Our Championship Rivals

KVetch

Key Player
I caught that match, was hoping Luton would at lsast keep it level. They still have another match to play Wednesday vs Reading. They're trying sign more attacking players, I saw rumours for Che Adams. I've been looking at the fixtures and for some reason that Forest one is really sticking out. Leeds and then Forest 5 days later. Rovers and Reading to end the season. All clubss we're going to be fighting with for a playoff spot.
 

IanABS94

Guest
Watching WBA and Stoke. How on earth are WBA first and how on earth are Stoke only 1 point above the relegation spots. Shows how utter crap this league is this year. Both teams are playing extremely poor though.
 

ivoralljack

Grizzled Veteran
Staff member
Both teams total CRAP!! Joe Allen was head and shoulders better than anyone else on the pitch and ran himself into the ground.
 

Jackflash

Midfield General
Staff member
WBA in freefall, now just 4 points above playoffs. Stoke now 4 points clear of relegation zone.
 

KVetch

Key Player
Checking out our next opponent and any chance to see former star sam Clucas. Stoke only had 4 shots, 2 on target and 31% possession. Similar to our stats against Leeds. Hope we don't have a similar game against them. I'd like to see a 3-0 win and up the differntial.
 

KVetch

Key Player
This is how.

View attachment 1146

Stoke are not so poor, and WBA are not so good.

Have a look at Stoke, Wigan, Barnsley, Forest and Bristol's positions in the expected points table.
I always wonder how much of these xG tables have to do with luck, tactics, skill etc. I was hoping Barnsley could steal a draw or win from PNE but it doesn't look so good right now. 0-3. They've been better lately but they don't look like they can score or defend tonight.
 

CroJack

Key Player
I always wonder how much of these xG tables have to do with luck, tactics, skill etc.
Expected goals is a metric that shows how many good chances teams create. It really doesn't matter how many good chances you create if you can't convert them. Or if you are constantly making sloppy passes in dangerous areas which are converted to goals against you.

What you can see from expected goals is how good managers are. Look at Leeds and Brentford for example. They create so many chances and at the same time they don't concede many. Like Manchester City and Liverpool in the Premier League.

If you remember, Leeds totally outplayed us at their home turf in August last year, but they failed to score from many chances they created. We, on the other hand, scored from a lucky punch. Leeds have had problems with converting their chances whole season. That says something about the quality of their forwards, but the fact that they are top of the league for expected goals and points says all about Bielsa. He is a top manager. Same with Brentford's Frank.

As you know, there are many combos: excellent managers and excellent players, mediocre managers and excellent players, excellent managers and mediocre players, mediocre managers and mediocre players etc.

For now we have a mediocre manager and mediocre players, but let's hope the new signings will change that.
 
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CroJack

Key Player
The Championship is a crazy league. Fulham defeated today at their home turf by Barnsley 0:3.

The teams around us keep losing points, but we just can't capitalise on it, can we? This season has been our best chance to get promoted. With a better manager and a little bit investment we would be up there where WBA and Leeds are right now - automatic promotion places.
 

Victoria Swan

Key Player
Just finished watching Watford against Brentford - decided 1-1 by two penalties. A few observations:
  1. I saw exactly why Brentford are out-of-sight leaders in the expected goals table. They are masters at threading balls though the gaps to players getting in behind.
  2. If we'd had Ivan Toney instead of Lowe up front since the start of the season we'd be about ten points clear at the top of the table - he is such a natural striker with great positional sense and a wicked shot.
  3. Watford are a gang of thugs (led by the thug-in-chief Deeney) and next time we play them we need Fulton and every other big bruiser we can lay our hands on out on the field (can we fetch Tatey out of retirement for that game?!!).
  4. There is little fairness and justice in Championship results -- Brentford should have easily won this game as the far superior team.
  5. If this is the supposed cream of the Championship crop (along with Bournemouth - who we held to 0-0 draw - and Norwich - who only managed to squeak by us 1-0 at Carrow Rd) then we have a seriously good chance at an automatic promotion spot this year.
 

Jackflash

Midfield General
Staff member
Can't really see them as out of sight leaders in the goal table, Reading are equalling them on 28 goals plus a game in hand. We too have a game in hand on them and have a equal goal difference, in fact I'd prefer the way the G/D pans out, they have scored 7 more goals, but also conceded 7 more. and tonights result could well give us an even better G/D which could mean a lot promotion wise.
 

Jackflash

Midfield General
Staff member
Chance to watch two of our close rivals live after our game. Reading take on Norwich at 8-00 pm.
 
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