Todays Games

Having trouble sleeping?

 

What are 'expected goals'?

 

It’s a stats thing if you’re into that. Effectively measures how many you ‘should’ have scored based on where and how many chances are created.

Basically, early signs are positive if we could just stick some chances away.

 

That! 100%.

 

Yeah, I get the theory, but am curious as to exactly how it's calculated. The suggestion is that we are creating loads of chances but, other than the second half against Wigan, I haven't noticed that.

 

Bristol City lead Boro 1-0 at half time.....

There's been 21 attempts on goal in the first half, 12 from City 9 from Boro......

 

Nice 6am drive diagonally down the country. Well done Sky.

 

There's no way that Sky actually thinks about this........

 

If they did it would be Birmingham v Stoke so guess I’d be moaning either way.

 

Boro level......

 

All of a sudden Boro lead......

 

City 2 Boro 2
Fair dos...Bristol are a hard nut to crack

 

40 attempts on goal in the Bristol/Boro game........

 

As Swords would say, it's not "soccer" but tomorrow (3.30pm it starts Sunday afternoon) over here we have a huge game. Dublin V Kerry in the all-Ireland Gaelic Football Final. Dublin going for a historic 5 in a row titles against the must younger up and coming Kerry team. 5 in a row has never been achieved by any county in either gaelic football or hurling. The atmosphere in the city is electric. Here's to a good game and may the best team win.

Ciarrai, we'll let you win next year if you let us make history, pretty please...…..

 

Essentially it tried to measure the quantity of the chances you've created (shots on goal, shots in the box etc) but with regard to the quality too (how far from goal, angle from goal, number of defenders in the way etc). So Hugill's awful miss would help create a high xG. A shot from outside the box with three defenders between the shot and the keeper not so much, even if that chance is scored. Make sense?

Useful if you're a fantasy football addict as you can try to see who is performing 'below' their xG calculation, who in theory should come good soon, and you can then be ahead of the curve in gaining points.

 

Go kerry

 

More VAR bollocks today. An absolute cert penalty for West Ham not given and a perfectly good goal for Villa denied but VAR doesn't take a hand. However, if you have a nostril hair in an offside position your goal will be denied. VAR is just there to deny goals.

 

Sensational game Arsenal v Spurs.

 

Spurs nearly blew it, hanging on at the end...