[FOOTBALL 11/8-13/8] KICKOFF weekend. How many time will they say 25?

[Giggles]

Friday
Arsenal v Leicester City 19:45 SKY

Saturday
Liverpool v Watford 12:30 SKY
Chelsea v Burnley 15:00
Crystal Palace v Huddersfield Town 15:00
Everton v Stoke City 15:00
Southampton v Swansea City 15:00
West Bromwich Albion v Bournemouth 15:00
Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester City 17:30 BT

Sunday
Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur 13:30 SKY
Manchester United v West Ham United 16:00 SKY

[Mazuuurk]

Fucking get it, finally

[Jimmy Floyd]

Funnily enough I was flicking through Sky Sports the other day and came across a filler programme called 'Football Years: 91/92'. Sky had led me to believe that no such thing had ever existed.

Is the greatest retreat of all time about to happen?

[niko_cee]

I had no idea Marco Silva had gone to Watford. All of a sudden I fear a gritty defeat.

[John]

They've been quietly putting that sort of thing on since BT started taking rights off them.

[Kikó]

Shame that Hernandez is lining up for West Ham this weekend, he'd have been great as our sub forward still today. I think it'll be a laboured performance especially if we start with our non existent left side (Darmien and Lingard). Need to see Rashford in the team from the start and Mata.

I'm sure Fellaini will start though which is probably deserved.

[Reg]

Paul Barber (chief executive) reckons our game tomorrow will be watched by more people than all previous Brighton games in history combined.

It will be so great if we score. As long as we score a few and win a few this season it will have some great days.

[mugbull]

Spurs will lose to Newcastle, and the rot will be well and truly on. 3 more first team players to leave before the end of the window.

[mugbull]

Paul Barber (chief executive) reckons our game tomorrow will be watched by more people than all previous Brighton games in history combined.

It will be so great if we score. As long as we score a few and win a few this season it will have some great days.

You mean on television yeah? When was the last time you were in the 1st league?

[Jimmy Floyd]

I just worked out (how sad am I) total gates for Brighton since the war are about 18-20 million people, so add in a good 25 million for the FA Cup final and replay they were in, plus all televised games since, and it's a fairly challenging number.

[Reg]

Yeah, on telly. '83 so it's been a while. We had the FA Cup final so I was surprised about the above from Barber but I suppose accounting for China, Africa etc it could easily be true.

[Jimmy Floyd]

In 1997-98 they averaged 2,328 at home games. Jesus Christ.

[John]

Yeah, on telly. '83 so it's been a while. We had the FA Cup final so I was surprised about the above from Barber but I suppose accounting for China, Africa etc it could easily be true.

A half five kick off isn't ideal for bringing the Asian viewers in. That's half past midnight there and half one in Japan.

It'll probably be your most watched game ever but that chief exec needs to give himself a shake.

[Offshore Toon]

Paul Barber (chief executive) reckons our game tomorrow will be watched by more people than all previous Brighton games in history combined.

It will be so great if we score. As long as we score a few and win a few this season it will have some great days.
Weather is meant to be good tomorrow, so should be a really good atmosphere. I think I'll carry on working at the stadium for a bit when I've got nothing else going on. I'd love to see Pep get found out LIVE. :drool:

Spurs will lose to Newcastle, and the rot will be well and truly on. 3 more first team players to leave before the end of the window.
I was thinking that the current disharmony may benefit us. We did the double over them when we went down, so I reckon Mitrovic will eat them alive.

[Spoonsky]

Oh shit, I didn't realize the Premier League started today. :drool:

[niko_cee]

That looks like a fantasy football defence for Arsenal. 4 fullbacks?

[Manc]

Gone big on Vardy to net.

[John]

I hadn't realised quite how bad Mahrez was last year. Six goals and three assists? He must have done about four times that the year before.

[John]

Good start for Lacazette. That's a lovely little header.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

They're going to get dicked on set pieces with those defenders.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

896072727005585409

Christ.

[John]

This expected goals nonsense needs to end very soon.

[John Arne]

Granit Spaka doesn't half fall asleep at times.

[Lewis]

I wondered during the Charity Shield whether this would be the season where Petr Cech-bashing goes mainstream. Everyone on the internet has been calling him bollocks for years, and lolling at him cashing in his fifteen points, but you never hear it on the telly.

[The Merse]

Ffs. At least I'm already convinced I'm going to enjoy Lacazette this year.

[bruhnaldo]

fuck

[niko_cee]

I love how Welbz took a touch there.

I know they have some actual defenders (and maybe Sanchez) to come back, but Arsenal look absolutely awful.

[Shindig]

The thinking man's Daniel Sturridge :dc:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Had he missed, it would have sent the expected goals panel into meltdown.

