The reason why we have absolutely no chance of promotion

[PeterNdlovu081]

The fact that Porter is our top scorer is more depressing than depressing can be. Has there ever been a time in the club's history when the top scorer on our books had fewer than 10 league goals?

Naturally we've got the lowest top scorer in the league.

42 James Hanson (154) - Bradford
39 Tom Pope (102) - Port Vale
30 Danny Kedwell (78) - Gillingham
29 Kevin Lisbie (67) - Leyton Orient
29 Clayton Donaldson (92) - Brentford
27 Kevin Doyle (136) - Wolves
26 Grant McCann (120) - Peterborough
24 Lee Miller (60) - Carlisle
20 Dean Bowditch (80) - MK Dons
18 Daniel Nardiello (35) - Rotherham
18 Kemal Izzet (420) - Colchester
17 Gary McSheffrey (104) - Coventry
16 Andy Robinson (79) - Tranmere
15 Jose Baxter (40) - Oldham
14 Billy Clarke (54) - Crawley
12 Paul Benson (31) - Swindon
12 Mathias Pogba (34) - Crewe
12 Sam Baldock (36) - Bristol City
12 Jon Taylor (93) - Shrewsbury
12 Andy Butler (103) - Walsall
10 Lucas Akins (47) - Stevenage
8 Jamal Campbell-Ryce (37) - Notts County
8 Nicky Wroe (38) - Preston
8 Chris Porter (57) - Sheffield United

Last season we painfully limped to 56 goals and that was with Blackman and Kitson!

 

[jt64]

looking at bulk stats like goals scored whilst at club is awfully misleading considering that we sell any striker that scores 3 goals in any calendar month

 

[raul]

Lol - that's optimism, thinking that those lot could score 5

To be fair though, he didn't specify how many months it would take.

 

[secretchief]

To be fair though, he didn't specify how many months it would take.

If we extrapolate Porter's goals against how long he has been here, he has 8 goals now and will hit double figures around Christmas time.

 

[Darren]

Naturally we've got the lowest top scorer in the league.

42 James Hanson (154) - Bradford
39 Tom Pope (102) - Port Vale
30 Danny Kedwell (78) - Gillingham
29 Kevin Lisbie (67) - Leyton Orient
29 Clayton Donaldson (92) - Brentford
27 Kevin Doyle (136) - Wolves
26 Grant McCann (120) - Peterborough
24 Lee Miller (60) - Carlisle
20 Dean Bowditch (80) - MK Dons
18 Daniel Nardiello (35) - Rotherham
18 Kemal Izzet (420) - Colchester
17 Gary McSheffrey (104) - Coventry
16 Andy Robinson (79) - Tranmere
15 Jose Baxter (40) - Oldham
14 Billy Clarke (54) - Crawley
12 Paul Benson (31) - Swindon
12 Mathias Pogba (34) - Crewe
12 Sam Baldock (36) - Bristol City
12 Jon Taylor (93) - Shrewsbury
12 Andy Butler (103) - Walsall
10 Lucas Akins (47) - Stevenage
8 Jamal Campbell-Ryce (37) - Notts County
8 Nicky Wroe (38) - Preston
8 Chris Porter (57) - Sheffield United

Last season we painfully limped to 56 goals and that was with Blackman and Kitson!

What is amazing about that is how few goals all the top scorers have scored - no player in Division 3 has scored more than 42 goals for their current club and two thirds of the clubs do not have anyone who has scored more than 20 goals for them.

That just shows what a a massive turnover of players there is in the lower leagues.

 

[Latters]

What is amazing about that is how few goals all the top scorers have scored - no player in Division 3 has scored more than 42 goals for their current club and two thirds of the clubs do not have anyone who has scored more than 20 goals for them.

That just shows what a a massive turnover of players there is in the lower leagues.

Or that the strikers are really, really shit. In previous seasons, the teams that get promoted seem to be the ones with strikers that score, us being the exception to the rule with Ched. That season Charlton and Wright-Philips, the pigs and Madine and Huddersfield and Rhodes went up. Generally at this level, if a club has a good striker, they don't stick around for too long.

The main difference I have noticed since we've been down here compared with the league above is the piss poor standard of finishing. Plenty of teams have created plenty of chances against us, but the attackers are that awful, they rarely capitalise.

