The Value of a Draw

[GodricBlade]

Looking at the table, reading other threads about lost points & results that could/should have been different, I was struck by the number of draws we've had this season. Well actually, how low that number is compared with other teams immediately around us.

Two ways of looking at it I guess. We might not draw many because we keep pressing on & potentially generate more wins as a result OR we don't want to, know when to or indeed know how to hang on for a point.

The thought that struck me was that this season, it looks like the number of draws makes the difference between getting into or missing out on the Play Offs.

Appreciate you can look at statistics & find whatever you want - just sharing my take on the value of a draw.

 

[Ricky]

"The draw is the best result in football"

 

[mattbianco1]

Looking at the table, reading other threads about lost points & results that could/should have been different, I was struck by the number of draws we've had this season. Well actually, how low that number is compared with other teams immediately around us.

Two ways of looking at it I guess. We might not draw many because we keep pressing on & potentially generate more wins as a result OR we don't want to, know when to or indeed know how to hang on for a point.

The thought that struck me was that this season, it looks like the number of draws makes the difference between getting into or missing out on the Play Offs.

Appreciate you can look at statistics & find whatever you want - just sharing my take on the value of a draw.

View attachment 38715

Without thinking too hard, you could and should be able to change the draw column to 11 and the loss to 13 with the home games against Villa and Bristol C. That would then put us 8th, 1pt behind 6th and our GD would be 2 better off.

In hindsight, those are 2 very valuable points dropped.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

With 3 points for a win, you're better off winning 4 and losing 6 than drawing 10 and that's why we flew out of the traps league position wise with our decent start. because we weren't drawing any.

I still think we're about where we should be but yeah, turn 5 or 6 of those defeats into draws and we're firmly in the play-offs. Similarly, considering our worse return of points since xmas, had some of those early wins been draws we could well have found ourselves in trouble.

2 points a game is the yardstick, win your home games and draw your away games but long may the current approach continue

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Without thinking too hard, you could and should be able to change the draw column to 11 and the loss to 13 with the home games against Villa and Bristol C. That would then put us 8th, 1pt behind 6th and our GD would be 2 better off.

In hindsight, those are 2 very valuable points dropped.

It's never that straightforward though. Had Duffster not scored when Wendy were clearly on top at their place, we might not have ended up with three points there. Brentford could easily have beaten us 1st game given the chances they had etc etc

 

[Davalon]

"The draw is the best result in football"

You start with a point, and you make sure you don't lose that point.

Jeez I commented on us being a little naive imho against Bristol City, but I would never ever ever swap our approach under CW for this negative nellie.

 

[South Bucks]

A draw is not much better than defeat, after all a team which draws all its matches wouldn't have enough points to stay up some seasons and be in a relegation scrap at least.

Its why I'm uncomfortable with the "important to keep a clean sheet" tosh and when we start with very defensive looking teams as we have done sometimes this season.

I couldn't care a damn if we concede each game as long as we score more than them and avoid draws, gambling or flipping the coin sometimes if necessary. Best form of defence is attack etc.

My theory is one of the reasons our club has not had too much success is we don't recognise this nor recruit and put out offensive teams that scare the opposition, we are too defensively orientated.

 

[South Bucks]

In our last premiership season didn't we get 38 points from 38 games. Says it all really.

 

[Sean Thornton]

You start with a point, and you make sure you don't lose that point.

Jeez I commented on us being a little naive imho against Bristol City, but I would never ever ever swap our approach under CW for this negative nellie.

You need to remember there are children who read this board who will be thinking why is he calling that wanker a negative Nellie.

 

[Davalon]

You need to remember there are children who read this board who will be thinking why is he calling that wanker a negative Nellie.