10-match segments 2024/5

Excellent again RCB. I look forward to these. I don't think there is much difference to last year at this period in terms of our own performance? But in comparison to the rest of the division this season it is more favourable?

 

Looking over the stats for 10 games in, there isn't anything majorly jumping out at us, we are very bang in the middle. In goal, Walker is kinda up there for most things really. He's 8th in terms of save percentage with 72.2% saved, he's 10th for goals against per 90 mins. Only thing that's maybe an issue so far is our clean sheet column, just 2 notched in 10 games. But with an ever changing defence, it's probably to be expected. But the keeper is statistically performing better than the defenders.

Defensively - Shots against per game, we are 15th in the league with 10.8 on average per match. We are 20th for tackles per game, we are 18th for interceptions per game, we are 3rd for fouls committed per game, we are 5th for cards too. Overall our defensive ranking is 12th. Not bad for a constantly changing defence, but 2 clean sheets again might be a worry, sort that out and we'll be up there.

Offensively - Shots per game we are 13th with 11. 6 per game, we are joint 11th-13th for shots on target per game, Dribbles per game and fouls per game we are mid table too. Overall our offensive ranking is also 12th. So statistically, we are average at both sides of the play so far this season.

Only Walsall have scored more goals in open play than us so far this season, although we are 22nd for set piece goals. We are 4th for crosses per game, we are 12th for long balls per game, we are 7th for short passes per game. Pass completion is 10th too. Our xG is 13.56 and we scored 14, so about right. xG against is 12.09 and we've conceded 10. We don't really have a style of play reading into the numbers, we don't go long more or less than most, we go shorter but not massively shorter than the rest. Shots for and against per game is very similar too. We're either a consistently average side in the league, or consistently inconsistent so far in the 24/25 season.

 

I think the next 10 games will give us a really good idea of where we stand. It takes us to nearly the halfway point and so far we've had relatively nice home games. In the next 10 games we've got Gillingham, Doncaster and Barrow at home so we will see if we have turned a corner at home or if it is just that we've had nice fixtures. After them 10 games we must have the hardest 4 games over the Christmas/New Year period out of any teams in the league with all 4 likely to be in or around the play off race at least.

The away form is a worry but for me the biggest worry has been the lack of performances and how slowly we've started them all apart from MK.

 

For me if we hadn't had the injuries in the Grimsby match and change in formation from half time against Walsall and the subsequent matches up until Monday, we would be at least 2 points better off now, maybe 4.

 

Very good mate, that tickled me!

 

I think that's it isn't it. We have improved.... ever so slightly. But the difference is, last year we won 6 or 7 of the last 8 and had a daft return to paper over the cracks, when we were 14th ish at the time of the good run. This is a very mid table team, or at least a set of players sent out with a mid-table tactic, or middle of the pack mentality. We didn't finish 12th last season because of a freak unbeaten run, we need another miracle to not end up the same this time around.

 

I'll have a deep dive on the laptop later in the week. But a week or so ago when I checked, we had the most crosses per game in the league, but we weren't even in the top half for shots. We were about 15th for xG and Cook alone had about 40% of the teams xG.

On the face of it we weren't a bad defensive unit before today, but scratching under the surface, we weren't in the top half for a lot of defensive numbers. For me it's the way we play, we are too rigid to either not conceded more than 1 in 9 out of 10 games, but by the same hand we won't score more than 1 in 9 out of 10. We are hamstrung by our style in this tactic.

 

It's a concern that rhe narrative is "but we've been missing players" then when Sarcevic and Baldwin are back and we have a choice of players we get pumped 3 0 by off form Notts County...

Perhaps they weren't as pivotal as has been made out...?

 

I said the same on another forum a while ago; we started the season quite poorly, and I felt certain injuries were a blessing at the time. Sarcevic, the key one. He looks well past it to me; when he got injured, and Walker came in, it immediately gave us a lift; he's been the biggest flop of all so far, considering the money he is likely on. As for Baldwin, he looks like he would prefer to play further up the field than in defence. But I won't start on the defence again. People have already complained at me over it and I'm bored of going on about how crap they are myself.

 

It is distressing that the supporters of this club are continually lambasted by fellow fans. It’s as if the fans who want something different for our proud club are to be held responsible for the lack of structure at the club, and the dreadful way it is being managed. Those that disagree with boycotts etc are the one true supporters. The only thing I would want from my fellow supporters regardless of whether they agree with me or not is respect. Out of the 12,000 ST holders it is likely there will be several different views on how to move forward.

 

Bloody annoying because he was a cracking player earlier in his career. Madden still looks good, but we sign the duff one.

But we cannot feel sorry for ourselves. Even we on here recognised he was no longer an attacking or box-to-box midfielder from his time at Stockport. Why not? Well, because he's slowed right down.

All information in the public domain. All no doubt reflected in stats and via tape.

Yet we still signed him expecting the Sarc of old.

In other words: we gone and done it again!

 

Our poor return of points when slipping behind doesnt surprise. Not enough characters in this team and some questionable leadership

 

Given we are now 43% through the season.....is it time enough to judge the 'quality' of our squad? Or too early?

Averaging 1.4 points per game.
Averaging 1.2 goals scored per game.
Averaging 1.1 goals against per game.

Is that mediocrity? That we don't stand for?

No real sign of football 'investment' whatsoever....but at least our 'new' Macron stock will stay dry.....