[Lofty]

They're going to get dicked on set pieces with those defenders.

For some reason Wenger was throwing out of position players into the back three during pre-season and is now looking surprised that players who never played the system together are struggling with it. Given they won 10 in a row prior to this (not counting pre season) I think the first choice back three will be ok.

Not sure why Ramsey isn't playing, don't actually rate him but in the aforementioned run he and Xhaka were the starting centre mid pairing.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Whoever spends money on Mahrez might as well flush the cash down a toilet.

He looks terrible.

[bruhnaldo]

issa Vardy Party :rave:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The joys of a full back heavy defence.

Cech was more interested in pushing Elneny.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

ffs.

[Lofty]

Wahey'

[bruhnaldo]

smfh

[Max Power]

Ugh feel choked after that. Mahrez playing himself out of any kind of move, bench him for the time being. Vardy absolutely superb, Albrighton and Maguire also. Think we'll be fine this year, plenty of positives from that but enough to suggest we perhaps won't win it this season.

[Giggles]

I read down through this and then checked livescore expecting Arsenal to have taken a pasting.

EDIT: MP's post above wasn't there.

[Shindig]

I never know what Leicester are going to do. They've had three years of absolutely no steady middles.

[Lewis]

About that bubble... (https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/aug/11/premier-league-broadcast-battle-hots-up-as-sky-face-doling-out-extra-600m)


Sky could be forced to pay an extra £600m annually to retain the lion’s share of Premier League matches when the next rights auction launches this year, with Amazon emerging as a potential competitor for the biggest prize in UK sport broadcasting.

Google, Apple, Facebook and Netflix are other possible rivals for Britain’s most valuable sports rights, which are split between Sky and BT under the current three-year deal... The prospect of a heated auction involving deep-pocketed tech firms has led analysts to estimate that Sky might have to pay a premium of up to 45% on the near £4.2bn it paid last time. That means a further £1.8bn, or £600m annually, to keep Silicon Valley off the ball.

:lewis:

[Shindig]

Man, streaming services moving in for sports rights would be the end of the satellite model.

[Lofty]

Football thrown in with Prime would be decent.

[niko_cee]

Other than replacing the physical satellite, I don't see what difference it would make. I would imagine most tv services will move to a wifi delivery method in the next decade or so. No need for cables/aerial points and the like. I run sky through a PS3 at the moment (as a multiroom 'box') and it's a revelation (I think they are doing this with those little slave Sky Q boxes as well aren't they?).

[Jimmy Floyd]

It'll end Sky because the above companies (and BT) can subsidise it through their vast other business. Sky have only ever existed on the basis of having (ideally exclusive) Premier League rights.

If they end up having to pay an extra billion then they almost won't be able to do anything else - they'll have to cut other sport, cut F1 probably, cut whatever original programming they do and who knows, maybe they won't even be able to afford to buy in GoT or its future equivalent from the States.

[Adamski]

Football thrown in with Prime would be decent.

That will never happen for the same price. Why would it?!

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That will never happen for the same price. Why would it?!

I can see Amazon doing a Prime + Football for X amount extra a year.

[Giggles]

Prime would be about £30 a month then.

[Lewis]

Amazon would probably take a loss on it for ten years to become synonymous with sports coverage, but I don't think the others would bother.

[niko_cee]

I thought Lacazette looked decent last night.

At points I would imagine he was wondering whether the contract he'd just signed had a release clause in it.

[Adamski]

Amazon would probably take a loss on it for ten years to become synonymous with sports coverage, but I don't think the others would bother.

They'd definitely pay 10bn every 3 years to run it at a loss, you're right.

[niko_cee]

Moreno's back!

Let's hope his pre-season renaissance has extended to being able to defend.

[John Arne]

Watford v Liverpool

Gomes, Janmaat, Kaboul, Britos, Holebas; Chalobah, Doucouré; Amrabat, Cleverley, Pereyra; Okaka
subs: Pantilimon (GK), Prödl, Femenía, Watson, Capoue, Richarlison, Gray

Mignolet, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Matip, Moreno, Henderson, Can, Wijnaldum, Mane, Firmino, Salah
Subs: Karius, Klavan, Gomez, Milner, Grujic, Solanke, Origi

[Weaver]

Looking forward to seeing the Liverpool front three play together. The Watford side looks totally random.

[Lewis]

They'd definitely pay 10bn every 3 years to run it at a loss, you're right.

Do you actually know anything about how Amazon operate? They lose hundreds of millions every 'Amazon Prime Day' to get people onto the service, so they would be more than willing to take a loss on football (which doesn't mean losing the full ten billion) in order to keep Amazon Prime affordable whilst massively expanding their subscribers. Loss-leading is pretty much their entire model.

