Great worked goal, top cross from JRC and great finish from Arma. 

Just now, unleaded said:

Pears has signed on a 4 year deal ! Let that sink in ... 

Wow, was it a 4 year deal? Jesus, who’s his agent? Makes no sense given he was signed as a reserve and isn’t even proven. 

2 minutes ago, simongarnerisgod said:

this reminds me of when sheff utd turned up a few seasons ago in their promotion season,they were far better organised,quicker,stronger and generally streets ahead of us,we are still at mid table level and hav`nt kicked on

Nail on the head, I think that was midweek evening game too. Certainly a lot stronger. 

Douglas has looked out of position on a few occasions defensively. More promising going forward. 
Lenihan seems to be lunging in for every challenge, like he’s always a few seconds behind. 
1st 25 mins were dire, probably worst of the season or at least up there with the Forest game. 

Cannot believe Evans has got a starting place here. Regardless of Johnson’s fitness he shouldn’t be next in line. 

7 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

So is the xG not even specific to individual games? I presumed that it was implying that ultimately in the games that we didnt win, that we should have done based on xG. It is incredibly flawed because if most of our xG in 7 games came within 3 games, then that isnt fair to suggest that we should be top based on that!

 

Yes the table is specific to individual games. e.g. i think one model i saw had us drawing with Bournemouth, beating Watford and Cardiff and losing to Forest.

The 2nd sentence would be relating to the goal difference and xG actually has us 1 goal fewer than we've scored through the 7 games so far. So we can be top of overall xG table which takes into account game by game and also xG goals scored.

2 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

I do think that Reading may well struggle to last the pace, but I have never really embraced the xG table.

I dont get how you can make the quality of chances created an exact science, you definitely cant.

Doesnt it also assume that everyone has the same ruthlessness in terms of taking those chances created? In that it implies that it will level out, for example if a team outperforms its place in the xG, maybe that is just because they are clinical with the chances they have.

Seems like a bit of a nonsense stat to me unless I am missing something.

I dont get how we are top of the league for it either. I dont feel that in any game so far, even if we have been competitive that we havent got what would be expected on the balance of play.

It's not a definite science by any measure, but allows you to see where positions may be false and gives you a guide to under/over performance vs luck essentially. For example a poster here assuming Reading were the bookies favourites, probably from just purely looking at the league table. 

Bookmakers and pro's would incorporate it into their pricing, especially for outright modelling, if we remain as dominant as we have been in the last few matches over the next week or two expect us to be one of the favourites for the league.

It's not solely based on the quality of chances, it also takes into account the location of the chance and the type of chance e.g. penalty, 1 on 1, header etc. Different companies have different models though and some may not take this into account in lower leagues.

It's obviously not the be all and end all, but it offers a bit of perspective on what is currently a small sample size (6 games)

EDIT: what Joe said ?

2 hours ago, Uddersfelt Blue said:

It seems that this season the Red Button is no longer available for Sky subscribers on the Virgin TV platform. 

You can try on the Sky Sports app (although i think that has to be Sky subscribers too). Otherwise it's free on the Sky Bet app if you happen to have an account with them.

EDIT: noticed plenty of others have suggested this too now.

Rovers sitting top of the xG table, with Reading mid-table. It's unsustainable for them to continue as they are (1 shot on target at home vs Wycombe). I'm expecting us to dominate possession and with Holtby playing I think we will create the chances to win this comfortably 

Couldn’t care less if Brereton doesn’t score all season if he continues with these assists. He’ll prob be a 5-10 a season guy but that’s fine in the role he now plays and as a non-setpiece taker. 
He was brilliant again today, as was Elliott and I think this will continue to be our starting front 3 for the time being. 

Fantastic from Brereton again today. The thing about today that I’m happiest about is the fact Tony saw the players who needed replacing and did so. Glad it’s been rewarded with a win and long may it continue. 

Glad Armstrong slotted the penalty, missing 2 in 2 might have had a dent in his confidence a bit. Hopefully we kill it off quickly in the 2nd half. 

No complaints with that team what so ever. I’d rather have seen Buckley than Johnson in this kind of game but can’t complain.
The main thing Tony had to do was replace Bell and Evans with Douglas and Trybull and he’s done that. 

22 minutes ago, darrenrover said:

Assuming all are available, I'd line up:

                     Kaminski

JRC   Lenihan   Williams   Douglas

       Johnson   Evans   Trybull

Elliott/Dolan  Armstrong   Brereton   

Coventry are there to be beaten, we need to be on the front foot and nothing but a victory should suffice.

COYB!!

Edit: As Rothwell is unavailable, I can't see us starting with anything other than above in the middle of the park.

No Holtby? Or is he not available and I’ve missed it? He’s been our best player this season. 

Buckley was poor against Forest, however Johnson has been no better in the last few games. He also played alongside Evans and Johnson, I’d expect more for him with Holtby in the centre too. Assuming Ayala is injured...

        Kaminski

JRC Lenihan Williams Douglas

 Holtby Trybull Buckley

Elliott Armstrong Brereton

20 minutes ago, Butty said:

You could see the talent was there, there’s not many people in the side who could play the pass he played through to Armstrong when Foster tipped it over the bar. He will be a good player for us will Elliott. 

Did he also put the ball through for the yellow card that could/should have been red? I think it was, and it was also a lovely weighted pass. 
Both were from more central areas though, not convinced he’s an out and out wide man (first time I’ve watched him mind you). 

Rothwell still out for Saturday. Eugh

The Cardiff and Forest games were far more frustrating. We really need to bounce back in a game we expect to win on Saturday.

Rothwell, Trybull and Douglas in for Evans, Johnson and Bell. 
Williams in for Ayala if he’s injured. 

Is Rothwell clear for Saturday? If so I’d like to see him and Trybull alongside Holtby.

Just now, Tugay-is-God said:

Like when he was top scorer in League One at 19?

Fair enough, I’m only going off what I’ve seen in a Rovers shirt. Don’t get me wrong, he’s good enough to be a regular in our front 3, but that says more about Gallagher etc. than Arma himself. 

Just now, Tugay-is-God said:

Arma's scored more than almost anyone in the football league in 2020. 

Some people on here's memories/judgment is laughable. 

I remember the average years prior to that, does that make my memory good / not laughable?

Let’s put this “relying on Armstrong’s goals” shite to bed please. He’s had half a good season with us (and 2 games this season).

He was bang average in L1 with most this board calling for him to be benched. Talk of £15m was laughable and we’d be complete mugs to have turned anything like that down. 

2 minutes ago, superniko said:

What the fuck is Armstrong doing there. It’s like he assumed he was offside so just went for it. 
I wonder how many games he has to go without scoring and constantly missing chances for everyone to remember how bang average he was for 2 years

“See above”

What the fuck is Armstrong doing there. It’s like he assumed he was offside so just went for it. 
I wonder how many games he has to go without scoring and constantly missing chances for everyone to remember how bang average he was for 2 years

Just now, Paul Mani said:

Kaminski

Nyambe Lenihan Ayala Douglas

Holtby Trav Rothwell

Elliott Dack Arma

subs - Pears, Williams, JRC, Trybull, Buckley, Dolan, Brereton

This team / bench gets us into the top 6 of the Championship this season. 

I posted this same team in the “best team” thread last week. Hopefully post Christmas when everyone is fit, with Dolan and Brereton playing their part in the attacking 3. 
In the meantime Brereton/Dolan for Dack with Arma in the middle and give Trybull a run until Travis is fit.