46 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

All the data is readily available on FBREF.

Not going to be very conclusive though, as it all depends on the style of play for a particular manager. In the Maresca season and a half, we were a possession side, so all the wins (and all the defeats) are pretty much going to show us as having more possession than the opponent, unless we are playing Arsenal, Man City, PSG, Bayern etc etc.

Thanks, picked a game at random and got this: Chelsea vs. Nottingham Forest Match Report – Saturday September 2, 2023 | FBref.com

Pretty much the complete opposite of the Brighton game, 76% possession and a 0-1 loss. Of course, there will always be so many factors going into a game of football, pointing to a simple stat like possession to explain results are close to useless. However, I'm extremely glad we seem to have a manager now that doesn't have a problem ceding possession if that gives us a better chance of winning the game.

1 hour ago, AndyDowsleftflank said:

I first started paying attention to possession numbers under Pochettino - I think something like the first 10 matches I looked at we won the game if we had less possession than our opponent, and drew/lost if we had the most.

I would love to see a complete statistic on whether or not this applicable over several seasons

I'm not sure having 30% possesion is a good idea but what has really worked in the last two games was that we scored from our 1st chance.

Football is so much easier if you score first and early.

34 minutes ago, Bob stark said:

I'm not sure having 30% possesion is a good idea but what has really worked in the last two games was that we scored from our 1st chance.

Football is so much easier if you score first and early.

Absolutely. I do think the idea that "lots of possession=control" is about to be challenged, though

Just now, AndyDowsleftflank said:

Absolutely. I do think the idea that "lots of possession=control" is about to be challenged, though

Not sure we were in control though, we conceded a lot goals and a lot of chances.

Is the way we play the last two games ideal? Maybe not but I don't care. I just want to see fun football.

The only thing I was worried about 343 especially with no Europe is minutes for other attackers.

8 hours ago, SydneyChelsea said:

There's also Maresca, Lampard, Gerrard, Gattuso, Carrick and Xavi who were obviously top players with mixed success in management, at best. Then you also have Scaloni, Iraola and Espirito Santo who have had relative success despite very middling playing careers (although all three were Football Manager legends at some point!)

Alonso earned his stripes as manager not because of his playing career, but because of what he did with Leverkusen. Same as Vincent Kompany. Their reputations as players are nice for social media clips but they are only of value because they proved themselves as managers first.

Vincent Kompany winning the league with Bayern is the equivalent to losing your virginity with a prostitute.

He's the same level as Lampard at best.

5 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Vincent Kompany winning the league with Bayern is the equivalent to losing your virginity with a prostitute.

He's the same level as Lampard at best.

I can't speak to your analogy but Bayern is obviously no real test of a manager's capabilities.

44 minutes ago, Bob stark said:

Not sure we were in control though, we conceded a lot goals and a lot of chances.

Is the way we play the last two games ideal? Maybe not but I don't care. I just want to see fun football.

The only thing I was worried about 343 especially with no Europe is minutes for other attackers.

We were absolutely not in control. With the midfield we had there was simply no way we could be in complete control, I think. So we went for chaos instead, and ended up outscoring them.

Chaos is really fun, at least as long as we end up winning :)

Unbelievable the amount of change Alonso has persuaded the club to do in such a short space of time. All the problem children dealt with in a matter of weeks. Well done Xabi lad !!

8 hours ago, AndyDowsleftflank said:

Thanks, picked a game at random and got this: Chelsea vs. Nottingham Forest Match Report – Saturday September 2, 2023 | FBref.com

Pretty much the complete opposite of the Brighton game, 76% possession and a 0-1 loss. Of course, there will always be so many factors going into a game of football, pointing to a simple stat like possession to explain results are close to useless. However, I'm extremely glad we seem to have a manager now that doesn't have a problem ceding possession if that gives us a better chance of winning the game.

I was there Sunday and it was a joy to watch us going forward at every opportunity instead of mindless, endless possession for the sake of having possession. I like the way Alonso said afterwards that he doesn't care about the stats, he never tells the team anything about how much possession he wants us to have.

even if we win nothing but play this type of football all season that'll do for me . . But I've got a feeling that if we continue in this manner, we will win a trophy and finish in the top 4.

Oh well. So no defensive midfielder added to try and protect the questionable defence. So can Alonso achieve what Keegan couldn’t by wining the league scoring 120 goals whilst conceding 80?

1 hour ago, Snedger said:

Oh well. So no defensive midfielder added to try and protect the questionable defence. So can Alonso achieve what Keegan couldn’t by wining the league scoring 120 goals whilst conceding 80?

Yay, it worked, we’ve signed one!

Hopefully he’s as good I’m imagining him to be. Still settling in and what not to be done, but I feel we can hang on to Arsenal and City’s coat tails for a bit longer this season with a better set of midfield options. Surely a top four finish is ours for the taking.

Score a hundred goals and concede maybe only 50 now!

If that’s us done this window then it’s been a phenomenal success on paper.

Alonso more or less has turned the club upside down in two months. Completely different style that has the fans on board.

Sure it could be another false dawn but that’s not the feeling I’m getting.

It’s great to be genuinely excited for the next game.