 

[Darren]

Or that the strikers are really, really shit. In previous seasons, the teams that get promoted seem to be the ones with strikers that score, us being the exception to the rule with Ched. That season Charlton and Wright-Philips, the pigs and Madine and Huddersfield and Rhodes went up. Generally at this level, if a club has a good striker, they don't stick around for too long.

The main difference I have noticed since we've been down here compared with the league above is the piss poor standard of finishing. Plenty of teams have created plenty of chances against us, but the attackers are that awful, they rarely capitalise.

What are the stats for top scorers for clubs in the top two tiers? If they are much higher than in the 3rd tier, you must be right

 

[Latters]

What are the stats for top scorers for clubs in the top two tiers? If they are much higher than in the 3rd tier, you must be right

Not a clue. Perhaps PeterNdlovu081 knows where to get the numbers from.

 

[Kenilworth]

The main difference I have noticed since we've been down here compared with the league above is the piss poor standard of finishing. Plenty of teams have created plenty of chances against us, but the attackers are that awful, they rarely capitalise.

Agree Latters, one of the main issues that I have with our play is that we create fewer chances than the opposition despite having more possession on the majority of occasions (notts County excepted - but we still only popped in two of them). That coupled with our woeful finishing is the main reason we are where we are. The only redeeming factor in previous seasons is that we have been extremely tight at the back, which has resulted in a negative style but has prevented us from being taken to the cleaners.

This season is different. We have Williams and Westlake in the back 4. Mediocre going forwards and suspect at the back.

 

[alcoblade]

I think clubs with lower gates than us must come up with "creative" ideas to increase that revenue, and hence increasing the wage bill. I honestly think that if McCabe really give a shit and took responsibility for where he has dumped us during his tenure, then we could get that revenue increased to pay for the players who would make the difference.
The emphasis here is on "revenue" and not necessarily all about gate receipts.

I agree with this, but I would be suprised if we didn't strill have the 2nd highest wage bill after Wolves.

The problem we have is that we have funded enormous wages, and it got us nowhere. If you're so minded (as McCabe now is) you can conclude that there's a poor correlation between wages and success. Clearly this isn't the case, as it’s poor management (and signings / contracts) that's landed us here. But McCabe has decided the party's over, and we are left to suffer the consequences of his completely inept decision making.

UTB

 

[alcoblade]

This season is different. We have Williams and Westlake in the back 4. Mediocre going forwards and suspect at the back.

I think we will still end up with Hill and McMahon at fullback, who are far better defenders. It's one thing being a bit better at secondary jobs (they are all shit going forward anyway, just some less so), but first and foremost they are defenders.

UTB

 

[UnitedBlade]

What is amazing about that is how few goals all the top scorers have scored - no player in Division 3 has scored more than 42 goals for their current club and two thirds of the clubs do not have anyone who has scored more than 20 goals for them.

That just shows what a a massive turnover of players there is in the lower leagues.

It's probably true at most clubs and certainly turnover of players is the modern phenomenon.

However, you'd be surprised how few players score 30 or more goals for any one club.

If you've scored 30 goals for SUFC, you are probably in the top 50 SUFC scorers of all time.

Richard Cresswell is hovering around the top 50 SUFC goalscorers of all time - amazing

 

[Darren]

It's probably true at most clubs and certainly turnover of players is the modern phenomenon.

However, you'd be surprised how few players score 30 or more goals for any one club.

If you've scored 30 goals for SUFC, you are probably in the top 50 SUFC scorers of all time.

Richard Cresswell is hovering around the top 50 SUFC goalscorers of all time - amazing

Off the top of my head, United players who have scored more than 30 league goals for United since 1968:

1. Currie
2. Woodward
3. Tudor
4. Reece
5. Dearden
6. Edwards
7. Hatton
8. Trusson
9. Kenworthy
10. Morris
11. Deane
12. Agana
13. Bryson
14. Whitehouse (possibly)
15. Blake
16. Beattie
17. Evans


I think thats the lot, Cresswell managed 27 league goals I think

 

[KenMcnaughtsNuts]

Only cos we keep selling everybody who can feckin score!

It shouldn't be beyond the boundaries of a decent striker to score 15 goals in a season. And it shouldn't be seen as ludicrous that we can keep a striker for 2 seasons. But apparently, with us it is.

