The Fish

Of the 220 PL games played so far, 137 games have gone the way of xG. That's 62%. 51 of the remaining 83 have <0.7 variance. (In other words 186 results have been at least close to the 'expected' result) So there've only been 32 results from the Premier League season that have gone differently than the xG suggested, by a significant measure. Of those 32, 7 wins went to the team with the significantly lower xG. tl;dr I don't think you get it.

Because xG records quality of chances, how many goals you'd 'expect' to see from the chances that occurred in the game. In those games you show, the xG adds so much more context than the Goals for and against figures do. The Man Utd - Newcastle game there. it shows that despite the 2-0 scoreline, the game was one of relatively few 'good' chances and that 2-0 flatters Man Utd. Their freekick was excellent, but in reality that chance is one that is missed more often than not. Rashford's 'goal' was, again, not a massive chance. It doesn't mean the team with the highest xG will always win, because football isn't like that. It simply records which team created the most high 'good' chances. 0.4 - 0.7 means there weren't any big chances and there was a huge difference between the two sides.

No not a stereotypical one, but he's more of a goal threat than Wilson is, right now.

I'd love to, but I don't have the stats for it. The two stats that I'd bee looking for would be xG and post shot xG. Former would show us if we were causing their defence as big a problem as we remember, the latter would emphasise just how good Peter Schmeichel was.

We were having to rely on Murphy and Ritchie in the final few minutes, they could bring on Jadon Sancho, Sabitzer et al. Another couple of windows and we'll be bringing on the likes of Saint Maximin to replace our 1st choice left winger, or our young midfielder with bags of potential to replace Bruno's tiring legs. re: the shots, I think it must be. We've been shot shy in a lot of games recently. Partly because the chances haven't been falling to Wilson, but I'm convinced the main reason is that we're trying to fashion a chance with a high chance of a goal. Unfortunately that's not been happening. Bruno, Longstaff, Schar and Trippier can all have digs from deep if they want, and in games where we're playing well sometimes you need something like that to give the opposition another threat to be concerned about.

We're not even 'miles away', we literally got to the cup final, had a lot of the ball, played some good stuff too. If Wilson was on form, or if we had another Bruno-level player I think we could have won that game.

Fucking Hell man. Just... Fucking Hell.

Not Bruno?

Anyone who thinks this is real and not some staged horseshit.

But that's the point, once we sign more players like Bruno and have fewer players like Murphy* at the club, our mentality will shift. Look at Man Utd, they have spent hundreds of millions over the years and have winners throughout the side, yet they still went off to sign Casemiro who knows exactly what is needed to win trophies. Who in the current squad can say the same? But as we add players with the quality and winning mentality, we will see better ends to days like this. *Not that he did anything particularly egregious.

Botman leading the party behind the open top bus.

No one is paying £200m for him. Fucking Hell, nobody is paying £75m for him.

Yeah. Quite a few times really. He and Joelinton trade positions through the game and Willock will pop up on the left wing while Joelinton's busying himself in the centre.

I think you can alternate their positions/roles throughout the match. Then, like you say introduce ASM and Isak to take advantage of tired legs. Then Murphy, for the lols.

Gotta go with Wilson to start, imo. Personally I'd go with Willock and Joelinton. Don't think ASM has done anything wrong, but our best form was with a cohesive pressing unit up their end of the pitch and ASM doesn't slot in as neatly as Willock and/or Joelinton. Karius Trippier Schar Botman Burn Longstaff Bruno Joelinton Almiron ----------- Willock Wilson

Mrs Fish wants a personalised number plate.

Alreet grandad?

That's a terrible bit of business. I'll sell you a tenner for £15

I'm convinced you've got silhouettes of seagulls crossed out, like the flying aces of WWI and II.

I'm oscillating wildly between getting wildly excited and horrifically pessimistic.

Does anyone on here actually have bumper stickers on their cars?

I remember hearing that because of the way lefties were viewed when he grew up, people tried to force him to play right handed, on a right handed drum set, instead of his natural left handed way. Then when he switched back to left handed drumming it birthed his unique drumming style. Or something like that. (usual caveats about me probably not knowing what I'm talking about apply).

If there was ever a man more nailed on to be welcomed back with open arms as Sunderland manager I'd be amazed. The only thing more amazing if he didn't very quickly drew the ire of the MLFs by failing to meet their unrealistic expectations.