Watford FC 0-0 AFC Bournemouth - 26/10/2019

Of position? Probably.

 

I am not so concerned with how we play - I just want the result

 

My personal highlight of that match was St Eddie of Howe's impression of a deer caught in full-beam headlights...

 

What's up with Holebas?

 

5 bookings, suspended.

 

We've created numerous chances and have a terrible conversion rate. We've had a terrible run of refereeing decisions and VAR going against us. The law of averages says that eventually, some of those chances will go in and some of the referees will not give spurious goals against us.

That's a genuine law of averages.

 

Yep - like a reversion to mean. Are we the worst squad in the league? "No" in my opinion. So as the sample size gets bigger we should move more towards expected output.

I suppose if our confidence is destroyed, it could make us the worst squad in the league though when all factors are put together.

 

No he seems to be training with the rest of the team this morning.

 

That is in direct conflict with HB1's third law of refereeing relativity.

 

Already?

 

Yep. He's going for the record.

 

Hopefully Kiko will make a return in Janmaat is out. We need a safe pair of hands in defence

 

As Jumbo suggests, reversion to the mean is what we're talking about here. If refereeing and VAR c.ck-ups are random events on an equal playing field (like tossing a coin) then the reset button is pressed and we might expect further decisions in the 29 games coming up to be even-handed. So, at the end of the season, over a 38 games sample, the discrepancy should be less apparent than it is now but still exist. If these events aren't random and referees take pity on us (unlikely) then you'd expect the discrepancy to close or if the refereeing community is in some way 'biased' again us then you'd expect it to widen.

Taking goal scoring opportunities isn't random. Presumably being 'calm in front of goal' can be coached in some way (as defensive organisation can) although it would obviously help if our players had a latent ability in that area in the first place. If that can be harnessed to the better defensive organisation now apparent then that should lead to an upturn in our fortunes, however we choose to play, and hopefully deliver our salvation.

 

He's already got it. (Jointly.)
https://www.statbunker.com/alltimestats/MostYellowsInSeason?comp_code=EPL

 

Being joint top with seven others (I note Etienne is one of them) won't be good enough for our Jose. He's on a 'mission from God' to stand alone at the top of the pile.

 

Or better still, play Gomes at Right back.

 

Dawson was thought of as a better right back than central defender by WBA fans, although some on here may say that wouldn't be hard to be!

 

Yeah, I think I actually recall some maverick geniusly advocating for this kind of approach a few weeks back, now that you mention it...

Watford FC 0-0 Sheffield United - 05/10/2019

 

He was great in the middle on saturday ! Remember WBA FB's rarely journeyed close to the half way line. In an ultra defensive formation this might be an option but not if you are playing with wing backs or repeatedly disrupt a settled central 3.

 

In a 3 both Cathcart and Dawson have played a lot of matches on the right so both have the experience. If we carry on with a 3 we have few options on the left apart from Kabasele. Although Masina has Italian experience in a left sided back 3 not that I would recommend that.

I haven't actually seen that Jamnatt is out but if he is they will play Kiko.

I hope Chalobah keeps his place, I preferred that formation as it also gave Doucoure more freedom and used Chalobah skills such as his tackling and passing better.

 

Pretty certain it'll be the same team that played the majority of the game at Spurs provided Janmaat is fit, with the exception of Masina coming in for Holebas.

--------------------Foster-----------------------
Janmaat Kabasele Dawson Cathcart Masina
------------Doucs-------Chalobah-------------
-------------------Cleverley--------------------
------------Deulofeu-------Pereyra-----------

Subs: Gomes, Kiko, Mariappa, Hughes, Sarr, Gray

 

Welbeck out for 2-3 months.

 

Good enough for me.

 

Never ******* heard of him

 

Important match day question. Does Bosleys' bar get many fans in before a game? It's just that I see they have bottles of wine for £8.99, which is lovely, as I have to look after my pennies due to the current financial uncertainties.

Also, changing my pre match day pub might bring us a win, because that kind of thing influences a result.

If I go to Bosleys = 2 - 0 Win for the Hornets.

 

Is this the bloke in 'Charlie's Angels'?

 

Strong winds and 99-97% chance of heavy rain for the game tomorrow. In fact rain most of tonight and sat morning too. Chance of a postponement ?

 

The below is a quote attributed to QSF as reported in the WO

“All of them they can do that and if they realise that we are all together, then when we defend we defend all together it’s easier for us because it always gives us the possibility to score and if we score and didn’t concede, we have the possibility to win.”

So let me get this correct, if we score and we stop the opposition from scoring we have a possibility of winning.

 

I think it would be more than a "possibility". I think the guy may be on to something there....

 

Quique wisely not keen to rule out an asteroid strike wiping out all life on earth in injury time.

 

Fair chance that Pererya and Del Boy wont fancy it

 

Excellent.

Hopefully we will crush our enemies, see them driven before us, and hear the lamentations of their women.