Wierd events!

[Patronising] Oh dear, you poor sausage. I hope you didn't hurt yourself. Here, let me help you try to understand such a difficult concept. [/Patronising]

Nobody was “given the slipper” for their match report, there is a tangible difference between opinion and marking; and also between baseline and benchmark.

A baseline is “a measurement that is used as a starting point when comparing facts” (Oxford) whereas a benchmark is “something that can be measured and used as a standard that other things can be compared with” (Oxford). So “6 = average” is a baseline, while saying that Chris Zebroski (for example) “was the best player and gets a 9” is a benchmark: all other players’ performances will be compared to Zebroski’s in order to quantify their performance.

A performance indicator (often referred to as a KPI) is simply a mark that is used to measure performance. However, for effective measurement all KPIs should be comparable and therefore should use the same baseline. What’s the purpose, or usefulness, of one source marking Geoff Hurst’s World Cup hat-trick as a 10 and another marking it as a 7? It just leads to confusion.

Evidence-supported opinion is actually a lot more useful because explanations are used to support a view rather than using an established baseline.

Compare the following scores in the context in which they appear:
Fan A - Carlisle: 5
Fan B - Carlisle: 6
Fan C - Carlisle: 7
Fan D - Carlisle: 8

Now compare the following opinions that form those scores:
Fan A – Carlisle was weak going forward and didn’t cross very effectively all game. I thought he was poor.
Fan B – I though Carlisle had a poor game going forward but looked much better when he was defending. He protected Robbo well and overall I though he had an average game
Fan C - Carlisle was weak going forward and didn’t cross very effectively all game. I thought he was poor.
Fan D – Carlisle was weak going forward but was superb in defence. His support of Robbo was outstanding and that block in the first half to save a certain goal was the turning point of the game in my opinion.

Why don’t Fans A and C have the same scores? Their opinion of Wayne Carlisle’s performance is the same but their scores are different. Could it be because they are not benchmarking against the same baseline?

So despite your and others (Enzo, warwickgull and mandi) derision of my request to set a baseline, I still maintain that is it a major requirement for any such marks to be of any use to us.

I’ll rephrase the question which Dave thought was a ridiculous thing to say: if fans go to games and report back with marks of differing baselines that suggest that some of them are over-critical, I wonder what intrinsic value or benefit they will offer to this site. I know that Enzo will find that statement not fluffy, warm and moist enough for him and I fully expect him to shout about how pretentious it is, but what I am fundamentally saying (if anyone can be bothered to read it fully and take the time to digest it) is that this site will benefit from more opinions and less arbitrary numbers. For one fan to have a different opinion of a player than another is what makes football so interesting. But surely we have to be at the same game to offer a valid comparison!

Some time ago, I was (wrongly, in my opinion) accused of pomposity by another poster on here. Some might accuse me of being condescending by giving all these dictionary definitions (and normally I’d agree with them) but the fact that there are a vocal minority on this forum who are having difficulty understanding the plain English I am writing suggest that either they don’t understand the words I am using or they can’t be bothered to read it fully. Pomposity is the act of “showing that you are more important than other people” (Oxford)

Warwickgull’s opinion that Benyon was “not his usual tigerish self and for neautrals maybe even dissinterested!”(sic) is a perfectly valid opinion that I welcome on this site. Just as I welcome witsongull68’s opinion, almost an hour later that, “Benyon ran his socks off”. But when warwickgull takes a mere 15 minutes to reply that “I have to pull you up on one thing though! I went with 2 lads today who have never seen Torquay play before. I have seen Benyon plenty of times and watched his non stop tigerish performances and today was not one of them. As Benyon performances go he didn't look interested for long periods and that view was also shared by 2 neautrals.“(sic), then I have to ask who is being pompous? Why is wistongull68’s view not as good as warwickgull’s?

About two weeks ago, this forum was full of stimulating debate covering a wide range of interesting subjects. Recently is has become a place full of “unkind comments that make fun of somebody or make them look silly”. It’s the dictionary definition (and I bet you know which one, right commuters!) of ridicule and its something that I didn’t think I’d ever see on TFF.

Shame on us all for giving it room.