BRANDED 1:02 Tue Jan 31
Re: ⚽ Derby v West Ham - Official Match Thread

It is 60 miles from Camden Lock to Brighton’s Amex Stadium in Falmer but arguably still the best starting point for clues behind one of British football’s most extraordinary success stories.

“It’s one in 10 or 20 million,” says Marc Sugarman, a childhood friend and Brighton director since 2009, in reference to the club’s rise under owner Tony Bloom from effectively homeless in League One to a sparkling new stadium and training ground and currently a place inside the Premier League’s top six and the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Sunday’s 2-1 win over Liverpool has only reinforced Brighton’s model club status and, while one inevitable consequence is a repeated outside interest in their best players and staff, perhaps the clearest lesson from the past 14 years is summed up by one of Bloom’s betting associates. “The real genius behind it all is the owner because, while individuals might sometimes come and go, the structure remains and that is what counts because it is always there in support of the next person,” said the source, pointing out that “everything Tony Bloom touches turns to gold”.

And it is from inside a plush building overlooking Regent’s Canal in Camden Town, with its state-of-the-art gym, games room, in-house chefs and rows of screens and computers, that the intellectual heart of Bloom’s ethos can perhaps be found. The outlook is summed up by the word ‘Calm’ on the sign at the bottom of the stairs.

“We answer the most interesting questions in sport,” says the website of Starlizard, a company that was formed in 2006 to essentially beat the bookies by using ever more cutting edge data, analytics and technology to understand sport.

Starlizard has since expanded to a staff of around 200 and, while its raison d'être continues – clinically advising wealthy clients, who include Bloom, about probability and where to place their bets around the world – the knock-on is access to a unique data set. Although Bloom set up Starlizard 17 years ago, he is not a director or owner of a company that is separate from the football club.

Brighton chief executive Paul Barber describes Brighton as having a “particular way of interrogating data and coming to decisions” and, while careful not to divulge details, does believe that it provides “an edge”.

Some of Starlizard’s latest job adverts – and the accompanying questions for applicants who “will be a recent graduate with strong mathematical and numerical aptitude” – certainly provide a glimpse into a world that has become critical to understanding why the Premier League’s traditional ‘big six’ cannot simply rely on having the deepest wallets.

Starlizard’s next ‘bet execution specialist’, for example, must state whether England are most likely to win the next World Cup in football, cricket or rugby while the ‘graduate football analyst’ is asked both to rate the entire Real Sociedad squad out of 10 and explain which factors affect a team’s chance of winning a football game.

The website currently poses a further series of questions, including how the timing of the 2022 World Cup will impact the rest of the season, what affect the abolishment of the away goals rule will have on European ties and the real impact of fans inside stadiums.

According to one betting industry insider, Bloom was across expected goals modelling “before anyone knew what it was” and will be a good decade further on now into drilling into more detailed questions of a player’s suitability to a team’s wider style.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2023/01/31/revealed-200-maths-prodigies-who-help-brighton-conquer-transfer/

BRANDED 12:29 Tue Jan 31
Re: ⚽ Derby v West Ham - Official Match Thread

The data that matters is goals for and goals against and how that came about. It seems to me that Bowen has a little bit of his mojo back. I liked Antonio's energy last night. I thought everybody else were solid and I liked the passing the bal around. BUT, it was a shit Derby.

Newcastle will see if we have turned a corner.

Lee Trundle 12:19 Tue Jan 31
Re: ⚽ Derby v West Ham - Official Match Thread

I thought Downes and Kehrer had good games.

Even if my point of view from watching the game is to be ignored, the STATS would certainly back that up.

Sir Alf 12:06 Tue Jan 31
Re: ⚽ Derby v West Ham - Official Match Thread

Razzle it’s opinions as always but Downes plays that defensive role and according to a Swansea fan I know he did the same there. Presses and intercepts and keeps it simple and recycles the ball but above all makes sure he doesn’t lose it. He’s quicker over the ground than all other midfielders imo and we will never really know how he might perform unless we see him in the same midfield as Rice and Paqueta. But I know Moyes will never do that.

Would be good to get a perspective on the Downes sideways / backwards passing from those at the game ? On the TV you don’t get to see the options ahead of him and the movement if any of Antonio, Bowen and Fornals? Was he playing safe to keep the ball and is he coached to do that ? Don’t give it away whatever you do being the instruction?

Gary Strodders shank 11:59 Tue Jan 31
Re: ⚽ Derby v West Ham - Official Match Thread

Fair play to those that went it sounded like a great atmosphere

Razzle 11:58 Tue Jan 31
Re: ⚽ Derby v West Ham - Official Match Thread

1964 11:11 Tue Jan 31

Spot on Aguerd had one mis control all night and looks a different class.

