The improvement…

[GazLaz]

Just looking at player Data and the improvement has come from (some of this very obvious I know but…)

TLT > Jones

Bailey not playing as a centre half, his numbers weren’t great there despite the clamour.

Olowu and Senior not getting as many minutes both rated poorly this season.

Maxwell playing over Senior/Rowe/whoever at left back.

Rowe not getting as many minutes, rated horrific this season.

Hakeeb being better than Faal

Craig picking up the midfield minutes of Broadbent and Rowe.

A football team is only as strong as the weakest 2/3/4  players. Lawlor/Jones, Senior, Olowu, Rowe and Broadbent have been the worst rated of our regular(ish) starters this season. Less minutes for them has brought the improvement.

[1-0 to the Doncaster]

Always good to see where data backs up some of the key changes. You’d like to think it was used to support some of the reasons for change.

Unfortunately stats on Rowe don’t surprise me.
Keep posting Gaz I find your info insightful.

[NickDRFC]

The only thing that really surprised me there is Senior who’s always looked pretty solid to me, at least defensively (Maxwell is a big upgrade going forward). Is it his offensive numbers you’re referring to or is it defensive as well?

[GazLaz]

The only thing that really surprised me there is Senior who’s always looked pretty solid to me, at least defensively (Maxwell is a big upgrade going forward). Is it his offensive numbers you’re referring to or is it defensive as well?

Both. It’s a modelled rating taking into account all aspects of the game. Senior is a surprising one because he’s looked ok. Sometimes players can look ok but their actual output that consists of actions that really impacts games is low. Obviously some actions within a match are more valuable than others, if you do a lot of low value actions I suppose you can look ok but not be affecting the game as much as people think. 

[drfcsteve]

Rowe has been awful, one to say thank you and goodbye to at the end of the season.

[Bills view]

Backs up views from the terraces on the new January arrivals.

How do we plug that void when they go so we don't return to pre-performances and results?

What would the stats mean if this was early season? Are they promotion levels?

[Jonathan]

How are Bailey’s numbers since he moved back to the midfield? Either way I think he’s been a great signing for us. Am I right in thinking he’s started every game? That alone makes him such a valuable member of the playing staff and he’s another (like Wood) that influences others in ways the numbers won’t pick up. We have leaders in there now and we’re much stronger as a unit for it.

[Chris Black come back]

He has started every single one of our 50 games in all competitions this season. Within those, he has played every single minute bar:

- subbed off at 30 mins away to Newport
- subbed 90 mins (ET) vs Accrington in FA Cup
- subbed 74 mins away at Grimsby
- subbed 75 mins away at Walsall
- subbed 88 mins home to Forest Green

In total, he has played every minute this season bar a total of 123 minutes. He has played every single minute at home bar 2 minutes in our last home game.

[Colin C No.3]

I think you’re ignoring’ the upturn in form of Molly for some reason.

He’s an excellent outlet for us & since he’s ‘found his right foot’ has been getting to the byline more & putting in some great balls into the box.

His tracking back has been exemplary. He’s shown he has a real engine on him.

You wouldn’t find better cheaper with ease……in my opinion.

[mushRTID]

I think you’re ignoring’ the upturn in form of Molly for some reason.

He’s an excellent outlet for us & since he’s ‘found his right foot’ has been getting to the byline more & putting in some great balls into the box.

His tracking back has been exemplary. He’s shown he has a real engine on him.

You wouldn’t find better cheaper with ease……in my opinion.

What a difference with Moly.
Myself included a few months ago some would have released him.
Now there must be a danger he gets snapped up by others.

Football eh. Hakeeb coming has definitely taken some pressure off him.

Sign up both were going up.

Sign up neither and there’s a lot of work to be done.

[RoversInSpain]

GazLaz, good stuff, do professional clubs use this type of model and actually use the information and heavily depend on it or is it something new with some scepticism around it?
I know Brentford go heavily down this route.

Re Moly, he has been great, there was a time I’d almost given up on him, now I’m disappointed if he doesn’t start or gets taken off, certainly be interested in seeing some recent stats versus early season with him

[KingKendrick]

I think you’re ignoring’ the upturn in form of Molly for some reason.

He’s an excellent outlet for us & since he’s ‘found his right foot’ has been getting to the byline more & putting in some great balls into the box.

His tracking back has been exemplary. He’s shown he has a real engine on him.

You wouldn’t find better cheaper with ease……in my opinion.

What a difference with Moly.
Myself included a few months ago some would have released him.
Now there must be a danger he gets snapped up by others.

Football eh. Hakeeb coming has definitely taken some pressure off him.

Sign up both were going up.

Sign up neither and there’s a lot of work to be done.

Without a doubt what has helped moly has been the fact that Haks has freed him up. Pre January it was pretty much if you box off moly we won’t create a thing. Haks threat to run in behind and occupy multiple players on the other wing and then even when they swap over it can cause a bit of confusion for the defenders to come up against a different winger. Obviously Matty Craigs passing range also can pick moly out in better positions too. I’m sure moly has always been trying as hard it’s just now he’s got better players around him now.

[Scooter]

Thanks Gaz, i was thinking only yesterday that I would be interested in your view of the squad.

