Matt Burton
@mattburton72.bsky.social
Husband and Father of 3 - Ex Guitar for 7th Son - AVFC & WCCC fan - Ex-Cricketer for FOCC - Auto Industry professional - Warwick Uni Graduate - Aston Uni MBA
Is it just me but are these “watch-alongs” the most cringeworthy thing that exists in football? I get it if you were 12 years old but some of these people are grown adults! And as for the audience 🤷🏻♂️ Podcasts I get. Watch-alongs? One for proper weirdos.
November 10, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Is it just me but are these “watch-alongs” the most cringeworthy thing that exists in football? I get it if you were 12 years old but some of these people are grown adults! And as for the audience 🤷🏻♂️ Podcasts I get. Watch-alongs? One for proper weirdos.
Yep but by the law of averages we also had some good chances yesterday and an xG of 1.7 which on another day some of those higher rated chances go in. That’s much more like where we need to be regularly.
November 10, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Yep but by the law of averages we also had some good chances yesterday and an xG of 1.7 which on another day some of those higher rated chances go in. That’s much more like where we need to be regularly.
…. although you probably don’t needs stats to tell you that!!
November 10, 2025 at 8:24 AM
…. although you probably don’t needs stats to tell you that!!
….. there’s not enough data to measure his specific xG. Still a useful metric to measure his performance. Interesting to compare Ollie vs Haaland. One scores consistently less than expected, one scores more. It probably confirms the thought that Ollie is good but not a world class finisher…..
November 10, 2025 at 8:24 AM
….. there’s not enough data to measure his specific xG. Still a useful metric to measure his performance. Interesting to compare Ollie vs Haaland. One scores consistently less than expected, one scores more. It probably confirms the thought that Ollie is good but not a world class finisher…..
I think it’s pretty accurate and provides some useful insight. The important thing to remember is it is an average which obviously means some players will be worse, some better so Emi’s xG from that range may be higher than the rest of the league or probably more likely……
November 10, 2025 at 8:24 AM
I think it’s pretty accurate and provides some useful insight. The important thing to remember is it is an average which obviously means some players will be worse, some better so Emi’s xG from that range may be higher than the rest of the league or probably more likely……
I seemed to recall it was changed in recent years. Tradition was if you win the toss, then kick towards the Holte in the 2nd half. Can’t remember who changed it but remember the club speaking about getting the first goal so they’d flipped the logic to kick to the Holte 1st half.
November 10, 2025 at 8:11 AM
I seemed to recall it was changed in recent years. Tradition was if you win the toss, then kick towards the Holte in the 2nd half. Can’t remember who changed it but remember the club speaking about getting the first goal so they’d flipped the logic to kick to the Holte 1st half.
Stats are only a pointer to trends and the best managers out perform the stats. Unai consistently does this. It’s still early days this season but those xG stats are not what you’d hope for even allowing for the Emery effect. However the only stat that really counts is 18 pts in the bag. Onwards!!
November 9, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Stats are only a pointer to trends and the best managers out perform the stats. Unai consistently does this. It’s still early days this season but those xG stats are not what you’d hope for even allowing for the Emery effect. However the only stat that really counts is 18 pts in the bag. Onwards!!
I’d always advocate having a dig when we can. But It’s like all sports, you have to vary things to keep the opponent “honest”. If the defence thinks you may shoot they try and step out to block, potentially opening space behind. Got to mix things up.
November 9, 2025 at 8:01 PM
I’d always advocate having a dig when we can. But It’s like all sports, you have to vary things to keep the opponent “honest”. If the defence thinks you may shoot they try and step out to block, potentially opening space behind. Got to mix things up.
Spot on. I think we’ll find these next two games in many ways harder than Spurs, City and B’mth.
November 9, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Spot on. I think we’ll find these next two games in many ways harder than Spurs, City and B’mth.
Problem with not doing that is we are relying quite a bit atm on shots outside the box going in. Great when it happens but over the long run that won’t work consistently and I’d be sure Unai will be working on getting Ollie fed in for better chances.
November 9, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Problem with not doing that is we are relying quite a bit atm on shots outside the box going in. Great when it happens but over the long run that won’t work consistently and I’d be sure Unai will be working on getting Ollie fed in for better chances.
xG also skewed with the penalty which in my mind I tend to discount anyway. We did score 2 goals from outside the box shots and a deflected long shot too. Definitely better today but we are still suffering from not creating chances in the box imo.
