01 May 2025 16:39:35
Before Burnley get the team of the season award for finishing second, I am awarding that title Leeds United.
top scorers, top scorer, most entertaining, top goal difference, player of the season (after my common sense appeal) , same for coach, and with least yellows winner of fair play title. Burnley best defence of course. That makes a decisive call.
01 May 2025 19:00:54
The Burnley ( not so Desperadoes) have best goalkeeper and least defeats too in Champo
But regardless 2nd place in league is where they will finish.
01 May 2025 22:10:25
Sorry baz you a Burnley fan now? Apologies I always thought you was a tractor boy? Seems you just support whoever isn’t leeds.
01 May 2025 23:01:07
Yep that's right Berma I lurve the Manx, the Gunners, the Chelski, the Vile, the Wendies, the Mackems, the Dingles, the Dog Botherers etc etc .
I draw the line at Millwall club though lol.
02 May 2025 06:57:06
Trafford’s clean sheet stats are down to his defense, not him.
02 May 2025 09:06:05
Sorry Op we will have to agree to disagree on this one. Applying the same logic, then Illans clean sheets would be down to our defence also?
Which is partially correct, when viewing it collectively.
It’s very easy to access goalkeepers stats on a variety of forums, where indeed clean sheets, factually has Burnley top and ourselves second.
But when you access expected saves vs goals conceded it paints a very different picture, if your club’s goalkeeper is fulfilling his basic duties, when consistently making saves, they’re expected to make.
Sadly but not surprisingly for the season, Illan is firmly in the minus column at - 1.8 goals conceded against expected saves, based against the leagues keeper average.
Contrast that with;
Trafford at +12.6
Johannson + 10
Connor Hazard who we will face tomorrow at Plymouth who currently is saving +9.6 (Very good young keeper in a very porous defence, hence their league position)
Cooper at Bluts has slipped from +9.0 to +5.0 still good but mirroring their slump in form when his own level of excellence dropped
Now these stats as stated above solely drive down into the keeper’s individual performance, as opposed to other stats which encompass the entire team/ defence.
I firmly believe it was Farkey’s biggest error to persevere with Illan for as long as he did (Bielsa was wrong also) and my own opinion is we would have missed out on automatic promotion if Darlow had not been introduced, and had the change been much sooner would have comfortably won the title by 6-8points
Now of course, I do not have definitive proof for my assertion on this point, but I am able to reference significant data driving my opinions as shown above as opposed to a noble sense of loyalty to a young keeper or in defending a perceived sense of injustice for how the young man was criticised.
However, for perspective the last time Trafford played in the EPL albeit under a very cavalier Vincent Kompany side, he was conceding plus 2.3 goals per game, eventually being dropped, Parker will probably set up very differently this time, but Trafford will still be rated in the bottom third for keepers come next season.
Which is why I would be absolutely delighted if we spent a sizeable amount of our transfer budget on two top, keepers.
By way of an example Flekken at Brentford and Sels at Forest hold the best individual (not collective) goalkeeping stats this season.
For me, Illan’s stats over the past two seasons show he has fundamental flaws in his game, and whilst I wish him well, I doubt he will play at the highest level again anytime soon, but would be delighted for the lad to prove me wrong, although not at our club.
We simply cannot afford the risks whilst he looks to improve and eradicate these flaws next season.
02 May 2025 09:20:01
As a proud bermondsey boy, south Londoner and wall lover I do have to say thank god for that. There’s a saying where I come from “he’s one of your own” and speaking for my own that’s honestly not you mate.
02 May 2025 09:28:19
Superb post of season Class
enough with the spin OP, Berma re goalkeeping.
02 May 2025 09:31:09
Berma yep I am definitely nowt to do with the awful Millwall . thank gawd.
02 May 2025 09:38:18
. I have said it last month and I will say it again .
Class imo has been the best poster of this season . and by some distance!
Truly excellent posts throughout season from Classof92!
02 May 2025 10:08:14
I wasn’t comparing Trafford to Meslier’s Class and i'm definitely not not someone who believes in stats to measure how good a goalkeeper is.
