Worst Away record in League

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Why isn't someone like Vela or Connloy even on the bench?

It may happen against Citeh, they've pretty much got C/L stitched up so it's not like they got much to play for either.

...except finishing third, which brings direct access to the "Champions" "League" group stages (starts Sep 13) rather than the play-off round (starts Aug 16)

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

As for our away form generally, well both Arsenal and Spurs are better than MU away, and you won't find as many tears in Trafford Park as North London. As long as the home form counters it – and with 15 points from the last 18, it does - it's OK. Blackburn only gained one more point away, but got seven fewer at home (including three against us) - so they're going into the last day in a panic, whereas we've been safe since Easter. We're also a single away point behind Stoke, and that might matter more, but it hardly plays up to the resolute image of those Potteries oxen. Christ, I'd rather watch 19 of our away games for a point fewer.

But all that said, there's a definite question as to whether Coyle's style simply isn't suited to this formation away from home. It very much depends on the staff available next term - if for instance we had a hard-working split striker he could play deeper away than at home, and the side's general adventurousness could be turned down a notch until it's needed. Thing is, in terms of goals conceded away we're more mid-table than relegation - we've conceded fewer than seven teams – so it's actually up the other end we're struggling on the road... only Newcastle, Wolves and Stoke (them again) have scored fewer per away game...

[BL3]

it's actually up the other end we're struggling on the road... only Newcastle, Wolves and Stoke (them again) have scored fewer per away game...

In fact six teams have scored fewer goals than us away from home: Newcastle, Wolves, Stoke, Birmingham, Wigan and Sunderland. West Ham and Fulham have only scored one more than us.

Seven teams have conceded more than us away from home: Wolves, Blackburn, West Ham, Birmingham, West Brom, Aston Villa and Blackpool.

Perhaps we're not as far off turning poor away form into something better...

[truewhite15]

it's actually up the other end we're struggling on the road... only Newcastle, Wolves and Stoke (them again) have scored fewer per away game...

In fact six teams have scored fewer goals than us away from home: Newcastle, Wolves, Stoke, Birmingham, Wigan and Sunderland. West Ham and Fulham have only scored one more than us.

Seven teams have conceded more than us away from home: Wolves, Blackburn, West Ham, Birmingham, West Brom, Aston Villa and Blackpool.

Perhaps we're not as far off turning poor away form into something better...

No, we're not, which is why I've been saying, on a consistent basis, that the resident doom-mongers haven't a leg to stand on. Providing that the summer goes well (no reason why it shouldn't considering the sort of reputation Coyle and BWFC are building), next season is going to be very, very promising. I can't wait

[BWFC_Insane]

it's actually up the other end we're struggling on the road... only Newcastle, Wolves and Stoke (them again) have scored fewer per away game...

In fact six teams have scored fewer goals than us away from home: Newcastle, Wolves, Stoke, Birmingham, Wigan and Sunderland. West Ham and Fulham have only scored one more than us.

Seven teams have conceded more than us away from home: Wolves, Blackburn, West Ham, Birmingham, West Brom, Aston Villa and Blackpool.

Perhaps we're not as far off turning poor away form into something better...

No, we're not, which is why I've been saying, on a consistent basis, that the resident doom-mongers haven't a leg to stand on. Providing that the summer goes well (no reason why it shouldn't considering the sort of reputation Coyle and BWFC are building), next season is going to be very, very promising. I can't wait

You can ALWAYS make a case that we're "not that far off" something.

When it suits its "you can make a case" for owt.

It would be just as easy for me to say we were lucky to score an undeserved last minute winner at home against Wolves, we were lucky to beat West Brom 2-0 at home after the played us off the park for much of the game, we were lucky to get a point from Blackpool, lucky to beat Villa in the last minute and lucky to get a last minute winner against Arsenal.

Facts are we're the worst team in the league away from home. League table doesn't lie. But one of the better ones at home. Away form needs looking at, and its not likely to magically get better on its own. We either need better players at the system OC wants to use or we need a new system!

[Lofthouse Lower]

You're not far off being someone worth listening to....

[truewhite15]

it's actually up the other end we're struggling on the road... only Newcastle, Wolves and Stoke (them again) have scored fewer per away game...

In fact six teams have scored fewer goals than us away from home: Newcastle, Wolves, Stoke, Birmingham, Wigan and Sunderland. West Ham and Fulham have only scored one more than us.

