IlsonDerby

But bought in 3 full/wingbacks, the cb he’d been courting all summer, a better back up keeper. Dobbin wasn’t getting a start, Davies has been replaced by the better Nelson (hurts saying that), McGoldricks goals have been replaced by Collins and NML stepping up. Forsyth has been solid and I genuinely think Elder is an excellent player at this level who will win fans around. 
 
Knight the real loss in the middle but spent just as much time at right back last season and I’d argue Nyambe is a better right back. 
 
There’s no doubting for me that we are a stronger outfit than last season and a fit back up striker away from being arguably the strongest squad in the division. 

That only holds true if you think that all shots (or shots on target) are equally as likely to result in goals.  As soon as you accept that some shots are more likely to result in goals than other shots, then xG is potentially a better stat that just shots on its own.
There are absolutely some types of games where shots (on target) is going to be a very good predictor of the actual outcome, because in general the better team is more likely to have more shots and more likely to score some of them.  But there are also games where that is not going to be true.  For example, games where you've got one team dominating possession against a team sitting in a low block (which we've seen plenty of over the years!), the team on the ball is probably going to have a fair few shots, but many of them will be pot-shots from distance or snatched half chances under pressure, that are unlikely to result in goals.  The other team is going to have much fewer shots, but they are probably going to be much better chances, where they've won the ball back an counter-attacked or something. 
xG is just an attempt to factor all that stuff in.  You can see it in the scores/stats you've posted above.  Luton had nearly 3 times as many shots as Sheff Utd, but the xG is almost the same.  That's very clearly saying that Luton were creating a lot of poor chances, vs Sheff Utd creating a few very good ones.  The Fulham vs Bournemouth game is similar.  I haven't watched those games, but those xG stats are telling more about the game than just the shots ones on their own are.  xG is certainly not perfect, and there's definitely an element of opinion in it (someone is having to make a value judgment somewhere about what a 'good' chance is, even if that is just down to the choice of methodology for calculating it), but to me, it's telling me stuff I didn't already know, so its useful.

Completely forgot about the home game! @Jourdan we were battered by Plymouth at home and as Jubba says I have no idea how we went 2-0 up! 

I’ll be honest - my problem is not Warne and has never been Warne. My problem is performances and that more often than not we still feel along way away from what he thinks his football should look like at full flow yet he’s had 3 transfer windows and a very healthy budget to work with. 
 
I’m pretty sure that our budget is higher than any of the Rotherham sides he took up. 
 
If we were playing the football I think he envisages his teams playing then yeah it’d be a bit of a change from the possession based stuff we were a bit more used to but ultimately it’d still be entertaining to watch but in a different way. 

Ipswich and Plymouth both looked considerably better than us in our matches last season even if the results were close. 
 
Wednesday didn’t but they were proper flat track bullies and beat who they should have been beating. 

Ipswich and Plymouth both looked considerably better than us in our matches last season even if the results were close. 
 
Wednesday didn’t but they were proper flat track bullies and beat who they should have been beating. 

It's relevant when appraising the team and the manager. I sincerely do not believe we've gotten better since last season, I just think the competition is worse. As a result, I find that concerning because on that basis we haven't made progress. Which leads me then to question why that is. 
The eye test shows we've been poor. We can all look at the league table and stick our fingers in our ears and pretend that everything is brilliant, but it isn't is it? The football we play is largely rancid, and only by the virtue of being less shocking then these other crap teams we come up against, we pick up points. 
It's not about being especially good to get promoted against better teams, it's that I want long term success for this club. In the short term, we may well get promoted. I have a horrible feeling about what will happen if we do though. I don't think we're close to good enough to playing in the league above. I want long term, sustainable success for the club. And yes it has to start somewhere, but I actually don't think we're going in the right direction for that. It's a genuine concern.

This train of thought that we are struggling to play good football because League One football is poor and the opposition drag us down to their level is just a complete cop out for poor coaching.
Do you think if Leicester were in League One they’d suddenly struggle to play football too? Or do you think they would just play how they are in the Championship and batter everyone 5-0?
You can’t use the opposition as an excuse for playing crap football. That is on our manager and coaches.
 

It is though if you care about the more long term. The only people happy to swallow this are the ‘up at all cost’ opinions regardless of what happens afterwards in the championship 

Vile defending 

That tackle from Hourihane was stupidity. Very lucky not to be sent off.
 
Show some experience ffs

That tackle from Hourihane was stupidity. Very lucky not to be sent off.
 
Show some experience ffs

Look a yard quicker than Shrewsbury since the goal! 

Seemingly outplayed by Buxton? 

adult football is so so different to academy football. Most of these lads are nowhere near first team ready yet (and that’s no criticism) so the constant hankering for them to be given first team minutes right now is frustrating. 

Please don’t be Bob Malcom. Please don’t be Bob Malcom. Please don’t be Bob Malcom. Please don’t be Bob Malcom. Please don’t be Bob Malcom. 
 
 
Appearance #1: optimism at 10/10 from me. 
let’s hope he kicks in and doesn’t become BM mark 2. 
 
 

They were my thoughts exactly on Saturday.  Think it was Wolves away(?) excellent debut followed by several performances that left me wondering if he had ever played before!

To be fair, Adams doesn't seem like the kind of guy who gets pissed and decides to sleep it off in the middle lane of the M1......

Seemingly outplayed by Buxton? 

adult football is so so different to academy football. Most of these lads are nowhere near first team ready yet (and that’s no criticism) so the constant hankering for them to be given first team minutes right now is frustrating. 

Seemingly outplayed by Buxton? 

adult football is so so different to academy football. Most of these lads are nowhere near first team ready yet (and that’s no criticism) so the constant hankering for them to be given first team minutes right now is frustrating. 

Seemingly outplayed by Buxton? 

adult football is so so different to academy football. Most of these lads are nowhere near first team ready yet (and that’s no criticism) so the constant hankering for them to be given first team minutes right now is frustrating. 

Seemingly outplayed by Buxton? 

adult football is so so different to academy football. Most of these lads are nowhere near first team ready yet (and that’s no criticism) so the constant hankering for them to be given first team minutes right now is frustrating. 

Seemingly outplayed by Buxton? 

adult football is so so different to academy football. Most of these lads are nowhere near first team ready yet (and that’s no criticism) so the constant hankering for them to be given first team minutes right now is frustrating. 

Seemingly outplayed by Buxton? 

adult football is so so different to academy football. Most of these lads are nowhere near first team ready yet (and that’s no criticism) so the constant hankering for them to be given first team minutes right now is frustrating. 

Seemingly outplayed by Buxton? 

adult football is so so different to academy football. Most of these lads are nowhere near first team ready yet (and that’s no criticism) so the constant hankering for them to be given first team minutes right now is frustrating. 

He’s just too good to be true
We can’t take our eyes off Ebou