@utv82.bsky.social
I think thats the key point. Slot didn’t spend £420m, the Sporting Director did….The coach isn’t responsible for the level of spend or the players selected in their set up. Man City might be a risk as they have a similar structure to us but I’m not sure about Liverpool.
December 3, 2025 at 7:53 AM
I think thats the key point. Slot didn’t spend £420m, the Sporting Director did….The coach isn’t responsible for the level of spend or the players selected in their set up. Man City might be a risk as they have a similar structure to us but I’m not sure about Liverpool.
Surely Pau has played more than 30 pl games?
November 30, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Surely Pau has played more than 30 pl games?
UK foreign policy is don’t upset Trump….
November 27, 2025 at 12:13 PM
UK foreign policy is don’t upset Trump….
In our situation, NSWE ditched the CEO. Gave carte Blanche to Unai, effectively sidelined the Sporting Director and NS got directly involved in running the business side until a replacement and a new structure was put in place. It feels a stretch to me that Fenway do that…..
November 27, 2025 at 12:06 PM
In our situation, NSWE ditched the CEO. Gave carte Blanche to Unai, effectively sidelined the Sporting Director and NS got directly involved in running the business side until a replacement and a new structure was put in place. It feels a stretch to me that Fenway do that…..
For Unai to take the job, the Sporting Director making the appointment would have to commit “hari kari” to replicate Unai’s power at Villa. I don’t think another club gives Unai the power to the extent we have, so I could only see the pull of a Madrid or Barca being enough to make him leave.
November 27, 2025 at 8:43 AM
For Unai to take the job, the Sporting Director making the appointment would have to commit “hari kari” to replicate Unai’s power at Villa. I don’t think another club gives Unai the power to the extent we have, so I could only see the pull of a Madrid or Barca being enough to make him leave.
I think he will either go back to Liverpool. Better to be on their bench than not in our squad or go abroad on loan (if he can)
November 23, 2025 at 1:55 PM
I think he will either go back to Liverpool. Better to be on their bench than not in our squad or go abroad on loan (if he can)
I think he can go abroad?
November 23, 2025 at 1:02 PM
I think he can go abroad?
We didn’t pay. Not sure he’s the right profile for what Unai wants.
November 14, 2025 at 10:26 PM
We didn’t pay. Not sure he’s the right profile for what Unai wants.
Must have been really hard to be a player listening to him tactically.
November 11, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Must have been really hard to be a player listening to him tactically.
I’m not sure we’ve had a worse manager. He managed the media well when he had time to plan it but was terrible in front of camera post-match. Defensive shape was good when he first started as he focused on the centre all but then he shifted to everyone wide but Kamara and the centre backs.
November 11, 2025 at 12:56 PM
I’m not sure we’ve had a worse manager. He managed the media well when he had time to plan it but was terrible in front of camera post-match. Defensive shape was good when he first started as he focused on the centre all but then he shifted to everyone wide but Kamara and the centre backs.
I think most XG models are based on actual games in the top 5 European leagues but some have used more than 40 leagues. Last season the variance was c. 2% over every game so it’s pretty accurate.
November 10, 2025 at 6:13 AM
I think most XG models are based on actual games in the top 5 European leagues but some have used more than 40 leagues. Last season the variance was c. 2% over every game so it’s pretty accurate.
No but over time probability should revert to the mean
November 9, 2025 at 10:52 PM
No but over time probability should revert to the mean
XG is just a way of trying to predict what the final table may look like. I suspect if we don’t start to create more XG, we will not maintain our current form but we might!
November 9, 2025 at 10:04 PM
XG is just a way of trying to predict what the final table may look like. I suspect if we don’t start to create more XG, we will not maintain our current form but we might!
There’s no right answer. Last season our position was saved by an unbelievable run at the end of the season and Spurs are a very good team who played kamikaze football. I don’t think the current table (based on actual results) will look much like the final table.
November 9, 2025 at 10:04 PM
There’s no right answer. Last season our position was saved by an unbelievable run at the end of the season and Spurs are a very good team who played kamikaze football. I don’t think the current table (based on actual results) will look much like the final table.
Last season we scored 1 more goal than XG and were level with XGA. The previous season we were 11 more goals than XG (when Ollie had his wonder season) but level with XGA. So XG is a pretty good predictor over the season but we outperform on XG points because Unai is v good at managing game state
November 9, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Last season we scored 1 more goal than XG and were level with XGA. The previous season we were 11 more goals than XG (when Ollie had his wonder season) but level with XGA. So XG is a pretty good predictor over the season but we outperform on XG points because Unai is v good at managing game state
So overall I would expect us to perform better than XGA because we have a world class goalkeeper and I think our attack is probably about average for conversion. This season we have outperformed by 4 goals scored and 4 goals conceded.
November 9, 2025 at 9:54 PM
So overall I would expect us to perform better than XGA because we have a world class goalkeeper and I think our attack is probably about average for conversion. This season we have outperformed by 4 goals scored and 4 goals conceded.
Results are the be all and end all but over a short time-frame - you can be lucky. XG pointed to Forest’s demise all season last season and it proved correct, and its also pointing to Sunderland falling down the table as the season goes on.
November 9, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Results are the be all and end all but over a short time-frame - you can be lucky. XG pointed to Forest’s demise all season last season and it proved correct, and its also pointing to Sunderland falling down the table as the season goes on.
I would agree. Unai normally out-performs XG as he’s prepared to sit back when we take the lead. However we are 7 points better than XG this season. We were 7 points better for the whole of last season and 12 points better when we finished 4th. So we are unlikely to maintain this over-performance.
November 9, 2025 at 7:59 PM
I would agree. Unai normally out-performs XG as he’s prepared to sit back when we take the lead. However we are 7 points better than XG this season. We were 7 points better for the whole of last season and 12 points better when we finished 4th. So we are unlikely to maintain this over-performance.
I would agree that on a match by match basis XG is almost useless but over the longer term it’s a very accurate way of assessing where you will end up in the table. Us, spurs and Sunderland are out-performing XG And that feels about right.
November 9, 2025 at 7:43 PM
I would agree that on a match by match basis XG is almost useless but over the longer term it’s a very accurate way of assessing where you will end up in the table. Us, spurs and Sunderland are out-performing XG And that feels about right.
Not great??? XG this season has us in the relegation zone. Struggling to score goals inside the box and we’ve been a little lucky in defence. The numbers can be influenced by game state though. The chance creation problem has been a long-term issue but Una will fix it.
November 9, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Not great??? XG this season has us in the relegation zone. Struggling to score goals inside the box and we’ve been a little lucky in defence. The numbers can be influenced by game state though. The chance creation problem has been a long-term issue but Una will fix it.
I’m not sure he’s the profile that Emery is looking for and it looks like he prefers Buendia
November 9, 2025 at 1:31 PM
I’m not sure he’s the profile that Emery is looking for and it looks like he prefers Buendia
Do they count as continental European opponents if they are not from the continent of Europe?
November 6, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Do they count as continental European opponents if they are not from the continent of Europe?