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Very thought provoking indeed. I like Songo a lot – but the ‘argument’ he presents is quite convincing and as he says he’s not ‘dis’ing’ Songo (as the kids say ) as an individual but pointing out how the balance of the team shifts – and the analysis of Fox’s contribution articulates what I guess many of us instinctively feel about him. As you say the stats are a small-ish sample so should be treated with caution but not ignored. He hits the nail squarely on the head though by pointing out that most of the team that went on that astonishing run last season are still at the club (those twenty odd matches were league winning form). So there is room for optimism and we aren’t a basket case doomed for relegation as some are all too keen to say. We do need a fit Sarcevic (not a fat one!) and Taylor back for the jigsaw to properly reassemble though. For the anti-DA brigade there is plenty of ammunition too – and as he asks did DA stumble upon that line-up without really knowing why it worked? I personally give DA more credit – we don’t see what happens in training - but he does seem too prone to resort a defensive mindset when things aren’t working.The Doctor":3gnkr6ga said:Really interesting. The only thing I would say, nothing something about statistical analysis is that some of the sample sizes (number of games played etc) are rather small and so I suspect that many of the claimed differences between different figures are probably not statistically significant. However, the logic always seems pretty sound to me and the stats are used to illustrate points rather than to blindly prove them.
Basically, as many of us have been saying for weeks, Adams needs to adopt a more positive/proactive approach to games and pick as many of the same front six as he did in the good patch last season.
NickSS":95uuomim said:Sorry for the external links but I just want to advertise a series of articles I am writing about Argyle's struggles this season for Argyle Life. They rely heavily on a lot of statistics that I produce myself and my observations on every match over the last two seasons, which I review in a lot of detail using iFollow.
Below are the first three, but four more will follow over the next two weeks (hopefully).
I'd be really interested to hear feedback from anyone on the ideas and statistics presented, though I do have one request of anyone who comments: please read them first instead of assuming the argument! Oh, and if anyone would like to request any stats please do ask.
One final thing, there is no agenda against any player. I'm of the opinion that all players have their own strengths and weaknesses, which makes them more (or less) suited to different systems, and the sum of 11 players' strengths and weaknesses in one system is the greatest individual factor (albeit the sum of many different factors itself) in ultimately determining a team's performance. So, when I criticise Songo'o in part two, it's not because I think he's a bad player but because I believe that overall his strengths and weaknesses are detrimental to the team's best system.
Part 1: The manager and the mentality
Part 2: The real problem area - midfield
Part 3: The Sarevic Factor
I doubt I'll ever post links on here again, only for this series, so anyone who might want to can obviously follow me on Twitter.
Happy reading.
davie nine":1jjdv48c said:What amazes and intrigues me is how someone can compile these detailed statitistics whilst watching the club that they support.
Incredibly detailed information about, in effect, the 90+ minute performances of 11+ players.
TV can’t be watching all of the players all of the time.
rsp4":3av41dmf said:From part 1 (parts 2 and 3 still to read )
These comments stick out for me and have been part of my arguments ney discussions with green tints and are the reasons for my frustrations with DA.
"Indeed, I believe that, for the most part, the issue lies not with the players, but with the manager – and his inability to get the best out of them."
And
"That is what really worries me. Last season, I privately suggested that Adams had mistakenly stumbled onto a near flawless formation through sheer chance, and that he didn’t fully understand why it was so successful. With each passing game this season, I begin to suspect more and more that it could be the case."
A good read and interpretation so far. As I say parts 2 and 3 to read.
Cheers