Best Of

I'll say again I can't wait for Sadlier to be back and up to speed. It feels as though earlier in the season we were consistently beating the wide defender and running into the box dangerously, whereas we barely seem to do that now. Sadlier was the reliable version on the left, and GMac was doing it from the right when in better form.

We are missing forwards who will put defenders on their heels out wide and create those dangerous close range balls through the corridor of uncertainty.

xP - expected PASSION, propensity to kiss the badge etc

A positive spin on the current situation.

In the first half of the season, we got 0 points from the first two games, and then went on to rack up 50 points from the next 21.

We have taken 1 point from the first 2 games of the second half, and could well get another 50 points from the next 21, provided that:

a) We continue to see strong performances from Sonny Bradley (who I wouldn't like to meet in a dark alley after the pubs chuck out);

b) We sign Anders Hagelskjær, whose stats suggest he will be an adequate replacement for Joe Low if/when he leaves;

c) We either get Morley back, or a like for like replacement from higher in the pyramid;

d) We stop substituting Kone, our most effective forward, for Hanlan, our least effective.

He is a fun guy, after all!

Speaking of various 'x' analytics, I am surprised there is no xW yet, or 'Expected Wanting It'. I have heard for years how certain teams have won games because "they wanted it more". You'd think we would be measuring it by now!

So can I.

But it goes to show what an enormous change in the club is required off the field if we're to match the ambition the 'ownership group's have stated.

Hard to see it being achievable at AP.

I guess we can only assume Blooms has his reasons. I don’t believe one of them is poor man management though.

I wouldn’t have dropped any of them. I might have tried Butcher instead of Leahey when Scowen was injured. And maybe I would give Butcher more than 1 minute v Shrewsbury when 4-1 up, for example.

He said if he was going to move anywhere it had to be where the culture was good

I was really impressed by Sonny last night , was an absolute beast...just what we need , massive upgrade on Hartridge