[Adamski]

I did a bit of contractor work for them in the past briefly, so yeah fairly sure I know how it works.

[Lewis]

Did you just forget it all in your rush to respond to me?

[Gray Fox]

I know we're missing 4 players but that bench looks a little meh.

It'll be good to see what this team can do with 1) people properly trying to defend against them. 2) No creative type behind them. 3) Moreno bombing up the left wing.

[Baz]

Watford v Liverpool

Gomes, Janmaat, Kaboul, Britos, Holebas; Chalobah, Doucouré; Amrabat, Cleverley, Pereyra; Okaka
subs: Pantilimon (GK), Prödl, Femenía, Watson, Capoue, Richarlison, Gray

Mignolet, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Matip, Moreno, Henderson, Can, Wijnaldum, Mane, Firmino, Salah
Subs: Karius, Klavan, Gomez, Milner, Grujic, Solanke, OrigiPeople; it feels so good to be baaaack!

[Weaver]

895959307577159682

896008508554039296

Triple H x Sky Sports x Michail Antonio

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Okaka :rave:

[Adamski]

Did you just forget it all in your rush to respond to me?

Not at all. Your initial premise which you've now backtracked on was false.

In any case, it's a bit different asking someone to pay £8 a month in the hope they buy a £10 toaster to trying to plug a 30bn black hole using the same approach.

[Boydy]

I was just thinking about two minutes before that goal went in that Watford probably aren't a bad bet here.

Also, defending set pieces strikes again.

[Gray Fox]

New season, same old shit.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That was a bit good.

[Spikey M]

Lolerlool.

[Spikey M]

Bollocks

[Baz]

Lord Emre.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That defending :D

That new kid smashing it against Matip's head was brilliant.

[Baz]

Whys Moreno on? :mad:

I'm better than him at defending FFS

[Davgooner]

Fucking craving a dire 0-0 already.

[Guybrush]

Hilarious that he was frozen out after a shocking performance on the opening day last year, and yet here he is starting this season.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

£40m well spent.

No idea how he managed to sky it that high from that close.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Ming :harold:

Great way to start a counter.

[John Arne]

£40m well spent.


Aye, first half of the first game - total waste of money :D

[Baz]

Take Salah off. Ship him off to Leeds on loan or something.

[Offshore Toon]

Is Mahow like this during every Liverpool game?

[John Arne]

I think we can afford to sub off one of our work-horse midfielders.... Without a Lallana or Coutinho in there, our midfield is way too deep. The problem, of course, is that we don't have anyone like that on the bench - Brannagan would have been a shout.

[Gray Fox]

Time to unleash Solanke and drop Firmino back.

Also teach Salah he has a right foot.

[John Arne]

Jesus.... this guy on NBC Sports is talking directly to the camera... it's fucking weird. Talk to the other presenters.

The Watford second goal, whilst onside by the rules, must be frustrating as hell for defenders. Matip steps up to play Okaka offside (it works), but then because the pass isn't played to him, Matip is 2yrs behind the play.

[Boydy]

Is Mahow like this during every Liverpool game?

Pretty much.

[Bartholomert]

I'm watching this because I have no social life and soccer fills the gaping hole which used to be filled with meaningful human interactions and hobbies.

Liverpool looks pretty mediocre. So does Watford but they're supposed to be mediocre (I think? Who knows what's going on these days in soccer).

[John Arne]

I heard Firmino is the new Coutinho.

[John Arne]

Fuck yes.

[Gray Fox]

The Premier League, ladies and gentlemen.

[John Arne]

This is probably our year.

[Bartholomert]

Well that was better. And I put $10 on Liverpool at halftime :cool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'll be stunned if we don't see more goals in this match.

[ScousePig]

Arnold puts some good balls in.

[Waffdon]

Chelsea need about four players, by the state of their squad today.

[mo]

Hilarious reading the Liverpool supporters knee-jerk reactions at being behind. Some of you need to get a grip.

FWIW I tuned in at 2-1 so you're welcome.

[Baz]

Chelsea need about four players, by the state of their squad today.Who even is Jeremie Boga?

[Giggles]

Shit enough at the back that at least the worst thing possible can't happen this season.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Woof.

[John Arne]

I would be nice if we didn't concede from every corner.

[Gray Fox]

Yet again Klopp removes our attacking threat to try to see a game out and yet again it doesnt work.

[Baz]

It's as if nobody realised how injured Kaboul was so didn't even try to take advantage.

[niko_cee]

Lol, I guess.

Did we miss loads of sitters? Sounds like Salah might have. Not bad on the fantasy front though.

[Kikó]

Graph etc.

[Gray Fox]

That noise you hear is Southampton adding another £10m to the price of Van Dijk.

[Giggles]

That was beautiful.

