Good idea, apart from the fact that Cork has probably been marginally better than Schneidelin this season!
no-one bar maybe Clyne played well. an off day. Don is right could have been Hul away. Our name just wasnt on it this year.
Controversial, but you're not far wrong! I think one of the reasons why Cork is playing so well is because he knows he isn't first team and is trying to stake a claim. Schneiderlin's guaranteed to be in the 11 so people forget about how he's had quite a few quiet games this season.
Now this I can relate too...We certainly need to get a couple of wins on the board to ease some of the pressure, but so far our league results have improved since the cup runs began, so I hope that continues.. If I'm being honest, like many of our fans, I wouldn't have been too upset if you had won yesterday due to our league predicament, but I will be travelling to either Brighton or Hull with a totally relaxed attitude regarding the result..
I wouldn't mind it being Brighton to be honest as I've never visited their new stadium. However, Hull would be far easier on the already stretched finances of Sunderland fans this season..
No, he hasn't. Not even close. This is what drives me crazy. Schneiderlin had a couple sketchy games early in the season, but for the most part he's been his usual awesome self. Go look on Squawka or whoscored and find me one relevant midfield stat where Cork is better than Schneiderlin.
Just make sure you win one of the Cups, it looks better on the CV that we were knocked out by the eventual winners!
Do those stats show at what tempo players play the game and how fast they get to tackles/closing down? For me, Cork keeps Saints at a better tempo than Schneiderlin does. Having said that, they complement each other well as a pairing, so I wouldn't have one over the other.
People are so obsessed with the Cork and Wanyama debate they have taken their eye off Schneiderlin. Schneiderlin's been on fire, at his very best, for the last 6 league games in a row. That takes some doing. Cork plays the slowest tempo of the whole midfield. He's the player that has the easiest passes and most angles available. He can play an easy pass sideways and backwards more often than anyone. Schneiderlin still keeps the ball better and wins it back more. Schneiderlin is the fastest at closing the ball down than anyone in the side and covers the most ground. Don't get me wrong..Cork is a good player. Claiming Cork plays a better tempo is just a nothing statement.
The stats just edge Schneiderlin over Cork, but they're just stats! I can't think of any matches this season where I've thought Morgan was MOTM, but can for Cork. I was quite shocked to read how much better Cork's stats are to Vic's, who only betters Cork in a few areas like defensive actions and ariel duels. Cork's average pass length is further, even though he is known for doing the simple stuff and Wanyama's known for his long balls (pardon the pun!).
I think I underrate Schneiderlin. There's an expression that if you don't notice a DM doing much, he's doing his job very well and faultlessly.
Where did I say I give a flying f**k about stats? If you knew anything about positions and formations you'd know that the player sitting directly infront of the back 4 has the easiest opportunity to pass to a team mate. They have the most angles to play a ground pass. That's just common sense.
So you keep a log of every pass, its relative difficultness and the speed at which it was played in your head? Just seemed a hugely detailed analysis about Cork & Morgan to be plucked from your arse.
The stats show that Schneiderlin made 25% more passes in the final third, made 13% more successful passes overall, 39% more forward passes AND had a higher success rate of forward passes (all in the Hull away game as our latest example). Add to that that he made 4 times the tackles that Cork did and made 3 interceptions (Cork made none). Basically Schneiderlin was superior in every possible way, whether you agree stats show a fair picture, I don't think you can really disagree with that. Schneiderlin is clearly our best centre midfielder by a very long way.
Schneiderlin is the ticking heartbeat of our midfield, he dictates the tempo that we play at and how aggressive we are being by the passes he makes. I still think he is our most important player.
The passing competition stats for the league are topped mainly by centre backs and defensive midfielders for a reason. I've already explained why Cork has easier options available during a game. It's down to his position and role in the team. Cork has better angles available but still completes less passes. If you watched the f**king games then you'd know Schneiderlin passes the ball forward more, creates more chances and completes more passes without having to look at the f**king stats. The stats back this up clearly.
I didn't see the Hull game, so I can't tell. You could be making these stats up for all I know. It is true that 95% of all football fans who obsess over football stats need a bloody good hiding.
