Golac's Cunning Stunts

I have mlg on ignore but it doesn't really work as his comments get repeated in quotes. Is there any way to get the quotes on ignore too?

So that makes Juventus happy. Surely you aren't suggesting jwp is the best free kick taker in the world?

I looked the book up. this is the one https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1788702050/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thanks for the detailed response and some interesting thoughts. I did read a book a few years back on how these things are being used in football. I can't remember the name of it but it had a green cover 🙂 One thing I remember from the book was that (at the time at least) Brentford were big into it and were using these kind of stats in their purchasing decisions. I'm sure this all has a big part to play, but equally there is a part of football that can't be quantified by it - heart, bravery, coolness under pressure (eg when taking a penalty in the finals of the Euros), leadership etc etc Franny Benali probably wouldn't have made it as a pro based solely on his stats, yet he gave me some of my most enjoyable moments as a Saints fan (coming on as sub v West Ham and sent off 20 mins later after launching Futre into the stands anyone :-))

But we do keep getting dicked by embarrassing scores. Using your obviously superior knowledge of all these stats, where do you suggest we are going wrong and what should we do about it? (You can read this as a sarcastic or argumentative post - it isn't - I'd be genuinely interested) Without having studied any of these stats, my answer is that it's glaringly obvious we need to improve all things defensively. Stats would play a part of identifying good defenders, but attitude ("being bloke enough to win" as you put it) will also play a part. Just look at how everybody's head falls when we let a goal in. Anyway - interesting discussion.

Agree. It was painfully obvious that we let in far too many goals last season. Lightweight at the back, always looking like we will concede. Can't see the addition of a left back making much difference to that to be honest.

Yes we did really well after we got the Van Dick money didn't we 🙂

agreed. sell him now if he won't sign. It won't work trying to keep him if he doesn't want to stay

A move to City will almost guarantee an england squad place!

Could see him going to City as backup to a bigger name for sure. Don't think he would go there as their main striker

it was souness but i do get your point

Bore off mate

All this talk about "JWP would be stupid to go there" - he absolutely will want to go if he gets more wedge. Wouldn't any of us go to a new job if offered a significant payrise? Wouldn't it be stupid to say "He works at Tesco, there's no way he will be interested in going to Sainsburys"? If he is getting more wedge, he's going to go. More money + being sold the story of the ambitions Villa have (whereas Saints appear to have little ambition) + potential chance to play with higher profile players and get a place in the england squad - all solid reasons to go to villa

It's a real shame but we all know there's little hope of saints spending all the potential transfer fee on players. They'd probably spend £10-£15m of it on an unproved option. Gone are the exciting summers of Koeman in the transfer market when he was backed and we still had ambition!

yes perfect description. For example, perfectly describes the embarrassing loss away v WBA

The thing that gets me with this modern tendency to amalgamate the mother and father's surname is where does it end? For instance, what would happen if a ward-prowse and a wright-phillips had a child together?

most of the game was a snore bore, but having had so many heartaches following england, I'll take it for sure. Was moaning before the game that southgate had picked Philips, but he surprised me with a very good performance. Put James in at LB and move Trippier over to RB please. Walker struggles to make even the most basic of passes.

such an autist response 😂 ah well, what difference does it make?

Yeah and just because you say you aren't a woke snowflake doesn't mean you aren't pal

Leave off the word "effectively" and I think you're even closer to the truth!!

Yep, agreed. We are reaping the rewards of no investment. Really not looking forward to next season as things stand.

Considering Villa were extremely fortunate to survive in the prem the season before last and we were comfortable mid table - it has taken exactly 1 season for the tables to turn

Yep correct and can see us being in Bolton's current position in a year or two

and/or a golf course

Yep this is nail on the head. I feel we have one top-six level striker, then the rest of the attacking unit is good mid-table level. Defensive unit is relegation material.