You've made me wonder how I come over re. Bamford. I've spent a lot of time defending him, especially during his lean spell. I'd like to make it clear that I don't think he's the greatest thing since sliced bread. He's not. He has his faults, as do all Championship players. I took my position as I thought it unfair for him to be so heavily criticised. There now seems to be mood movement - everyone now seems to understand his worth. Whether Bielsa meant things to play out as they did to illustrate this or not doesn't matter - people got it. Indeed, many (not necessarily on here) went the full 180 with him. Embarrassingly. I just woner what will happen the next time he goes a long time without scoring. Will they all forget what they learned? Re. the stats. They're good, but far, far from perfect. There are so many considerations that are ignored. Was it his first game in ages? Was it windy? Raining? Muddy pitch? Slippery? Was it baking hot? Was he dehydrated? Confidence level? Had he missed with his last 10 shots? Was it on his strongest foot? How fast did the ball come to him? Was the ball spinning? Was the sun in his eyes? Was there a bootfull of studs hurtling towards his face? The list is endless, and most impossible to measure - but each has a bearing. So stats have a place, but it's very much broad brush.
Enlighten you, really ? You yourself have already posted many times about the imperfections of stats/data, including the compilation, interpretation, exact comparability etc etc. However as I mentioned stats have their uses, when added to watching players train everyday, carrying out video analysis of that training, knowing the players strengths and weaknesses, being able to assess whether particular pre match instructions were adherred and implimented during matches, plus a plethora of other measures of ability both physical and psychological then I suggest that Bielsa is in the most informed position to decide which players to pick, retain or discard. Not sure what you thought I was inferring, it seems pretty obvious to me. Of course your average fan doesn't have all that information and so he'd be pretty foolhardy to pass judgements and critiques on players based on a few stats and watching performances on a dodgy computer stream. Fortunately we don't have any posters like that on this forum and everyone is 100% behind all the players.
Think where I sit Shaks I'm considered one of the hardcore ones... Which means I actually watch the whole 90 minutes and even applaud the players off, both at HT and FT. Whereas some of my brethren have had enough after 30 mins and head off to the comfort/warmth of the lounge to partake in alcoholic beverages and watch events unfold on the big screens or TV's. It's each to their own I guess and it makes no difference to my enjoyment whether they come back or not (usually they don't).
Can I jump in before we get anyone moaning about these 2 signings last season we had Blackman, Harrison, Brown and Baker who all failed us. This season we have White, A rejuvenated Harrison, Meslier and we have replaced Jack Clarke with what looks like another Harrison and also added new top prospect keeper. This squad is in a much better place this season and we will be signing at least one more but could be 2 top signings. We are getting a replacement for Eddie
Trust you! TBH, though, I don't think Lasogga did match Bamford. His pressing was of a level you'd expect of me - i.e. a fat 61yo. Mobility even worse. However, I do recall being really angry at the team, as we played ball into space for Lasogga to run on to, & played ball to Roofe's feet, which is the exact opposite we should have been doing. Lasogga scored fairly well as I remember, given his lack of service. Last player I remember with a shot like that was Lasher! Would he be able to play Bielsaball? Do I really have to answer that? Seems fairly obvious to me. Good try though!
You described them as a nonesense and ultimately flawed. I point out they need to be taken in context. Not the same thing is it. So instead of chucking your little cheap shots about, how about answering the question about his finishing. Your eyeballs see him in the flesh, so your opinion counts more than mine. I get that... So what do your eyeballs tell you about his finishing.
Only messing with you Jammy. Now you know I like an odd drink or two, but I never leave early to get a pint at halftime, but there are plenty in the SStand that do. I can never understand that.
you come over as a fan boy, hope that’s cleared it up re the stats and the chances of course you’re right about an individual chance... the point is over a long enough period the exceptions Should get averaged out... or is it just paddy who gets the sun in his eyes. seriously, I get how it happens, I spent a chunk of last year defending BPF.. it didn’t mean I thought he was Gordon Banks. It meant I thought the criticism was OTT. I then watched real’s finest casilla get a free pass for his fck ups, and I felt obliged to point out the inconsistencies. I’ve no problem with Bamford, I’m happy we have him but I disagree that his role makes it hard to score... he plays in the team that creates the most chances in the division. I’m delighted with the team this year, I’m chuffed about the league position, all I ask of any player is effort.. it’s down to the manager to pick them and for them to try. Bamford tries, so do all the rest of them. If they’re not up to it it’s down to the manager and we clearly have a very good one, to sort it but. I’d never get on the back of any player at the ground - the treatment of grot a few years back was awful... and it’s counter-productive for both player and team. This is a football forum, part of that is debating on what the team is doing well or poorly, the attributes of different players, performance on a given day.. where the squad might need strengthening. I don’t think you have to be a misery about everything, but nor do I think you are obligated to blindly see only the good in everything all of the time. If we don’t strengthen in this transfer window I’ll be on rads case like I was last year.