November 9, 2025 at 7:49 PM
xG also skewed with the penalty which in my mind I tend to discount anyway. We did score 2 goals from outside the box shots and a deflected long shot too. Definitely better today but we are still suffering from not creating chances in the box imo.
That’s exactly the point with the underlying metrics. We’ve played much better today but can’t get too excited yet. We need more consistency in better chance creation and although things have improved we need to see that consistently now.
November 9, 2025 at 7:45 PM
That’s exactly the point with the underlying metrics. We’ve played much better today but can’t get too excited yet. We need more consistency in better chance creation and although things have improved we need to see that consistently now.
…. I guess I’m really saying I’m in the it’s more a team thing than a specific Ollie thing and are not creating a lot atm and not the kind of stuff that he can thrive on either.
November 9, 2025 at 7:41 PM
…. I guess I’m really saying I’m in the it’s more a team thing than a specific Ollie thing and are not creating a lot atm and not the kind of stuff that he can thrive on either.
For me it’s too often pulled back and back through the centre for a shot at the edge of the box. That won’t help Ollie at all. Fewer cut backs from full backs too. He had 1 classic Ollie position cutting in from the left today but didn’t manage to bury it…..
November 9, 2025 at 7:41 PM
For me it’s too often pulled back and back through the centre for a shot at the edge of the box. That won’t help Ollie at all. Fewer cut backs from full backs too. He had 1 classic Ollie position cutting in from the left today but didn’t manage to bury it…..
I see it more that he’s always been a very streaky striker. Personally I also think we’re not crossing the ball when we get the chance as much as previous seasons. He’s a great header of the ball and will get goals if the ball goes in the box……,
November 9, 2025 at 7:41 PM
I see it more that he’s always been a very streaky striker. Personally I also think we’re not crossing the ball when we get the chance as much as previous seasons. He’s a great header of the ball and will get goals if the ball goes in the box……,
Think that’s key. The pre-season before his injury he was looking great and cutting in from the left. He looked great. He’s looking a hell of a player atm.
November 9, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Think that’s key. The pre-season before his injury he was looking great and cutting in from the left. He looked great. He’s looking a hell of a player atm.
😂😂 one of the chaps behind me said before Emi’s free kick he was so confident he would score he was going to film it 😂😂
November 9, 2025 at 7:24 PM
😂😂 one of the chaps behind me said before Emi’s free kick he was so confident he would score he was going to film it 😂😂
That’s how I see it too.
November 9, 2025 at 7:22 PM
That’s how I see it too.
….and contribute plenty. We’re lacking that wide pace option for me and should focus on that rather than worrying about replacing Ollie for the time being.
November 9, 2025 at 7:21 PM
….and contribute plenty. We’re lacking that wide pace option for me and should focus on that rather than worrying about replacing Ollie for the time being.
Don’t disagree but it’s more a timing thing for me. Said before I think we’d have swapped out Ollie if we’d made CL. Without it and with UEFA restrictions, I think we have to make do and mend for a bit. Ollie is still a really good forward who is out of form. I think he can recover this year ….
November 9, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Don’t disagree but it’s more a timing thing for me. Said before I think we’d have swapped out Ollie if we’d made CL. Without it and with UEFA restrictions, I think we have to make do and mend for a bit. Ollie is still a really good forward who is out of form. I think he can recover this year ….
Yup I kind of feel we’re better working with Ollie for the moment and get ready to go big when we’re a bit more stable. Not sure Jan is the right time yet.
November 9, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Yup I kind of feel we’re better working with Ollie for the moment and get ready to go big when we’re a bit more stable. Not sure Jan is the right time yet.
Could be. Just not sure £35m gets us a top top centre forward 🤷🏻♂️
November 9, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Could be. Just not sure £35m gets us a top top centre forward 🤷🏻♂️
Probably didn’t expect the Spurs and City results but he’s been here 3 years and we should know by now that he can get results against anyone unless they’re Crystal Palace!
November 9, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Probably didn’t expect the Spurs and City results but he’s been here 3 years and we should know by now that he can get results against anyone unless they’re Crystal Palace!
I guess my point was more that some people were posting “we’re getting relegated” and panicking. I just never saw it that way. We weren’t playing well but we have good players and a great manager. I was never ever worried that he wouldn’t turn things around.
November 9, 2025 at 6:47 PM
I guess my point was more that some people were posting “we’re getting relegated” and panicking. I just never saw it that way. We weren’t playing well but we have good players and a great manager. I was never ever worried that he wouldn’t turn things around.