derry

It appears to me nearly always, unless full warts and all studies are published in full. I will go so far to say that I have never ever seen an argument made with statistics that wasn't selective picking a few from many. I've heard it said that statistics can be used to prove or alternatively using the same set of statistics to disprove whatever the author chooses to focus on. That is why I always look at the big picture.

There is a saying, "Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics". This is a phrase describing the persuasive power of statistics to bolster weak arguments. One of the best and best known critiques of applied statistics. It is also sometimes colloquially used to doubt statistics used to prove an opponent's point. People using statistics seem to cherry pick the most convenient statistics whilst ignoring other statistics that are available that cast doubt on their arguments. I personally favour the big picture approach over the devil is in the detail.

I get the anxiety about passing out from the back which is in my mind different from passing it around at the back. We need the midfield and wide players to be more aware and more available. Attracting a press into our own penalty area isn't smart. Furthermore there ought to be a irregular double bluff element where the goalkeeper immediately on possession hits it long into the corners with the forwards pressing the ball. Far worse for me was the first goal, 9 players in the opponents penalty area and Edozie the only covering player!!! We then were in disarray, outnumbered on Sunderland's break. The lack of discipline and an organised framework so that a break can be blocked is more worrying. It also displayed an arrogance and complacency on the part of the whole team. Playing off the cuff is great but only if there is a strict organised defensive framework behind if and once it breaks down. It seems to me the only jobs the full backs think they have is to get up the lines or invert into a narrow midfield exposing our wings to undefended attacks and overloading on the other side. That has to stop. Defenders first and foremost are defenders not freelance walkabout, self indulgent undisciplined liabilities.

In a nutshell we lack basic discipline. Full backs who play like out of work Kamekazi pilots. Saturday was an ideal example, 9 players in Sunderland's penalty area leaving Edozie as the only defender. A serious team would not have done this. If the players can't think for themselves the the management need to hammer the importance of organisation and discipline. If we are sending the centre backs up for corners we need to have a screen across the field to defend a break. We don't need 9 men up for corners, nor do we need the left back taking right wing corners, sheer stupidity. Logically we should be able to score twice nearly every game. From that I deduce the most important thing to do is block the opposition. KWP and Manning don't need to lose the ball by the corner flag, they don't even need to be there that's the job of the wingers. It is ludicrous for KWP to pass short to the winger then overlap. Give the through ball or give the winger the ball in front so that they can take on the defender. If Sulemana plays he could leave KWP standing so stay out of his space. Full backs are defenders. If the centre backs are up both full backs and two midfield players should be the defensive screen. One job take out the breaking player as far up the field as possible. Forget this inverted full back idea as it opens the door down our flanks. Not sophisticated, I'll tell you what's not sophisticated 68% possession and lucky to lose 5-0.

If I'd have been the keeper behind that walkabout back four I'd have probably laid all four out, plus at least a couple of our midfielders for just standing and watching. The back four is terrible. Both full backs are 7 & 11 that never get back in time. Bednerek is a dummy that is always looking for excuses. Holgate needs to be cut a little slack playing without acclimatisation. Smallbone, Downes and S Armstrong were self indulgent and only interested in their passing and attacking bits. Where was the get stuck in and covering that was required. We need to get ruthless all over the pitch, we are a team of pussies at the moment.

I thought that when I saw the picture.

Manning and KWP need a good talking to. They are first and foremost defenders and forward support players not as they seem to think the tip of the spear. I think that Fraser and Sulemana should be our wide players. Both are quicker than the full backs so leave them the space to play into. Manning and KWP overlapping just gets in the way and furthermore takes them out of the loop as defenders. I have come to the conclusion that Charles is a must as a defensive midfielder. If Adams or eventually Stewart is the CF then we need two attacking midfielders and it looks like A Armstrong and Alcaraz behind the CF is probably the way to go but as the manager's favourite Downes will be accommodated. Again Martin likes the recycling of Smallbone but it doesn't blend. That makes Sulemana, Armstrong, Alcaraz, Fraser plus Adams or Stewart the attackers. KWP THB Bednarek and Manning screened by Charles. For me that looks a much more workmanlike team than yesterday's clusterfuck. The whole team needs to accept defensive duties any time we don't have the ball. Edozie as the last man yesterday for the first goal was rediculous. At least two defenders should have been goal side. We need a much more ruthless approach to blocking breakaway attackers. If we want to emulate and copy Man City then do what they do immediately block off any breakaway.

