Goal Differential

Discussion in 'Fulham FC News and Notes' started by SCFulhamFan, Sep 11, 2006.

  1. SCFulhamFan

    SCFulhamFan Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 5, 2006
    ... or why Bolton are beating us.

    If you polled 100 people pre-season and asked for the rankings in the premiership after week 4, no one would come close to the current table:

    Man Utd-------12 pts 9 gd
    Portsmouth----10 pts 8 gd
    Everton-------10 pts 6 gd
    Chelsea--------9 pts 5 gd
    Aston Villa----8 pts 3 gd
    Bolton---------7 pts 1 gd
    Fulham---------7 pts -2 gd :(
    West Ham-------5 pts 1 gd

    Sure it is early and all the Red Devils and Blues would be confident that their teams are on their way to Europe, but what about the middle teams? As expressed on this message board before if Fulham looses to the smaller clubs they are worse off then a loss to Man U. 3 points is 3 points from Man U or Sheffield Wednesday for that matter, but what happens from a loss that is a blow out (5-1 for example)?

    Answer: The up hill battle which is goal differential and why Bolton are beating us in the rankings as of game 4.

    We showed that we have potential to be a good high scoring club at Newcastle if our set pieces connect. Brian should, IMO, had two goals. That rocket of a header that hit the post should have seen the back of the net. Fulham could have picked up another through Boa Morte or John. If we continue to put the ball in the air for Brian and push through balls to John and Boa Morte/Helguson we can start on the road of getting those points back. Part 1.

    Part 2. Niemi and the back line lads need to continue their shutdowns as from the first half at Saint James' Park, then we will really be holding are own on the top half of the table.

    Fulham has come out of the gates to the joyful surprise their fans this year. Hopefully we will ride this momentum into Sunday's match at White Hart Lane (Same day coverage on Setenta Sports at 5 PM est). Lose a few matches here and there and we are in the middle of the pack. Lose those games by large amounts or not put up more than a goal here and there and we are farther down the list.
     
    #1
    SCFulhamFan, Sep 11, 2006
  2. HatterDon

    HatterDon Moderator

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2006
    Location:
    Peoples Republic of South Texas
    Good observations all. The key to goal difference is defense. After the first weekend's debacle, ours has done a great job. Part of that, of course, is that our midfield has been the Jimmy Bullard Machine, and that keeps our opponents on their heels instead of their toes.

    Some may say "too early to worry about goal difference," but not I. When Luton were promoted to the old first division for the '74-'75 season, they were hammered early on. They didn't win their first match until Boxing Day. Over the second half of the season, they had the 5th or 6th best record in the league, but still were relegated on "goal average" as it was at the time -- the first year that the leagues promoted/relegated 3 instead of 2 teams. It was tough on us Hatters to watch the boys who had been significantly kicking butt for three or four months go down, but the reason was too many blowouts in the first 2 months of the season.

    Even if we're not in a relegation fight this year -- and I don't think we will be -- there's a lot of difference in the finish money from position to position, and European places are often won/loss on goal difference. So I'm with you, SC, -- let's put away some chances and keep the defense tight.
     
    #2
    HatterDon, Sep 11, 2006
  3. pettyfog

    pettyfog Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2005
    Eh.. Columbus Crew:

    "We will build the team from the back, forward"
    -Sigi Schmid in agreement with GD theory

    But GD doesnt count till you get the 3 points.
     
    #3
    pettyfog, Sep 11, 2006
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