Number 6

I guess by not being Cooper Out that makes me Cooper In. I said I'd judge him after 10 games, we're one shy of that but the worst outcome is that we're 9 from 10 which I think is a rate which just about keeps us up. I think people forget what a relegation battle season looks like. When we dropped last time it was mostly due to mismanagement: that side had Maddison, Barnes, Tielemans. We've upgraded the goalkeeper but across the rest of the pitch, were significantly weaker. Last season Forest won 9, Brentford won 10, and they stayed up. Forest didn't win 3 in a row all season and had back-to-back wins once. Brentford did manage a 3 in a row and a back to back, but were largely dreadful in the middle of the season. It hasn't and won't be pretty, but results tracking about right for a side who wants to stay up. This isn't a mid-table squad, whatever gets said on here.

I reckon the first sacking will be this weekend. Wouldn't be surprised if Southampton have been lining someone up all week and will let Martin go after a pasting against Man City. Be interesting to see if that forces the hand of any others.

Yep. We might get 8 or 9 wins this season and with enough draws on top it will constitute a good season. Annoying to lose to them after being in the game first half and then just not turning up second, but they're a decent mid-table side now.

The calling for his sacking all the time is very tiresome. W2 D2 L2 of last 6. Think a good chunk of this fanbase won't be happy until he's gone, whatever the results are.

It was genuinely a breath of fresh air in the Champ. The highlights coverage is kind of crap, but there's no 15 mins dwelling on every refereeing decision. Some decisions are wrong and people just get on with it. Sky going out of their way to try and suggest controversy with ones like today and the Saliba red when there isn't any there.

Looks like a win all round at the moment... He gets experience which benefits Brighton if they want to keep or sell for a profit. We have a player who clearly makes us better. He gets game time and puts himself either in contention for a start at Brighton, or a move elsewhere. I think it's certain he won't be here next season sadly, but I'm glad we have him for now.

Ipswich are a great comparison too. The team we were closest to last season and they're struggling massively. They were good against Villa but have been poor in all other games, including being very lucky against Southampton.

You'll probably get decent odds as they still seem to be pricing in some FFP type punishment potential...think Man C were only about 10/1 for relegation last I checked.

Love these clips. Football is all about these moments. Delighted for everyone who travelled.

Arsenal been very poor here.

Honestly don't see how Cooper can win if people have this view. Subs and system changes by him swung the game and the goal comes from a set piece routine. You can slate him for the first half if you like, but he has to be credited for the turnaround.

Well I thought my Everton, Brighton, Leicester treble was dead at half time 😂😂 what a turnaround!

GTFI

I don't think so. It's definitely enough contact to bring him down. Just a coming together in a goal mouth scramble for me though.

It wasn't for me. Don't think DCL was in control of the ball and he just catches the back of Burn's leg as he goes for the shot.

Looked absolutely terrible today. Made me yearn for Daka. Hopefully he finds his feet as he settles in.

I thought we were good first half. Were happy to play out from the back and beat the press and then move it forward quickly. Thought it was the best half I've seen us play under Cooper. Second half we saw all the usual traits again and in the end we were lucky to get away with the win. Maybe it was due to having waited so long for it but we don't seem to have the mentality to push for more.

I don't think Winks has been great this season but that's 3 big cogs in the Maresca system not being used now.

Would have preferred Fatawu rather than Ayew but it's alright other than that I think.

We had no strikers available according to Coops though?

Wonder if Bayern are eyeing Russell up.

Tavernier often looked good when I've watched Bournemouth. Surprised he hasn't been snapped up by a team higher up.

Yep, due to some excellent finishing.

So I'd had a quick dig into the xG data after the first 4 games and it looked terrible - adding in an update here. So the stats look generally pretty awful. We now sit comfortably bottom of the table for xPoints [understat]. Individually the players have managed to convert well from the shots we have taken (highest np:G-xG in the division [fbRef]) and save well from shots against us (Mads has the highest PSxG-GA [fbref]), but we're consistently outperformed on xG in each game. It's a small sample but there is remarkable consistency across all of our games, suggesting a pattern. I'd suggest the Arsenal game has skewed this somewhat, and actually the game state there will have meant they've racked up more xG than they otherwise would have, particularly with PSG tomorrow - but we were comfortably being outplayed before the equaliser so at best I'd say we're conceding as many good chances as Ipswich are. The game state stats are interesting. When games are level we are absolutely awful (xGD of -7.53, probably skewed by Arsenal but Ipswich are -3.4, Southampton are -2.28), and we're negative on xGD for all game states apart from the 12 minutes we've been 2-0 down against Villa and Arsenal. There is a bit of noise in this still but it does validate the theory that we're a better side when we have a go. It feels like the shackles are being kept on a little. I've advocated for more time for Cooper but with the stats looking the way we do and a shocking performance in the cup I'd probably reduce the timeframe I'm willing to allow him. I think Bournemouth is a good fixture and one he has to win and probably perform well in to keep his job. Understat PL FB Ref PL Might do a bit of a dig into some of our relegation rivals too as we're starting to see a bit more of a reliable picture now.

What an assist that is.