Stat time

[BillyStubbsTears]

Number of games played this season: 4

Number of minutes played: 388

Number of minutes when our score has been 0:  374.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Total mins ahead: 3
Total mins level: 208
Total mins behind: 177

Quite something to have a W1 D2 L1 record with those stats.

[idler]

I'm sure that Dutch Uncle will be eyeing those stats up BST.

[selby]

  As Brian Clough said Billy quite a while ago " it only takes a moment to win a game of football"

[Avsuptem]

Frightening stats for our oppostion.

[Drover]

  As Brian Clough said Billy quite a while ago " it only takes a moment to win a game of football"

And "it only takes a second to score a goal"

[Spud]

Great stats Billy, well done.

[Chris Black come back]

We’ve played 49 league games going back to the start of last season and have taken the lead in one third of those games (16 games). In 10 of those 16 games we have then gone on to win.

[GazLaz]

Unsustainable results. We are in bother.

[IDM]

Unsustainable results. We are in bother.

Why.?

[Jonathan]

Unsustainable results. We are in bother.

No we’re not. We’re three games into the season, we’ve not been able to pick our strongest team yet, we’ve had three tough fixtures and got three good results. It’s extremely early days to be passing such a judgement and there’s lots of improvement still to come.

We are in bother if attitudes like the one you’ve shown above are allowed to fester in and amongst the fan base when things don’t go our way, which they won’t at times this season. The team needs time to gel and develop, I didn’t expect overnight results and Saturday showed steps in the right direction with the performance, but there’s lots more to come still. We will of course lose games, and when we do we could do with sticking together, although I’m sure you’re waiting for the chance to tell us who you would and wouldn’t have signed.

[Chris Black come back]

I think more than anything we have shown backbone and resilience, which is a huge difference from last season. I am afraid though that waiting for injured players to come back so we can field our strongest side is as we saw last season, a chimera. Also worth noting that perhaps Bostock and maybe John (who didn't really play much last season) aside, we have a stronger squad than last season but are playing teams in the lowest level of the professional game, and still have the majority of our points this season by coming back against the run of play. Maybe this can continue, maybe it is early luck.

[idler]

Against a much fancied Bradford side playing a home game we were down to ten men so bound to be under the cosh.
I thought we were as good as Sutton until they scored. They then grew into the game and bossed it until our subs gave us more going forward. We were doing all the pressing in the later stages.
On Saturday we were the better side first half before they started to control the game. They then scored two but we came back and could even have won it.
Just because we are behind our results show we can keep competing and winning points.

[Jonathan]

The Sutton performance (and result) is very clearly unsustainable. We allowed ourselves to be harried and unsettled and didn’t impose ourselves on the game at all in the first 45 minutes. Whilst the second half was a slight improvement, few would argue we deserved the three points on the balance of play.

On Saturday I felt we put in really good first half in terms of control, especially considering it was away from home at a team that will likely be challenging in the top half. We lacked cutting edge, but I do think it’s early to pass too much judgement when you consider we’re still missing some of our main attacking threats. It’s not top level football, clubs at our level sign a player like Luke Molyneux and you want him in the team. We can’t have multiple back up players of that level. And when you consider Taylor’s prolonged absence (I honestly believe that if fit he would be one of the most dangerous players in this division) and Griffiths injury (he’d have been very much in the first team squad) there’s no wonder we still look a bit light in attack. Give it time and don’t write it off yet or assume everything you’ve seen now will be what you will see all season.

[sedwardsdrfc]

10 games and we'll have a better idea where it's heading. At the moment results are good it's but performances are patchy so it's inconclusive so far.

The positive thing for me is we've got points against better teams in the division in difficult circumstances (some of our own making). This suggests there's some fight and that the players are good enough when they get playing.

The manager is still the doubt for me. Until he can get us playing consistently well there's still the question mark around him been another Dickov type for me. We've got more fight than we did last season by a very long stretch so he deserves loads of credit for that. But the next step is us playing with a recognisable plan/style that gets results consistently without relying on desperate comebacks.

[GazLaz]

The Sutton performance (and result) is very clearly unsustainable. We allowed ourselves to be harried and unsettled and didn’t impose ourselves on the game at all in the first 45 minutes. Whilst the second half was a slight improvement, few would argue we deserved the three points on the balance of play.

On Saturday I felt we put in really good first half in terms of control, especially considering it was away from home at a team that will likely be challenging in the top half. We lacked cutting edge, but I do think it’s early to pass too much judgement when you consider we’re still missing some of our main attacking threats. It’s not top level football, clubs at our level sign a player like Luke Molyneux and you want him in the team. We can’t have multiple back up players of that level. And when you consider Taylor’s prolonged absence (I honestly believe that if fit he would be one of the most dangerous players in this division) and Griffiths injury (he’d have been very much in the first team squad) there’s no wonder we still look a bit light in attack. Give it time and don’t write it off yet or assume everything you’ve seen now will be what you will see all season.

