Dimmu

After 22 games, this is how DCFCFANS Forum members rate the players. The ratings are based on 375 observations (max) depending on games player by the player. Nelson is the clear leader, followed by Cashin. Top 5 is made up of 4 defenders so you can see what our season so far has relied upon. I'll be posting more analyses over this coming weekend. Surprised not to see NML higher to be honest. 
More analyses to come including recent improvements by Wilson and Collins.  
 
 
 
 
 

Don't mind me, just chowing down on some good old fashioned humble pie.

We should consider signing TJJ as a super-sub if contract terms and physical tests are favorable. Unfortunately, it won't solve the problem that we urgently need another striker. If something happens to Collins, we'll be screwed and I believe everyone is aware of that.

As for TJJ, he appears to be physically raw and weak, yet his first touch and shot are certainly something to build on.

My favourite parts of the game:
Firstly, Thommo’s header and straight afterwards nicking the ball from the goalkeeper. Brilliant press after the whistle to avoid the likely handbags and time wasting. Young man, well done! 👏 
Secondly, the passionate team celebration after the third. So much emotion!  They don’t know then they are beaten, do they?
 
Thirdly, our mocked skipper having an assist and two second assists. Always in the centre of our positive attacking moves. 
Bring on Peterborough!

My favourite parts of the game:
Firstly, Thommo’s header and straight afterwards nicking the ball from the goalkeeper. Brilliant press after the whistle to avoid the likely handbags and time wasting. Young man, well done! 👏 
Secondly, the passionate team celebration after the third. So much emotion!  They don’t know then they are beaten, do they?
 
Thirdly, our mocked skipper having an assist and two second assists. Always in the centre of our positive attacking moves. 
Bring on Peterborough!

Hourihane is one of our most important players. Constantly, mainly accurately and quickly, recycling the ball left right & centre. 

My favourite parts of the game:
Firstly, Thommo’s header and straight afterwards nicking the ball from the goalkeeper. Brilliant press after the whistle to avoid the likely handbags and time wasting. Young man, well done! 👏 
Secondly, the passionate team celebration after the third. So much emotion!  They don’t know then they are beaten, do they?
 
Thirdly, our mocked skipper having an assist and two second assists. Always in the centre of our positive attacking moves. 
Bring on Peterborough!

My favourite parts of the game:
Firstly, Thommo’s header and straight afterwards nicking the ball from the goalkeeper. Brilliant press after the whistle to avoid the likely handbags and time wasting. Young man, well done! 👏 
Secondly, the passionate team celebration after the third. So much emotion!  They don’t know then they are beaten, do they?
 
Thirdly, our mocked skipper having an assist and two second assists. Always in the centre of our positive attacking moves. 
Bring on Peterborough!

My favourite parts of the game:
Firstly, Thommo’s header and straight afterwards nicking the ball from the goalkeeper. Brilliant press after the whistle to avoid the likely handbags and time wasting. Young man, well done! 👏 
Secondly, the passionate team celebration after the third. So much emotion!  They don’t know then they are beaten, do they?
 
Thirdly, our mocked skipper having an assist and two second assists. Always in the centre of our positive attacking moves. 
Bring on Peterborough!

My favourite parts of the game:
Firstly, Thommo’s header and straight afterwards nicking the ball from the goalkeeper. Brilliant press after the whistle to avoid the likely handbags and time wasting. Young man, well done! 👏 
Secondly, the passionate team celebration after the third. So much emotion!  They don’t know then they are beaten, do they?
 
Thirdly, our mocked skipper having an assist and two second assists. Always in the centre of our positive attacking moves. 
Bring on Peterborough!

My favourite parts of the game:
Firstly, Thommo’s header and straight afterwards nicking the ball from the goalkeeper. Brilliant press after the whistle to avoid the likely handbags and time wasting. Young man, well done! 👏 
Secondly, the passionate team celebration after the third. So much emotion!  They don’t know then they are beaten, do they?
 
Thirdly, our mocked skipper having an assist and two second assists. Always in the centre of our positive attacking moves. 
Bring on Peterborough!

