Lack of Goals / Goal difference.

[davieG]

Lack of goals seems to be the topic of the season and there is a lot of comparison going on with our relegation season.

So some facts to debate:

2009/10 - Pos. 6 P6 W3 D0 L0 F5 A2 W0 D2 L1 F1 A2 GD+2 Pts 11 - Total GF 6 GA 4

2007/8 - Pos. 21 P6 W1 D1 L1 F5 A3 W0 D2 L1 F2 A4 GD 0 Pts 6 - Total GF 7 GA 7

The goals for at home is identical 5/5 and only 1 different against 2/3 yet the points difference is 9/3. So by conceding one less goal we've picked up 6 extra points.

Away the results/points are identical 2/2 and the goals F/A are proportional having scored 1 less and concede 2 less than that season.

So although we've scored less goals over all 6/7 we've also conceded fewer 4/7 and scooped up 5 more points 11/6 and 15 places in the league 6/21.

I guess the secret is if you're only averaging 1 goal a game make sure you don't concede and lose them.

[morris1234]

so, scoring 1 more than the other team then?

[Moreton]

hmmm you've got a point. but it's still early days. who knows what's gonna happen ay.

[Shrenchel]

Slightly worrying perhaps, although 4 of those goals were banged in against watford which turned out to be a bit of a freak anomaly.

[davieG]

so, scoring 1 more than the other team then?

Except they mustn't score at all otherwise we're buggered!

[dogadug]

Very interesting statistic

[Fez of Mahrez]

Surely the points total would be 6 for the 07/08 and goal difference level.

I think you can read too much into stats and not focus on the actual games. So far this season in almost every game we've had one tight half and one dominant one, the same as we were doing in 02/03. Our players are not significantly better than any opposition we've played so far this season (other than Barnsley perhaps), but we are picking up draws away and winning at home, because of the competitive edge and solid defence. To be honest I'm thrilled with the start. We're in the top six. Long may it continue, even if we're not scoring bags of goals in the process.

[Pete_foxes]

Not scoring many goals in each game is not an issue, we have one of the best defences in the League and as long as that is true we will be fine. Although I would point out we need another couple of players that are going to pop up with a couple of goals in the next few weeks to take some pressure of Fryatt.

[davieG]

Surely the points total would be 6 for the 07/08 and goal difference level.

I think you can read too much into stats and not focus on the actual games. So far this season in almost every game we've had one tight half and one dominant one, the same as we were doing in 02/03. Our players are not significantly better than any opposition we've played so far this season (other than Barnsley perhaps), but we are picking up draws away and winning at home, because of the competitive edge and solid defence. To be honest I'm thrilled with the start. We're in the top six. Long may it continue, even if we're not scoring bags of goals in the process.

Yes that'll teach me to be more careful when copy/pasting although I'd did get it right in my comments .

I agree but there seems to be a lot of hand wringing over the lack of goals so the figures were put up to show that although they're important as you say you need to focus on the actual games, results and points accumulated.

I'm sure we'd all like to see more goals flying in from other areas of the pitch.

[dogadug]

Yes that'll teach me to be more careful when copy/pasting although I'd did get it right in my comments .

I agree but there seems to be a lot of hand wringing over the lack of goals so the figures were put up to show that although they're important as you say you need to focus on the actual games, results and points accumulated.

I'm sure we'd all like to see more goals flying in from other areas of the pitch.

You do so much for this site, that we'll allow a few mistakes

[Thracian]

I'm more concerned about what the opposition are doing this year than what happened last year against arguably weaker defences.

1 Newcastle 8 16

2 West Brom 6 14

3 Middlesbrough 8 13

4 Preston 7 12

5 Sheff Utd 5 12

6 Leicester 2 11

7 Bristol City 0 11

8 Cardiff 6 10

What I've listed is goals difference and total points.

Already Newcastle and Middlebrough's goals difference is four times as good as ours and others above us are also significantly better after just a few games.

Even at this stage it's starting to look like the predicted pair will get automatic promotion and the rest of us will have to fight it out for third place.

Our goals difference will have to be good to give us any chance but, as it is, I simply cannot see us scoring often enough to avoid dropping silly or unnecessary points, like at Ipswich.

Being fair I think Pearson genuinely tries to win most of our matches (though he didn't convince me at Portman Road apart from the first 20 minutes) but he's no radical.

We're much more "hard to beat" than "prepared to try anything it takes to win". Sooner or later we'll have to attack in force if we are serious about going up. Even under Pearson it's mostly against our nature, especially with the way our team is structured.

[dogadug]

I'm more concerned about what the opposition are doing this year than what happened last year against arguably weaker defences.

1 Newcastle 8 16

2 West Brom 6 14

3 Middlesbrough 8 13

4 Preston 7 12

5 Sheff Utd 5 12

6 Leicester 2 11

7 Bristol City 0 11

8 Cardiff 6 10

What I've listed is goals difference and total points.

Already Newcastle and Middlebrough's goals difference is four times as good as ours and others above us are also significantly better after just a few games.

Even at this stage it's starting to look like the predicted pair will get automatic promotion and the rest of us will have to fight it out for third place.