Obviously the injuries are not helping but some of them are down to bad management from the club. The three year deal to Taylor, Anderson extending etc

It’s looking like we are, at least starting the season as a, bottom third L2 team (admittedly even I think we are likely improve). If that’s not being in trouble I don’t know what is. The clubs aspirations are automatic promotion, we are a million miles away from that.

[Jonathan]

The Sutton performance (and result) is very clearly unsustainable. We allowed ourselves to be harried and unsettled and didn’t impose ourselves on the game at all in the first 45 minutes. Whilst the second half was a slight improvement, few would argue we deserved the three points on the balance of play.

On Saturday I felt we put in really good first half in terms of control, especially considering it was away from home at a team that will likely be challenging in the top half. We lacked cutting edge, but I do think it’s early to pass too much judgement when you consider we’re still missing some of our main attacking threats. It’s not top level football, clubs at our level sign a player like Luke Molyneux and you want him in the team. We can’t have multiple back up players of that level. And when you consider Taylor’s prolonged absence (I honestly believe that if fit he would be one of the most dangerous players in this division) and Griffiths injury (he’d have been very much in the first team squad) there’s no wonder we still look a bit light in attack. Give it time and don’t write it off yet or assume everything you’ve seen now will be what you will see all season.

Obviously the injuries are not helping but some of them are down to bad management from the club. The three year deal to Taylor, Anderson extending etc

It’s looking like we are, at least starting the season as a, bottom third L2 team (admittedly even I think we are likely improve). If that’s not being in trouble I don’t know what is. The clubs aspirations are automatic promotion, we are a million miles away from that.

Come on Gaz, everyone is a million miles from automatic promotion when three games into a 46 game season.

[IDM]

Eh.?

Bottom third team?

Before the season started no team was bottom third, and with 5 points from three games we are clearly not.

By what measurable criteria are we a bottom third team a the start of the season?

[GazLaz]

The Sutton performance (and result) is very clearly unsustainable. We allowed ourselves to be harried and unsettled and didn’t impose ourselves on the game at all in the first 45 minutes. Whilst the second half was a slight improvement, few would argue we deserved the three points on the balance of play.

On Saturday I felt we put in really good first half in terms of control, especially considering it was away from home at a team that will likely be challenging in the top half. We lacked cutting edge, but I do think it’s early to pass too much judgement when you consider we’re still missing some of our main attacking threats. It’s not top level football, clubs at our level sign a player like Luke Molyneux and you want him in the team. We can’t have multiple back up players of that level. And when you consider Taylor’s prolonged absence (I honestly believe that if fit he would be one of the most dangerous players in this division) and Griffiths injury (he’d have been very much in the first team squad) there’s no wonder we still look a bit light in attack. Give it time and don’t write it off yet or assume everything you’ve seen now will be what you will see all season.

Obviously the injuries are not helping but some of them are down to bad management from the club. The three year deal to Taylor, Anderson extending etc

It’s looking like we are, at least starting the season as a, bottom third L2 team (admittedly even I think we are likely improve). If that’s not being in trouble I don’t know what is. The clubs aspirations are automatic promotion, we are a million miles away from that.

Come on Gaz, everyone is a million miles from automatic promotion when three games into a 46 game season.

I’m referring to that being based on the performances since GM took over and more worryingly the last thee games.

[GazLaz]

Eh.?

Bottom third team?

Before the season started no team was bottom third, and with 5 points from three games we are clearly not.

By what measurable criteria are we a bottom third team a the start of the season?

Lots of measurable criteria, trust me. 

[IDM]

Go on then, explain..

Why should anyone trust you when you make such a statement without any apparent reason.?

You’ve seen the question, please answer without using riddles.

[sedwardsdrfc]

I'm no statto but it's easy to imagine we're fairly low down the stats table given we played for 45min with 10 men at Bradford, were generally poor against Sutton, got bettered by Lincoln, and were 2-0 down v Wimbledon. Anyone can see it's all a bit last ditch. Hardly the polished performances an automatic promotion club would expect (again early days thankfully)

The stats will tell you our points per game can't continue at this level based on all our numbers so far. Thankfully this doesn't mean we won't improve. Sounded like we were better generally on Saturday so if we continue improving the stats will turn.

[dickos1]

The Sutton performance (and result) is very clearly unsustainable. We allowed ourselves to be harried and unsettled and didn’t impose ourselves on the game at all in the first 45 minutes. Whilst the second half was a slight improvement, few would argue we deserved the three points on the balance of play.

