2023–2024 English Football Thread

[dubcity]

Re: 2023–2024 English Football Thread

United is the most in-form team in the league.




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They're definitely ****ing around with draws, it's either win or lose damnit.

[Brahvocado]

Re: 2023–2024 English Football Thread

Regardless of the result, and endless and joyful memes aside, Chelsea have been very underrated so far this season (maybe not in Chelsea circles but who would dare go there).

Idk about underrated but definitely not as bad as people think.

Our average team age is like 11 and we don’t have a regular goalscorer.

People were calling Poch washed in September hahaha. Almost like even proven managers need more than 30 minutes to implement a new system.

[southernmetalhead]

Re: 2023–2024 English Football Thread

ETH borrowing from the Xavi playbook of beating **** teams unconvincingly.

Barca won a title last season largely on the back of this.

[Krebstar]

Re: 2023–2024 English Football Thread

Digging into stats this morning, as I do, and my two biggest takeaways so far:

1. Wolves scare me—not looking forward to facing them.*
2. Arsenal's defensive numbers are absurdly solid.**

—

*First in ball recoveries, aerial duels won and successful take-ons, third in tackles won,

**First in shots on target allowed, shots on target % against, lowest xG against, first in average shot distance allowed.

[Kayla]

Re: 2023–2024 English Football Thread

United is the most in-form team in the league.




But they're still 5 points behind the 4th placed Tottenham. I don't see them finish the season in the top 4.

[Brahvocado]

Re: 2023–2024 English Football Thread

Kinda curious what Arsenal fans think of their gk situation.

Like I can see that Raya is better with his feet, but he’s also made a TON of mistakes in a very short period of time, and Ramsdale didn’t have Saliba for a while last season right?

I’ve seen people compare Raya to De Gea in a trust the process kind of way but that seems insane. Raya is like 8 years older and already played in the league, not to mention De Gea was touted as one of the best gk prospects in the world.

Just seems like Ramsdale didn’t do much wrong and then got dropped for a guy who makes way more mistakes.

[Krebstar]

Re: 2023–2024 English Football Thread

Kinda curious what Arsenal fans think of their gk situation.

Like I can see that Raya is better with his feet, but he’s also made a TON of mistakes in a very short period of time, and Ramsdale didn’t have Saliba for a while last season right?

I’ve seen people compare Raya to De Gea in a trust the process kind of way but that seems insane. Raya is like 8 years older and already played in the league, not to mention De Gea was touted as one of the best gk prospects in the world.

Just seems like Ramsdale didn’t do much wrong and then got dropped for a guy who makes way more mistakes.

The answer is that Raya far more fits the model of 'control' that Arteta has guided the entire tactical outlook towards.

Ramsdale very much embodies the Arsenal of last season—unrelenting emotional output in hopes of overwhelming the opposition. I'd say Raya embodies what Arteta has tried to change about the squad this season: control instead of relying strictly on emotion.

Personally, I was getting annoyed with Ramsdale's lapses in concentration and was more than happy to see Raya get a chance. Of course, I was then annoyed with Raya's mistakes, but I'm okay with excusing it partly due to being put suddenly into a new situation.

First, a comparison of their seasons with Arsenal, with the big note that Raya has now played 8 matches to Ramsdale's 4:

Raya has a higher save percentage, completion percentage on launched passes, and percentage of crosses stopped. He also takes more defensive actions outside of his penalty area, and takes those actions further from goal than Ramsdale.

Raya has made one error leading to a goal, according to Opta—Ramsdale made none.

—

Now, a comparison of their previous two seasons, because this is the real story. Ramsdale wasn't replaced because of this season—it's because Raya has proven to be a better overall keeper over several seasons. In the following comparison, Raya played 62 matches and Ramsdale played 74:

Raya has a better PSxG (post-shot expected goals), a higher save percentage, completion percentage on launched passes, and percentage of crosses stopped. Their stats on defensive actions are very similar, but the big stat is errors.

Ramsdale made 9 errors leading to a goal compared to Raya's 3 in the past two seasons.

—

I think Raya is a better goalkeeper, and if Raya was an English bloke who did podcasts and Ramsdale was the quiet foreigner, it wouldn't really be a story the way some media has presented it.

Arteta has continuously talked about for club to succeed, he has to be ruthless in his decisions. This is by far his most ruthless yet, especially with Ramsdale having not yet played in a Champions League match.

[Krebstar]

Re: 2023–2024 English Football Thread

Digging into stats this morning, as I do, and my two biggest takeaways so far:

1. Wolves scare me—not looking forward to facing them.*
2. Arsenal's defensive numbers are absurdly solid.**

3. Fulham getting Joao Palhinha for £20m was just silly, and the fact that they were able to hold onto him this past Summer is just as crazy.

