Physical battle won by us today I thought

People have talked about tactics but I think we won that game today by simply being more up for it

Bristol City couldn't deal with our physical side I thought ?

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Originally Posted by SLUDGE FACTORY

People have talked about tactics but I think we won that game today by simply being more up for it

Bristol City couldn't deal with our physical side I thought ?

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It was one of the least physical derbies I've ever seen.

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Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee

It was one of the least physical derbies I've ever seen.

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Bristol were the dirtier side, constantly fouling anyone who turned a player.

It was not a physically hard game though. I agree wit:ayatollah:h Eric.

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Originally Posted by SLUDGE FACTORY

People have talked about tactics but I think we won that game today by simply being more up for it

Bristol City couldn't deal with our physical side I thought ?

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Did you watch the same game has most of us :sherlock::hehe:

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Originally Posted by stan butler

Did you watch the same game has most of us :sherlock::hehe:

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He looks at everything through 1980 lenses haha

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Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee

It was one of the least physical derbies I've ever seen.

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It's not our Derby

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Originally Posted by rich munn

Bristol were the dirtier side, constantly fouling anyone who turned a player.

It was not a physically hard game though. I agree wit:ayatollah:h Eric.

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You are both in a care home , knitting

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Originally Posted by stan butler

Did you watch the same game has most of us :sherlock::hehe:

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We outmuscled them

They were powder puff

Thought we out played them.

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Originally Posted by 2b2bdoo

Thought we out played them.

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That too

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Originally Posted by SLUDGE FACTORY

That too

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What part of the ground are you in, Sludge?

I thought they were way more physical than us. I very surprised no yellows were shown. Mehmeti was a dirty sod. And Vyner put himself about. We were just the better team on the day. They can have no complaints.

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Originally Posted by Tuerto

What part of the ground are you in, Sludge?

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Wherever I want , I don't have a season ticket

I was in the level 4 enormodome seats today

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Originally Posted by SLUDGE FACTORY

We outmuscled them

They were powder puff

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Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but brute physicality in the Championship is in decline. Teams are more likely to keep their shape than dive in with tackles, and it's all about percentages. The days of a midfield enforcer are becoming a distant memory. In the Championship managers want midfielders who can keep hold of the ball above reckless tacklers who try and put themselves about.

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Originally Posted by SLUDGE FACTORY

Wherever I want , I don't have a season ticket

I was in the level 4 enormodome seats today

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:thumbup:

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Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but brute physicality in the Championship is in decline. Teams are more likely to keep their shape than dive in with tackles, and it's all about percentages. The days of a midfield enforcer are becoming a distant memory. In the Championship managers want midfielders who can keep hold of the ball above reckless tacklers who try and put themselves about.

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How do you know what championship managers want ?

The perfect midfield player is one who can tackle well and distribute , I don't want someone running round in a straw skirt preaching peace and love

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Originally Posted by rich munn

Bristol were the dirtier side, constantly fouling anyone who turned a player.

It was not a physically hard game though. I agree wit:ayatollah:h Eric.

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Agreed. They were a dirty side and I would hardly term our team as physical.

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Originally Posted by Dave Blue

Agreed. They were a dirty side and I would hardly term our team as physical.

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We ain't but we stepped up today

Ralls made up for a lack of quality with bite

He was well up for it

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Originally Posted by SLUDGE FACTORY

How do you know what championship managers want ?

The perfect midfield player is one who can tackle well and distribute , I don't want someone running round in a straw skirt preaching peace and love

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Statistically players are less inclined to tackle than they were a decade ago and, in more recent times, that decline is growing more quickly. Teams would rather keep a shape than dive in with tackles. That is a definite.

Statisticians are at work in the Championship and elsewhere. Teams are less likely to shoot from outside the box as the rewards are generally so low. Teams are better off keeping possesion not blazing one over the bar aimlessly. The days of hoofing the ball forward at every opportunity are at an end. Long balls need to be calculated risks aimed at forcing an opening, not just lumped forward aimlessly.

Teams near the foot of the Championship are better passing sides than the top sides in the division 20 years ago. They're also less likely to dive in with needless challenges.

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Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee

Statistically players are less inclined to tackle than they were a decade ago and, in more recent times, that decline is growing more quickly. Teams would rather keep a shape than dive in with tackles. That is a definite.

Statisticians are at work in the Championship and elsewhere. Teams are less likely to shoot from outside the box as the rewards are generally so low. Teams are better off keeping possesion not blazing one over the bar aimlessly. The days of hoofing the ball forward at every opportunity are at an end. Long balls need to be calculated risks aimed at forcing an opening, not just lumped forward aimlessly.

Teams near the foot of the Championship are better passing sides than the top sides in the division 20 years ago. They're also less likely to dive in with needless challenges.

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What book did you get all that out of ?

I'm guessing he read it on the Internet. But so what if he got if from a book? You don't like books now? Do you think books about football have become biased and politicized? Do you feel marginalized by facts?