 

[UnitedBlade]

Off the top of my head, United players who have scored more than 30 league goals for United since 1968:

1. Currie
2. Woodward
3. Tudor
4. Reece
5. Dearden
6. Edwards
7. Hatton
8. Trusson
9. Kenworthy
10. Morris
11. Deane
12. Agana
13. Bryson
14. Whitehouse (possibly)
15. Blake
16. Beattie
17. Evans


I think thats the lot, Cresswell managed 27 league goals I think

Brilliant !

The source I've got includes all goals (I think) so Michael Brown scored 35 goals. Not sure how many league goals about 28 ?

Due to my age I can add pre 1968 the following who would make the list
Mick Jones
Alan Birchenall

and I caught the tail end of the following careers
Doc Pace
Ron Simpson
Billy Hodgson
Len Allchurch

It does read like a roll call of our greatest modern attacking players but there aren't many of them over the 50 years I've watched.

 

[Silent Blade]

Off the top of my head, United players who have scored more than 30 league goals for United since 1968:

1. Currie
2. Woodward
3. Tudor
4. Reece
5. Dearden
6. Edwards
7. Hatton
8. Trusson
9. Kenworthy
10. Morris
11. Deane
12. Agana
13. Bryson
14. Whitehouse (possibly)
15. Blake
16. Beattie
17. Evans


I think thats the lot, Cresswell managed 27 league goals I think

Was surprised to see Kenworthy on the list. He did have a good goal scoring record as a defender and took a lot of penalties so I checked on Complete Records book (up to 1999) and you are right (Whitehouse is correct too). Well done!

 

[Sothall_Blade]

I agree with this, but I would be suprised if we didn't strill have the 2nd highest wage bill after Wolves. UTB

I'm sure our board would have mentioned it if this was still the case.
They have every other season.

 

[blade too long]

the reasons given seem to match every reason why yeovil were relegation candidates last season

whatever happened to them
only 44 games left , have we left our run too late

 

[raul]

Are you backing us for glorious triumph for the fourth year running Beetle?

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

Not a clue. Perhaps PeterNdlovu081 knows where to get the numbers from.

Premier League

141 Wayne Rooney (278) - Manchester United
141 Frank Lampard (403) - Chelsea
98 Steven Gerrard (442) - Liverpool
94 Rickie Lambert (171) - Southampton
63 Peter Whittingham (270) - Cardiff
51 Shola Ameobi (286) - Newcastle
47 Jermain Defoe (123) - Tottenham
40 Theo Walcott (182) - Arsenal
38 Leon Osman (285) - Everton
36 Glenn Murray (79) - Crystal Palace
35 Sergio Aguero (64) - Manchester City
33 Chris Brunt (202) - West Brom
30 Wes Hoolahan (176) - Norwich
26 Robert Koren (121) - Hull
26 Mark Noble (215) - West Ham
21 Christian Benteke (35) - Aston Villa
18 Michu (36) - Swansea
17 Peter Crouch (67) - Stoke
17 Stephane Sessegnon (86) - Sunderland
15 Dimitar Berbatov (33) - Fulham

I'll do the Championship later.

 

[Latters]

Premier League

141 Wayne Rooney (278) - Manchester United
141 Frank Lampard (403) - Chelsea
98 Steven Gerrard (442) - Liverpool
94 Rickie Lambert (171) - Southampton
63 Peter Whittingham (270) - Cardiff
51 Shola Ameobi (286) - Newcastle
47 Jermain Defoe (123) - Tottenham
40 Theo Walcott (182) - Arsenal
38 Leon Osman (285) - Everton
36 Glenn Murray (79) - Crystal Palace
35 Sergio Aguero (64) - Manchester City
33 Chris Brunt (202) - West Brom
30 Wes Hoolahan (176) - Norwich
26 Robert Koren (121) - Hull
26 Mark Noble (215) - West Ham
21 Christian Benteke (35) - Aston Villa
18 Michu (36) - Swansea
17 Peter Crouch (67) - Stoke
17 Stephane Sessegnon (86) - Sunderland
15 Dimitar Berbatov (33) - Fulham

I'll do the Championship later.

Nice one. Some big goal scorers there and some decent goals per game ratios. Obviously you would expect the standard of strikers and finishing to be higher in the Prem, but, as I mentioned, the difference I personally have noticed, through watching matches, between the second and third tiers in terms of finishing is absolutely massive.

