Newcastle nicked their Technical Director a year or so ago. One of the reasons that analytics-based approaches appeal to smaller (resource-wise) clubs is that it's less reliant on holding a death-grip on that personnel, because the model persists even if they don't...so long as your approach is sound, naturally.
Didn’t Potter take their entire recruitment team to Chelsea with him? That Spanish bald full back who played for them in the Poyet League 1 years was their DoF I think
Neville and Carra having a good look at people's gardens before walking into the Luton away stand. Some ground that!
I don't think Luton have looked all that bad, they will very likely go down but reckon they won't be troubling Derby's record. Besides they have had a pretty difficult run of fixtures to start, tonight included. Barkley is putting some pretty dangerous deliveries in.
11 Points and -69 Goal Difference I genuinely don't think they have looked that far off, reckon they will pick up points against the likes of Sheffield United, Burnley, Everton, Wolves etc.. Bear in mind they have played Brighton away, Chelsea away and now West Ham who look **** hot at the beginning of this season.
Pleased for JWP, though at least we have a Saudi and a bloke that never plays in the England squad first…
Feels like the size of Forest's squad this season is even crazier than last season. I think they had to leave out about four players from their 25 man squad last year. I wonder how many (and who) it will be this season - subject to who they manage to offload to the leagues where the windows are still open.
Hammers fans loving JWP. Stat for you - West Ham's xG on corners is currently 0.71 - the average for the rest of the PL is 0.1.
I took the piss out of the Wham fans getting excited about his corners when they signed him too. I only watched him for 10 years…shows what I know!
Just goes to show you shouldn't always judge a player based on his form. James was obviously stifled by Ralph-ball and whatever came after. But the quality was always there. Big shame but at the same time, meh. Players often do well in the first few games. West Ham fans will probably hate him by the end of the season.
I hope so and I don't if that makes sense. I want him to do well as I like him, but really want him to not do so well as he is not with us!
I’m not surprised to see him playing well, always been a big fan. Just didn’t think his corners would be so deadly given how regularly they failed to beat the first man with us