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Originally Posted by NYCBlue

I'm guessing he read it on the Internet. But so what if he got if from a book? You don't like books now? Do you think books about football have become biased and politicized? Do you feel marginalized by facts?

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Ouch. Tad on the harsh side?

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Originally Posted by NYCBlue

I'm guessing he read it on the Internet. But so what if he got if from a book? You don't like books now? Do you think books about football have become biased and politicized? Do you feel marginalized by facts?

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Lies , Damned Lies and Statistics

Football is for simple people

And I like my football simple

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Originally Posted by SLUDGE FACTORY

How do you know what championship managers want ?

The perfect midfield player is one who can tackle well and distribute , I don't want someone running round in a straw skirt preaching peace and love

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When you said... "The perfect midfield player is one who can tackle well and distribute". - I thought you were going to conclude by saying "just like Willie Boland"! :hehe:

NB: For those of you who don't know, Sludge idolised Boland, along with that other midfield colossus Mark Bonner. :hehe:

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Originally Posted by Rock_Flock_of_Five

When you said... "The perfect midfield player is one who can tackle well and distribute". - I thought you were going to conclude by saying "just like Willie Boland"! :hehe:

NB: For those of you who don't know, Sludge idolised Boland, along with that other midfield colossus Mark Bonner. :hehe:

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I did indeed

Giants

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Originally Posted by SLUDGE FACTORY

What book did you get all that out of ?

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None. I did my own little study using widely available stats comparing 3 seasons. It took about an hour and I just compared several stats, like pass accuracy, number of long and short passes etc.

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Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee

None. I did my own little study using widely available stats comparing 3 seasons. It took about an hour and I just compared several stats, like pass accuracy, number of long and short passes etc.

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And that told you that championship managers like all round footballers ?

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Originally Posted by SLUDGE FACTORY

And that told you that championship managers like all round footballers ?

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Where have I said they like all-round footballers? I've mentioned trends that are happening. There's no doubt that players such as target men and midfield enforcers are in decline, players need to have more to their game than just brute force, but that's not to say they don't exist or can't be used effectively. Stats are so widely used nowadays by all accounts that low percentage football is being shyed away from.

5 years ago I can't recall ever hearing about a team's shape, yet I seem to hear that a lot nowadays. The number of tackles is down from a decade ago and the number of successful dribbles is up. I don't hear so much about poor disciplinary records, or players who regularly get booked and suspended. I suspect that's why there's often a lack of excitement in football games - teams are pretty well drilled, would rather keep the ball than waste it and games can become a stalemate.

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Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee

Where have I said they like all-round footballers? I've mentioned trends that are happening. There's no doubt that players such as target men and midfield enforcers are in decline, players need to have more to their game than just brute force, but that's not to say they don't exist or can't be used effectively. Stats are so widely used nowadays by all accounts that low percentage football is being shyed away from.

5 years ago I can't recall ever hearing about a team's shape, yet I seem to hear that a lot nowadays. The number of tackles is down from a decade ago and the number of successful dribbles is up. I don't hear so much about poor disciplinary records, or players who regularly get booked and suspended. I suspect that's why there's often a lack of excitement in football games - teams are pretty well drilled, would rather keep the ball than waste it and games can become a stalemate.

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You said that championship managers want players who can keep hold of the ball

You meant I think it's fair to say no more Willie Bolands

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Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee

Where have I said they like all-round footballers? I've mentioned trends that are happening. There's no doubt that players such as target men and midfield enforcers are in decline, players need to have more to their game than just brute force, but that's not to say they don't exist or can't be used effectively. Stats are so widely used nowadays by all accounts that low percentage football is being shyed away from.

5 years ago I can't recall ever hearing about a team's shape, yet I seem to hear that a lot nowadays. The number of tackles is down from a decade ago and the number of successful dribbles is up. I don't hear so much about poor disciplinary records, or players who regularly get booked and suspended. I suspect that's why there's often a lack of excitement in football games - teams are pretty well drilled, would rather keep the ball than waste it and games can become a stalemate.

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Having read that I wondered how much ball we had against Bristol City, just 39%, surprised me.

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Originally Posted by SLUDGE FACTORY

You said that championship managers want players who can keep hold of the ball

You meant I think it's fair to say no more Willie Bolands

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Willie Boland is a bit of an extreme example as he was generally useless with the ball.

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Originally Posted by 2b2bdoo

Having read that I wondered how much ball we had against Bristol City, just 39%, surprised me.

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Possession stats are among the most useless in football. Swanselona demonstrate that.

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Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee

Willie Boland is a bit of an extreme example as he was generally useless with the ball.

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Don't Diss An Enigma

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Originally Posted by SLUDGE FACTORY

Don't Diss An Enigma

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He was only an enigma for one person.

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Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee

He was only an enigma for one person.

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He's got a fan club

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Originally Posted by SLUDGE FACTORY

He's got a fan club

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:hehe:

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Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee

:hehe:

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I am membership secretary