After 13 home games and 13 away games only Hull City have a better away record, while only 5 teams have worse home records. Is there a reason for this or is it just another meaningless statistic? Two possible replies might include lacklustre crowd support and our team tactics. But is our home crowd really that bad? Didn't hear much of the Watford crowd today and they have been on a roll. Same with other places we have played. I cannot see anything in our tactics or team selection which would make us better away than at home. We are not exactly set up for, or expert at, decisive breakaways as none of Hulse, Kermorgant, Fuller, Kerkar, Jackson or Wilson are speed merchants. Haynes, yes, but he hasn't played much.
Watford have a better record from 12 away matches than we have from 13. Along with Hull. Brighton too are leading right now and would stay ahead of us in the away table. Cardiff could win too. Strange time to draw conclusions like this, from relative tables, where most of today's matches are ongoing. I think relative tables are interesting but hide an important detail. The difference between top and bottom of the 'home' table is 26 points. The difference between top and bottom of the 'away' table is 10-12 points. The away table is very 'squashed' Charlton have won 14 points from 13 home games, and 19 points from 13 away games. 5 points over 13 games. I don't know if you consider that to be a lot or not. Two extra wins, one less draw and one less defeat. You might do. I'd say the basis of it are similar to the basis of last season's success (built mostly on away results). Steady at the back (one of the best defensive away records, including today), and ability to nick goals from a small number of opportunities. Set pieces were very important last season, and a few of today's goals were from set pieces. Bear in mind though that we've played all of the top 6 at home already, and still have to travel to play 5 of them away, all 5 of whom are in the top 5 of the 'home' league table.
Eddie, we have little creativity in the centre of midfield so when the emphasis is on us to put pressure on opponents we are not able to however, when away, we can sit back and play on the counter.
Update on this stat after today's matches Away league matches: 5th best http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/league-championship/2012-2013/true-table/away Home league matches: 19th best http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/league-championship/2012-2013/true-table/home More points won away than at home. Ipswich, Peterborough and Barnsley in the same boat. Bristol City picked up as many points at home as away. Of course, all those teams are in a relegation scrap, but with no outstanding performers away from home (like we were last season), that's what you'll get.
That is very true and I almost posted it but was beaten to it. That said, apart from Posh, our best home results have been against teams who were in the top five when we played them or are there now- Leicester, Cardiff, Blackburn, Hull etc. our rubbish results have been against Watford, Ioswich, Barnsley, Palace etc who were all below us in the table when we played them even if they are not now - I have too much time on my hands today!
I expect it to even itself up over the second half of the season. For one thing the law of averages, and for another I expect to have a slightly stronger squad.
