Match Thread Queens Park Rangers - Coventry City Match Thread - Saturday 31st Jan (20 Viewers)

[marrrkjay_ccfc]

Playing wing backs and no kesler Hayden on the bench? And I doubt either of yang or markelo don't make the bench

I thought Kesler-Hayden was injured and didn't know Markelo had signed when I posted it.

 

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[Hobo]

Which is why you need to play Sakamoto. Esse has only crossed the ball once in 3 games.

Esse looks more like a 10 to me, that seems his most natural position. I think alternatively he is more a wide attacker than a traditional winger.

 

[COVKIDSNEVERQUIT]

Occasionally....probably be before your days, for away games, I would only find the score out by buying The Pink, which the Cov Telegraph used to publish and would be delivered to newsagents before or around 6pm ish every Saturday night

Same here, out of interest which newsagent.

 

[Otis]

Same here, out of interest which newsagent.

Used to be Ward's down Ringwood Highway and then what was Forbuoys on Jubilee Crescent. Now a Spar I believe.

 

[COVKIDSNEVERQUIT]

I'll be in Hamburg watching in a bar somewhere It might be better while under the influence

Wearing your Sky Blues shirt?

 

[COVKIDSNEVERQUIT]

Used to be Ward's down Ringwood Highway and then what was Forbuoys on Jubilee Crescent. Now a Spar I believe.

Kempas Highway, Green Lane, opposite the Burnt Post Pub.

 

[Sick Boy]

She's not that bothered but if you asked her she'd go with family ties, so Spurs and Galatasaray. I will somehow ensure this kid is a CCFC fan even if it kills me though.

Mine has zero interest but then suddenly seems to support whatever opponent we’re playing.

 

[TomRad85]

Mine has zero interest but then suddenly seems to support whatever opponent we’re playing.

Well thats just cruel.

 

[Otis]

Mine has zero interest but then suddenly seems to support whatever opponent we’re playing.

Mine has suddenly shown an interest, out of the blue.

I think she just realises how much it means to me

 

[Grendel]

I'll be in Hamburg watching in a bar somewhere It might be better while under the influence

if you go down the Reeperbahn you’ll have more chance of scoring than us

 

[Ccfcisparks]

I'm punting on Obikwu to score. Its written in the stars.

 

[Sky Blue Harry H]

I'm punting on Obikwu to score. Its written in the stars.

Injured. Save your money.

 

[Ccfcisparks]

Injured. Save your money.

PHEW!

 

[Skyblueabo1111]

Agree - I think we were somewhat willing to gamble vs Norwich because we believed they wouldn't take their chances well - which I think broadly was correct - Rushworth had a lot less difficult saves to make than previous games. But it is a dangerous game to play allowing so much to happen in dangerous areas - as you say, the winner comes from a mistake.

I also think we were unlucky not to go in 2 up (Wright) and to equalise (EMC off the bar). What I think baffled a lot of people is that we didn't seem to tactically respond to the game well, at all. By the first half it was clear we needed far more control of the game, and we already had a lead to defend, away from home. Conceding seconds into the 2nd half didn't give us much chance of that - which perhaps played a part in Lampard & co deciding to keep going for it.

It was madness. We got battered first half and extremely lucky to be 1 up. Not sure why Frank didn't see this and change things. No hindsight needed. It was obvious.

 

[Skyblueabo1111]

Esse looks more like a 10 to me, that seems his most natural position. I think alternatively he is more a wide attacker than a traditional winger.

Totally agree..He is definitely not a winger.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

It was madness. We got battered first half and extremely lucky to be 1 up. Not sure why Frank didn't see this and change things. No hindsight needed. It was obvious.

They had 1 more shot than us than in total in that first half… what are you talking about?

Last season, Norwich actually battered us and to demonstrate the difference, see attachments.

 

[Otis]

Injured. Save your money.

Course he's injured. He was developed by us

 

[Skyblueabo1111]

They had 1 more shot than us than in total in that first half… what are you talking about?

Last season, Norwich actually battered us and to demonstrate the difference, see attachments.

Suggest you watch the game again. Stats prove nothing. We were run ragged.

 

[Earlsdon_Skyblue1]

I'll be in Hamburg watching in a bar somewhere It might be better while under the influence

I am praying for you. I have lost my soul on the Reeperbahn more than a few times. It's a 'Bangkok has him now' kind of place. You'll be back in about 3 weeks.

Not refering to prostitues by the way, just to clear that up. It is just an absolutely mental nightlife place.

 

[mmttww]

Not sure I can think of anything worse...

an Obikwu hat trick would be worse tbf.

 

[Skyblueabo1111]

They had 1 more shot than us than in total in that first half… what are you talking about?

Last season, Norwich actually battered us and to demonstrate the difference, see attachments.

So in short, you are saying we weren't overrun in the first half at Norwich? Great emojis by the way.

They had 1 more shot than us than in total in that first half… what are you talking about?

Last season, Norwich actually battered us and to demonstrate the difference, see attachments.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

So in short, you are saying we weren't overrun in the first half at Norwich? Great emojis by the way.

It was very open, but they didn’t actually create any clearcut chances.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Suggest you watch the game again. Stats prove nothing. We were run ragged.

