Best Of

The most encouraging aspect of ML’s acquisition of WWFC is his stated intention to build a top class academy. He knows this will take many years to bear fruit which suggests to me that he’s in for the long haul.

Are you being serious ? 🤣 only on here could someone find racism in a bloody aglorythm . If anything it is unlikely to have considered race at all and focused solely on footballing ability.This is the polar opposite of having any prejudice and exactly how it should be. Why not keep your identity politics to yourself and allow us to celebrate an excellent window ?

I followed a couple of the links that people posted recently on Brentford. The thing that I found really interesting was that at the start of the Benham era, they closed their academy and started a B-team instead (because of the experience of losing players they had invested in to other clubs for nothing). So in that sense, Wanderers' new owners are very much not following Brentford and the Couhigs (no doubt advised by Dobbo and Ainsworth on the matter) very much were.

I have been very impressed by Ravizzoli this season considering the weaknesses in his game. He has made some good saves and his attack-based distribution helps the way we play.

But the fact remains that the weaknesses still exist. I’m pleased we’ve identified that. Norris appears to be an exceptional player at this level and Ravizzoli an able deputy.

I expect Kone to be sold in the summer too, but don't forget that even if RK goes for a hefty fee, we are presumably going to have to replace him with someone else.

Sure, we might get lucky with a free transfer.

But (especially if we get promoted, which is obviously still a big if) I suspect proven Championship goalscorers on a free are pretty hard to find, and particularly ones who would be willing to chance their career on a team that could be instant favourites for relegation.

Then you'd probably be talking about spending over the odds on wages to entice such a player - which means more money gone up the wall.

And why are all clubs not chasing the same players who are being highlighted by the data?

It is harsh on Rav but his ability to deal with crosses has always been his weakness. From his first game in the FA Cup against Morecambe it was obvious that was a flaw in his game. But like Ryan Allsop you can argue he has done nothing wrong but is still going to be dropped down the pecking order. I sincerely hope that Rav sticks around and pushes Norris for that number 1 shirt.

I am afraid the world has moved away from me and I don’t really understand this statistics stuff.

I am assuming stats have driven the signing of a new GK presumably to replace the GK we already have as obviously only one can play. My limited understanding is as follows. Could someone who knows this stuff confirm or tell me where I have this wrong. I really think O ought to try to understand it.

A guy from presumably a third party company watches each game and scores the GK on events as he sees it - eg routine saves, good saves, easy crosses caught/punches, difficult crosses caught/punched, errors leading to goal, errors not leading to goal, short passes completed/failed, long passes completed/failed and possibly some other measures.

A Guy at WWFC has access to these statistics for our GK and other GKs playing.

he identifies perhaps that our GK is above average on shotstopping, average on distribution and below average on crosses. He looks down the list to see GKs who rank better on what he considers the most important attributes and potentially makes contact to player to seek to sign.

is that broadly it?

if so, how does the stats company ensure consistency of rating - ie one assessor rating a save as regular where another would rate it as good

are statistics available for reserve games as in many cases as this one available GKs May not be regular starters

would old fashioned scouts still watch the target in person before committing or is it always a case of “computer says yes”

is character etc factored in somehow or just the numbers.

Genuinely curious - not trying to make any point.

That has to be the main hope that we get a windfall or two via a promotion or sales via the academy. Selling Kone would have balanced a lot of this outlay already so that's a statement of intent in rejecting bids.

The other factor is that it is a very rich man playing with his change. Should he want out without us somehow being transferred into an attractive profitable outfit it's not likely that he could expect to be paid up what he is losing.

An upgraded stadium and nearing profitability would be goals for any handover or pass back, and aren't hideously unrealistic....and I don't mean this glibly but real difficulty or going bust in some manner has been on the cards for so long I am going to allow myself to enjoy the good times if they happen before whatever might come afterwards.

No Dane, no gain.