|
|
Post by dohnut on Nov 29, 2023 13:01:14 GMT
Are we? Seem to be hearing this a lot lately so looked up last nights outfield players and some stats.
The average age was 24. Average appearances 120 each. The bench players, excluding Agyei averages 28 with combined appearances close to 1000 games. Pratley and Pigott being the main contributors to this.
OK, I know players like Galbraith and Cooper reduced that average but Beckles and Graham move it the other way.
Still learning, of course, I doubt players ever stop. But a young team? Averaging 24+ I don’t really see it. In fact the average age this season according to the EFL championship in 23/24 is 25.9 For league 1 the average is 25. Play Pratley and Pigott and we are above average age at 26. According to the stats we are not the youngest. Coming in at 23.6. Based on starting team. Pretty close to last night.
interestingly Peterborough could lay claim to the youngest group who play and even more interesting Stevenage at an average of 28 up at the other end
So are we a young group? On average we are not. Like most clubs we will have a mix of youth and experience. Average age changes according to selection. But I’m not too sure the mantra of us being a young group really holds water. Relative to the league. Am I missing something, I’m sure I will be told what it is.
|
|
|
|
Post by buffalobill on Nov 29, 2023 13:58:59 GMT
Only Peterborough, Wigan and Reading have fielded younger starting 11’s than us, so I reckon Wellens is correct in saying we are a young side.
Yes we have older more experienced heads in the squad, but they haven’t been starting/or playing a full 90.
When Sweeney replaced James our defence averaged 23.6 years.
|
|
|
|
Post by dohnut on Nov 29, 2023 14:43:22 GMT
Only Peterborough, Wigan and Reading have fielded younger starting 11’s than us, so I reckon Wellens is correct in saying we are a young side. Yes we have older more experienced heads in the squad, but they haven’t been starting/or playing a full 90. When Sweeney replaced James our defence averaged 23.6 years. You probably looked at the same stats as me and for sure we show up more than once. But not the youngest nor the most frequent. Sweeney at 21 replaced a 27 year old. When Beckles played the average went up. Like all averages, they are just that. There to be played with. When looking at numbers they are marginal and vary game by game, even within a game. Of course they will. But the comment made was we have a young group. Just listened again to make sure I heard correctly. Not a young defence, not a young midfield etc. but a young group. We do not have a young group just on occasions we choose a young starting 11 and even then it’s nothing special. Last night starting at 24, Sweeney dropped it down as you say, Pigott pushed it back up. Nothing there to warrant age being singled out. And not for the first time. what we have is the usual blend of youth and experience. Quite right. Even last night with Sweeney coming on 23.6 is hardly staggering. A back 5 that averages 100 appearances so hardly rookies. Turns and Sweeney being the babes at 21 and combined appearances of 70 games. Two players who have done exceptionally well in my opinion. Brown, another of our younger players is having a good season. At 23 so is El Mizouni. I have no issues with the younger players, don’t see why they, the younger players, should be singled out. Our issues are not age related. The kids are doing well. |
|
|
|
Post by buffalobill on Nov 29, 2023 19:06:26 GMT
I think you need to have the discussion with Richie, I’m out.
|
|
|
|
Post by dohnut on Nov 29, 2023 19:24:46 GMT
I think you need to have the discussion with Richie, I’m out. Probably best. I have a habit of listening to what people say and post for that matter and go into over-thinking mode. It’s what happens when you have had a career lifetime of people saying all sorts of stuff and you try to extract what you feel is sensible, irrespective of whether you agree or not, and what is spin. We live in a world of spin. Makes me cynical. Everyone does it. Everyone, in my opinion. |
|
|
|
Post by watfordo on Nov 29, 2023 19:51:26 GMT
I think you need to have the discussion with Richie, I’m out. Probably best. I have a habit of listening to what people say and post for that matter and go into over-thinking mode. It’s what happens when you have had a career lifetime of people saying all sorts of stuff and you try to extract what you feel is sensible, irrespective of whether you agree or not, and what is spin. We live in a world of spin. Makes me cynical. Everyone does it. Everyone, in my opinion. Stop being negative! 😀 |
|
|
|
Post by BasOfromthatLondon on Nov 29, 2023 21:17:13 GMT
Being from Mancland I think somewhere in Richies head there might well be thoughts of Sir Matt Busby or Sir Fergie spinning around.