Seven teams have conceded more than us away from home: Wolves, Blackburn, West Ham, Birmingham, West Brom, Aston Villa and Blackpool.

Perhaps we're not as far off turning poor away form into something better...

No, we're not, which is why I've been saying, on a consistent basis, that the resident doom-mongers haven't a leg to stand on. Providing that the summer goes well (no reason why it shouldn't considering the sort of reputation Coyle and BWFC are building), next season is going to be very, very promising. I can't wait

You can ALWAYS make a case that we're "not that far off" something.

When it suits its "you can make a case" for owt.

It would be just as easy for me to say we were lucky to score an undeserved last minute winner at home against Wolves, we were lucky to beat West Brom 2-0 at home after the played us off the park for much of the game, we were lucky to get a point from Blackpool, lucky to beat Villa in the last minute and lucky to get a last minute winner against Arsenal.

Facts are we're the worst team in the league away from home. League table doesn't lie. But one of the better ones at home. Away form needs looking at, and its not likely to magically get better on its own. We either need better players at the system OC wants to use or we need a new system!

I'm actually fairly certain that you DID say we were lucky in ALL those games...I guess it depends what sort of person you are, because this is a definite "is the glass half full or half empty" scenario. I am an optimist, so I see our season as positive, with a smattering of "dammit" moments. You, however, seem to see it vice versa. Ah well.

[BWFC_Insane]

it's actually up the other end we're struggling on the road... only Newcastle, Wolves and Stoke (them again) have scored fewer per away game...

In fact six teams have scored fewer goals than us away from home: Newcastle, Wolves, Stoke, Birmingham, Wigan and Sunderland. West Ham and Fulham have only scored one more than us.

Seven teams have conceded more than us away from home: Wolves, Blackburn, West Ham, Birmingham, West Brom, Aston Villa and Blackpool.

Perhaps we're not as far off turning poor away form into something better...

No, we're not, which is why I've been saying, on a consistent basis, that the resident doom-mongers haven't a leg to stand on. Providing that the summer goes well (no reason why it shouldn't considering the sort of reputation Coyle and BWFC are building), next season is going to be very, very promising. I can't wait

You can ALWAYS make a case that we're "not that far off" something.

When it suits its "you can make a case" for owt.

It would be just as easy for me to say we were lucky to score an undeserved last minute winner at home against Wolves, we were lucky to beat West Brom 2-0 at home after the played us off the park for much of the game, we were lucky to get a point from Blackpool, lucky to beat Villa in the last minute and lucky to get a last minute winner against Arsenal.

Facts are we're the worst team in the league away from home. League table doesn't lie. But one of the better ones at home. Away form needs looking at, and its not likely to magically get better on its own. We either need better players at the system OC wants to use or we need a new system!

I'm actually fairly certain that you DID say we were lucky in ALL those games...I guess it depends what sort of person you are, because this is a definite "is the glass half full or half empty" scenario. I am an optimist, so I see our season as positive, with a smattering of "dammit" moments. You, however, seem to see it vice versa. Ah well.

Every season we have stayed in the premiership is positive. So absolutely.

There are warning signs for next season though but I'm fairly certain Owen knows that too!

[truewhite15]

But there are just as many positive and hopeful signs for next season, if not more, than there are warning signals, are there not? Some of our best players coming back, Fortress Reebok, a good, advancing, attractive style of play, plenty of reasons for players wanting to join...

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

it's actually up the other end we're struggling on the road... only Newcastle, Wolves and Stoke (them again) have scored fewer per away game...

In fact six teams have scored fewer goals than us away from home: Newcastle, Wolves, Stoke, Birmingham, Wigan and Sunderland.

Hmmm - that's why I said "per game": the teams in bold still have one more trip each. Like us, Birmingham, Wigan and Sunderland each average 0.94 goals scored per away game – but they've scored 17 from 18 rather than our 18 from 19. I've taken it to two decimal places as per my source, the F365 stats page; if you take it down to the third decimal place, then yes, on average away they're three-thousandths of a goal better than us.

Either way, it's a good job we filled our boots at the seaside – but a pity we allowed them to fill theirs.

[Lord Kangana]

You're not far off being someone worth listening to....

[Gooner Girl]

Really? Worst away team in the league? You must have been flipping good at home this season then... (as i remember you may have been against us but we had the opposite problem...)