The season 2020 - 2021.

Blessing

 

I believe it's a key pass made while falling to the ground, arms wildly waving and looking beseechingly to the heavens (with one eye) and to the referee (with the other). As you can see from the list, players of Mediterranean and South American origin are particularly skilful in this respect, and WyScout, being an Italian company, accords this skill the recognition it deserves (in contrast to sour puss Northern European analytics companies such as Opta).

 

"Smart Pass
Something more than a simple pass, not so easy to be done. There has to be some idea in the pass, something creative, when the player is cutting the lines and winning some advantage for his teammates with this pass, leading them in good position to attack. The pass should be between 2-3 opposite players."

WyScout Football Data: Events Manual

 

Are they asking for a degree in laundry science?

 

After 12 matches, we've now completed over a quarter of the season and sit on top of the table. New players seem to be settling in well, though this has also been compromised by injuries (Dowell, Quintilla, and now Mumba, Idah and possibly Hugill as well). The return of these players as well as Cantwell, Byram and Hernandez could have a big impact for the rest of the season. Time will tell.

 

Duplicate post.

 

Averageing the points haul so far from this season our 21 points would see us survive in 16th position with the bottom of the table.

17 Fulham 17 points

18 West Brom 13

19 Burnley. 11

20 Sheffield. 5

 

Yes, and the league table after 12 games is usually a good guide to who will be challenging in the final stages. Our cumulative xG and xGa show just how much we are struggling to convert good chances into goals (GF 14, xG 23.4) while being bailed out by conceding far fewer than expected (GA 8, xGa 15.2). Both discrepancies are partly down to us (poor finishing, improved defending) but equally the opposition (good defending, poor finishing). Yesterday was a good illustration in virtually every respect. Would anyone have complained if it had ended 1:1?

 

Yes Warnock

 

The problem with that is I still think xG is a very flawed measure.

For example, of our xGa, as each penalty is apparently worth 0.76. So the three penalties against us make up 2.28 of our xGa.

However, Krul is famed for saving penalties. He’s saved 5 out of 13 for us (and actually 5 out of the last 9). I think you could justifiably reduce a penalty where Krul is in goal to around 0.5 or 0.6 xGa. The current measure doesn’t do that.

I know it does not move the dial much, but it is only one of the measures and does go to show that the xGa isn’t accurate enough, especially on penalties, to measure player by player.

I’m not saying it’s useless, it’s definitely (to me anyway) interesting and adds some colour to performance, but it should be treated cautiously.

 

Kings Lynn won again too, so happy days for the Norfolk Clubs

 

What you are doing here Rob is explaining why we have out-performed our xGa. xGa is saying we could be expected to have a GA higher than 8. You are saying, correctly, that 2 of the goals in the 7 goal discrepancy are accounted for by Krul penalty saves (and one by yesterday's "double kick"). Others are down to woeful opposition finishing. Likewise, looking at the discrepancy between xG and GF, you could say e.g. Marshall was in inspired form when we played Derby, and e.g. quite a few of our best chances so far have fallen to Onel H, who isn't the sharpest finisher.

 

Honestly who'd have thought we'd be talking about Norwich City and "defensive solidity" / out-performing xGA after the last couple of seasons. Last promotion season we had one of the leakiest defences in the league, disguised by the headlines of being highest scorers. We found out that this combination doesn't work in the PL. Here's hoping we can keep this defensive reliability up. Definitely looks like a better balance after 12 games even if the GF column has taken a hit.

 

12 Games in and we're yet to concede a goal from a set piece.

 

This might upset a few but I didn't especially rate Ben Godfrey. I think what Everton paid was all the money. He's a good Championship level centre back but I think yesterday against Fulham he looked not quite up to it.

 

I think the Rooney goal was a set piece, but I get your meaning.

 

And their only win

 

Yes of you're right. That'll teach me for listening to pundits