Sunderland planned and exploited our non existent full backs we helped them by passing or losing the ball to them. They wouldn't have been able to use the non existent space because their wide men would be pinned.

It's easy to fix. KWP and Manning play like full backs instead of charging upfield and leaving our centre backs exposed. Charles holding in front of the centre backs and form a disciplined unit. Frazer and Sulemana to hug the touchline and track the runners. It's no longer possible to play long.

Watching the general play, a lot of the possession was aimless. I got the impression a lot of the players don't understand that the only way to win is score goals and prevent them at the other end. It looked like it wasn't passing to get goals but a game played without goals. Receive the ball, unload it then do it again. That doesn't cut it. First of all we need pace. Sulemana and Frazer, Until Stewart is fit, Adams up front, Alcaraz or one of the Armstrongs behind. Downes and Charles holding, THB and Bednarek with KWP and Manning playing like full backs. It was disgraceful that the only player tracking Clarke after the corner down our right sde was our left winger Edozie. That was KWP's responsibility. That together with the fact that he and Manning were coming inside exposing us down the touchlines where they murdered us and worse still had planned to play that way. Out thought, outplayed with 32% possession, totally exposed and gave the ball away for at least four goals.

That was a clusterfuck. Holgate gave the ball away for two goals. Manning for another and Alcaraz for the last. The passing was aimless and like the Norwich game we were murdered on the break. In retrospect the team selection was poor and the defensive organisation was non existent. Edozie last man for the first, WTF, then lost Clarke. We need to get both the full backs to be less kamekazi. There needs to be less off the cuff and more discipline. Sunderland saw us coming and exploited our stupidity. I thought Downs was supposed to be the DM, nobody was today. THB in immediately. Bednarek caught out again for fourth as he couldn't sort his feet out. I got a feeling reading the forum that the general feeling was it was three points for the taking. Well the balloon has been well and truly punctured and our complacency and arrogance punished. We have two weeks now to get it right. 5-0 was a disgrace.

Ben Johnson from WHU?

Firstly Stewart scored 40 goals in 80 games secondly Adams has done this before scored a few goals quickly then nothing for months, Stewart may well turn out to be the no1 with Adams as backup. Furthermore the presence of Stewart might make Adams keep his finger pulled out. As for ABK, what a twat, doesn't want to play in the Championship but the weak Dutch League is preferable. We need to unload the sick note as soon as we can for as much as we can get. He'll get to play in Champion's League maybe and Europe every week. Good riddance. I wonder if his shoulder will pass the medical.

just arrived

ETA 1920 landing about 1914.

Flight no LOG539B Loganair It could be delayed as departure is showing estimated 1805 and it doesn't look like it's moved yet. also LM539

Wolves reported to be trying to loan Che Adams. That won't work as he is out of contract at the end of this season. We might as well keep him. Signing another contract won't work either. It also looks like Werder Bremen are sniffing around Mara for another poundshop loan.

More like hilarious bullshit. What's more Saints and Stewart have been linked on Newsnow for months together with Piroe and Wood and a few others. For contradiction and changing circumstances Newsnow takes some beating.

Like you said only one game. The standard didn't look great, pretty pedestrian. He looked worth another look and not many did.

No but he could play up front.

Who for?

I watched St Mirren v Aberdeen and he looked energetic, clever and lively whilst Miovski was pretty anonymous.

We really have to put a deadline on outgoing transfers. Friday morning we go to Sunderland to KO at 1230 Saturday. The team will be a clusterfuck if the preparation and the travelling is disrupted by late bids. Personally I think any player who is in the game squad at the start of training on Thursday morning should be excluded by the club from any transfer.

Everton are a joke. A £25m transfer with no money paid until the next financial year. Why would we even dream of letting Sulemana go on loan. Although we needed a centre back by taking Holgate we relieved Everton of a salary burden they can't afford. In my view the whole transfer market is rediculous. The prices being paid because of instalments and lengthy contracts are distorted. If the clubs had to pay the whole fee up front it would reduce prices dramatically.

Smallbone is the best passing player in the club whilst we are playing possession football. His natural ability to pass and pass is the glue that will keep the ball. I can see Martin wanting him running the midfield linking with all the other players and constantly available to receive the ball.