[southernmetalhead]

Re: 2023–2024 English Football Thread

3. Fulham getting Joao Palhinha for £20m was just silly, and the fact that they were able to hold onto him this past Summer is just as crazy.

I think they would have sold him had Mitrovic not forced the Saudi move, but he will probably still go to Bayern in January. They say they are still interested and he's openly said he's mad and wants to leave for them.

[KG]

2023–2024 English Football Thread

I think they would have sold him had Mitrovic not forced the Saudi move, but he will probably still go to Bayern in January. They say they are still interested and he's openly said he's mad and wants to leave for them.

I always thought Liverpool should have gone in for him BUT I’m sure Fulham would add that Prem tax on top and idk if he’s worth ~60-70 million SBP at 28/29


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[Brahvocado]

Re: 2023–2024 English Football Thread

The answer is that Raya far more fits the model of 'control' that Arteta has guided the entire tactical outlook towards.

Ramsdale very much embodies the Arsenal of last season—unrelenting emotional output in hopes of overwhelming the opposition. I'd say Raya embodies what Arteta has tried to change about the squad this season: control instead of relying strictly on emotion.

Personally, I was getting annoyed with Ramsdale's lapses in concentration and was more than happy to see Raya get a chance. Of course, I was then annoyed with Raya's mistakes, but I'm okay with excusing it partly due to being put suddenly into a new situation.

First, a comparison of their seasons with Arsenal, with the big note that Raya has now played 8 matches to Ramsdale's 4:

Raya has a higher save percentage, completion percentage on launched passes, and percentage of crosses stopped. He also takes more defensive actions outside of his penalty area, and takes those actions further from goal than Ramsdale.

Raya has made one error leading to a goal, according to Opta—Ramsdale made none.

—

Now, a comparison of their previous two seasons, because this is the real story. Ramsdale wasn't replaced because of this season—it's because Raya has proven to be a better overall keeper over several seasons. In the following comparison, Raya played 62 matches and Ramsdale played 74:

Raya has a better PSxG (post-shot expected goals), a higher save percentage, completion percentage on launched passes, and percentage of crosses stopped. Their stats on defensive actions are very similar, but the big stat is errors.

Ramsdale made 9 errors leading to a goal compared to Raya's 3 in the past two seasons.

—

I think Raya is a better goalkeeper, and if Raya was an English bloke who did podcasts and Ramsdale was the quiet foreigner, it wouldn't really be a story the way some media has presented it.

Arteta has continuously talked about for club to succeed, he has to be ruthless in his decisions. This is by far his most ruthless yet, especially with Ramsdale having not yet played in a Champions League match.

I mean I’m obviously not looking at stats, I’m talking about just watching games. Also, I still think Rayas stats are gonna be skewed by having an objectively better defense in front of him.

Anyway, I honestly don’t think either of them are good enough to be keeper for a team looking to win CL and PL regularly, and I do think Raya is better than Ramsdale.

Tbh if anything I’m usually pretty lax about judging keepers initially, I only start paying more attention after my wife says “what exactly is this guy doing?” More than a few times, as she would know better than any of us.

[Krebstar]

Re: 2023–2024 English Football Thread

I mean I’m obviously not looking at stats, I’m talking about just watching games.

Oh, ****, my bad—didn't mean to get objective.

Also, I still think Rayas stats are gonna be skewed by having an objectively better defense in front of him.

Which is why I included stats from the past two seasons (I'd say Arsenal had a better defense than Brentford both seasons).

Tell a casual to watch Ramsdale's appearances for Arsenal from the past two seasons and there would be many, many "what the **** was he doing there?" moments.

His personality and some great saves have masked a lot of his flaws. There's a great clip where he's talking to Ian Wright and he tells him that he can't focus on a game for ninety minutes which is why he gets involved with supporters and what not to 'refocus' him or whatever. You can tell Wright is so perplexed and confused that someone would even admit that.

So, there's the subjective measurement—the player himself admits he can't focus on the game and interacts with supporters to 'refocus' him and to motivate him.

[ImTellinTim]

2023–2024 English Football Thread

Everton hit with a 10-point deduction for FFP violations. Hm, must be taking a lot longer to go through the 115 violations by City I guess.

[Krebstar]

Re: 2023–2024 English Football Thread

Everton hit with a 10-point deduction for FFP violations. Hm, must be taking a lot longer to go through the 115 violations by City I guess.

Such a shame to see it happen to a well run club like Everton.

[Brahvocado]

Re: 2023–2024 English Football Thread

Everton hit with a 10-point deduction for FFP violations. Hm, must be taking a lot longer to go through the 115 violations by City I guess.

Hate to disappoint you but City won’t even be next lol.

It’s gonna be Chelsea next since we are fully cooperating, same as Everton which is why it was so fast. City has an army of lawyers and red tape for them to get through, it will take a lot longer.