Match Day Thread The Rocky/Stokenchurch Derby

Because our CBs are absolute dog **** and getting worse by the game. Whilst our tactics in matches to just sit back have also contributed.

 

How many matches have you based it on ??

And for those matches, what are the starting XI (set theory)
"power set" definitions for all of them + their set intersections ??

< set theory + data science >

 

Dogshit CBs + tactics that invite additional pressure onto dogshit CBs = Oh look, another costly brainfart

 

The only ever presents this season are Lloris, Hojbjerg, Son and Kane. Since Hojbjerg has played every match the only data set that I can compare is previous seasons. There are 12 matches last season with Lloris, Son and Kane playing most of the minutes. One set has Hojbjerg in all matches, the other has him in none. Nothing else is constrained. The hypothesis is that Hojbjerg is massively better than his predecessors. Since the number of points gained is fewer, this hypothesis is not supported unless the other players are doing massively worse. I don’t think anyone would seriously argue that Kane, Son, Lloris, Ndombele, Reguilon Sissoko and Aurier are playing worse than last year. So that just leaves Bergwijn and the centre backs.
Hojbjerg is very visible on the field and makes lots of interceptions and tackles but I'm not convinced he is a top player. Southampton don't seem to have missed him either.

 

How did you come to the conclusion that this is the only possible reason?
The sample set is too small to accurately judge, for a start, but something as simple as the opposition's level could skew the result badly.

Bergwijn clearly is playing worse too, in an attacking sense at least, scoring 0 goals and managing only 2 assists in the league.
You've also ignored any managerial output, which I'd suggest has had the most significant effect on the team.

 

I didn't come to a conclusion. I don't believe Hojbjerg has improved the team and can see no evidence that contradicts that opinion. I don't tend to hold strong views without evidence. If he is as good as Son, Lloris and Kane then he ought to be a massive miss for Southampton who are doing better without him. So I suspect he is having less effect than he looks. I do agree that he looks good.

 

Southampton replaced Hojbjerg with Diallo, who's done well and they also made other transfers.
Walker-Peters is settled in there now and is far better than Soares, who left for Arsenal halfway through last season.

Their form also dramatically improved in the second half of last season, as Hassenhuttl switched things up and got a better handle on the job.
At this stage of the campaign they were dipping in and out of the relegation zone and his job looked to be on the line.
They won 4 of their first 17 games and 11 of the last 21.
The improvement happened when Hojbjerg was still there and has continued since he left.

There are a lot of ways to look at stats and support different views. They don't tell the full story.
We've conceded less and scored more with Hojbjerg in the team this season when compared to the overall average from last season, for example.
Does that mean that he's improved us or do the lower points average mean that we've got worse?

 

Spurf! Once again our paths seem to have nearly crossed! My dad used to take me to watch Wealdstone in the Athenian League (late forties early fifties) with our big rivals, Hendon, Finchley, Southall & Leyton. We were the poor relations of the Big Posh Boys in the Isthmian, like Bromley (white shirts, black shorts) Leytonstone (blue and white hoops?) and Walthamstow Avenue (dark blue/light blue hoops) and (I think) Wycombe Wanderers (same colours as now!!). Eventually Wealdstone joined them, but after my time watching them. One of their players in my time eventually became a coach at WHL, I think. Alex Nairn? We also went to the Amateur Cup Final every year. Saw Dulwich Hamlet of course. Also Pegasus. And Bishop Auckland, along with other big brutal teams from the north-east, like Crook Town. Alfie Conn! What was your uncle's surname? I saw the Avenue quite a few times, mostly in cup matches. I wonder if I saw him play!? I think they usually beat us. All amateur players in those days. Wealdstone had a Charlie, too (no jokes, please!). Charlie Townsend. I think he turned pro in the end. Other Stones players who did so were Phil White (Leyton Orient) and Tommy McGhee (Portsmouth) and much later Vinnie Jones!. ......... and now Wealdstone have got themselves promoted up into the National League! I can't help a little surge of pride about that. Made a great start to the season, but have faded recently. Hope it's not going to be a short, sad stay.

Wake up! I've finished!.......................................................... (for now)

 

As was Lucas' for Bale's equaliser.

 

Just to be clear my comparison is only with matches that featured Lloris, Son and Kane. They only played 12 matches together last season. I really think those three are much better players than the rest of our squad. The data seems consistent with that belief. I can find little evidence that it matters who else is in the team.

 

He went by the name of Charlie Smith I've tried to trace him but had no luck , since found out that Smith might not have been his real surname as he was from a very complicated family, still not got to the bottom of it, WW1 and men disappearing presumed dead if you know what I mean

 

audrey huh! Athenian league . Yes I saw Bishop Auckland too, must have been a cup game. Going onto the net to find the info (amazing that you can) I discovered the date of the very first football match I ever saw I remember it because it was Dulwich Hamlet v a Nigeria 11. The first visit of a Nigerian team to England they started at Liverpool and played Marine they came to South East London, Champion Hill to play Dulwich. Dulwich won 1 - 0 I particularly remember the Nigerians played in bare feet which they preferred to do. It must be among my earliest memories because it was Saturday September 17, 1949 and I was 2 years and 11 months old.

 

That might be more to do with the quality of the backup for those player as much as anything else, though.
Don't get me wrong, they're clearly exceptional players, but in Kane's case in particular we didn't have another striker in the squad.
Take him out and it unbalanced the whole side last season.

Gazzaniga's a decent bench keeper, but he's not good enough to start regularly for us.
A fully fit and firing Bergwijn could do Son's job, just not as well. He's nowhere near as predatory.

 

Athenian League? Saw my first match in 62 aged 3 and a bit in Lewes (Dripping Pan). Cried at half time and Grandad had to take me home
I remember one match v Leyton Wingate a few years later where Lewes beat them 9-0. It used to be decent football in those days.

In 68, I was helping raise money for floodlights and to help with the fundraising one guy put on a few bands at the local town hall. They tried to get Hendrix but he wanted £700, Pink Floyd did it for £500 instead. I was asked if I wanted to go but I turned it down because I'd never heard of them.

 

You know what to do

 

Hi Spurf! Would you believe I went to a match on that Nigerian tour as well? The one at Wealdstone. 21 September 1949. Surprised my dad took me to football on a midweek evening. Funny what tricks your memory plays on you! I was 11 years and 1 month old. Just started at the local Boys' Grammar School..... I remember them as having played in bare feet, and the weather as being a mellow, bright late summer evening. But no, apparently. Internet says it was raining, and in a separate coment says they played in boots when the going was soft. It was also (to my now huge disappontment!) not Wealdstone FC, but a representative Athenian League XI (no doubt with one or two of our boys playing!). We won 8-0, by the way. But I don't remember the goals! players from past years all seem to merge into one team these days! And matches all merge into one occasion. I thought I saw the Stones win the Amateur Cup (1-0 down after ten minutes, but winning 3-1 against local rivals Hendon, the favourites) as a young teenager. But I discovered when they celebrated an anniversary not long ago that I was already married and a local councillor! I lost my voice, though, singing and cheering, just the same!

 

Amazing audrey so just 4 days after my game, Wow! The internet is amazing for digging up these facts.