Our goals difference will have to be good to give us any chance but, as it is, I simply cannot see us scoring often enough to avoid dropping silly or unnecessary points, like at Ipswich.

Being fair I think Pearson genuinely tries to win most of our matches (though he didn't convince me at Portman Road apart from the first 20 minutes) but he's no radical.

We're much more "hard to beat" than "prepared to try anything it takes to win". Sooner or later we'll have to attack in force if we are serious about going up. Even under Pearson it's mostly against our nature, especially with the way our team is structured.

I doubt goal difference will even come into it at the end of the season. As long as we keep winning, albeit by 1 goal, i'll be happy

[Thracian]

I doubt goal difference will even come into it at the end of the season. As long as we keep winning, albeit by 1 goal, i'll be happy

We haven't managed to keep doing that even in our eight league and cup matches to date. So far we've lost twice and drawn twice in eight outings so by what logic you think that's going to change I don't know.

So far our defensive meanness has ensured we've kept picking up points but we've already got to make up three points on the opposition to climb into third place and that with the least potent attack of all among the Championship front runners.

Right now I'd be pleased for us to finish joint third with anyone. But much more pleased if we mended that goals difference too.

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

I expect us to hit a few more in thus month to improve it a bit. Think we will get two or three vs posh and a win at Watford which would put the GD up a bit.

I'm not too worried yet, might be at the end of the month though.

[Guest]

Already Newcastle and Middlebrough's goals difference is four times as good as ours and others above us are also significantly better after just a few games.

But who were those games against?

It's far too early in the season to be making such comparisons, at least wait until Xmas when we'll have pretty much played everyone. Also, we only conceded the one goal to Newcastle, and on the night, we weren't too far away from them, and could and should have come away with at least a point.

[Salieri]

The negativity on here is astounding.

It wouldn't matter if we were top of the league, scoring 2 or 3 a game, some people would find something to moan about. We've had a very steady start, i think pretty much everbody would have taken it prior to the season starting.

Cast your minds back to how bad it really has been for the last few years compared to now.

Just enjoy it while we are doing well for f***s sake.

[Thracian]

But who were those games against?

It's far too early in the season to be making such comparisons, at least wait until Xmas when we'll have pretty much played everyone. Also, we only conceded the one goal to Newcastle, and on the night, we weren't too far away from them, and could and should have come away with at least a point.

Our performance at Newcastle perfectly illustrated our limitations, the problems we will have as a result and why.

[Fez of Mahrez]

Our performance at Newcastle perfectly illustrated our limitations, the problems we will have as a result and why.

And the performances against pretty much everyone else illustrate the type of team we will be playing on a more regular basis.

[Joe.]

This was always going to be the case this season really though wasn't it? It was clear to see that our defence would be up there with the best, and that goal-scoring would be a big problem. However, what very few of us expected would be the manner in which we've so far managed to consistently grind out good results this year to propell us up to 6th to date. We've got so much more quality in all areas of the pitch in comparison with 07/08 it's embarassing looking back.

[dogadug]

This was always going to be the case this season really though wasn't it? It was clear to see that our defence would be up there with the best, and that goal-scoring would be a big problem. However, what very few of us expected would be the manner in which we've so far managed to consistently grind out good results this year to propell us up to 6th to date. We've got so much more quality in all areas of the pitch in comparison with 07/08 it's embarassing looking back.

Keep winning - thats all that matters

[maddog]

We've done well so far but you could say we have been lucky to win all those home games by 1 goal. From what i've heard Blackpool played well yesterday and perhaps deserved a point, we didn't play that great against Barnsley and nicked a 1-0 win, and had a lucky deflection against Swansea.

I would certainly rather see us winning by 2 or 3, but Derby went up by winning by 1 goal most weeks so fook it i don't mind

[Thracian]

And the performances against pretty much everyone else illustrate the type of team we will be playing on a more regular basis.

Newcastle didn't impress me at all, any more than Ipswich. We build these teams up in our minds to such an extent that, even if we're on top, we cannot quite believe it enough to turn possession into the goals needed to win.

At both places we started off like we were giving them a passing demonstration. The only difference at Newcastle was that it lasted longer. But we wasted good positions tamely and even by shooting from too far out, a sure sign of over-respect cos we never normally shoot from distance.

Our loss of points at both places was far more psychological than physical. And certainly nothing to do with either side being anything special or, indeed, anything like the teams they used to be.

[ozleicester]

Whilst you cannot fault Fyatt's season so far, We still lack another top quality Striker.

[Bryn]

Our performance at Newcastle perfectly illustrated our limitations, the problems we will have as a result and why.

A plucky performance, only conceding a goal, against a team sweeping all in its wake? Surrounded by a string of admirable results against decent sides? Come now Thracian, be reasonable.

We're playing to our strengths and punching above our weights.

[shen]

A plucky performance, only conceding a goal, against a team sweeping all in its wake? Surrounded by a string of admirable results against decent sides? Come now Thracian, be reasonable.

We're playing to our strengths and punching above our weights.

You're not exactly disagreeing with him. And he's absolutely right in my view. There's no plan B if plan A fails as it did in Newcastle...

That said, Plan A might sometimes be enough against a lot of teams in this league