I’ve put together a slightly different comparison this time around, highlighting how we fared in the exact same fixtures played this year compared to last:

So from that, a quick few summary points:

- We have scored 9 more goals compared to last year
- But, conceded 6 more

- We earned 5 more points in the corresponding fixtures last year.
- We have seen the same results against Spurs, Blackburn, Liverpool, Man City and Everton
- Last year we beat Wigan, Fulham, Stoke and Sunderland, whereas this year we only managed 2 points from the same fixtures.
- We have improved on the Arsenal, Villa and Hull results compared to last year.

I produce these stats table to simply put the data out there and hopefully make it easier to interpret. My opinion on the whole lot is quite simply this…our urgency to secure the services of a new striker during the summer has clearly paid off. We’ve scored significantly more goals. However…it is obviously been at detriment to our defence (selling Collins was a massive mistake).

I am however confident that once our defence settles into the same four each week for the best part, we will soon see a climb up the table. Although our goal difference is actually better this year we are shipping goals like there’s no tomorrow. Sort that, and we’ve got the makings of a side that can still achieve something this year.

Love too know your comments

IRONS

Sam

5 recent posts you may have missed

Report This Post

The future prospects we have in Stanilas, Hines, Collision, Tomkins, Sears, N’Gala, Payne and more recently Nouble are fast shedding their ‘youth team player’ image and are in many cases embarking on a new season that could be the defining one in their careers. With the exception of maybe Payne, those mentioned players are all no longer a youngster coming through, but actually first team players eager to prove a point. Their youth and enthusiasm will be strengthened from the wealth of experience from their colleagues and surrounding team mates. Our backbone of experience consists of Green, Upson, Gabbidon, Collins, Parker, Dyer and I think even Noble, who has been in their exact situations before and know how they are feeling and what they are going through.

I think I would also publicly swallow my pride, eat some humble pie, and other humbling turn of phrase you can think of, and hold my hands up to say that Carlton Cole can probably be added to our backbone. Now don’t get me wrong, in front of goal I think he still has a lot to prove – but leading our front line tomorrow, we have a player who was by no means a fans’ favourite and suffered from a huge lack of confidence. A player who had to have shooting lessons from our gaffer. But he has turned it around and his performance in an England shirt midweek is proof alone what a year or so with Gianfranco Zola can do to your confidence, your techincal ability and ultimately your maturity.

From where I’m sitting, things couldn’t look better for our younger first team members under the guidance of Zola and Clarke.

I am excited.

But as you all know, I am ever the optimist and I’m not blind to the flipside – I should imagine that So Solid Crew could probably turn that sentance into a title for a comback tour track, “Blind to the Flipside”

IRONS!

Sam

5 recent posts you may have missed

Report This Post