Johnson & Kehrer were crap.
Antonio worked hard and desreved his goal.
You can see why Soucek and Downes are reserve midfielders. I thought Downes was negative with the ball a lot backwards sideways.

Lanzini's cameo provided a demonstration on how to keep the ball. I still maintain he is our best ball player. He doesn't have the legs to do pressing for 90 mins but could arguably be our most creative player if Moyes played him as a 10.

We will get mullered by Man U based on that performance.
I cant see us getting anything at Newcastle.
Point against Chelsea maybe.
Then there is the Spuds..... fuck me depressing...

Sir Alf 11:47 Tue Jan 31
Re: ⚽ Derby v West Ham - Official Match Thread - Preview

Rossal 10:15 Tue Jan 31

Thx for the perspective from the game. Even us armchair fans could see the disconnect or “hole” in midfield that Moyes and Nevin’s formation / tactics cause. The ability to transition or play through the thirds as they now call it. We were actually doing it reasonably well at times from the back ( first third) imo and Aguerd helps a lot with that along with Areola who can use his feet and pass the ball out. In the middle Downes is very tidy, passes very accurately and keeps it simple by recycling it. He is a defensive central midfielder who’s best work is pressing and making interceptions and tackles to regain the ball and being available to keep it moving at pace and not getting caught in possession. He’s very good at it and has a turn of pace that is missing in there. I would love to see him in midfield with Rice and Paqueta. Downes in the holding role could allow Rice to carry the ball and with Paqueta link the midfield to attack which was the issue again last night. We lack that penetration as You say Rossal. Just an armchair view or opinion.

Btw Soucek did well but his lack of pace and technique ( short passing at speed ) will always be an issue in the Premiership. But on the night against a league 1 outfit he did well. I think it helped that they lacked pace in midfield though?

Anyway onto Newcastle. Moyes will bring Rice and Paqueta back and no doubt play Soucek rather than Downes? The only other change would be Coufal for Johnson? Kehrer still looks positionally vulnerable but not sure who else we play in that back 3 based on injuries ? Or will he return to his 4-2-3-1 again? It would mean dropping Emerson, Johnson and Kehrer and bring back who at left back? Cresswell ?

Not hopeful up at the Barcodes. Suspect 30% possession, sitting deep as we even did last night and look to perhaps nick something ? Seems a tall order

Northern Sold 11:47 Tue Jan 31
Re: ⚽ Derby v West Ham - Official Match Thread - Preview

Enjoyed last night... actually quite nice being pretty relaxed as soon as Bowen scored... really impressed with the majority of the defence and Downes is playing himself into the gap that Rice will leave when he goes.... agreed with the support... top notch and a good top 20 classics outing ... HOWEVER...

No ...

Ian Pratt song
Harry Roberts song
Old McDonald Song
Your gonna get your fucking heads kicked in song
Skiddy runway song
We smashed your pubs at quarter to 2 song..

Up your game boys and girls... ;-)

cholo 11:47 Tue Jan 31
Re: ⚽ Derby v West Ham - Official Match Thread - Preview

Vexed wrote....

Clueless as he is I find yesterday's commentary team quite endearing as they just seem like two old blokes watching and enjoying a game of football completely unaware that they're being broadcast on the telly.



See that's what I like about McCoist and the likes of Dion Dublin , they don't act like "connoisseurs" of the game, they enjoy it and have a laugh, far more entertaining than the likes of Danny Murphy or Jermaine Jenas who bore me to horrible fucking tears.

ted fenton 11:40 Tue Jan 31
Re: ⚽ Derby v West Ham - Official Match Thread - Preview

Vexed 11:26 Tue Jan 31

McCoist must of been on something plus the pair of them were seeing things on the pitch minutes later !

Fornals getting MOM summed it up really.

Side of Ham 11:28 Tue Jan 31
Re: ⚽ Derby v West Ham - Official Match Thread - Preview

You’ve already fucked off to the other side of the world Manuel so it would be easier for you to go, no?….and if you want to pull out boring…read back on this post of yours….Manuel 3:01 Tue Jan 3…..this is you yet again reminding everyone of your view on being in the FA Cup….YAWN….talk about no self awareness….

Vexed 11:26 Tue Jan 31
Re: ⚽ Derby v West Ham - Official Match Thread - Preview

Fornals MOTM was a bit strange. McCoist appears to be impressed by almost anything, someone controlling the ball well or a shot that goes over the bar. Clueless as he is I find yesterday's commentary team quite endearing as they just seem like two old blokes watching and enjoying a game of football completely unaware that they're being broadcast on the telly.

I thought Fornals was crap. We are getting annihilated in our upcoming games I'm pretty sure.