[Canadian Rover]

It would be great to see someone like Nixon back in the side (I guess we are gonna get this in Olowu) for the use to see comparisons of stats in a stronger XI  and the effects it has on his numbers. There are so many variants in the game without a proper subject size some of the stats would be hard to put into perspective; example Olowu will likely be back in against Wrexham who are a different beast to play against as a centre half.

[ravenrover]

Much as agree the defence has vastly improved with Lo Tutala Wood and Anderson backed up with good displays from the fullbacks one other key factor for me has been the vast improvement of our midfield Bailey and Craig have a great partnership just in front of the back 4 and Biggins has been a different player with his freedom to roam in front of those 2 .
That doesn't take anything away from the front 3 but for me that 3 in midfield have gone a long way to achieving the run we are having JMHO

[pib]

One thing that strikes me often about Bailey is his energy. When we were breaking away late on yesterday he was the one from the midfield busting a gut to get up the pitch and support. That’s after playing practically every minute this season. He’s got a great engine and work rate.

[1-0 to the Doncaster]

Gaz interested to see if the data supports a new deal for Close?

[Pancho Regan]

Gaz interested to see if the data supports a new deal for Close?

I’m awaiting the reply with one eye closed, in case Grant and the Club have f**ked up.

 

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Thing is though re Close, it's a squad game and if we can have competition for good technical players, who can twist, turn and thread passes, it's a good thing. Obviously we need balance and variety and we'll need to fill Craig's boots somehow. I see yet again, McCann has said Broadbent is going to be a good player. I know I'm not alone in not being quite so confident as he is way short of what Craig or Bailey bring.

[GazLaz]

I think you’re ignoring’ the upturn in form of Molly for some reason.

He’s an excellent outlet for us & since he’s ‘found his right foot’ has been getting to the byline more & putting in some great balls into the box.

His tracking back has been exemplary. He’s shown he has a real engine on him.

You wouldn’t find better cheaper with ease……in my opinion.

I’m not ignoring the “upturn” in form because there hasn’t been one. He’s been one of our better players all season. He’s scored 4 goals this calendar year that aligns him back with his xG (under performed in the first half of the season). Same as Biggins, he’s been ok all season, he’s received too much stick. Both players have a ceiling in L2 though. That’s my point. I could find players with a much higher ceiling for similar money. That’s a fact.

[dknward2]

Give grant a pre season with close and a run in the squad and see what he can make of close

[Colin C No.3]

I think you’re ignoring’ the upturn in form of Molly for some reason.

He’s an excellent outlet for us & since he’s ‘found his right foot’ has been getting to the byline more & putting in some great balls into the box.

His tracking back has been exemplary. He’s shown he has a real engine on him.

You wouldn’t find better cheaper with ease……in my opinion.

I’m not ignoring the “upturn” in form because there hasn’t been one. He’s been one of our better players all season. He’s scored 4 goals this calendar year that aligns him back with his xG (under performed in the first half of the season). Same as Biggins, he’s been ok all season, he’s received too much stick. Both players have a ceiling in L2 though. That’s my point. I could find players with a much higher ceiling for similar money. That’s a fact.

That’s quite a boast.

When you talk about “similar money” I’m assuming you’re talking wages. How much is Molyneaux on?

“..a ceiling in L2…”.  ??

Ambiguous.

Before he joined us Moly had talks with Bristol Rovers & MK Dons. Fact. Both L1 sides that he turned down to join Rovers. If league 1 sides are looking at him his ceiling is clearly not in L2….follow?

Yet you state you can find players to replace Moly who have a “much higher ceiling” so we must be talking Championship level & YOU can get them to the club for similar wages “That’s a fact”.

Name them.

[Colin C No.3]

Give grant a pre season with close and a run in the squad and see what he can make of close

Close has had his ‘run in the squad’ & he doesn’t fit with the style & type of player GM wants.

Look back at GM’s interviews then tell me Close would fit into the style of play we have witnessed over the last ten games or so.

[StocksArmy]

The players involved in the team now who have been with us all season, we all knew were good enough. Before our turn of form we only ever saw the Anderson/ Wood partnership in the home game against Swindon after we went down to 10 men. I wrote them both off when they partnered Olowu which tells me Olowu is the problem. This worries me for the next 3 games.

The majority of us knew Lawlor and Jones are poor, GM has been far too loyal to them both.

The missing ingredient in attack has always been HA. We relied so much on Moly it was unbelieveable. The Roberts and Sotona signings were major flops in what I believed would work. Roberts in particular.

For me Lawlor, Jones, Olowu, Rowe, Broadbent and Close (controversial) not receiving as many minutes and being replaced with better players is not rocket science as to why we have now hit promotion form. First 3 names need to leave the club at the earliest possible opportunity. Complete waste of wages.

[ncRover]

Sterry better with the ball and going forward than Nixon?

[Padge_DRFC]

The only thing that really surprised me there is Senior who’s always looked pretty solid to me, at least defensively (Maxwell is a big upgrade going forward). Is it his offensive numbers you’re referring to or is it defensive as well?

Doesn't shock me one bit. Maxwell is streets ahead. I'd even argue right now he's our most valuable asset.

[GazLaz]

The only thing that really surprised me there is Senior who’s always looked pretty solid to me, at least defensively (Maxwell is a big upgrade going forward). Is it his offensive numbers you’re referring to or is it defensive as well?

Doesn't shock me one bit. Maxwell is streets ahead. I'd even argue right now he's our most valuable asset.

He is.