That's The Busby Babes and The Class of '92, if you're a bit slow on the uptake.
|
|
|
|
Post by dohnut on Nov 29, 2023 21:48:55 GMT
Probably best. I have a habit of listening to what people say and post for that matter and go into over-thinking mode. It’s what happens when you have had a career lifetime of people saying all sorts of stuff and you try to extract what you feel is sensible, irrespective of whether you agree or not, and what is spin. We live in a world of spin. Makes me cynical. Everyone does it. Everyone, in my opinion. Stop being negative! 😀 Call it life experience. I’m a naturally can-do, problem solving positive person. Worked with some great, well known and talented people. Also some well know absolute arseholes. The one thing they do have in common is the capacity to bulls***. We all do. football club managers certainly have this capacity. That’s not negative, that WatfordO is realistic. If you really analyse some of what RW says, he can too. Not a criticism. Just a fact of life. The trick is picking out the good bits Pragmatic. I would be interested on your take of the RW comment about us having a young group. Data above, make up your own mind. His relentless praise of Drinan and his talking about our superb performance on Tuesday. RW is a great man manager. His techniques are well documented and he executes them well. BS. |
|
|
|
Post by BasOfromthatLondon on Nov 30, 2023 1:06:50 GMT
Talking about Drinan, I get the feeling that Richie knows he's better than what he shows in matches but he lacks confidence, so that's why he praises him.
He's probably great on the training ground but can't replicate it on a matchday.
Maybe he has thoughts of getting injured again that holds him back.
|
|
|
|
Post by watfordo on Nov 30, 2023 6:07:29 GMT
Talking about Drinan, I get the feeling that Richie knows he's better than what he shows in matches but he lacks confidence, so that's why he praises him. He's probably great on the training ground but can't replicate it on a matchday. Maybe he has thoughts of getting injured again that holds him back. This |
|
|
|
Post by OrientEd on Nov 30, 2023 9:09:46 GMT
Are we? Seem to be hearing this a lot lately so looked up last nights outfield players and some stats. The average age was 24. Average appearances 120 each. The bench players, excluding Agyei averages 28 with combined appearances close to 1000 games. Pratley and Pigott being the main contributors to this. OK, I know players like Galbraith and Cooper reduced that average but Beckles and Graham move it the other way. Still learning, of course, I doubt players ever stop. But a young team? Averaging 24+ I don’t really see it. In fact the average age this season according to the EFL championship in 23/24 is 25.9 For league 1 the average is 25. Play Pratley and Pigott and we are above average age at 26. According to the stats we are not the youngest. Coming in at 23.6. Based on starting team. Pretty close to last night. interestingly Peterborough could lay claim to the youngest group who play and even more interesting Stevenage at an average of 28 up at the other end So are we a young group? On average we are not. Like most clubs we will have a mix of youth and experience. Average age changes according to selection. But I’m not too sure the mantra of us being a young group really holds water. Relative to the league. Am I missing something, I’m sure I will be told what it is. But also how many of our squad have actually played in League 1 though? Cooper, Turns, Galbraith, Happe, Ruel, Ageyi, Forde, Brynn...all of these younger players (Happe maybe not a youngster any longer I guess) have not played at this level. Most have done well in the league below and have gone up to the next division. |
|
|
|
Post by ostralia on Nov 30, 2023 9:20:39 GMT
I think this is what Ritchie means. We still learning at this level.
