Live Match Discussion 2023/24

[Deutsch Wolf]

No but if you consistently concede more chances than create, you can’t expect to get away with it on a consistent basis.

We’ve improved in that aspect anyway since early December I think. Then had injuries which have derailed that. Being the 12/13th best team in the league with the situation we found ourselves in August is also still a good achievement from the coaching team.

Oh absolutely. Offer me that after Palace or Luton (which were both terrible in different ways) in September and I'm snatching your hand off.

 

[Quirkafleeg]

Making Europe would be a disaster without five additional signings. Squad way to small and inexperienced for the additional games as it stands.

We finish were we finish if it is Europe we will deal with it.

 

[Templeton Peck]

Everton A
Bournemouth A
Sheff U H

Games where we've got 9 points when maybe 3 was deserved.

Man U A
Sheff U A
Fulham A

Got 0 points deserved 5.

 

[Carrotdude]

Wouldn't call Everton a smash and grab, Sa made some good saves but so did Pickford and Fabio missed the target altogether with the clearest chance of the game. More a low quality (but still eventful) game that could have gone either way.

The raw xG numbers for Fulham at home will show that they 'should' have won by that measure but it's their own problem that they displayed terrible finishing in the first half, then we clearly outplayed and outfought them in the second half and on that basis I'm not sure they can complain too much. Even then a flurry of late chances when we were already 2-0 up with very little time left will skew the figures.

Yeah it’s a fair point, but I do think you have to consider yourself lucky if teams are consistently missing good chances against you - certainly at this level. It’s all fine margins and when you balance everything out we’re probably about where we should be but the injuries (and lack of depth) have killed the chances of a great finishing position.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Are teams consistently missing good chances against us?

Recency bias, but in the last two games it's been us (RAN) that has missed very good chances.

Also, alternatively we haven't scored from outside the box in the league have we?

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Fulham missed two absolute sitters at 0-0 in our last win.

No, we haven't scored from outside the box in the league - though there was a matter of inches in it for Bellegarde at Bramall Lane or Semedo's shot vs Fulham which deflected in.

Doyle and Neto have scored from outside the box in the FA Cup.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Deflections/own goals:

City at home
Chelsea away
Fulham at home

I'm sure there are more?

 

[AndyWolves]

I don't believe in XG as a metric at least not in individual games, but if you are playing that very binary game we are +12 points and 5 places

Who topped the Premier League xG table for 2023/24?

Goals are great, but what's even better than actual goals? Expected goals. And, according to xG, Man Utd deserved only 40 points in 2023/24.

www.football365.com

Everton!

 

[AndyWolves]

Deflections/own goals:

City at home
Chelsea away
Fulham at home

I'm sure there are more?

FWIW, and if you believe in xG or not.

We're currently showing a GA of 8 less than xGA

Our G looks about level with our xG

I'm sure different sources will vary on the actual numbers and with the obvious caveats around xG etc

 

[MARKakaJIM]

That's pathetic from City. Bentley would've been embarrassed at that effort of a save.

 

[Jack Regan]

Unstoppable from De Bruyne.

 

[Wolftone]

Looking at our squad size, abilities and work ethic. We're not top six or bottom three. So wherever we finish now is about right. To improve next season we need to increase the size of the squad by adding solid pro's and upcoming talent.

We finish were we finish if it is Europe we will deal with it.

If dealing with it means further injuries and squad depletion we could end up relegated. Not my preferred option over a few trips abroad.

 

[Quirkafleeg]

Looking at our squad size, abilities and work ethic. We're not top six or bottom three. So wherever we finish now is about right. To improve next season we need to increase the size of the squad by adding solid pro's and upcoming talent.

If dealing with it means further injuries and squad depletion we could end up relegated. Not my preferred option over a few trips abroad.

After today it's now a pipe dream WT.

 

[Wolftone]

After today it's now a pipe dream WT.

Personally I think that's for the best.

 

[Tony Towner]

Personally I think that's for the best.

I guess that's fine if you want to finish 11th to 13th. 11th to 13th this season and 11th to 13th next...yay.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Personally I think that's for the best.

I don't think sport is for you.

 

[Wolftone]

I guess that's fine if you want to finish 11th to 13th. 11th to 13th this season and 11th to 13th next...yay.

No I want to finish 6th with a squad that can handle 48+ games in a season and maintain that or improve that. Maybe thats too much for you to contemplate.

 

[Tony Towner]

No I want to finish 6th with a squad that can handle 48+ games in a season and maintain that or improve that. Maybe thats too much for you to contemplate.

Finishing 6th is a pipedream. That's being above 3 of City, Utd, Spurs, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Villa, West Ham and Newcastle. It's not going to happen even if you've drunk Jeff's Summer spend Kool-aid. A club our size cant pick and choose when it makes Europe, you need to seize the opportunity when it's there.

 

[Jinky]

Hilarious opener for Celtic in the old firm after 23 seconds.

 

[Templeton Peck]

Fabios got this