Data, Stats, the death of the beautiful game. The Ultimate conclusion

[Ragatino]

The last match against Brentford stank to high heaven.

It got me thinking. How many matches this season have cause people to say WOW! That was amazing?

ZERO - Crazy results yes but not one of those games is gonna be remember as a classic for it's amazing goals and technique.

Yes Tony Kroos fell in love with the high energy, all action defeat to Liverpool due to the atmosphere and energy of the tie

However, that game didn't exhibit any 'goals of the season contenders', it was a game of mistakes that lead to the goals.

This season as been dross with all bar Arsenal being inconsistent.

Looking at the Gunners, they play Pulis football. It got me thinking about Wenger's smug disrespect for that Stoke team.

"This is not football. If your tactic is to deliberately hit the ball at our players just to win a corner, you might as well call yourself a rugby team." (Often referenced regarding Stoke's reliance on throw-ins and physical play).

"I don't think fans pay money to watch this.".

"The only intention is to hurt you and I can show some tackles where I can prove what I say. The one who is tackling is not the brave one. For me the brave one is the player who is trying to play football." (Following a physical 2008 match).

"They [Stoke] used all their weapons to make it very difficult for us." (Acknowledging the effectiveness of their, to him, anti-football style).

So years later his beloved Arsenal, the team that 'Plays the game the right way' is now the biggest proponent and beneficiary of this Anti-Football style.

With the Data science seeming to have replaced genuine managerial tactical intelligence and the direction of travel heading toward defensive driven, percentage gains, professional fouls and time wasting there is a clear destination, an end game where the Premier League is heading.

Newcastle can't beat teams who sit deep, park the bus and hit rapidly on the counter attack.

So why bother having Centre backs?

If this trend continues the dynamics of the team will change.

Why have 2 big lads at the back when they're playing against rapid response counter attacking players?

In these games it would be smarter to send Sven, BDB & Thiaw up front with Woltemade. Drop Gordon, Elanga back to CB.

Play a 3-3-4

2 wingers + Tino as 3 CBs - Bruno, Tonali & Hall as quarter backs. Defensive midfielders, with 1 roaming & massive lads up top and just keep punting the ball long for distance.

The game is becoming about statistics and Big corrupt Sam said back in the day 'You're statistically far more likely to score if the ball is in the box than if it's not.

This form of 'Grid Iron' approach to football is killing the creativity and enjoyment of the game.

American football sucks. 4 hours of start stop boredom, at home it's just a vehicle for advertising. The stadiums are amusement parks, if anyone has ever been. They have a multitude of recreations and amusements, games, some even have swimming pools FFS. That tells you all you need to know about that 'Sport.'

It really feels like the game is going in the wrong direction.

Pep brought the tactical possession based style to the Prem which was beautiful when executed by world class technicians. However, the evolution of that is what we have today, boring physical tactically negative dross.

So I say Bring it on. Send BDB up top with Woltemade and start launching the ball long. Play the Gooners at their own game.

It can't be any less imaginative than the dross we've seen in the last week or two.

Also, it would be honest, not trying to kid ourselves, likewise other clubs kidding their fans that they're interested in playing football.

[toptoon]

The last match against Brentford stank to high heaven.

It got me thinking. How many matches this season have cause people to say WOW! That was amazing?

ZERO - Crazy results yes but not one of those games is gonna be remember as a classic for it's amazing goals and technique.

Yes Tony Kroos fell in love with the high energy, all action defeat to Liverpool due to the atmosphere and energy of the tie

However, that game didn't exhibit any 'goals of the season contenders', it was a game of mistakes that lead to the goals.

This season as been dross with all bar Arsenal being inconsistent.

Looking at the Gunners, they play Pulis football. It got me thinking about Wenger's smug disrespect for that Stoke team.

"This is not football. If your tactic is to deliberately hit the ball at our players just to win a corner, you might as well call yourself a rugby team." (Often referenced regarding Stoke's reliance on throw-ins and physical play).

"I don't think fans pay money to watch this.".

"The only intention is to hurt you and I can show some tackles where I can prove what I say. The one who is tackling is not the brave one. For me the brave one is the player who is trying to play football." (Following a physical 2008 match).

"They [Stoke] used all their weapons to make it very difficult for us." (Acknowledging the effectiveness of their, to him, anti-football style).

So years later his beloved Arsenal, the team that 'Plays the game the right way' is now the biggest proponent and beneficiary of this Anti-Football style.

With the Data science seeming to have replaced genuine managerial tactical intelligence and the direction of travel heading toward defensive driven, percentage gains, professional fouls and time wasting there is a clear destination, an end game where the Premier League is heading.

Newcastle can't beat teams who sit deep, park the bus and hit rapidly on the counter attack.

So why bother having Centre backs?

