Goal Difference

[Timberwolf]

While we came in the top 6 in the past 2 seasons, our crappy goal difference always left a bitter taste (+4 and +5, respectively). While the most important thing is, of course, picking up points, looking down the table to see teams like Southampton (+21 last season) and Man Utd (+21 in 13/14) eclipsing our GD felt a bit odd - like winning a fight and then feeling a mild sense of shame when you realise the other guy is far better dressed than you are.

Opposition fans have often branded us lucky because of this and, while I think luck might have played its part, it was more obviously down to two things:

1) Our tendency to sneak 1 goal victories. We won looooads of games 2-1, if I recall correctly.
2) Our weak mentality and tendency to get shat on by a great height by the likes of Liverpool, Man City and once even *sigh* West Ham. We had more thrashings in the past two seasons than in any other period I can remember.

So I just wanted to say how great it is that we seem to have fixed both of these problems and finally have a GD worthy of the top 4. We don't look like getting thrashed by anyone, and by fixing our defence and adding more goals to the team we're starting to get some impressive, high scoring victories. Long may it continue!

 

[Bobbins]

I think goal difference is actually a great indication of just how well a team has performed over the course of a season.

Sure, there will always be the odd freak result which will skew things a little, but in general it's a decent measure and tends to follow a trend of league rankings.

Frankly, the last few years we have been pretty lucky to not drop out of the top 6 - but we're clearly better this season and our improved GD is reflective of that.

 

[TheChosenOne]

Whereas Woolwich having a minus 2 goals thingy leaves me very happy cos they
are not only embarrassing themselves and the whole of south London, they are also
embarrassing the English Premier League across two centuries and three decades.

 

[HotspurFC1950]

Poch aimed at the goal diff this season. It can mean the difference between third fourth fifth or sixth. Poch targetted getting the goals against record much better.

 

[Booney]

Can't remember where I heard it but there's a phenomenal stat about goal difference doing the rounds.

Basically the teams with the best 4 GDs on January 1st almost always finish top 4. It's actually a more sensitive predictor then their league position at that time.

 

[Bobby Zero]

Can't remember where I heard it but there's a phenomenal stat about goal difference doing the rounds.

Basically the teams with the best 4 GDs on January 1st almost always finish top 4. It's actually a more sensitive predictor then their league position at that time.

2011/12 Seems to be the exception. Chelsea had a goal difference of +13 on the 1st of January which put them forth highest although 5th in the league. They finished 6th with a GD of +19 (5th highest). Seems to work out every other time (I stopped looking at 10/11 so I can pretend I have a life).