[SincereTheRebel]

Bayern munich are playing in the cup right now with a female referee. I cant remember seeing a female referee a male game before.

[Pleb]

We're two games in and already Arselol and Liverlol are shitting it up.

[Gray Fox]

In before it was all Coutinhos fault.

[Ian]

The state of Redknapp here. Even by his standards he's being spectacularly thick and I think Carragher wants to slap him.

[igor_balis]

This Redknapp and Carragher argument is something else.

[Lewis]

Not at all. Your initial premise which you've now backtracked on was false.

In any case, it's a bit different asking someone to pay £8 a month in the hope they buy a £10 toaster to trying to plug a 30bn black hole using the same approach.

They could charge more per month and entice loads and loads of new people to do it whilst still being affordable. Sky ate losses for its first few years, and was still in debt for about a decade, so it's hardly out of this world to suggest that a company famous for deferring profits in order to expand could conceivably go [very] long on the most-watched thing around. It's not backtracking so much as explaining for the terminally dull.

[John Arne]

Cahill sent off :D

Studs were up, but it was more of a stretch. Harsh.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Gary Cahill really does love a good spaz out.

[John Arne]

Febregas booked for sarcastic clapping. What a stupid, horrid little cunt Fabregas is.

[John Arne]

Gary Cahill really does love a good spaz out.

Waste of £7million, eh.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Chelsea look like they're really going to struggle this year.

5th at best.

[igor_balis]

where the fuck do i find good acestream stuff? i've not really bothered with west brom for about 3 seasons but i thought i'd give it a go today, and i swear they're worse than the streams i could find back then.

[John Arne]

where the fuck do i find good acestream stuff? i've not really bothered with west brom for about 3 seasons but i thought i'd give it a go today, and i swear they're worse than the streams i could find back then.

livefootballlol.me for Acestream.

[ScousePig]

Dog botherers running riot.

[John Arne]

Burnley have absolutely no pace in their team at all.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That was really well worked and a cracking finish.

[John Arne]

Ooof. Who needs pace...??

https://gyazo.com/45bfc8b092e2a75078c3e9f7f29f118d.gif

[Trancemeister]

What a joke this is.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fucking hell, what is going on here?

Three now.

[John Arne]

https://gyazo.com/097b45d2c7aa199587be74296b9a2418.gif

asdf.

[Waffdon]

0-3 :D

That's fucking bonkers. They're just going to repeat their season when Leicester won the league if they don't spunk on some decent players.

[Shindig]

Is this like CM01-02 when you forget to swap in a new formation before the start of the season?

Rooney! :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What a strange start to the season.

Even Rooney is popping up with a goal.

[Disco]

where the fuck do i find good acestream stuff? i've not really bothered with west brom for about 3 seasons but i thought i'd give it a go today, and i swear they're worse than the streams i could find back then.

Normally here: https://soccerstreams.net/

or if it's down for any reason (as it is now) then here: https://www.reddit.com/r/soccerstreams/

[Browning]

Have all the top teams decided to just abandon defending?

[John Arne]

I've just watched an advert on NBC Sports in which a pro basketballer claimed that his game was built on "chocolate milk".....

[Magic]

All those who laughed at me for saying Rooney would hit 30+ goals must be choking on their own vomit now.

[Danny]

No.

[ScousePig]

I've just watched an advert on NBC Sports in which a pro basketballer claimed that his game was built on "chocolate milk".....

Was it an advert for chocolate milk?

[Lewis]

That was the most dynamic he has looked since the first few months of David Moyes.

[Baz]

Alvaro Morata has ChromaFlair hair.

[mo]

Spikey's lot getting a right old arse fucking at Rotherham. 5-0 currently.

[ScousePig]

My local side Guiseley losing by the same score too last time I checked.

[igor_balis]

We've just brought on a lad born in the year 2000, I feel so old. Pulisball is just as exciting as I remember it. Having Lord Megson back as #2 is nice though.

[Ian]

A 1-2 of Pulis and Megson? Jesus.

[Max Power]

Will De Boer last longer than he did at Inter?

[randomlegend]

I've just clicked onto BBC football and seen the scores.

Ay?

[Magic]

Chelscum. :harold:

[John Arne]

Fabregas sent off, and rightly so. Not surprisingly, he bitched and moaned about it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's been coming all game and I'm glad it has.

Fabregas is such a dick.

[Magic]

If they equalise...

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Ugh.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Damn, that should have finished them off.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Brilliant.

They've already equalled their away win total from last season.

[Shindig]

Huddersfield top. Someone's taking a picture of that and framing it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

'Pep' looks so out of place on the sidelines there.

[John]

The fucking state of 'Pep'. How's he managed to find an outfit that makes him look like a bigger pleb than the suit and jumper combo did?