On Saturday I felt we put in really good first half in terms of control, especially considering it was away from home at a team that will likely be challenging in the top half. We lacked cutting edge, but I do think it’s early to pass too much judgement when you consider we’re still missing some of our main attacking threats. It’s not top level football, clubs at our level sign a player like Luke Molyneux and you want him in the team. We can’t have multiple back up players of that level. And when you consider Taylor’s prolonged absence (I honestly believe that if fit he would be one of the most dangerous players in this division) and Griffiths injury (he’d have been very much in the first team squad) there’s no wonder we still look a bit light in attack. Give it time and don’t write it off yet or assume everything you’ve seen now will be what you will see all season.

Obviously the injuries are not helping but some of them are down to bad management from the club. The three year deal to Taylor, Anderson extending etc

It’s looking like we are, at least starting the season as a, bottom third L2 team (admittedly even I think we are likely improve). If that’s not being in trouble I don’t know what is. The clubs aspirations are automatic promotion, we are a million miles away from that.

Come on Gaz, everyone is a million miles from automatic promotion when three games into a 46 game season.

I’m referring to that being based on the performances since GM took over and more worryingly the last thee games.

Bradford away, we had ten men for an hour against the favourites for the title and could easily have won it.

Sutton, we got a win when being poor,

Wimbledon, we were the better side and got a decent point.

Looking at the fixtures I’d have been delighted with 10-12 points from the first 7 games, we’ve got 5 from 3, so we’re well on course for that.

I would wager a lot of money we finish higher than 16th in the table,

[danumdon]

We can live and die by the stats, what they don't measure is the noticeable level of grit and resolve by this squad of players to fight their way through this difficult start, be it missing key players or promotion hopeful opponents.

The fact we are where we are after this first three matches tells me that performances are on an upward trajectory compared to last season and we are starting to get the benefit of the new management leadership team, this is something new from last season so is still unmeasured, in seven games time we will have a benchmark for the rest of the season. By that stage we expect to have a couple of important players back in the fold, improvement is not guaranteed but can be worked towards with some better resource's available added to growing understanding and partnerships in the squad.

The world does not revolve purely around Xd stats, if it did we would be handing out the medals now.

[Jonathan]

I do accept that if we’d been top of the XG table but on zero points then I’d have been vehemently defending the performances from a tirade of criticism based on the outcomes. But that’s just it isn’t it, some people only pick on the performances when the results have been good. Otherwise it’s a results game.

[mushRTID]

I’m baffled anyone is not Impressed with how this team is now battling and fighting.

Million miles away from the team that crumbled at Morecambe and plenty of other games last season.

Everyone knows performances need to improve, and they will.

With players to come back too and an alleged tough start.

This is not meant to be a criticism of Gaz he is obviously well into his stats which is great, but to me it does appear he also enjoys forming opinions that go against the majority. Seems at times to be trying to prove people wrong all the time.

[GazLaz]

At the 0-0 game state, which is an extremely important indicator of a teams ability, only Colchester have worse underlying numbers than us. That’s pretty significant. There is obviously 45mins of football with 10 men within that and it’s very early days but there are no positive signs within the numbers. There is only so long that you can rely on spirit if  performances are not at the level they need to be. Hopefully over they next month we start to improve our output. I’ll be the first to report if we do. A return for JT and Close would certainly go some way to aiding any improvement.

[idler]

Thanks Gaz that is interesting.I'm surprised only one team has worse stats but hopefully, we can only improve.

[GazLaz]

The betting markets are saying that Stockport are about 0.7 goals per game better than us at this point in time. To put that in perspective that was about the distance between top of L2 last season and 16th.

That is what the big betting syndicates are saying is currently the case. They are generally the smartest people in football. Does it mean we can’t win? No not at all. It’s saying there’s a about 50% chance that Stockport win. So a 50% chance we get a result!

[ForsolongaRover]

The thing that strikes me about this team is that they are still finding, or perhaps I should say establishing a style of playing. What struck me about Wellens’ team was that there was no pattern, no plan. And although things got a bit better under GMcS, he tried to build on what were unstable foundations.

His close season signings have brought the character so lacking last season. Whereas in more settled times newcomers, like the close-season signings, are fitting into an team with an established style of playing, there was no discernible style to merge with.

So as well as young players progressing with experience there is a process of building relationships and developing a style of play which to me looks nothing like Moore’s team and does not really resemble much of what we have seen in recent years.

All that I could say with a degree of confidence is that it is promising and the players look comfortable in it. Given the youthful element and the firm participation evident from those more experienced it is encouraging. Not relying on and accommodating individually gifted loan players could even be an advantage.

How good this squad will become depends on talent and leadership, but the manager seems flexible and he and Copps appear to be sensitive and “modern” in their style which should aid the positive development.