Willtell 11:19 Tue Jan 31
Re: ⚽ Derby v West Ham - Official Match Thread - Preview

The only decent thing about Ally McCoist is his comedy. Fornals as MOM showed how little he knows about football. At least Fornals was clearly embarrassed and said Bowen should have it!

daveyg 11:13 Tue Jan 31
Re: ⚽ Derby v West Ham - Official Match Thread - Preview

Pwoper.
Agree with most of that. There was a player in Johnson but when we play 5 at the back our wing backs are more defensive than attacking then we have 2 defensive midfielders too,thus hardly an attacking force.
Don't think Emerson played that well actually. Saw the difference when Benrhama came on. Mumbama played well ut given only 12 minutes, typical Moyes. Why Moyes brought on Cresswell as wing back,stood around looking totally disinterested and not give Laing some time . Sums him up .
Negative,negative,negative.
Antonio and Aguerd best players but only a 7 .Derby were abysmal.

It wasn't that great a per

1964 11:11 Tue Jan 31
Re: ⚽ Derby v West Ham - Official Match Thread - Preview

Ally McCpoist

Ridiculous

Aguerd for me

Rossal 11:02 Tue Jan 31
Re: ⚽ Derby v West Ham - Official Match Thread - Preview

Who gave Fornals MOTM by the way? someone on commentary or Stevie Wonder??

Lato 10:52 Tue Jan 31
Re: ⚽ Derby v West Ham - Official Match Thread - Preview

kylay 5:27 Tue Jan 31
Re: ⚽ Derby v West Ham - Official Match Thread - Preview
MOTM has to be there imperious away support. Did everything short of score and take the home end.

Agreed that's what sets West Ham fans apart non stop singing ( a few old one's thrown in ) and taking the piss. What other club would take 5,000 fans away given our form this season on a Monday night when its also on the box?

Well done to those that went!

Manuel 10:43 Tue Jan 31
Re: ⚽ Derby v West Ham - Official Match Thread - Preview

Christ, bore off, go and chase Willtell. And I'd prefer it if you never read my posts. Go on, off you go again, you old bore.

Side of Ham 10:36 Tue Jan 31
Re: ⚽ Derby v West Ham - Official Match Thread - Preview

Manuel, that’s still no reason for posting like anyone who did go is a mug. Most that invest time and money on going have the cups as a big part of their season following the club.

Just because you’ve decided to jump on the media bandwagon of what football is doesn’t mean those that go away on a Monday night are mugs.

I would rather read posts from those that go to these games than SOME bitter expats dictating what competitions we should concentrate on….

Russ of the BML 10:26 Tue Jan 31
Re: ⚽ Derby v West Ham - Official Match Thread - Preview

Really good performance in what was potentially a huge banana skin for Moyes.

As Rossal said, Aguerd, Downes and Emerson looked excellent. Especially Aguerd. He looks like a Rolls Royce of a player. Benny excellent when he came on and looked the best player on the pitch by miles.

Concerns for me about Johnson. Not looking too hot at the moment.

And I would say a 5-3-2 formation is great if you have wing backs that attack and we don't. So we are basically playing a 5 across the back.

The support last night was immense. I was supposed to go but mate had car trouble. Watched indoors and the noise was superb. Respect to all who went.

Rossal 10:15 Tue Jan 31
Re: ⚽ Derby v West Ham - Official Match Thread - Preview

Derby where awful, but not as awful as the bastard journey home. Never seen so many roadworks!

Anyway good performance, some great performances mainly from Aguerd and Downes. Both look mustard every time they play. Emerson deserves a mention too, been a good LWB last few games. Oggy positioning was superb at times. Benrahma link up play when he came on was a joy to watch, he actually staked a claim as a number 9 for me he was that good, but then who do you put wide? As always Fornals was fucking useless out there, why does Moyes keep playing him there when he is dogshit every single time.

Speaking of dogshit, time for Ben Johnson to move on, he was terrible last night...... if you can't impose yourself on league one players you arent good enough for West Ham. He cant go forward or seem to keep the ball, nice lad homegrown etc but we need a big improvement down that side.

Finally I am not convinced this 5-3-2 formation works for us. We play 5 at the back and then 2 wingers which leaves a massive fucking hole in the middle. Antonio gets a ball fired into him there's no one within 20-30 yards of him. There is no penetration or creativity from the middle of the park. When we have the ball the full backs should push on to provide width and Bowen and Benny should drift inside or one of the CM should push a bit. Against the tough sides we got coming up think we will get found out to be honest

Finally superb away end last night, that last 15 mins was like a greatest hits album with all the classics being sung one after the other. Never seen us silence a noisy home end like that before either. Fantastic support for a monday night

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