EPL 2024-25

[EnochRoot]

No, xG stands for Expected Goals. It's a statistical measurement of the likelihood of any shot becoming a goal. It takes into account where the shot was taken from and some other factors. It's not perfect, but it's a better measure than just counting shots or shots on goal.

I guess, but taking 20 shots while only 5 of them actually reached the general vicinity of the goal worth defending also suggests they really didn't do a good job of maximizing their opportunities either, no?

[EnochRoot]

I've been cock-blocked by YouTube on message boards the past several months. "sign in" to prove you're not a bot. I am signed in.

This is Google being pissed at Apple for blocking their trackers.

I was able to find it on YT and watched the clip. Thanks!

[cerranoredux]

I’ve been watching regularly since it became available weekly on a relatively standard cable channel (was it Spike or its predecessor, definitely before the late great NBCSN) and I’ve said this before, but I’m very happy I never made myself pick a favorite club. It’s a perfectly enjoyable (if casual) viewing experience without that.

You missed your last chance to avoid being a total disappointment to your father. Shoulda just went with Gary, Steve, Fritz and me. (That’s what you get for flirting with Leeds you gobshite.)

ETA: I just saw the other post avoid me and your dad and I take it all back! You’re a good egg, Rass.

[cerranoredux]

I too was little disappointed the NUFC didn’t kick on but at the end of the day, they closed out a match on the road with their 4th clean sheet in a row. Even against a club in shambles, that’s still a pretty mean feat. Now if they hadn’t lost Schär for next match vs. the Yids…

[garyclark]

I too was little disappointed the NUFC didn’t kick on but at the end of the day, they closed out a match on the road with their 4th clean sheet in a row. Even against a club in shambles, that’s still a pretty mean feat. Now if they hadn’t lost Schär for next match vs. the Yids…

Praying that the Botman chatter is real, and he's match-fit. Lloyd Kelly had a couple of nice matches at the beginning of the campaign. But he looked crap the last time I remember him playing.

[DaveInSeattle]

On today's Guardian Football Weekly podcast, one of the pundits called the shots of the dark-suited, dour looking men of the Man United board as the "Politburo of Bullshit". Which killed me.

[govmentchedda]

I can't get over how impatient the British media and Man U fans are. Everyone needs to chill the F out. This year should only be in service of next year's results. That being said, none of these fucking owners deserve a minute of rest. Ratcliffe can eat a bag of dicks just as much as the Glazers can.

[A_B]

If it weee just his year id agree with you. But it’s just been piled on year over year.

[mister d]

Having just suffered through consecutive bad months, I agree with AB that patience has limits.

[garyclark]

If it weee just his year id agree with you. But it’s just been piled on year over year.

I think Ratcliffe's arrogance has contributed significantly to this lack of patience. He drastically underestimated how hard this would be, overestimated how smart he was, and that has led to some unbelievably bad decisions. Much of the fanbase this summer were convinced they were back, as real contenders.

Keeping Ten Hag was just so obviously dumb. I remember seeing the news, and being delighted.

And the tweets I saw re: Ashworth alone were so bloody cocky. Now he's gone already. After all of that. And after overpaying for players who didn't fit a system.

And all of this on Sir Alex's birthday.

[wlu_lax6]

Out at Plymouth.

[EnochRoot]

The art of scanning in football.

This is one of, if not the best article I’ve read on The Athletic.

[DaveInSeattle]

I've been cock-blocked by YouTube on message boards the past several months. "sign in" to prove you're not a bot. I am signed in.

This is Google being pissed at Apple for blocking their trackers.

I was able to find it on YT and watched the clip. Thanks!

Rory Smith, formerly at the NY Times, now at the Athletic and the replacement for Davo on the Men In Blazers podcast, wrote a book about XG, and the use of data/analytics in modern football.

[govmentchedda]

Not EPL, but we don't have an FA Cup thread.

Ashley Young could play against his son Tyler today when Everton play Peterborough in the FA Cup.

[DaveInSeattle]

Not EPL, but we don't have an FA Cup thread.

Ashley Young could play against his son Tyler today when Everton play Peterborough in the FA Cup.

And now Sean Dyche is sacked, hours before this match.

[Baloney]

Not EPL, but we don't have an FA Cup thread.

Ashley Young could play against his son Tyler today when Everton play Peterborough in the FA Cup.

And now Sean Dyche is sacked, hours before this match.

New ownership group making a mark.

[Rex]

I feel bad about it. Dyche and Jordan Pickford are the two reasons why the club isn’t in the Championship right now. On the other hand, the Friedkins obviously didn’t buy the club to preside over Dycheball, so may as well get it over with. Now they own the consequences if they fail to stay up.

[DaveInSeattle]

I feel bad about it. Dyche and Jordan Pickford are the two reasons why the club isn’t in the Championship right now. On the other hand, the Friedkins obviously didn’t buy the club to preside over Dycheball, so may as well get it over with. Now they own the consequences if they fail to stay up.

I thought for sure that they would wait it out until the end of the season, hoping that Dyche-ball would be just cynical enough to keep them out of the relegation zone, and then they'd replace him for next season in the new stadium.

I read a rumor in the Guardian about Jose Mourinho being on their radar. Yikes...