Evening everyone. He looks a handful, there's two or even three on him most times. Fingers crossed he's the real deal. Chucking him on for the last 20 minutes against tired defenders should cause problems
I thought you might have been his uncle. Seriously though I never bother reading stats. Don’t see the point. I think most of us have watched enough football to be able to give a fair assessment of any player. All opinions. We all have slightly different view on what we want to see
Stating that judging players by stats is "all a little bit of nonsense" is not the same as saying stats are nonsense. However you are the reader so I'll endeavour to be clearer in future. Ultimately stats are flawed...correct as they are not perfect, nor should they be looked at in the context of some sort of foolprooof factual information. However, extremely useful as a guide, but not much more than that, especially if it's some large corporation which has decided to put their slant on the data. Always question the data gathering, both method and content as well as any analysis in my opinion. On to Bamford and his finishing as per your request; Certainly not woeful by any means. By my conservative estimate he could or perhaps should have had at least 5 goals more and given that he's forced 2 own goals and countless other misses have struck the woodwork then it's not as bad as some make out. There are two areas though, where I personally would like to see him working hard to improve. 1) His major weakness is scoring chances on his right side. What I would like to see is him develop a consistant method, stick to it and work on improving it game on game. My suggestion would be to get a hard and low strike off across/through the keeper, now I appreciate it's his weaker foot so the power will be less, but work the keeper at all costs, frequently he turns back inside or tries to be too cute. Put your foot through it and rebounds, keeper errors etc all come into play. 2) Too often he positions himself for pull backs when we get forward down the flanks. He really does need to get in where it hurts, which is inside the 6 yard box (something Eddie did very well). A good example of when he's done that was against Luton when forcing the winning own goal, similary against Derby when he hit the post from about 3 yards. Keep making those runs, front, centre and back (mix them up) and he will score way more goals. Leave the pull backs for Klich and others. I'll throw another one in there, just for free... from corners, set pieces, try to imitate someone like Harry Kane's movement (Eddie did that well also). It's the second ball (from a flick on or save) he should be looking for rather than trying to be the main target all the time. If you watch Kane's movement he usually finds space either at, or beyond the far post but his runs start much more centrally.
My view on the whole team is; if we win I'm delighted, if we draw but could have lost I'm pleased and if we lose I'm utterly gutted. As for how we do any of those things and what personnel we use is down to Bielsa and I trust him absolutely. I believe he is doing the best he can with what he has available and how can I complain when we're top of the league.
The reason why I brought the stats on Bamford up, was a response to a fan ‘stat’. But as the consensus is stats are a waste of time, the next time doc tells us that Bamford’s goal scoring record is actually really good this season, I’ll spare everyone the tedium or providing evidence to the contrary.
sounds like your eyeball pretty much agrees with the xg stats then He missed some sitters early in the season, actually the last two times I’ve seen him in the flesh he’s missed a couple of really good chances... but I don’t recall him missing anything awful recently. He’s got really good touch (on his left foot at least ), but he’s long limbed so doesn’t have ‘quick feet’... I think sometimes he takes an extra touch and can’t get his shot away, or it gets blocked... or he turns inside as you say and the opportunity is gone. Also playing for Leeds you get a lot of half chances and not so many clear cut ones (proportionately)... maybe he’s just not a poacher who converts half chances as well as some others might. Whichever, done this to death. So we’re clear my main concern re bamford is lack of cover/competition for him, not bamford himself.
Stats are enjoyable...but still ultimately a waste of time (oops in isolation at least). Sometimes, I think you can just feel who's having a positive effect on matches/results, even if their stats are shocking. It could be something just as simple as being a distraction, which allows others to shine, or making that movement which never makes the highlights but nevertheless is absolutely vital to team shape.