David Silva has shaved his head and has the beginnings of a beard, which suggests he's started finding hairs on his pillow more often than he'd like. That'll be him finished.

[Giggles]

Is the Brighton keeper new?

[Weaver]

Is the Brighton keeper new?

Mhmm. Signed from Valencia, although he was on loan in Belgium last year. Australia's #1

[John]

BT are going all in on betting sponsorship this season by the looks of things. There was a split screen advert for Coral in-play betting while the teams were lining up before the game, but the whole program is brought to you by Bet365.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

'Expected goals' and Aguero don't get on well it seems.

[Giggles]

What am I watching? I thought it was BT but there was no halftime studio or anything like that. I don't even think there was ads. I recognise the commentator though.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Ederson looks like he's going to be good value.

[Giggles]

Ederson looks like he's going to be good value.

He looks atrocious. Speaking of which, did they sell Hart after? I don't recall hearing of his existence since about halfway through the last Serie A season.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He looks atrocious. Speaking of which, did they sell Hart after? I don't recall hearing of his existence since about halfway through the last Serie A season.

Torino decided not to make an offer. The chairman called him out a few times for mistakes he made too.

On loan now to West Ham.

[Giggles]

Nicely worked once they won that.

[Greg]

Mhmm. Signed from Valencia, although he was on loan in Belgium last year. Australia's #1

He's no Mark Schwarzer, but he should do as well as you'd expect from a keeper at a lower Prem club. Great distribution is probably his standout attribute.

[Giggles]

He's no Mark Schwarzer, but he should do as well as you'd expect from a keeper at a lower Prem club. Great distribution is probably his standout attribute.

Hands of stone anyway.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It's really pissing me off how they're saying Knockaert with a hard K.

[mo]

It's really pissing me off how they're saying Knockaert with a hard K.

Did it all last year on Football League Tonight. Pisses me off as well but you'd imagine they can't all be getting it wrong...

[Shindig]

He must've informed them at some point. He's wrong about his own name.

[Spammer]

Is the beeb behind schedule for anyone else?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Is the beeb behind schedule for anyone else?

The Athletics ran over due to Team GB winning the 4x100m relay.

[Reg]

We aren't bottom, success! Today's done, onto the fairer tests in the next couple weeks.

The lack of pace up front to allow us to counter could be troubling. March looked at home and not at all phased by it all, Propper meanwhile looked really nervous - but he only just got here. I think we can get something next week with Knockaert likely to start.

Bald Silva had me baffled for a few moments. "Sneijder? What?" Man City looked good, the new system suits them. A right footed left wingback is a bad idea though, they'll be better with Mendy there.


Weather is meant to be good tomorrow, so should be a really good atmosphere. I think I'll carry on working at the stadium for a bit when I've got nothing else going on. I'd love to see Pep get found out LIVE. :drool:
I thought it was pretty noisy but not like the Palace playoff or the first Amex game. Did you work today?

[Giggles]

I'd no idea de Boer was at Palace. Who was there?

[Danny]

Pardiola and then Allardici

[Giggles]

Ah yeah, Sambo retiring. I always think of Sunderland when I think of him.

[Disco]

Did Ian Wright just say Dangermouse?

[Giggles]

I had really expected Lacazette to look like Stephane Guivarch.

[Ian]

You can't type his name and not include the ridiculous apostrophes, Giggles. C'mon, now.

[Offshore Toon]

I thought it was pretty noisy but not like the Palace playoff or the first Amex game. Did you work today?
Nah, I ended up sacking it off. Was hanging a bit and the idea of waiting about till 9 put me off.

[Magic]

What the fuck is this expected goals shit. :D

YOU SHOULD WATCH THIS AND PAY FOR SKY BECAUSE WE EXPECT GOALS.

Fuck off you cunts.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What the fuck is this expected goals shit. :D

YOU SHOULD WATCH THIS AND PAY FOR SKY BECAUSE WE EXPECT GOALS.

Fuck off you cunts.
It seems to have come in last night and has spread like wildfire. Americans are probably wanking themselves silly over it. They love shit stats.

Hopefully it doesn't last long.

[Ian]

Wait, are Sky using it as some sort of excitement barometer?

That's not how I understood it when I read about it on the BBC, but then it was a right load of old shite so I may have zoned out.

[Yevrah]

That's definitely not how it worked when explained in the BBC article.

The whole thing's a fucking headache.

[-james-]

It's really not that complicated. It's just applying formalism to "they were unlucky" or "he should have scored". I think it can only be a good thing for the standard of punditry.

http://statsbomb.com/2016/10/xcommentary/

[mo]

It's really not that complicated. It's just applying formalism to "they were unlucky" or "he should have scored". I think it can only be a good thing for the standard of punditry.

http://statsbomb.com/2016/10/xcommentary/

Burn the heretic!

