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Going through some stats on our favourite football team, I was struck by the parallels between this season and last.

Have a look at this season versus last season and see the dreadful start, the big pick up, the fall away and the excellent finish.

Daily Mail League Position Analysis

Why does this happen? Why can't we be consistent over the season? Any thoughts?

Jonathan Tasker, London Posted 11/04/2011 at 13:16:35

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Nick Entwistle
1 Posted 11/04/2011 at 14:55:27

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It would be interesting to see the injuries that have occurred plotted on the graph too. Does seem though the more injured, the more points.

Mark Stone
2 Posted 11/04/2011 at 15:22:26

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Most of the teams from 8 downwards (with two or possibly three exceptions) just parked the bus against us earlier in the season. Towards the end of the season, though, they are all desperate for points so have no choice but to gamble a bit more ? which leaves more opportunities to exploit them.

Little to do with a change in our form or fitness ? more to do with the way teams line up against us. Sadly the only surefire way to break them down earlier in the season is with a 'special' player the likes of which cost upwards £30m and £100k p/w in wages.

Tony J Williams
3 Posted 11/04/2011 at 17:02:13

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Our players aren't good enough to be consistent.

As Mark above says, these players cost the earth and even then they don't always do the job, see Torres for example.

Dan Brierley
4 Posted 11/04/2011 at 18:04:46

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That is frighteningly too close to be a coincidence isn't it?

But its a case of too many questions, not enough answers. Would we get more points with our top players fit? Or is the 'backs to the wall' showing more fruit?

One thing it does highlight though, is the potential of our team to put together winning runs season after season. The margins are very close. The one-goal losses we have endured this season could have been wins with some more bite up front. The troughs are times when we just can't put our chances away.

If Moyes can unlock a decent striker for next season, it can turn some of those draws into wins, and loses into draws. The problem is: What will Spurs, the Shite and City be able to bring in come the summer???

Milos Milenkovic
5 Posted 11/04/2011 at 19:17:00

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My opinion is that we should have played Beckford as our main forward from the start of the season and I am sure that would've made a difference. There's no guarantee that any forward in the world, even with cost of zillion $ would be more suited to our style of play better than him. He posses almost everything that we need from striker, but unfortunately there is no trust in him from Moyes. Beckford was overlooked at every given opportunity.

Tony J Williams
6 Posted 11/04/2011 at 20:53:33

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Milos, he started 3 out of our first 4 games.

Martin Handley
7 Posted 11/04/2011 at 21:07:04

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Don't want to put a downer on things but the red shite are 3-0 up against shitteh and Carrol has bagged two. I hope we can turn them over that easily by half-time when we play them.

Tony J Williams
8 Posted 11/04/2011 at 21:20:46

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Martin, that is why I am on here. Had to turn my telly off and log on to get away from them feckers.

David Hallwood
9 Posted 11/04/2011 at 22:08:52

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I've been watching it with my Liverpool supporting son-in-law; nice fellow... but why can't he either a) go to the game or b) fuck off and watch it somewhere else.

Neil Vaughan
10 Posted 12/04/2011 at 09:36:39

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Sorry but don't think Beckford starting every game would have made that much difference... He needs at least 5 chances to score 1 goal and at this level that is quite simply not good enough. How many times this season has he been one-on-one with the goalkeeper and scored??? The answer... not many.

Even on Saturday after he scored he missed a sitter of a header. He is what he is ? prolific in the lower leagues ? but will get no more than 10-12 at this level if he is lucky and his first touch is awful.

In the Premier League, 1 goal per 2 chances is the required standard not 1 in 5. He's not a young lad, he's 27... not got much time left to improve his ratio.

Anyway I fear for his Everton future after his public spat with Moyes on Saturday... remember Jasper Blomqvist anybody? How much longer did he last after doing the same thing?

Tony J Williams
11 Posted 12/04/2011 at 11:24:47

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Neil ? Beckford was unlucky with the second header, he did nearly everything right, head it down hard. It was a good save by the keeper.

I do agree his one-on-ones are not good and I still have nightmares about his last-second blaze over against Sunderland.

To be fair, Neil, if he did score 10/12 for us he would probably end up our top scorer.

Milos Milenkovic
12 Posted 12/04/2011 at 12:46:09

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Tony, you are right about starting those games, but even then he was substituted early. I could be wrong of course and there is always a question of his relationship with manager and teammates. Still, having in mind his jump from 3rd division football, there should?ve been more patience for him.

Neil, he doesn't need 5 chances to score 1; secondly, being in good chances at every game is sign of exciting and player with impressive movement. Chances are not just falling there for him, he earns them.

Tony J Williams
13 Posted 12/04/2011 at 13:48:10

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Milos, I am being Stato today.

1st game, came on after 55mins
2nd game, came off after 70 mins
3rd game, played the full 90 mins
4th game came off after 55 mins.

Apart from the 4th game, he was not substituted early at all.

Out of 4 games 360 mins, he played 250 of them. Not bad for a new signing from 2 leagues below.

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