[sancarlos]

I feel bad about it. Dyche and Jordan Pickford are the two reasons why the club isn’t in the Championship right now. On the other hand, the Friedkins obviously didn’t buy the club to preside over Dycheball, so may as well get it over with. Now they own the consequences if they fail to stay up.

I looked up Dan Friedkin to see how he became a billionaire. Not surprisingly, it came about because … his father was a billionaire!

[The Sybian]

I feel bad about it. Dyche and Jordan Pickford are the two reasons why the club isn’t in the Championship right now. On the other hand, the Friedkins obviously didn’t buy the club to preside over Dycheball, so may as well get it over with. Now they own the consequences if they fail to stay up.

I thought for sure that they would wait it out until the end of the season, hoping that Dyche-ball would be just cynical enough to keep them out of the relegation zone, and then they'd replace him for next season in the new stadium.

I read a rumor in the Guardian about Jose Mourinho being on their radar. Yikes...

Men in Blazers would be highly entertaining with Mourinho in charge at Everton.

[garyclark]

The art of scanning in football.

This is one of, if not the best article I’ve read on The Athletic.

Loved this. Thanks for sharing.

Reminds me of court vision in basketball.

[Rex]

love to see Arsenal in their white unis against Manchester United in blue

[A_B]

That was a soft penalty.

[A_B]

Fuck yeah. Eat a bag of dicks aresholes. Ball don’t lie.

[Baloney]

Tamworth hold Spurs in regulation and loose in extra time.

Tamworth are 96 places below Spurs.

[garyclark]

Tamworth hold Spurs in regulation and loose in extra time.

Tamworth are 96 places below Spurs.

They had two shots at winning in the closing seconds.

[garyclark]

What a moment for Zirkzee.

He was so obviously poor in the first half against Newcastle that he was pulled. And the Old Trafford crowd cheered. Then he went to the locker room early before eventually returning.

To go from that to a winning penalty is amazing, kicking fifth no less!

[garyclark]

I cannot believe people are calling for Arteta's head.

You're in 2nd place in the EPL. Behind only arguably the best team in the world. Ridiculous.

[sancarlos]

Tamworth hold Spurs in regulation and loose in extra time.

Tamworth are 96 places below Spurs.

They had two shots at winning in the closing seconds.

Always some crazy results in the FA Cup. Plymouth Argyle is deadfuckinglast in three Campionship league, yet they upset Brentford.

[phxgators]

Tamworth hold Spurs in regulation and loose in extra time.

Tamworth are 96 places below Spurs.

They had two shots at winning in the closing seconds.

Always some crazy results in the FA Cup. Plymouth Argyle is deadfuckinglast in three Campionship league, yet they upset Brentford.

And their reward is Liverpool in the next round. But at home!

[DaveInSeattle]

Kyle Walker...OUT!

Guardiola undecided on whether Kyle Walker plays for Manchester City again

Pep Guardiola is yet to decide if Kyle Walker will play for Manchester City again following the captain’s request to “explore the option” of playing abroad.

The 34-year-old was left out of the match-day squad for Saturday’s 8-0 FA Cup third round defeat of Salford City after informing the club on Thursday of his wish to depart.

Milan are interested in signing the defender and Guardiola was asked if he will continue to leave out Walker while his future is in the balance. City’s next game is at Brentford on Tuesday.

“I don’t know. It depends on how we are going to train [players perform in training],” said the manager. “It depends on him. The transfer window will finish when it finishes [at the end of the month] and I don’t know what’s going to happen. I said to him: ‘Now it’s a question of the market.’”

Guardiola believes Walker could continue his career for another four years. “He is an incredible player with incredible physicality,” he said. “When he is focused he is unstoppable as a right-back. He’s a top class player, if he is fit, he can play one, two, three or four more years as a professional.

“I never saw a player with these physical conditions in my career. [But] if he wants to explore [options], he has to decide, not me. It’s not my decision.”

[mister d]

I can't remember a time when Pep stood in the way of a player who wanted to leave. He's definitely been more adamant about hoping someone doesn't than he was above, but usually even without regard for the depth chart, anyone who wants out is allowed to seek a move.

[Baloney]

[garyclark]

Just a note that a full slate of EPL matches are getting played today and tomorrow, most starting around 2:30 PM ET.

[DaveInSeattle]

Just a note that a full slate of EPL matches are getting played today and tomorrow, most starting around 2:30 PM ET.

Who would have guessed that a Liverpool/Nottingham Forest match on a Tuesday would be a battle for the top of the table?

[garyclark]

Crazy fun games today. Very fun for a neutral (or Newcastle fan).

[Shirley]

Chelsea still should have won, but how in the world was this clothesline to the face not a red card?



Not only that, but the ref overturned the VAR recommendation of red. Baffling.

[garyclark]

Looks bad. But definitely need to see more video and a different angle.

I will also admit that, since I think Cucurella is one of the dirtiest players in the league, I probably am asking to be convinced more than I would be for others. Because it looks pretty bad from there.

[mister d]

I watched a post-game clip and 2 of the 3 commentators said something along the lines of "in a bubble its a red but given Cucurella's earlier involvement with Brooks and his history of dirty shit and card hunting, the ref did a good job of game management". Which I like because fuck him and Chelsea.

[rass]

Apparently the first time a red card review has been rejected in the PL. ESPN FC thinks the on field ref made the right call, and either bends over backward to explain why or has some interesting guesses at why.