[Adamski]

They could charge more per month and entice loads and loads of new people to do it whilst still being affordable. Sky ate losses for its first few years, and was still in debt for about a decade, so it's hardly out of this world to suggest that a company famous for deferring profits in order to expand could conceivably go [very] long on the most-watched thing around. It's not backtracking so much as explaining for the terminally dull.

Are you joking? :D you responded to my initial post which inferred they would have to increase the price, and you said they would run it at a loss instead. Now you're saying they could increase the price?

Great work detective, take the rest of the month off work as a present.

[Yevrah]

The formula applied is flawed though.

[Ian]

Watching MOTD, I think that's the first time I've heard Kyle Walker speak. He sounds like a child.

[-james-]

The formula applied is flawed though.

It's flawed (or lacking in depth), which is why it's ideally used by pundits who understand it and can add qualifying statements.

That's in an ideal world, I've not actually seen it on telly myself yet and have plenty of faith they'll be able to make a mess of it.

[Magic]

Ooh that goal was 0.4G so he may or may not have scored it but the one in the second half was 0.8G so it's disappointing.

Get to fuck. It's either a goal or not.

[Magic]

These Opta cunts are ruining everything.

[Yevrah]

It's flawed (or lacking in depth), which is why it's ideally used by pundits who understand it and can add qualifying statements.

That's in an ideal world, I've not actually seen it on telly myself yet and have plenty of faith they'll be able to make a mess of it.

It assumes that the thousands of chances they've crunched are the same when categorising them. e.g. 10 yards out, leading slightly backwards and the ball pinged at him, is one category.

In reality they're not, so it's completely broken as a result.

[Magic]

It assumes that the thousands of chances they've crunched are the same when categorising them. e.g. 10 yards out, leading slightly backwards and the ball pinged at him, is one category.

In reality they're not, so it's completely broken as a result.

And the finisher has the same level of ability.

And confidence.

[-james-]

It assumes that the thousands of chances they've crunched are the same when categorising them. e.g. 10 yards out, leading slightly backwards and the ball pinged at him, is one category.

In reality they're not, so it's completely broken as a result.

There are a load of factors (shot distance/angle, assist type/angle, after throughball/counter attack) which are each weighted according to historical data from thousands of matches. It's obviously never going to be perfect. The biggest flaw is that the models can't quantify defensive pressure on the shooter, or things like a player being inches from connecting with a cross from 5 yards out.

There's always going to be a range of error in xg of individual shots which is where the analyst is free to enter their opinion on the event. Better understanding of how goals are scored can only be a good thing.

[-james-]

And the finisher has the same level of ability.

And confidence.

Harry Kane consistently scores more goals than his xG tally would indicate. Joshua King did the same last season.

Why? Are they on a hot streak, or just a better than average finisher?

It opens avenues of debate like these.

[Magic]

Harry Kane consistently scores more goals than his xG tally would indicate. Joshua King did the same last season.

Why? Are they on a hot streak, or just a better than average finisher?

It opens avenues of debate like these.

Boring.

[Yevrah]

This is the problem, I don't need an xG to tell me that Harry Kane is fucking good at scoring goals.

It's just completely unnecessary, as anyone who watches enough football (and I don't watch as much as I did) will know who is good and whether a chance should have been taken or not.

[-james-]

Then what's the point in punditry or analysis on telly at all?

[Yevrah]

Then what's the point in punditry or analysis on telly at all?

It can be interesting listening to people's opinions.

This isn't that though, it's an attempt to take subjectivity out of comment by introducing a definitive answer when they're isn't one. An opinion of a spreadsheet if you will.

[Magic]

It's a good chance. Quite simple really. Anybody who needs nerd percentage analysis for that shouldn't be watching football.

[John]

And the finisher has the same level of ability.

And confidence.

Its primary purpose seems to be to define a player's level of finishing ability, so that's one of the few things it isn't either assuming or dismissing.

[-james-]

The idea is that it improves people's opinions.

I agree that it's dull as shit saying "Arsenal won 3-1 but actually they should have won 2.6-1.2", nobody is advocating that.

Most people would agree that pundits talk a lot of shit, so I'm not sure what harm adding a little splash of objectivism could do. It's a more useful metric than shots or possession, anyway.

[Baz]

I thought xG was gonna be like CCC in FM (all the abbreviations) but CCC's usually end at like 4-7, but this new xG are mostly 0.31-0.64, so I don't get it at all.

[Magic]

Its primary purpose seems to be to define a player's level of finishing ability, so that's one of the few things it isn't either assuming or dismissing.

And what about the defence? The keeper?

[John]

And what about the defence? The keeper?

What about them? You've already dismissed it as 'nerd stats' and you obviously don't understand it, so what are you doing here?

