Happy Face

Whey if they haven't they wouldn't find one in Sam Bastard Jacks. Haggard smack rats on the pole in there these days.

The moment that summed us up was in the first half where Tiote won the ball on the edge of the box and straight away he had 3 Swansea players on him. He didn't give a fuck. He took a couple of steps, did a few pivots, kept close control of the ball, fought them off with strength, looked up and saw Williamson was available and laid it off. Williamson didn't even take a second to look up. He turned 180 degrees and hit back at Krul who had no option but to hoof the fucker. You could see on Tiote's face a look of utter bewilderment as to why the fuck he had bothered. He had a pop at Williamson for it too.

Could maybe agree with some of that if Tiote hadn't had seen more of the ball than any other player last year, followed by Cabaye, and if HBA hadn't played less than half the games, and if Cabaye hadn't been our biggest assist provider from behind the front 2. Hardly tells a tale of direct football over the top of midfield or through HBA.

I didn't have a drink at half time on Saturday because I was on call and could only have a couple so saved myself for a nicer pint after. Then the fuckers insisted on going to to Sam Bastard Jacks for the fanny and some alka seltzer in tatty water. I got a program last time I was in the posh seats for a cup game...might have been League cup though.

I promise this is the last statistics post I do...but as you mention him (and I agree with you) I was shocked to see he's one of the 2 best centre backs in the league according to the Premier League best 11 on this site (scroll to the bottom)... http://www.whoscored...-Premier-League To see all of his mistakes play out in front of you is hugely frustrating, but he must be the epitome of a 'moneyball' type player that Ashley wants more of. Despite his clangers that may or may not cost us on occasion he wins more offsides than any of our other players, has made more clearances than any of our other players and has won more aerial duels than any of our other players.

Got me wondering how the ratios look..... Newcastle United 24.5% Reading 24.5% Stoke 23.1% West Ham 21.3% Aston Villa 20.6% Norwich 20.5% Sunderland 19.2% West Bromwich Albion 19.0% Everton 17.9% Tottenham 17.9% Queens Park Rangers 17.0% Fulham 16.1% Wigan 15.5% Chelsea 13.4% Swansea 12.8% Liverpool 12.7% Southampton 12.7% Manchester United 11.6% Manchester City 10.5% Arsenal 9.7% Which highlights Fish's point that Everton and Fulham are using long balls much more as part of an overall passing game. They're much lower as a proportion of total passes. Also that Reading, Stoke and West Ham creep further up the table, although they don't hit as many long, they do so little passing overall that they're much more reliant on the long balls. It doesn't do us any favours though. Still the worst in the league. Edit: 1 in 4 passses a long ball man!?

That was my thought too...but you were also saying we've resorted to it due to injury, but last season was remarkably injury free and we still averaged more punts than any other teams have this season.

Aye, it doesn't...but then last season we averaged 67 per game...which would still have had us up top this year too. Wish I could find a site with stats for off the ball movement because our entire team seem to turn to statues as soon as we're in posession. Not surprising we have to go long so often without anyone near the ball looking to make themselves available.

Cheers. Wasn't laziness. Asked last night when I was on my phone. If I go I think I'll pay the extra fiver for the platinum club. You get a program there anaarl don't you, so might as well.

Wasn't aware of that. Good stat though. We're worst by a significant margin too....

Shola was the best player on the park for 20 minutes after half time. Opponents were bouncing of him. He was holding up and laying off like a legend. Despite waddling around like Foreman in his last few fights.

Aye. Everyone else in this thread thought the same. There's not a single concern uttered over the performance in this thread until about quarter past 4. Then all of a sudden we're utter gash. The same people who waxed lyrical last season about how great we were cos we were in the top 5 and winning games, despite playing some dour shit are the ones now complaining how shit we are despite what was a canny performance in large parts. Doilums.

I was annoyed my wedding photographer didn't make more of an effort like. Brought down the whole tone in his scruffy jacket and cords

How much are tickets?

Nah, they're THAT shit all the way through.

I can't drink at the match when I'm on call, you still go to the match though man. I'm not saying anyone has to be a soopafan or owt. The likes of Alex and Gemmil both stopped going cos they weren't enjoying it. Be truthful to yourself. It was nowt to do with money.

I thought you had a season ticket? Is football going the same way as the home brew and the camping? Will you be moving on to a budgie forum?

Did you miss it out of choice? Shame shane in jonas out hasn't proved the be all and end all. You would have been happier yesterday than last week though.

Ba wasn't Shit at all. Missed some sitters but he was one of our best players. The direction and power he got on his headed goal given the balls flight and his approach was superb.

Yesterday wasn't turgid. Some individual mistakes cost dear. But the performance was better than last week.

See my previous post about momentum and strengthening. Cabaye's been the most publicised player to have been underwhelmed. I'm sure he's not alone.

With friends like fish who needs birthdays.

Course they do.....they think how many times a week you put on a suit does though.

There is no such thing as luck. Easier games early on, better discipline, staying injury free...all contribute to a roll, when you're on that roll momentum and belief are generated that are a massive part of continued success. Ashley sucked all momentum that had been generated out of the club when he failed to dig any deeper in the summer.

I sat at the game yesterday getting increasingly irate at a fella behind calling every player on the pitch a prick and a Dick and a cunt and a twat. So thick he was shouting contradictory bollocks. Raging that no-one was chasing for the ball one minute, apoplectic that we were shadow chasing the next. Vexed at Simpson not busting a gut and being late to come forward for a 50-50, outraged in the same run of play that he had vacated his position for a 50-50. There were big laughs all around when in the end another fella loudly pronounced "here, there's some right doilums follow the toon". He was spot on. If you thought last year made us champions league contenders you're a doilum. If you boo the team off after 2 defeats in 6 you're a doilum too.