The League Table - With a Twist

The League Table – With a Twist

First month of the season, and the table doesn’t look great for Reading, who sit in 15^th place: "it’s early days" we say. In all honesty, 15^th place is not bad, considering we had 12 first team injuries for the game against Middlesbrough. Here’s a look at the table (or tables!) after August’s 5 games, but not the table you’ll have eyed up already.

Average Possession

It is often said that possession wins the game, however, in recent times this has not been the case. Barcelona found that out last season, as did Spain. Adkins is aiming to change Reading into a passing team, as opposed to the counter attacking team that proved its worth in past times. Here is the Championship table but the positions are based on average possession per game, not points…

Pos.	Team	Points	Avg. Possession
1	Wolves	12	58.6
2	Bournemouth	7	57.6
3	Fulham	1	56.8
4	Derby	8	56.6
5	Middlesbrough	6	56.4
6	Brighton	7	56.2
7	Reading	7	53.2
8	Millwall	10	51.8
9	Norwich	10	51.6
10	Wigan	7	51.6
11	Brentford	8	50.8
12	Blackpool	0	49.4
13	Sheffield Wednesday	8	49.0
14	Leeds	6	48.4
15	Ipswich	5	48.0
16	Blackburn	7	47.8
17	Nottingham Forest	13	47.6
18	Birmingham	5	47.4
19	Bolton	1	45.6
20	Watford	12	45.0
21	Huddersfield	4	45.0
22	Charlton	9	44.0
23	Cardiff	8	42.4
24	Rotherham	6	39.4

Average Goals For

Teams want to see their side score goals; we all crave attacking football that brings flair and goals. For Reading to get near the right end of this table, a new striker needs to be bought in, in my opinion. A striker that can complement Pogrebnyak’s height and hold up play by using pace to get onto flick-ons and through balls. Simon Cox has put in a few good performances resulting in 2 goals this season for him so far. The team at the top of this table should have the most entertained fans…

Pos.	Team	Points	Avg. Goals For
1	Watford	12	2.4
2	Nottingham Forest	13	2.2
3	Derby	8	1.8
4	Bournemouth	7	1.8
5	Norwich	10	1.6
6	Charlton	9	1.6
7	Blackburn	8	1.6
8	Wigan	7	1.6
9	Wolves	12	1.2
10	Millwall	10	1.2
11	Brentford	8	1.2
12	Cardiff	8	1.2
13	Brighton	7	1.2
14	Middlesbrough	6	1.2
15	Huddersfield	4	1.2
16	Sheffield Wednesday	8	1.0
17	Reading	7	1.0
18	Ipswich	5	1.0
19	Birmingham	5	0.8
20	Bolton	1	0.8
21	Leeds	6	0.6
22	Fulham	1	0.6
23	Blackpool	0	0.6
24	Rotherham	6	0.4

Average Goals Against

Although clean sheets don’t provide great entertainment, they are as important as getting goals at the other end. The Royals defence seemed like it was finally coming together, but then, as we all know, Sean Morrison left for the (not so) Bluebirds. The capture of Anton Ferdinand is promising and Michael Hector has looked encouraging in his few games alongside stalwart Alex Pearce. Also Jake Cooper was impressive against Scunthorpe in the League Cup, good to see him being used. This table, is based on average goals against per game, with the least goals conceded topping the table, make sense? Good.

Pos.	Team	Points	Avg. Goals Against
1	Wolves	12	0.4
2	Nottingham Forest	13	0.6
3	Norwich	10	0.6
4	Millwall	10	0.6
5	Brentford	8	0.8
6	Cardiff	8	0.8
7	Sheffield Wednesday	8	0.8
8	Derby	8	1.0
9	Wigan	7	1.0
10	Brighton	7	1.0
11	Rotherham	6	1.0
12	Watford	12	1.2
13	Bournemouth	7	1.2
14	Middlesbrough	6	1.2
15	Ipswich	5	1.2
16	Charlton	9	1.4
17	Reading	7	1.6
18	Leeds	6	1.6
19	Birmingham	5	1.6
20	Blackpool	0	1.8
21	Blackburn	7	2.0
22	Bolton	1	2.0
23	Fulham	1	2.0
24	Huddersfield	4	2.4