[mugbull]

Are you joking? :D you responded to my initial post which inferred they would have to increase the price, and you said they would run it at a loss instead. Now you're saying they could increase the price?

Great work detective, take the rest of the month off work as a present.

I've gone through this whole back and forth you've had with Lewis and nothing you've said has made any sense. The only point he's ever made was that Amazon would be willing to temporarily run a football service at a loss, to which you've responded dismissively, defensively, sarcastically and arrogantly, in that order, all while being wrong.

[Adamski]

I've gone through this whole back and forth you've had with Lewis and nothing you've said has made any sense. The only point he's ever made was that Amazon would be willing to temporarily run a football service at a loss, to which you've responded dismissively, defensively, sarcastically and arrogantly, in that order, all while being wrong.

To which I said, I don't believe they would as that would result in a 10bn black hole over the first three years. What is there to be wrong about in that?

[Magic]

What about them? You've already dismissed it as 'nerd stats' and you obviously don't understand it, so what are you doing here?

I do understand it I read the article on BBC earlier. It's a load of shit.

[Ian]

I don't think anybody's complaining about pundits because they're not 100% right all the time, it's because they're boring, stupid or cunts.

See Redknapp, Jamie. Yesterday he had a tantrum with Carragher because he either couldn't or wouldn't understand the basic point being made.

[John]

You came to the conclusion that it was assuming all players had equal finishing ability. You don't understand it.

As for goalkeepers, it won't be long before there's an index of which ones have the highest proportion of 'expected goals' saved, then it'll come back around to which strikers do best against those goalkeepers.

It's supreme statswank. I could see the point if this was baseball, where one on one battles can be engineered and have a much greater impact on the outcome of the game, but it just seems like overkill to turn football into numbers to that degree. In baseball you can say player x has a three point better than average record against left handed pitchers, so when they rotate in their left handed pitcher we'll switch up the order and bring player x in to bat. The numbers have an observable effect on strategy, so they're worth pursuing. This isn't.

[Yevrah]

That Redknapp meltdown was brilliant, the thick cunt.

[Shindig]

Here we go again, lads. Prepare for the worst. Hope for better.

[Yevrah]

What is the point of Mike Ashley coming on Sky and then lying about Newcastle having to generate transfer funds for "Rafa"?

[Ian]

You came to the conclusion that it was assuming all players had equal finishing ability. You don't understand it.

As for goalkeepers, it won't be long before there's an index of which ones have the highest proportion of 'expected goals' saved, then it'll come back around to which strikers do best against those goalkeepers.

It's supreme statswank. I could see the point if this was baseball, where one on one battles can be engineered and have a much greater impact on the outcome of the game, but it just seems like overkill to turn football into numbers to that degree. In baseball you can say player x has a three point better than average record against left handed pitchers, so when they rotate in their left handed pitcher we'll switch up the order and bring player x in to bat. The numbers have an observable effect on strategy, so they're worth pursuing. This isn't.

The REALLY fascinating stuff will be when a striker shoots instead of going for an easy pullback to a player who'd then have a clear chance, Expected goals against expected assists and then expected saves. :drool::drool::drool:

[Giggles]

They had a whole summer and then still have to start Sissoko :D

Hopefully Elliott can stay fit now too. He's far better than Randolph.

[igor_balis]

this is woeful

[Baz]

That Redknapp meltdown was brilliant, the thick cunt.What actually happened?

[Giggles]

Was it even Harry or Jamie?

[Yevrah]

What actually happened?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pjh8UXT4jw

[John]

Jamie, during a bit of punditry that went awry yesterday.

Imagine being made to look thick by Jamie Carragher. The bloke sounds like someone coughing down the phone at you.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

How does he still have a job?

[Giggles]

He didn't really know what he was talking about but it's far from a meltdown.

[Baz]

Yeah that was pretty bad.

Looking swish though. :wub:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's disgusting from Shelvey.

[Shindig]

Alright, we're knackered.

[Giggles]

Both of them look like they're playing their first preseason game. Absolute dross.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

'Sonaldo' is about to destroy them though.

[igor_balis]

Inability to manage your anger in the context of playing sport / separate "being pumped up" from wanting to hurt other people is up there in my own personal list of unappealing personality traits. I've a fairly decent friend who always wants to two-foot people and on occasions deck people even during a casual kick-about in the park, and it always makes me reconsider our friendship. Shelvey is a cunt is what I'm trying to say, basically.

[Giggles]

After sitting through an hour of that dross, I flick over to SS Arena to see if the hurling is on for two seconds an miss which will probably be the only moment of excitement :moop:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Did you miss the second moment too?

[Lewis]

Are you joking? :D you responded to my initial post which inferred they would have to increase the price, and you said they would run it at a loss instead. Now you're saying they could increase the price?

