A Chalkboard Can Speak a Thousand Words

I find the chalkboards fascinating. While watching games I make note of a lot of the same things, but the chalkboards help verify and illustrate. I don't think anyone uses them alone. If used as supplementary sources I don't see a problem with them.

I don't have a problem with them, but when they are taken out of context or used to try to PROVE player "A" is better than player "B " it starts to become a nonsense. Player A may make 50 successful passes but because he took the wrong options may have cost his team chances, player B may have made only half as many successful passes, but because he made the right decisions at the right time may have helped create numerous chances.

Things like that can only be decided by watching and understanding football not by looking at a chalkboard. One of the things that frustrate me about Kuyt for example is how often he makes the wrong decision and costs us chances. Stats don't show that! 

 Yes all this "proving" this that or the other by looking at lines on a diagram really is bizarre. When before Crouch's goal Modric slipped Lennon into space against AC Milan last night it was a mere five yard pass, but he held the ball until the very last moment, waited for the door to open and then slipped him in with precision and guile. It was merely a "completed pass" as far as the stats are concerned, not an assist and no more than the sort of thing which Lucas does 80% of the time in every match.

 The difference though between that and a similarly plotted five yarder couldn't be more stark. it was a telling blow delievered at a time and in a way which will no doubt go a long way to deciding the outcome of the two leg tie. Top players do things like that, players who aren't as good do it sometimes only not as often. You don't need a chalkboard to tell you that Modric is a better passer of the football than Lucas, nor do you need completion stats to tell you both Alonso and Masherano are better players. Neither do you need a chart to tell you Torres was swinging the lead and not doing enough work.

 All you need is a pair of eyes and a lack of dogma, simple really.

Yes all this "proving" this that or the other by looking at lines on a diagram really is bizarre. When before Crouch's goal Modric slipped Lennon into space against AC Milan last night it was a mere five yard pass, but he held the ball until the very last moment, waited for the door to open and then slipped him in with precision and guile. It was merely a "completed pass" as far as the stats are concerned, not an assist and no more than the sort of thing which Lucas does 80% of the time in every match

 All you need is a pair of eyes and a lack of dogma, simple really.

And yet when Lucas holds onto the ball, drawing his opponent in, you say he is "dwelling" or "can't pick a pass"

You can't have it both ways...

"All you need is a pair of eyes and a lack of dogma, simple really."
And an understanding of the game...

And yet when Lucas holds onto the ball, drawing his opponent in, you say he is "dwelling" or "can't pick a pass"

You can't have it both ways...

"All you need is a pair of eyes and a lack of dogma, simple really."
And an understanding of the game...

 The argument would work well enough if I'd EVER said that Lucas dwells or can't pick a pass, but unfortunately I haven't. Sometimes I think the opposite is the case and I think he offloads too readily funnily enough, but anyway. It was probably unfair in any case to compare his distribution to Modric as they are very different types of player (and Lucas certainly would be better as a holding midfielder), but i did it merely to illustrate the limitation of chalkboards as a sole means of assessing footballers.

 An "understanding of the game" always helps, that I will give you .

The argument would work well enough if I'd EVER said that Lucas dwells or can't pick a pass, but unfortunately I haven't. Sometimes I think the opposite is the case and I think he offloads too readily funnily enough, but anyway. It was probably unfair in any case to compare his distribution to Modric as they are very different types of player (and Lucas certainly would be better as a holding midfielder), but i did it merely to illustrate the limitation of chalkboards as a sole means of assessing footballers.

 An "understanding of the game" always helps, that I will give you .

You've NEVER said that?
Maybe not on this forum...

You change your tune faster than tony blair - and that's pretty F***ing quick.

Chalkboards only have limitations, like any tool, when the person using them doesn't know how to use them in combination with other tools.

An understanding helps, but not if you just dismiss it.

How would any coach do, if he didn't take advantage of the best tools at his disposal?

