superniko

A bit of hyperbole this, and offensive to the slave migrant workers, especially the thousands who lost their lives. Not to mention anybody gay, non-muslim or even bloody female! Yes there is lots wrong with our country, but it's chalk and cheese.

"If we can stay in touch" and "Feeling more confident about Top 6"? You're bloody 7/4 to WIN the league (36% chance) and 1/8 (89% chance) of finishing in the top 6.....stop trying to talk your lot down in the build up to the derby, if you're not beating us at home it'll be deemed a failure.

Agree with this - whilst the stadium is too big for us right now - it wasn't the case when we were playing United, City, Liverpool etc. every season. Hypothetically, if we were to get promoted, how do you think Swag would price season tickets? I ask as ticket sales are a drop in the ocean in realty (£3m or so revenue this year from ST), and they're even more so in the Prem. Thinking back to the £200 tickets under John Williams. Fill up Ewood, get an atmosphere back, maybe cling onto a few more fans upon the inevitable relegation. Any money lost in ticket revenue is made up instantly by bigger away followings let alone the £100m+ in TV deals. Obviously Swag would increase it further instead.

Yeah Swag should do some sort of 2 for £20 for Reading and Burnley. Wednesday and Saturday fixtures. Gets you a bigger midweek crowd and can make Burnley A+ if he wants to fleece the away fans. I don’t really think ticket packages work for us, but it’s a way for him to fleece 7k away fans if he wants (he’d probably prefer the £30 and take it from home and away fans)

I think that is very fair. It's getting more commonly used but perhaps not painting a full picture to the fan on the sofa e.g. flashing up as a stat on MOTD

Because whilst Kaminski and Brereton are better than average and a factor in our over-performance in actual vs expected I stated that I believe luck or statistic size (as a broad term but perhaps could be worded better) is a bigger factor. Those two players alone aren't enough to keep outperforming xG as much as we have this season. Personally, the flaw I don't like with it is how it doesn't represent game scenarios i.e. Sunderland only started to lead in xG once we were 2-0 up and we sat back and they dominated - would this have happened if Breretons screamer went over the bar? Unlikely to the extent it did. We take the lead, we sit back and we lose on xG - if it keeps getting us 3 points then happy days. To be blunt though, there is a reason we're 8th favourites for promotion despite being joint top of the league.

It’s used widely in the bookmaking industry and I’m yet to see a poor one. Look at Bloom and Bentham - some of the first to use it for their personal gain. Now owning Brighton and Brentford respectively and they’ve both seen some uptick in their fortunes. It has flaws yes, but it’s the best stat for pricing odds on matches and at simulating seasons to predict finishing positions.

Whilst this is true, luck is a larger factor, and we will eventually regress to the mean….The season only being 46 games means it’s a relative small sample statistically speaking and that regression may happen too late as we march to promotion.

John Buckley does not keep the midfield 3 solid

Isn’t that a contradiction?

Usually 12pm for a 3pm match I believe. Enjoy it - good food, view, service and you might see an ex player or two.

Absolute textbook

I agree I think that’s the team he’ll go with, and also agree with the rest of the post. Perhaps small chance he rests Morton - seems to be the only player in the middle who he hasn’t yet and he likes to rotate

£10m I think they've paid (with all add-ons I assume). Decent wedge for a Championship club. Edit: Low initial fee and high add-ons apparently - probably includes PL promotion etc. which would make it all worthwhile.

We had Elliott and the 2nd top scorer in the league (as well as the 2nd top scorer the season after) all in the same team but still failed to make the playoffs! Almost feels more of a missed opportunity than how we threw away last season. We looked unreal at times in the Elliott season but just couldn't defend. If only we had Hyam, Wharton and a fit Ayala!

The league is just so open this year it appears to be inflating our expectations...16 games and 27 points sits us top of the table (albeit others with games in hand) 20/21: 16 games and 23 points (12th place) - Bournemouth 37 and Fulham 35 points 19/20: 16 games and 25 points (9th place) - Norwich 31 points and Bournemouth 30 points After 16 games last season Coventry had the same points we have now and finished 12th overall, likewise QPR finished 11th. Sheffield United back in 16th reached the playoffs. Our run up to the World Cup is huge, 4 very low rated teams in a row probably should see us in the top two as we head into our local derby followed by a few weeks off! Rovers & England double pays 200/1 - Merry Christmas

Strange one Roberts - was loaned out everywhere and when he did finally leave City it was only a 6 month contract to Sunderland in League 1. They'll push top 6 with himself and Clarke for sure.

Peter Jackson being a tad generous there but the lad will enjoy his watch more than Diaz and co 😁

Morton and Brittain have been absolutely brilliant tonight.

Thought the wall played him onside but would need to look again

DEFENDERS ARE HERE! We look a lot more solid with Wharton, Hyam, Ayala and Carter from what we’ve seen but we’re a threat from set pieces again - the first 3 in particular sticking their head on plenty up top (see Gallagher assist at the weekend too)

Let’s hope so - I guess it’s only abroad he can go in January for free so if we’re up there I’d imagine he’ll stay. He has so much motivation now which is great for us this season...Screamers like that on Sky are worth another £10k a week on a Prem contract.

I’m still not convinced about us but GET THE FECK IN JDT AND THE LADS

HUMBLE PIE - came from Brittain cutting inside! Pure quality from Diaz though. I will miss him in February

Old Tone would have been slaughtered if he’d started Nyambe on the left and Pickering on the right. (Rightly so) But we’re led to believe JDT has a style / vision / plan We’ve not reached Striker at RB or Defensive Mid as false 9 thank god! I do like Brittain. Looks a solid player