ExiledAjax

Yes xG can tell us things. It's not always new things, but it is things. Hasn't failed me for about 6 years now.

Is this available for people who are not on Twitter (currently known as "X")?

Think Derby lost only one game whilst he was injured, so I'm not sure about how absolutely crucial he was for their season. I'm excited to see him with us. He and Knight were just about the best part of Derby's horror Wayne Rooney/financial turmoil/relegation period. Reuniting them at Ashton Gate, 3 years older and more experienced could be really exciting.

It's not, and taking broadcast revenue isn't awful. I actually think the answer lies in asking a question about how any revenue - ticket or broadcast - is spent rather than earned. Does each club just put it all into the pockets of 25 or so young men, or does it get invested in facilities, used to subsidise ticket prices etc. I expect the answer from clubs would be "yes, it already does all of that", but maybe they need to say that a bit louder if so.

And TGH v Middlesbrough got unofficial goal of the season (as voted for by the players in one of the Club's Instagram videos). I agree, it's a banger.

Absolutely top point. And the issue is that the clubs have absolutely no issue with this continual shift in the importance of ticket revenue to broadcast revenue. Most recently this has come up in relation to the FA Cup replay scrapping. An Arsenal official said to me"...my understanding was that any financial impact [of scrapping replays] would be minimal, and most likely offset by higher distributions from broadcast rights..." I've had this echoed from other clubs, EFL included. It's an attitude that pervades the game right now, and in the long run it's going to negatively impact stadium facilities, ticket price matrices, and other services offered to local, club-in-the-blood fans.

Natural position.

Of which away fans are what? An average of about 1,500? Always hard to find figures for visitor numbers. Happy for that figure to be corrected but if I can momentarily assume it's true then with 14,500 STs sold it suggests that we've been shifting an average of about 6,500 POTD tickets every game. With 99% of those being in the more expensive Dolman and Lansdown stands, that's pretty good for the coffers.

Rumours, your PIN, medical records, travel plans, mothers maiden name, just anything you might want everyone to know really.

Which settles the playoffs if it sticks. No way Hull make up more than 10 GD on WBA.

Twine is obviously our number one target. But who else...you're more on it than me but could we go for Rudoni, maybe Miyoshi? Two options where their current team are/may get relegated. Could well be available for nearer Azaz money than Twine?

I agree with you that based on what I've seen, £5m feels steep. But isn't the pertinent question: what else can we do with £5m (and the £15k p/w of wages)? If we go to market and players like Twine, of his rough ability, and in his position, are generally that price, then that's the price. But if we think we can do more with that money, we think there are better options, then yeh I think you send him back to Burnley and go for someone else, regardless of the head coach's love for him.

Average position now, or average when we played them? We looked at this a few weeks back - there's a thread somewhere on it - we were pretty widely considered to have one of the easier run-ins. Not the easiest, but one of them. Still, we've got the job done and that all you can ask. Even if we lose without scoring next week we'll have a record of 18 points and 15 goals from the last ten, which is "finishing strong" as Manning wanted.

Ah right got you. Yes I'll agree with that, although with a nod to the 15 points from last ten games we got a couple of years ago in 21/22.

Luckily I bet against myself. So I win.

I've been thinking a little. I think this is a season where an observer can take whatever they want. It's possible to look at the same facts, and see either great hope, expectations, and positivity, or signs of concern, failure, and negativity. What you see will depend on your outlook, your biases, your personality etc. There's been brights spots as you rightly highlight, but lows as well. Take these ten games. Yes great results, but one can counter that and say it was an easy run of fixtures, we got 4 (I think?) penalties, and some games were dead rubbers. It's just one of those seasons that in the moment seems very volatile and interesting but I suspect in 3 years' time no one will really remember anything bar the manager change in October. These musings may not be totally on topic, and I'm not trying to be negative, but it is just one of those seasons where there's a bit for everyone. Last season we had a spell where we got 19 points from 10 games, Birmingham - Blackpool, W5, D4, L1.

Absolutely. Absolutely. Also, I thought...I do t know if you play golf, but "Par" is actually a pretty great result. Play an entire round in Par and anyone would be delighted. So if that was what you originally took umbrage with then it's actually a compliment. As they're a client of mine I'd selfishly really quite like them to stay up for budget-preservation reasons. I can understand that no one else cares about this though!

I can't speak for others but I don't think I have personally ever said we cannot break down "lesser" teams. I think we've had issues breaking down conservative, defensive teams that sit in with a low block. A team can be low down the league table playing any style of it's not got the players to do it. None of the teams you mention are that kind of "low block team" either, so I see no real surprise in losing to Sheffield Wednesday and QPR, but beating Plymouth and Blackburn. This was an issue under the previous regime as well as the current one so it's, in my opinion, an issue with the squad rather than the coaching staff. Regardless, we're currently playing a team that was relegated weeks ago, has conceded almost 2 a game whilst scoring less than 1 a game, and is roundly heralded as one of the worst teams in the Championship for many a season. They've also rested their one good player - their goalkeeper. An easy 2-0 is a decent, but expected, result. We've done it without really breaking a sweat, and that's to be applauded.

Nice for King to get a 10 minute testimonial. Hope he enjoys it.

QPR aren't relegation threatened, and weren't last night either. And even if they were, it just shows what I mean. Leeds were embarrassed last night losing a game that they really shouldn't have, equally we can be happy with this scoreline, but it is what should be expected. 2-0 v Rotherham is par. We've still delivered the goods, done our job, and done it fairly easily. But it's still just what we should expect.

If a lion dominates a mouse is that something to celebrate? The relative quality of the opposition, and their particular circumstances at the time we play them, always has to be to be taken into account.

That's the first time I've ever heard someone extrapolate a statement of "should" from someone simply stating a mathematical fact. It's just a fact that illustrates how utter cack Rotherham are defensively. Mehmeti's too? * *just a joke, just a joke

Just for context. 2 is (rounded from 1.93) the average number of goals conceded by Rotherham this season. Par.

That is a very good free kick.

We've pretty clearly been the better side, and all whilst playing pretty lackadaisical stuff. Chilled shooting vibes in the box and some loose stuff elsewhere, but still notching decent non-pen chances, which the penalty then glosses up. I guess this is the luxury that coasting to a mid-table finish gives you.