If this trend continues the dynamics of the team will change.

Why have 2 big lads at the back when they're playing against rapid response counter attacking players?

In these games it would be smarter to send Sven, BDB & Thiaw up front with Woltemade. Drop Gordon, Elanga back to CB.

Play a 3-3-4

2 wingers + Tino as 3 CBs - Bruno, Tonali & Hall as quarter backs. Defensive midfielders, with 1 roaming & massive lads up top and just keep punting the ball long for distance.

The game is becoming about statistics and Big corrupt Sam said back in the day 'You're statistically far more likely to score if the ball is in the box than if it's not.

This form of 'Grid Iron' approach to football is killing the creativity and enjoyment of the game.

American football sucks. 4 hours of start stop boredom, at home it's just a vehicle for advertising. The stadiums are amusement parks, if anyone has ever been. They have a multitude of recreations and amusements, games, some even have swimming pools FFS. That tells you all you need to know about that 'Sport.'

It really feels like the game is going in the wrong direction.

Pep brought the tactical possession based style to the Prem which was beautiful when executed by world class technicians. However, the evolution of that is what we have today, boring physical tactically negative dross.

So I say Bring it on. Send BDB up top with Woltemade and start launching the ball long. Play the Gooners at their own game.

It can't be any less imaginative than the dross we've seen in the last week or two.

Also, it would be honest, not trying to kid ourselves, likewise other clubs kidding their fans that they're interested in playing football.

If you watch a couple of games from other leagues, youll change your mind. The PL is fast, full of incident, unpredictable and very exciting. Its the best football to watch in the world.

[Ragatino]

If you watch a couple of games from other leagues, youll change your mind. The PL is fast, full of incident, unpredictable and very exciting. Its the best football to watch in the world.

I watched the Liverpool v City match. I generally watch the full program of matches when I get the time.

Compared to even the days of Pardew. The Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez, Fab et al team -

Kanu, Di Canio, Henry, Yakubu, Cisse, Bentley, Beckman, Scholes volleys from corners, Berbatov, Berkamp, Agueroooooooo, Fernando Torres, Matty Taylor volleying in for Pompie from out side the box with two different feet in two consecutive matches.

This current version of the prem is yes fast, but it's boring. There is no flair. No Ben Arfa, not even ASM, Adel Taarabt.

Very few of the teams are interesting to watch. It doesn't absorb me, I often find myself doing other things whilst the match is on. Until Newcastle Kick off of course.

I guess it's probably more my perception. Nostalgic for even last season where it wasn't almost certain to be a miserable performance and a poor result.

[Ragatino]

That being said.

It can't be denied that long throws and the corner routines are not dominating scorelines and influencing the game negatively.

Goals from open play are less important to teams who, pretty much to a team, focus on scoring from dead ball situations.

It just feels like the game has lost something.

[Ragatino]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHlryLa9XS0

The Noise channel explains the current state of the Premier League quite succinctly.

[toptoon]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHlryLa9XS0

The Noise channel explains the current state of the Premier League quite succinctly.

You want to see paint drying, watch a Brazilian serie A game.
As for Howe - that fella on the vid tells us about 5 times he has seen Howes deficiencies for years but doesnt say what they are. He also mentions none of his positives. Then he says hes sitting on the fence !
I think we should sack Howe then we can get a Souness/Gullit type replacement.

[Ragatino]

You want to see paint drying, watch a Brazilian serie A game.
As for Howe - that fella on the vid tells us about 5 times he has seen Howes deficiencies for years but doesnt say what they are. He also mentions none of his positives. Then he says hes sitting on the fence !
I think we should sack Howe then we can get a Souness/Gullit type replacement.

For sure Topz. Grass ain't always greener with regard swapping managers.

Also, despite the Prem becoming 'Set-Piece FC' it's continues to still be far more interested a spectacle than any other league around the world.

[Cannylad]

I haven't watched the last three games purely because I've become disinterested / disillusioned with not just the Toon but also the rest of the games. I usually just watch extended highlights if I can be bothered.

[Ragatino]

I haven't watched the last three games purely because I've become disinterested / disillusioned with not just the Toon but also the rest of the games. I usually just watch extended highlights if I can be bothered.

When I have time I watch the whole match however, seldom do I watch other matches.

Departure lounge entertainment is when generally watch extended highlights of selected matches, to see when the Filth, bin dips etc have lost to enjoy a good laugh. I rarely watch those matches when the cartel clubs have won, unless there is some VAR outrage just so I can comment on the incident.

[toptoon]

Howay lads. You should be crawling through broken glass to see our games. This is the Toon were talking about!!
The amount of punt it up the touchline sh*te I saw during the 80s makes todays games seem like a different sport.
The team can have its ups and downs but our support cannot.