Great work detective, take the rest of the month off work as a present.

I said Amazon could run it at a loss. You said 'lol losing ten billion every three years'. I said they could still charge more and keep it affordable (my original post came after Giggles suggested that Amazon Prime would have to be thirty quid a month), which would mean not having to lose that much. My post also 'inferred they would have to increase the price'. You just chose not to consider that because it would have stopped you getting one of your tedious swipes in.

[Giggles]

Did you miss the second moment too?

I did :D

[bruhnaldo]

It seems to have come in last night and has spread like wildfire. Americans are probably wanking themselves silly over it. They love shit stats.

Hopefully it doesn't last long.

You can't keep blaming us for every shit thing that happens, Mahow. Our coverage has not included this nonsense, shame the #BirthplaceOfFootball needs such silly shit to incite interest.

[Byron]

Man Utd XI: De Gea, Valencia, Bailly, Jones, Blind, Matic, Pogba, Mata, Rashford, Mkhitaryan, Lukaku.

West Ham XI: Hart, Zabaleta, Reid, Ogbonna, Masuaku, Fernandes, Obiang, Noble, Ayew, Arnautovic, Hernandez.

We're going to get bent over and royally bummed.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Man Utd XI: De Gea, Valencia, Bailly, Jones, Blind, Matic, Pogba, Mata, Rashford, Mkhitaryan, Lukaku.

West Ham XI: Hart, Zabaleta, Reid, Ogbonna, Masuaku, Fernandes, Obiang, Noble, Ayew, Arnautovic, Hernandez.

Edit: Dickhead.

[bruhnaldo]

You underestimate Man United's pension for 0:0 shithousery.

Edit: God damnit Mahow move

[Giggles]

You underestimate Man United's pension for 0:0 shithousery.

Pension?

[igor_balis]

What's the opposite of the popcorn gif? I need it for Lewis and Adamski's amazon prime discussion.

[John]

You can't keep blaming us for every shit thing that happens, Mahow. Our coverage has not included this nonsense, shame the #BirthplaceOfFootball needs such silly shit to incite interest.

He didn't blame America for it.

Hashtag. :sick:


Pension?

Penchant.

[bruhnaldo]

Pension?

Penchant* sorry.

[bruhnaldo]

He didn't blame America for it.

Hashtag. :sick:

No fucking shit, John. I'm only meaning every time something goes awry he has a tendency to throw America into the mix. He knows what I mean you fun sucking vampire of a human.

edit: And if you can't figure out the sarcasm in the hashtag use maybe hang up the keyboard, lad.

[John]

Were you having fun dryly misrepresenting his post?

[bruhnaldo]

Fuck off already.

[Lewis]

Man Utd XI: De Gea, Valencia, Bailly, Jones, Blind, Matic, Pogba, Mata, Rashford, Mkhitaryan, Lukaku.

West Ham XI: Hart, Zabaleta, Reid, Ogbonna, Masuaku, Fernandes, Obiang, Noble, Ayew, Arnautovic, Hernandez.

We're going to get bent over and royally bummed.

I thought you were Webly and I was going to lol at your pessimism.

[-james-]

Lille goalie's head has just gone missing

https://streamable.com/k5e3i

[mugbull]

Penchant.

Thanks mate :thbup:

[Lewis]

I think the ideal result today is either 4-1 with Javier Hernandez scoring, or 4-0 with him missing a late penalty and visibly not giving a shit.

[GS]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pjh8UXT4jw

Redknapp is fucking dreadful.

[Reg]

Not sure there's much in the idea of Matic "freeing" Pogba. The balance will be very similar to last season when Carrick was in Matic's place. It's up to Pogba to do more.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Lille goalie's head has just gone missing

https://streamable.com/k5e3i
I've just spotted that they made 3 changes in the first half too.

Who ended up playing in goal?

[-james-]

I've just spotted that they made 3 changes in the first half too.

Who ended up playing in goal?

The center forward, and then when he got fed up ten minutes later the centre back. They let in three between them.

[Lewis]

Woah what are these new player pictures about? Paulp Ogba looked like Gary Coleman on his.

[John]

I've just spotted that they made 3 changes in the first half too.

Who ended up playing in goal?

De Previle. You see him putting the gloves on in that clip.

[mugbull]

De Previle. You see him putting the gloves on in that clip.

Thanks mate. :thbup:

[Byron]

'Typical Phil Jones. Smashes everything in sight'

Reckon you've given him his new pick up line.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's such a good pass by Pogba.

Mata looks good.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That was fucking brilliant from Rashford.

Great finish too.

[randomlegend]

That's a great goal :cool:

Also, Matic has been absolutely excellent. Think Chelsea will really rue letting him go.