Well that performance last night was an absolute tonic to me after a dreadful Christmas (my dad is terminally ill and has been in hospital throughout Xmas). I wasn't going to go , even though the Kassam Stadium is less than 2 miles away from where I live but my family persuaded me to so I went and apart from that first 15 minutes I had the best away day I've had for years. That second half performance was brilliant; relentless attacking pressure that blew Oxford away. The Rams fans last night were also amazing; you wouldn't have known we were the team 2-0 down. I couldn't speak at the final whistle from all the singing!
Its nights like that that make following this club so special. After what has been a rough few weeks personally I really needed that experience last night. 
COYR
 

Controversial.

Sad to hear about the dimwit with the laser pen , amongst such brilliant support in the away end last night , we dunna need it ! Can see some green dots on the "limbs" video on page 41 of this thread , great win ,great night , bring on the Posh , COYRs

Feels like we can open teams up now with the creativity and goals of Mendez Lang , and Worldstar Wilson could nutmeg a mermaid , Come On You Santa loving Rams !

I'm looking forward to this window. My guesses are:

OUT:
Embleton
TJJ

IN:
Striker, midfielder, and winger. All loanees.
 

Warne said we need more speed and firepower up front. I could live with that.

Warne said we need more speed and firepower up front. I could live with that.

Warne said we need more speed and firepower up front. I could live with that.

Social media is a stinking pit. Football related social media is a stinking tribal pit with the dials maxed out. Better not to get involved, I'd imagine.

I thought a little bit of statistical comparisons could be an interesting read. Maybe some statistical knowledge might even calibrate one's expectations.

Here are the points per game averages needed for automatic promotion and playoff spot in recent seasons:

Season      19/20   20/21    21/22    22/23    23/24 so far
top 2          1.77       1.89     1.96       2.13        2.05
playoff       1.69       1.61      1.8         1.67        1.89
This season, we are averaging 1.89.

To get to the average 2.14, which should mean automatic promotion, we would need 62 (61.84) points from the last 27 games. It could be achieved for example with 19 wins, 5 draws, and 3 losses = 98 points.

To get to the average of 2.05, which could be the amount needed for automatics, we would need another 59 (58,3) points. 18 wins, 3 draws, and 6 losses = 93 points.
If we keep getting the points we have so far this season, we will be heading towards another 16 wins, 4 draws, and 7 losses. Overall that would mean 88 points which doesn't sound bad at all, but this season it might not be enough.
People have been saying that the league is poor this season. The stats support the idea as the top 6 teams average more points than usual. With the number of points we have now, we would've been in the top two 20-21 season. Poor level is a double-edged sword though as the top teams don't drop many points. Poor level means unforgiving at the same time.

There is not much to conclude from this except the fact the draws are not enough. We need to go for a win in every game, even if that means occasional loss.

I felt these stats are not completed yet. I had to take a look into xG and xGA. You all wanted this, right? So, here's xGD (expected goal difference) lately.

Season 19/20    20/21    21/22    22/23    23/24
2nd       0.47      0.35      0.77      0.72       0.54
6th        0.21      0.40      0.34      0.24       0.23
We have scored 1.79 per game, while our xG has been 1.51.
We have conceded 0.84 per game when our xGA has been 1.11.
Therefore, we are scoring 0.28 more than expected and conceding 0.27 more than we should, which is a good sign. It also means that we are heading towards xGD 0.4 which usually has meant playoff place but is not enough for automatics.

Let's take a look at other candidates for promotion. If xG doesn't change much towards the end of the season, Peterborough should do well and Stevenage should drop from their current position. Let's see how it goes.

What surprised me most is how well such a robust method as xG, xGA, and xD creates a valid linear pattern over the whole season.

I'm expecting a ridiculous amount of xG bashing even though I'm more interested in what people think of our chance of getting around 95 points this season.

I think utilising the ignore button may save someone's sanity. If a poster regularly annoys you, put them on ignore.
Though sadly, some bugger will quote them and then you froth at the mouth again.