The first half highlights really demonstrate your point too…

Norwich City 2-1 Coventry City: Anis Ben Slimane and Ali Ahmed seal Canaries comeback win

Coventry failed to re-establish their six-point lead at the top of the Championship table as Norwich hit back to beat them 2-1.

www.skysports.com

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

The first half highlights really demonstrate your point too…

Norwich City 2-1 Coventry City: Anis Ben Slimane and Ali Ahmed seal Canaries comeback win

Coventry failed to re-establish their six-point lead at the top of the Championship table as Norwich hit back to beat them 2-1.

www.skysports.com

I rewatched that EMC header and just can’t understand how he’s not scored. Taken more difficult chances than that this season.

Norwich will get ripped apart by Boro, I wasn’t impressed whatsoever.

 

[shmmeee]

This to me looks like Norwich has the most of the game tbh

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

It was very open, but they didn’t actually create any clearcut chances.

It was end to end and the stats reflect that because both teams had 9 and 8 shots respectively. Their xG for that half was 0.44 xG and ours was slightly better at 0.63. When your talking to someone who readily say ‘stats mean nothing’, it’s just a waste of time.

Haji actually forced a good save, good finish from Esse and Kitching had a pretty point blank header in the 6th minute which is credited as being the best chance of the half.

In life, facts are friendly. We all have subjective opinions but the better opinions are grounded in facts.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

It was end to end and the stats reflect that because both teams had 9 and 8 shots respectively. Their xG for that half was 0.44 xG and ours was slightly better at 0.63. When your talking to someone who readily say ‘stats mean nothing’, it’s just a waste of time.

Haji actually forced a good save, good finish from Esse and Kitching had a pretty point blank header in the 6th minute which is credited as being the best chance of the half.

In life, facts are friendly. We all have subjective opinions but the better opinions are grounded in facts.

A Norwich fan I know scoffed at my thought that they owed the result to two howlers and our poor finishing, but the numbers flesh it out.

It’s no surprise Lampard is a moody bugger when he sees big errors in both boxes, his own tactical issues notwithstanding.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

A Norwich fan I know scoffed at my thought that they owed the result to two howlers and our poor finishing, but the numbers flesh it out.

It’s no surprise Lampard is a moody bugger when he sees big errors in both boxes, his own tactical issues notwithstanding.

As I say, facts are friendly and their big chances came from defensive errors which isn’t good enough. We have a chance cleared off the line, EMC misses from 3 yards and Eccles heads over a big chance. Score one of those, particularly at 1-1 and we probably win the game.

The idea that they battered us is just not grounded in reality. They got at us, had positive momentum and threat but did not create clear cut chances.

For the whole game they created 1.18 xG which is not that great and we’ve kept clean sheets despite with more xG conceded iirc.

 

[shmmeee]

As I say, facts are friendly and their big chances came from defensive errors which isn’t good enough. We have a chance cleared off the line, EMC misses from 3 yards and Eccles heads over a big chance. Score one of those, particularly at 1-1 and we probably win the game.

The idea that they battered us is just not grounded in reality. They got at us, had positive momentum and threat but did not create clear cut chances.

For the whole game they created 1.18 xG which is not that great and we’ve kept clean sheets despite with more xG conceded iirc.

If a team “gets at us” frequently and has the majority of the momentum getting deeper into our half than we do into theirs but doesn’t create clear cut chances can you see why people may say they battered us? You need to be aware of what stats like xG don’t capture as well as what they do. This is the same mistake you make with going on about Sakamotos dribbles.

 

[Gynnsthetonic]

I rewatched that EMC header and just can’t understand how he’s not scored. Taken more difficult chances than that this season.

Norwich will get ripped apart by Boro, I wasn’t impressed whatsoever.

He missed an easy header against Norwich at home at 0-0, off the post that time

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

If a team “gets at us” frequently and has the majority of the momentum getting deeper into our half than we do into theirs but doesn’t create clear cut chances can you see why people may say they battered us? You need to be aware of what stats like xG don’t capture as well as what they do. This is the same mistake you make with going on about Sakamotos dribbles.

The momentum graph you shared shows it was pretty even game. Far from us being ‘battered’ and we certainly had our own moments where should’ve scored. Again, rewatch the highlights of the game, the showcased chances were predominantly from us.

If you think stats are meaningless, momentum graphs are less useful than things like xG. To highlight a few examples from recent games:

1) Stoke, we had the majority of ‘momentum’ but Stoke undoubtedly had the best chances particularly in the 1st half
2) Birmingham - more ‘momentum’ but we can all accept they had the better chances
3) Southampton - more momentum in the first half, scored but no real ‘clear cut chances’

The momentum graph for the Southampton 2nd half is what a battering looks like.

Whilst your point about there being statistics not telling the whole story, that’s actually true and I accept that. However, that applies to every player and there are contributions that won’t be credited. The best example last year was Simms, there were many times he occupied defenders for players to find space in the box for goals… Yet, the frustration with him last season was completely legitimate because as the stats showed, he was wasteful in front of goal and it wasn’t good enough. Ultimately, the data confirmed the majority of the criticisms against Simms.

To address your point about Sakamoto, the stats do not lie about him. Last season, I noticed a few things about him that bothered me, he checks back a lot, doesn’t take on players and is a low volume shooter. On the flip side, he is a good crosser of ball and contributes defensively and guess what? All of those opinions are corroborated by the data. Broadly speaking, he stands out in no statistical category and when he has a bad crossing game or the opposition nullifies this with a low block, he’s ineffectual. It’s why I’ve come to the conclusion that he is best used as an effective role player which ironically, his recent contributions are perhaps starting to prove my point.

That’s why Lampard has moved to sign wingers who are more aggressive when it comes dribbling because we come across the low block more often than not.