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The League Table - With a Twist

A look at the league table from different perspectives, not using points...

Michael Regan

The League Table – With a Twist

First month of the season, and the table doesn’t look great for Reading, who sit in 15th place: "it’s early days" we say. In all honesty, 15th 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