, out of context would. The rest of his stats would likely be awful, if he doesn't score for 37 games...

Aye, of course. Football is about entertainment, and you can't measure that with (particularly well) statistics. If we're talking about arguments over player efficacy, accuracy or other discrete data, then obviously statistics are important. A: "player x always gives the ball away" B: "Not true, he has x% pass accuracy, above league average" Which completely ignores the type of situations in which the player gives the ball away. Huge difference between giving the ball away under pressure to giving the ball away from a hoof forward. With 'key chance' it's also completely arbitrary. Some nerd in a box determining what a key chance. I'd much rather talk about genuine football than numbers. Aye, so you use them in context. You don't say "Ben Arfa loses the ball all the time, look at his stats" when he's trying to beat people 10 times a game, then compare him to sideways pass Jack Colback and say Colback is the better player. You might, however, use stats to back up an opinion you already hold from actually watching football. I just think they're useful indicators of particular quality, but can obviously never describe a whole player or a whole match.

Aye, of course. Football is about entertainment, and you can't measure that with (particularly well) statistics. If we're talking about arguments over player efficacy, accuracy or other discrete data, then obviously statistics are important. A: "player x always gives the ball away" B: "Not true, he has x% pass accuracy, above league average"

Said it before but the use of stats in football, bar goals (and assists to a degree), is a clear sign that someone knows absolutely nothing about the sport. Sky are attempting to force us to adopt the American model of relying on nothing other than meaningless statistics. That's just not true. There might be too much importance placed on them, but statistics in context are a very strong method of analysis, and can give insights into less glamorous aspects of the game that are just as important. Distance covered, passing accuracy, key chances created, tackles. All important descriptive statistics if used properly and in context. Key chances created is probably the main one used that gets on me tits. Utter bobbins. What's up with it? If you've put it on a plate for your striker and he fluffs his chance, you've still done your job.

Said it before but the use of stats in football, bar goals (and assists to a degree), is a clear sign that someone knows absolutely nothing about the sport. Sky are attempting to force us to adopt the American model of relying on nothing other than meaningless statistics. That's just not true. There might be too much importance placed on them, but statistics in context are a very strong method of analysis, and can give insights into less glamorous aspects of the game that are just as important. Distance covered, passing accuracy, key chances created, tackles. All important descriptive statistics if used properly and in context.

Perhaps it's meant to say 'second successive transfer window' after we failed to add much in Jan?

Ah, to Joselu for his first time miss?

Which pass?

I thought Perez was our best player in the first half. Didn't see much of the second half but he had skill and determination today, impressed me. Hopefully he'll get a goal or an assist in coming games and start contributing directly, but he's definitely looking better than last season, tbh.

Long face?

I can't quite believe it actually happened, like.

Also, as i read it, the bonus was an extra 1m for 'staying up' and now the new bonus system includes extra bonuses for each place higher in the table, plus the 20m for winning the FA cup.

That's fucking crazy height!

Looks tasty minus using Ritchie on LWB.

Incredibly irritating.

Some people are literally mental. Imagine getting called a waste of money after less than 90 minutes of playing time. Absolutely pathetic. Probably the same people who claim we'd be worse off without Ashley.

My "mate" reckons he hasn't in fact walked yet, but will do by early next week due to a very specific problem. But fuck knows. Just what we needed. This club, man. Again, this is assuming your "mate" isn't talking bollocks. Right now I have no idea what to think anymore. Reckon it's safe to assume he's talking bollocks.

Thank fuck! Was really ready to blame our capitulation on this.

Aye, he really wouldn't be missed.

What a weird thing to say.