Mark Twain, the author of Huckleberry Finn, coined the phrase “lies, damned lies and statistics” — or as we used to say in my day job, why let the truth get in the way of a good story.
We’ve had a sobering weekend, being put to the sword by a very beatable West Ham side. There were some positives to Saturday, but really it was one of those where we just must lick our wounds and go again next Monday. I’m sure the Burnley fans are thanking the TV gods for scheduling our encounter on a Monday night.
Early finishers at work, not back home until after midnight. Thanks, Sky. But it’s TV that pays the piper, and it will only get worse.
Anyway, back to those statistics. By the end of the weekend, Arsenal’s defeat at home to a newly resurgent Manchester United meant that ours is the only undefeated home record still standing.
In the Premier League’s home league table we stand fifth, with six wins and five draws. Our goal difference is +9; scoring 18 goals and conceding 9 (obviously).
The away table is a little different. In that we lie in 15th place, not having won on the road since we beat Chelsea 2-1 at the end of October.
All of our six defeats this season have necessarily come away from home, since we’re undefeated at home. But still, to only have six defeats to our name is a pretty impressive feat, and I bet one of Régis Le Bris’s targets this season is to remain undefeated at home. That would be some attainment.
Having already seen off the top three at home, we have to fancy our chances of pulling this off. Neither Manchester United nor Chelsea will come to us until May, and the new manager bubbles of those respective teams will have worn off by then.
I still have to refer to that figure of six defeats. I think that’s an incredible feat. To get two-thirds through the season and only be beaten six times, none of which were at home.
While we’re on about statistics, can I have a little rant about xG? What the hell is the point of that? All these keyboard warriors are saying that our xG is the third lowest in the league and that we’ll get our comeuppance soon.
I don’t give a flying fig about xG, and I’m sure Régis doesn’t either. All good teams are based on a strong defence. We have the third-best in the league. Why don’t we get more credit for this? Because defending isn’t sexy, apparently. Well, ask Sir Alex Ferguson, Brian Clough, George Graham, Arsène Wenger, Bob Paisley if a strong defence is important? Even Kevin Keegan might concede that had he tightened his defence in 1995-96 they might have seen off Man Utd to win the title that year.
Le Bris has hinted in recent press conferences that he’s aware that we aren’t scoring enough goals. But his priority was the defence, and now he’s starting to address the final third. It must be the case because getting anything out of Reggie at pressers is harder than getting blood out of a stone.
So a bad week at the office, but I trust in Le Bris — and results on Sunday have softened the blow somewhat, so much so that I can’t wait to get back to the stadium next Monday night to shout the lads on against Scott Parker’s side. Bring it on.
