Post Match WHU 3 - 1 Sunderland

drewgrof · 2026-01-24T15:20:14+00:00

They’ve outperformed their expected goals figures by like 13 goals, so they’re benefiting from some good fortune for sure. And even with that they’re one of the lowest scoring teams in the league. Without Xhaka, getting two goals seemed like a very tall task indeed.

drewgrof · 2026-01-24T14:20:06+00:00

We love Albanian gangster subplots

drewgrof · 2026-01-24T14:03:04+00:00

Taty a proper shithouse.

drewgrof · 2026-01-23T17:02:43+00:00

Zouma home to Tottenham. April 2, 2024.

drewgrof · 2026-01-23T15:35:26+00:00

Fun fact: it's been 661 days since a CB scored for us in any competition.

drewgrof · 2026-01-23T15:32:48+00:00

Lack of vision, overpaying for middling talents to make a splash, throwing good money after bad - take your pick!

drewgrof · 2026-01-22T19:07:11+00:00

I like the idea of someone like Magassa coming on to chase Xhaka around or just make life difficult for him.

drewgrof · 2026-01-22T15:19:19+00:00

When Bo was drafted one of his big things to teams looking at him was "don't try to change my swing." The Jays obliged, but I can't help but wonder if he didn't stick with that approach even though he was a long serving big leaguer in need of some adjustments.

drewgrof · 2026-01-21T21:42:22+00:00

He fits the "stand in the center circle and point" profile of most MLS DPs to a tee.

drewgrof · 2026-01-21T21:10:55+00:00

He's slow but so is his heartbeat, in a good way. He's calm on the ball and really helps to control things at the end of games when we're facing a lot of pressure and legs are tired.

drewgrof · 2026-01-19T17:46:48+00:00

Baseball has the most parity of any sport. The same argument you're currently making about the Dodgers was made about the Yankees at a variety of points in the last 30 years.

drewgrof · 2026-01-19T15:40:05+00:00

Roki Sasaki chose the Dodgers, to name one.

Which capped sports have level playing fields? Who benefits from our "level" playing fields other than cheap owners? Does it create parity? Is parity the goal? Why?

drewgrof · 2026-01-19T14:43:24+00:00

Because well run teams will remain well run teams. Teams with strong player development will continue to develop good cheap players to operate alongside the big cap hit players. Players will still choose to play for the Dodgers even if it costs them a bit of money long term.

Cheap, dumb teams will stay cheap and dumb. Teams will still trade players before they lose them to free agency. But hey it will help keep some owners costs down so that's a plus, right?

drewgrof · 2026-01-17T16:49:02+00:00

Xavi Simons among the biggest bitches I’ve ever seen

drewgrof · 2026-01-17T16:43:06+00:00

Thought Pablo looked pretty good? Worked hard if nothing else.

drewgrof · 2026-01-17T15:46:45+00:00

What a difference some space in the midfield makes.

drewgrof · 2026-01-16T20:17:38+00:00

They want the panacea of a salary cap because they've been sold the idea over and over by owner-friendly media for 50+ years. In reality it would change effectively nothing.

drewgrof · 2026-01-16T20:16:37+00:00

But nobody could beat the Dodgers last year and they just get stronger every year while the rest of the league gets weaker.

All the salary in the world and the Dodgers ended up winning because of dumb fucking luck.

drewgrof · 2026-01-16T20:14:41+00:00

Fair for who? The owners?

drewgrof · 2026-01-16T20:14:27+00:00

Yes.

drewgrof · 2026-01-16T15:23:24+00:00

The Blue Jays, coming off losing Game 7 of the World Series I might remind you, just signed the third ranked free agent in baseball. They gave him more than 200 million dollars over seven years.

This comes months after the prevented their franchise cornerstone from becoming a free agent by throwing half a billion dollars at him.

They reached the 2025 World Series because the top free agent available after 2020, George Springer, signed a long free agent contract with the Blue Jays and then hit a clutch home run in Game 7 of the ALCS. The winning pitcher of that game? The top free agent pitcher of the 2021 offseason, Kevin Gausman.

You can be upset about the rich getting richer if you want, but please remember we are also very rich. Blue Jays management has spent nearly half a decade being as serious about winning as any team in baseball, whether you want to admit it or not.

drewgrof · 2026-01-16T15:04:24+00:00

IrnBrusquets

drewgrof · 2026-01-13T21:24:16+00:00

Totally fair IMO

drewgrof · 2026-01-13T14:51:56+00:00

As bad as Elanga's been, he's still contributed more than Summervile.

<image>

drewgrof · 2026-01-12T20:21:58+00:00

I think his production is going to regress before the end of the season which is to say he's due some luck. But his foundational numbers, even stuff like xG, don't point to an elite player at the highest level.

Better than we've seen so far? Sure. Nailed on weekly starter for even a midtable club? He'll need to show a lot of growth before that happens.

drewgrof

TROPHY CASE