FoG

What is PDO? Simply PDO is [percent of shots faced that are saved] + [percent of shots taken which result in a goal]. Usually it is multiplied by 10 to remove decimal places for presentation. This is important in football because no matter the team (good or bad), their average PDO rarely strays outside a narrow band around the 1000 average. Any deviation from this band is usually put down to good luck for a high PDO, or bad luck for an unusually low PDO. This is hard to explain why this measure tends to bunch very closely around the average. It could have to do with good teams defending so high up the pitch (as the defenders become extra attackers) and this would affect the type of chances they allow their opponents. It could have something to do with good teams taking their foot off the pedal when they get comfortably in front. It could have something to do with poor teams defenders becoming so conditioned to defending that they don't give out any straight forward cha...

The table is starting to take shape and most teams have played 5 games.  Predictably Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers are rising to the top, with Limerick and Bray settlling at the bottom.  The story so far has been about Sligo and Bohs. Sligo were quite highly rated at the beginning of the season but have just 2 points from a possible 15. Bohs on the other hand were 150/1 before a ball was kicked but are sitting pretty in 3rd place. Sligo have had a tough start to the campaign having already faced the top 2, but Bohs also have. So why does it seem that these two teams have switched places? Preseason Outrigh Betting (odds recorded from @paddypower 3/3/2015) We can delve into the numbers a little deeper and it does seem that Sligo have had a fairly big slice of bad luck so far. Nobody has created more shots (63) or shots on target (41) than Sligo so far in the season. They have also been scoring goals - with only 4 teams netting more often. It really looks like th...