It is a fact and that’s without stats that Trafford has had a very well drilled defense in front of him this season, in fact probably the meanest defense in the Championship history.
We most definitely do beg to differ and I don’t need to apologize for that but do respect your opinion.
02 May 2025 10:52:12
I think in general goals conceded are down to team and mostly defence. However if a goalkeeper makes a mistake then the goal is his fault. He is the last line of defence and supposed to save goals bound. A goalkeeper can also be the reason for a clean sheet if he makes good saves. Or even keeping the score down ala Bristol city.
02 May 2025 10:54:12
Good post class. Sensible and factual. No need for opinions. Facts speak louder than thoughts.
02 May 2025 10:57:59
Our transfer policy is stats based as berm said. Like moneyball. You not believe in our transfer policy opti?
02 May 2025 11:16:27
Trafford 2 penalty saves in match this seaon! .
and an awesome very high save per shots ratio this season!
It would have been fascinating to see how many goals Burnley and Leeds United had conceded this season
IF Mes had been Burnleys keeper and Trafford had been Leeds United keeper!
02 May 2025 12:15:01
Indeed Baz but your hypothetical question will never be answered.
Look Trafford is a good young upcoming keeper in the Championship and that’s it and in my estimation he’ll likely be back in the Championship when Burnley get relegated.
There are no fairytales here, his goal is going to be pounded next season, well see how good he is then.
{Ed001's Note - he was dog muck in the Prem last time around. He can't kick, he panics under pressure and punts the ball straight into the stands. His positioning is suspect, he is incredibly over arrogant which shows in numerous errors, which he repeats because he is too arrogant to take a lesson from them. I do not rate him at all.}
02 May 2025 12:54:28
Trafford might be at another EPL team next season OP.
02 May 2025 13:17:32
Given his previous visit in the Premiership, as Ed1 has eluded to I very much doubt that. He’s got a very long way to go before being Premiership worthy in my opinion, if ever at all.
02 May 2025 13:46:20
Well we shall soon find out this summer OP.
02 May 2025 13:55:57
Think you’re right OP, Trafford is yet to prove himself at EPL level as posted earlier, he conceded nearly 2,5 goals every game last time and was dropped completely, and as Ed has said he’s definitely very arrogant, doing it when it’s Salah and Haaland are bearing down on ya goal is a very different ball game.
02 May 2025 15:37:19
The be all and end all is Mes dropped easy catches or push simple balls into the path of opposing players and his distribution is shall I say a tad suspect. Nothing to do with the defense or defenders that's why Trafford is in my opinion a much better keeper and we need to spend on that position, does anyone have confidence in Mes, well I can think of a couple but I certainly don't and the reaction by his teammates at times makes me think they don't have confidence either.
02 May 2025 15:55:43
Reactions of Mes teammates most telling indeed Oldbri!
. and players such as Rodon and Ampadu all smiles and playing much better and with uber confidence in front of their compatriot Darlow!
02 May 2025 16:01:43
I don’t think the thread started about Meslier, but as sure as I can shjt the conversation always ends up about him.
Trafford would be no better than Meslier in the Premiership in my opinion and I won’t be changing that opinion.
02 May 2025 16:37:10
Correct OP it didn't start with Mes but way back with Class post when Mes was mentioned, I believe Trafford is a better keeper but in the premiership not much of an improvement which is why I say we need to spend on that position and like you I won't be changing my opinion either.
02 May 2025 17:48:32
Oldbri fair enough and if our head of recruitment Alex Davies and his staff find a top top keeper, you won’t be hearing any complaints from me, but I’m not having any Championship keeper and that includes Trafford who is better than Ilan Meslier.
02 May 2025 17:59:36
You didn’t answer my question opti. Do you disagree with our stats moneyball transfer policy? Should we maybe choose personality and friendliness?
02 May 2025 19:14:02
It perhaps works in the NFL but does it work in Premiership football, who knows. I don’t know enough about it, maybe someone does?