The Fish

I took each clubs' wages reported in the latest accounts, totalled them up, and had a play around with the figures. So, total wage bill is c3.227bn a year. 20 league clubs. So an equal wage cap would be 'fair' at around £161m a year for each club. This shows how much each club would have to cut, or to spend to match that cap. As it stands, Man City have the biggest wage bill at £359.3m a year on wages, Ipswich spend the least at around £11.9m. So, with that in mind, the difference between each league position could be expected to be around £18.3m. e.g. 18th, 19th and 20th would spend £54.8m, £36.6m and £18.3m respectively, while 1st, 2nd and 3rd would be £365.8m £347.5m and £329.2m Green line shows that gradual increase, blue line shows actual wage spent. And here is how much each club has spent on wage, per point they've won so far (Wage on the axis, pts by the bars)

Happy New Year everyone. Statistically speaking, we're due a good one, right?

Manchester United vs Newcastle Full Match Replay - Premier League 2024/2025

What, these two? Top chart shows Goals scored, vs xG. Blue shaded area shows we're scoring more goals than you'd expect given the chances. Red area shows we're being profligate, given the chances. Bottom chart shows goals conceded, vs expected goals against. Blue shaded area shows we're conceding fewer goals than you'd expect given the chances. Red area shows we're conceding more than you'd expect. e.g. Brighton at home, you'd have expected us to score twice, and conceded once. But we were wasteful. What these charts answer are the questions; are we consistently wasteful? Are we consistently porous? Is it getting better, or worse?

I've so many sensible reasons why we should win at Old Trafford tonight, and one insensible one why we won't.

Sorry Rents, this must be rough as fuck. Keep talking about it, even if it's just on here. Don't have a drink to 'get you through' something though. You'll feel doubly bad if you do.

I've got no leave left so I'm in every day. On the bright side there's fuck all work on so I'm chilling out 9-5, and when there were two extra mums, and four extra kids tearing around the house I was safely hiding down in the office.

They are not confident. https://www.villatalk.com/topic/26114-pre-match-thread/#comments I think this will be a tight affair. Well, I guess I mean it'll be a close game, there'll be plenty of chances for both teams, I reckon.

Think that's true of most football fans to be honest. I know Man City fans who are viewing this utterly mental collapse as just par for the course for their club. "Typical Man City".

Then what the fuck are we all doing here?

That's a very memeable image.

I didn't realise Ipswich hadn't yet won at home. They have managed to draw with Man Utd, Villa and Fulham though, which isn't to be sniffed at for a newly promoted side .

Dunno where all this gloom is coming from like

You didn't teach them fishing, you showed them a lake and told them to get on with it.

They're different, but both very good. Where Robinson is better carrying the ball (Progressive carries, successful take-ons), Hall is better passing it (Progressive Passes, Pass completion, Passes attempted). Hall may have fewer assists, but given the chances he's created for teammates (xAG), you could reasonable have expected him to have had more. Defensively they're pretty close too. I chose 3 other leftbacks to compare https://fbref.com/en/stathead/player_comparison.cgi?request=1&sum=0&dom_lg=1&player_id1=289601e6&p1yrfrom=2024-2025&player_id2=da011f18&p2yrfrom=2024-2025&player_id3=5ad50391&p3yrfrom=2024-2025&player_id4=2e4f5f03&p4yrfrom=2024-2025&player_id5=d9565625&p5yrfrom=2024-2025 and he's right up there with the likes of Gvardiol

Rashford would either need to take a paycut, or Man Utd be convinced to cover a portion. It seems every window we say that about Chelsea before they buy another 35 players. Oh, well, if you suppose...

Midtable stodge Midtable stodge but in the good box

Sure; Chelsea, PSG, Man City, Spurs, and depending on the deal there could be clubs who loan him with an obligation, while Man Utd keep paying the lion's share of his wages.

Jings Crivens help ma boab