C'mon Mick, you know GYBS will never give in

Obviously the chalkboard is simply prooving a point which most of us were already on to. Still useful though as its a point made. I believe stats like pass completion are very important. At the end of the day the higher everybodys is in the side, the more of the ball you have and the oppenent cant score when you have possesion of the ball. If you can keep the ball for long periods you can control the game and patiently wait for an opening. This is why Barcelona are so good. The pass completion stats for Barca are through the roof. They are the best side in the world, not only to watch but statisically. Simples really. If you know your football the stats simply confirm what you are viewing with your own two eyes. Yet on occasions, like all stats, they can be misleading. Facts and figures dont take into account countless of factors and this is why its key to base opinions and decisions actually having seen the football played.

stats are like a bikini, what they reveal is suggestive, what they conceal is vital.

Is it just me who feels 18 months is a little to harsh.

He was still celebrating his goals and looked happy towards the end of last season when he scored against Benfica in the Europa League.

I only realised that he couldn't care less ever since this season started.

i'd say so, this season is when his body language changed massively, i guess it was time for him to go. 50m and 2 great strikers is not a bad outcome.

really like suarez's style. he has skill, trickery and works so hard off the ball. he was moving everywhere against wigan. i can see him forming a great partnership with carrol. and with stevie and miereles behind them, i can see goals in adbundance (not to tbe too optimistic)

Aldridge wants to grow up he's gone now , while he was here he scored some fantastic goals , move on Aldo the rest of us have .

Nando is just a sulky child and its a F***ing shame because if he had the work rate of somebody like Kuyt or Tevez then he would be unstoppable.

Based on sh*t loads of his performances, I always thought that maybe Rafa and Roy had both said to him don't run your socks off because of your injury problems and instead just wait for your chance, but with everything thats happened and with what he's said about the club and all that sh*t, its just obvious hes nothing more than a lazy c**t who sulks when things don't go his way.

We now have two strikers who ok, maybe aren't the same standard as Nando when all 3 of them are at the top of their game, but both will work there socks off for the shirt and the fans. Carroll will be like a 'big dunc' but with actual quality and class about him. He will give it his all just like he did for Newcastle. Suarez, unlike nando, does have the same attitude as Tevez. So all in all, in my opinion anyway, we are far better off.

A chalkboard can speak a thousand words, but most of the people who speak about chalkboards can't read them.

Ha ha. I'm not suggesting that the OP can't read them but I sure as sh*te can't figure the wee fuckers out (i'm not embarrassed to say) and therefore tend to swerve them. Fact.  

It would be interesting to see what Torres' chalkboards were like when he was full-flow, scoring for fun, with the Reds - not that I could even pretend to understand what a whole lot of Red and Blue lines (and arrows) actually mean.

Great thread Adryan, very interesting indeed!  

BBB, I was assuming the blue lines were successful passes as it includes the little nudge to Stevie G at kick off, with red being unsuccessful.
Maybe I'm way off though, .

Suarez is a workhorse and has great skills. Can only be good.

Suarez is a workhorse and has great skills. Can only be good.

Like a skillful Dirk Kuyt

BBB, I was assuming the blue lines were successful passes as it includes the little nudge to Stevie G at kick off, with red being unsuccessful.
Maybe I'm way off though, .

Thanks Rep, that makes sense - it all becomes clear.  

The opening post would suggest that Suarez worked harder against Wigan than Torres did against Fulham. I'm happy enough with that but we did beat Fulham whereas we only drew against Wigan so i'm not as happy with that.

Whilst I can see the validity, for audit purposes, of chalkboards; i'm just not that sure, when it comes to chalkboards, that a page full of lines and arrows (on their own) paint the whole picture. They can't.

For what it's worth tho'; I actually think the whole Torres affair has left us stronger as a team and i'm chuffed Suarez is now a big part of that - lines and arrows or not.

Like a skillful Dirk Kuyt

Or like Ian Rush or Kenny, they both worked their socks off. and were class.

Or like Ian Rush or Kenny, they both worked their socks off. and were class.

Yep, good point, i can remember Rushie doing that well, defending from the front

For what it's worth tho'; I actually think the whole Torres affair has left us stronger as a team and I'm chuffed Suarez is now a big part of that - lines and arrows or not.

Better to have N'gog than Torres, because Torres might leave you and break your heart  
But N'gog might leave you
Yeah but who cares