Get a good striker at this level and you should do well.

 

[blade too long]

theres a dearth of goal scorers around the championship , who can afford the odd one only had 5 above 20
and only 10 got more than 13 last season , 10 has become a respectable return

RankPlayerClubGoals[46]
1 Glenn Murray Crystal Palace 30
2 Jordan Rhodes Blackburn Rovers1 29
3 Charlie Austin Burnley 24
4 Matěj Vydra Watford3 22
Chris Wood Leicester City2
6 Troy Deeney Watford4 20
7 Tom Ince Blackpool 18
8 David Nugent Leicester City3 16
9 Luciano Becchio Leeds United 15
10 Sylvan Ebanks-Blake Wolverhampton Wanderers 14​

 

[blade too long]

league one was even poorer for goal scoring last term

RankPlayerClubGoals​

[35]​

1 Paddy Madden Yeovil Town1 23​

2 Leon Clarke Coventry City2 19​

Will Grigg Walsall​

Brett Pitman Bournemouth​

5 Clayton Donaldson Brentford 18​

6 Kevin Lisbie Leyton Orient 16​

David McGoldrick Coventry City​

8 James Hayter Yeovil Town 14​

9 Jose Baxter Oldham Athletic 13​

James Collins Swindon Town​

Lewis Grabban Bournemouth​

Billy Paynter Doncester Rovers​

​

only 1 player got more than 20 , is defending that good in league one

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

8 Chris Porter (57)
7 Neil Collins (97)
6 Michael Doyle (104)
5 Ryan Flynn (62)
5 Harry Maguire (95)
4 Shaun Miller (15)
2 Jamie Murphy (19)
2 Tony McMahon (38)

Here's the updated list.

8 Chris Porter (59)
8 Neil Collins (109)
7 Michael Doyle (114)
6 Harry Maguire (105)
5 Ryan Flynn (67)
4 Shaun Miller (16)
2 Jamie Murphy (23)
2 Lyle Taylor (12)
2 Tony McMahon (47)
1 Marlon King (5)
1 Jose Baxter (6)

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

Bloody hell, we've finally got a player in double figures.

10 Chris Porter (62)
8 Harry Maguire (110)
8 Neil Collins (115)
7 Michael Doyle (120)
6 Ryan Flynn (71)
4 Shaun Miller (20)
2 Lyle Taylor (18)
2 Jamie Murphy (25)
2 Tony McMahon (53)
1 Marlon King (8)
1 Jose Baxter (10)

 

[Sothall_Blade]

Bloody hell, we've finally got a player in double figures.

10 Chris Porter (62)
8 Harry Maguire (110)
8 Neil Collins (115)
7 Michael Doyle (120)
6 Ryan Flynn (71)
4 Shaun Miller (20)
2 Lyle Taylor (18)
2 Jamie Murphy (25)
2 Tony McMahon (53)
1 Marlon King (8)
1 Jose Baxter (10)

10 in 36 league starts for Porter now. He's edging towards "prolific" territory

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

Starting to look a tad healthier.

11 Chris Porter (73)
9 Ryan Flynn (81)
9 Harry Maguire (122)
8 Neil Collins (127)
7 Michael Doyle (130)
5 Jose Baxter (22)
4 Shaun Miller (27)
4 Jamie Murphy (37)
3 Conor Coady (23)
2 Lyle Taylor (20)
1 Stefan Scougall (3)
1 John Brayford (3)

 

[alcoblade]

Starting to look a tad healthier.

11 Chris Porter (73)
9 Ryan Flynn (81)
9 Harry Maguire (122)
8 Neil Collins (127)
7 Michael Doyle (130)
5 Jose Baxter (22)
4 Shaun Miller (27)
4 Jamie Murphy (37)
3 Conor Coady (23)
2 Lyle Taylor (2)
1 Stefan Scougall (3)
1 John Brayford (3)

A tad healthier, but still terrible none the less.



UTB

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

A tad healthier, but still terrible none the less.



UTB

Like a patient with a terminal illness who has perked up a bit.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

And now is our winter of discontent...

On a brighter note, we're already 3 points ahead of the relegation zone!

We've made progress under Nigel. we've got back here.