|
|
|
|
Post by dohnut on Nov 30, 2023 10:08:36 GMT
I think this is what Ritchie means. We still learning at this level. No doubt this is what he means. Inexperienced rather than young. I agree with this. But saying a young group to me is implying that our form is due to age and that is not right. The Kids are doing OK. We don’t have a young group compared with others. His praise of Drinan is good man management. Boosting confidence etc. the truth is we all know that’s all it is. Time will tell when his contract is up |
|
|
|
Post by Thor on Nov 30, 2023 10:14:58 GMT
Didn't we put out a team a few games ago which was the youngest starting 11 in our history?
|
|
|
|
Post by dohnut on Nov 30, 2023 12:19:23 GMT
Didn't we put out a team a few games ago which was the youngest starting 11 in our history? Thats not the point though Thor. He said we have a young group. We don’t. Players ages are fact. And in line with many other league 1 teams. For sure on occasions we put out a young starting 11 and even then when you look at the stats it’s nothing extraordinary when compared to others. Tuesday for example was just over 24 when he made that comment. inexperienced at league 1 level for sure. I buy that. Peterborough put out young teams quite often, more than us. But maybe more experienced at league 1. The thing is he has said this more than once and as group it if demonstrably wrong based on what I’ve seen. Dont blame the kids. They are doing OK |
|
|
|
Post by redintheface on Nov 30, 2023 13:03:26 GMT
Didn't we put out a team a few games ago which was the youngest starting 11 in our history? Thats not the point though Thor. He said we have a young group. We don’t. Players ages are fact. And in line with many other league 1 teams. For sure on occasions we put out a young starting 11 and even then when you look at the stats it’s nothing extraordinary when compared to others. Tuesday for example was just over 24 when he made that comment. inexperienced at league 1 level for sure. I buy that. Peterborough put out young teams quite often, more than us. But maybe more experienced at league 1. The thing is he has said this more than once and as group it if demonstrably wrong based on what I’ve seen. Dont blame the kids. They are doing OK According to RW they were “ brilliant” on Tuesday evening.👍 |
|
|
|
Post by redshank on Nov 30, 2023 13:42:06 GMT
I think you need to have the discussion with Richie, I’m out. Probably best. I have a habit of listening to what people say and post for that matter and go into over-thinking mode. It’s what happens when you have had a career lifetime of people saying all sorts of stuff and you try to extract what you feel is sensible, irrespective of whether you agree or not, and what is spin. We live in a world of spin. Makes me cynical. Everyone does it. Everyone, in my opinion. Know that feeling well dohnut. |
|
|
|
Post by redshank on Nov 30, 2023 13:46:35 GMT
All together now,we are a league 1 team with limited resources and capacity and as such punch we above our weight.Manchester City are a club with unlimited resources and drew 1-1 with Liverpool at home.
|
|
|
|
Post by dohnut on Nov 30, 2023 14:30:01 GMT
Thats not the point though Thor. He said we have a young group. We don’t. Players ages are fact. And in line with many other league 1 teams. For sure on occasions we put out a young starting 11 and even then when you look at the stats it’s nothing extraordinary when compared to others. Tuesday for example was just over 24 when he made that comment. inexperienced at league 1 level for sure. I buy that. Peterborough put out young teams quite often, more than us. But maybe more experienced at league 1. The thing is he has said this more than once and as group it if demonstrably wrong based on what I’ve seen. Dont blame the kids. They are doing OK According to RW they were “ brilliant” on Tuesday evening.👍 Pure spin in my opinion. Trying to give his guys a boost. It’s what he does and to be fair nothing wrong with it. But sometimes it makes me smile. Brilliant? Like he said to DD, what game were you looking at! We should have won, but brilliant, that is setting a low bar. |
|
|
|
Post by redintheface on Nov 30, 2023 15:23:25 GMT
According to RW they were “ brilliant” on Tuesday evening.👍 Pure spin in my opinion. Trying to give his guys a boost. It’s what he does and to be fair nothing wrong with it. But sometimes it makes me smile. Brilliant? Like he said to DD, what game were you looking at! We should have won, but brilliant, that is setting a low bar. Can you limbo??😄👍 |
|
