Where have we actually improved?

Was going to post this on TWTD but it's too much effort to 'become a blogger'. So ill post it here instead, enjoy.

Where have we actually improved?

I’m aware that this may come across as negative –it’s not intended that way. It is something I wonder because the consensus generally seems to be that we have improved leaps and bounds since last season.

Points

This is the blindingly obvious one. But last season also included the disastrous Jewell start and I don’t see it as fair to include that period in the comparison. There is no argument; we have vastly improved since Jewell left.
So, using Statto.com I compared our results since 1st November in the 2012 – 2013 season to the results we’ve had this season since November 1st.

2012 -2013 – Total points from 1st November – 53
2013 – 2014 –Total points so far from 1st November – 49 (max total – 55)

So win our last 2 games and, presumably, make the play-offs we record a better points total of 2.
A very marginal improvement that is only significant because of our proximity to the top 6.

Other league stats: (All comparisons cover the same period)

Goal record: For/Against/Difference

2012 -13 – 38/35/+3
2013 – 14 – 39/35/+4

So we've already reached, and on present form are likely to exceed, the amount of goals conceded but we have already surpassed our goals scored tally. This is probably testament to a little more forward thinking in our play, and gives strength to the ‘if we had Stearman/proper RB, we would be doing a little better’ argument.

Games: Won/Drawn/Lost

2012 – 13 – 15/8/10
2013 -14 – 13/10/8

Similar to the points tally this one, theres no real difference, we’ve had more draws (which isn’t surprising) but unless we either win both or lose both we wont match either of the other two. It would mean we either have got better at not losing (should we avoid defeat in at least one of the games) or we haven’t improved our attacking enough to compensate for the drop in defensive quality.

Failing to score v Clean Sheets

12 – 13 -12 v 14
13 -14 – 6 v 10.

Well, that’s a significant reduction in games where we haven’t scored, it shows that our attack has been better.
There’s a drop in the amount of clean sheets, and again this is probably a reflection of more attacking focus, whether that’s down to the splitting of the Chambers Smith partnership, not having a RB, Poorer goalie makes no odds really. The drop is not much to worry about.

Conclusion

That’s all the possible stats to gain from Statto, but I think any more stats would all point to the same thing that these, have been showing; we have shown a slight improvement in our attacking department, what has let us down is a more leaky defence.
It sort of suggests that the top priority for the summer may be that RB position (the consensus for where the defensive hole is) and not an attacking as many, including me, has suggested.

Although, I keep my fingers crossed that none of this will prove to matter, and we are able to win our final two games, get to and enjoy the lottery of the play-offs and maybe, just maybe, we’ll finally escape the second tier.

 

An interesting read

I think your assessment misses out the midfield though and this is the area for me that needs most improvement!!!

 

There has been an improvement this season clearly as our league position will testify but unless Evans gives Mick some money for strengthening the team we will go backwards next year.

 

Fair comment, although I was going for a more general attack v defence approach so inevitably skipped midfield that functions in both. Suppose I could have brought up the question of whether Skuse provides either enough defensive cover or attacking support and how that has affected the teams performances, but thats being covered by another thread.

I cover that in my points tally section. We have undeniably improved since Jewell left so I have removed those first few disastrous games from the analysis and am comparing the two seasons from November 1st. The improvement shown is less obvious.

Something else I also didnt consider was the fact that we've conceded the same amount of goals without the hammerings from Leicester and Crystal Palace. I suppose it shows were more stable now but, paradoxically, we have a less watertight defence.

 

I agree that ideally we need to bring in one or two players to compliment what we've got, but it doesn't bother me if those players are freebies or big money signings as long as they perform.

An even if no new players come in as long as no one leaves I can see us improving due to the fact that the players are mostly young and hopefully going to get better season after season.

But as I've said before let's get this season over with so we know which league to prepare for .


CoYb

 

Thats not entirely true - yes, granted we are in a better league postion than last season, but if you look at Mick's stats from this year, and compare that to his record last season, then he has actually performed worse this year.
For the record...
Last year, Mick was in charge for 34 games (incl cup) - Won 15 and lost 11 (44% / 32.35% respectively)
This season, Mick oversaw 47 games (incl cup) - won 17 and lost 15 (36% and 31.91% respectively)

There is no real conclusion to this, i just merely wanted to state that MM has performed worse with the players he has brought in this season as opposed to the "dross" he inherited last season - which re-affirms my thoughts that he's not the man to take us forward.

 

You can use stats to prove any point but the only stat worth talking about is the actual League position and the number of points we end up with which will be higher than last season!

 

I wasnt trying to prove any point, this is just the 'report' from me wondering where have we improved. The fact is yes, we are going to finish in a higher league position this season than last, but that is more due to the Jewell handicap from last season than any significant improvement during this one.

I suppose the over riding neutral point is that, however the last two games go we have finally had a consistent season where play-offs were always more likely than relegation, and we can use that in our pitch to summer targets. (and/or ME)

 

You're missing the point (or choosing to ignore the point) - The team MM has put out this season, HAS performed worse than the team he put out last season. This isn't subjective, this is FACT - i'm not talkin about the whole of last season, just merely when MM was in charge. So, on that basis, we've gone backwards (i believe we would've been in the top 6 if the season had started when MM took over us last season)

 

Stretchy - I would say the stats show we have neither performed worse nor better, better attacking cancelled out by worse defensive displays. Our over all form from when Mick took over last season had us joint sixth, we are still capable of beating that target and getting sixth outright.

 

OK so why not sack Mick now then because we are obviously not getting any better!