Match Day Thread West Brom v Liverpool

I'm sure you could find somebody who thinks we've been worse since he joined. What you need to find is data. Subjectively, as others have mentioned, his effect on the rest of the defence is harder to quantify but should still be evident.

Before he joined, we had a 58% win percentage, which went up to 68% since. We leaked 1.6 goals per game before and 0.89 after.

We have lost 2 games in 19, compared to 2 in 31 before, but any statistician will tell you two is far too small a sample set to draw conclusions from. Indeed, the number of games he's played is still a relatively small set but the line on the graph is currently rising.

Coincidentally, one of those losses since he joined was against West Brom in the FA Cup.

 

Not wishing relegation on anyone but as it stands, we get to lose all our 'bogey' teams in one go.

 

Is stoke a bogey team?

west brom ok.
Southampton.. hummmm.... maybe
Palace would be.

not sure about stoke.

 

Only won 4 of the last 10 games v Southampton including a 5 game run LDLLD .
Stoke away isn't an easy fixture and maybe I'm letting the 6-1 drubbing mist my perspective but they're still a bogey team for us.
We've won 6 of the last 10 against Palace.

 

No FA action against West Brom's Hegazi for alleged blow on Liverpool's Danny Ings - 3-ex-Ref panel did not unanimously agree it was a red card...

 

And the elbow on Salah?

 

And MoTD wanted Mane sent off for being fouled in the area, and handball when he'd been fouled again. Funny old game...

 

Who was the panel then lmao

 

That’s a normal Scouse greeting. POTY should learn to deal with it.

 

It was hardly a tap, but letter of the law should see Ings walk for having stupid tattoos

 

So no way out for the poor lad, he's got to play all 3 remaining WBA games

 

but your "data" does not show primary force of any change upwards is VVD rather than for example moving to a more disciplined MF 3 & the back 4 staying further back - oh & Robertson instead of Moreno.

I'm not saying we haven't improved defensively i just take issue with VVD being given most of the credit though we do at least now have a chance of winning a defensive header.

 

I'm still utterly confused why we need to rest a full back unless they're injured. Utter madness to play Moreno unless we were totally desperate.

 

i was more referring MFG to the fact that while our defensive stats have improved since VVD has been in the team the improvement could equally be attributed to other changes for example our LB.

But yeah i would have played Robbo as Stoke was the game i looked at being the PL game , if any , we took a real chance on team selection.

 

tbh on this I have to agree that several things add up to defensive improvement.

vvd has certainly added his fair share, as has Robertson, as has has learning, as has karius and so has midfield balance.

 

Yes but who can say for sure that the improvement is not because of VvDs arrival
IE a bit psychosomatic
Do they just play better knowing he is there ?
VvD seems to control the defense, if i remember right about five phases back on one of the goals on sat VvD and gomez told karius to send the ball to other side, he didnt, VvD was proved right as it put us under pressure.
Either way long may the improvements keep happening
Shatting myself about tomorrow but strangely not worried about top four

 

as MITO would say about tonight "just relax and enjoy it" .

 

as the big lad in jail said to the new guy....

it'll won't be long til its over

 

You are such an optimist aren’t you ?

I think we’ll do better than people predict. A 2-0 win will be good.

 

we are winning 4-0 mate. no bother.