IN FOOTBALL only one statistic really matters: the final score.
However, such is the desire to influence or anticipate that reckoning, the game has now followed the US path to statistical obsession with everyone from directors of football to gamblers taking an ever-keener interest in the game’s numbers.
Sometimes the sums add up to produce useful conclusions, but at others they confuse, obscure or mislead.
The original Moneyball, as featured in Michael Lewis’ book and the subsequent film, was successful for Billy Beane and the Oakland A’s.
However, baseball is a sport in which every play starts with a fixed point of action, usually involves only four people (pitcher, hitter, fielder, baseman) and has restricted possibilities. Beane also looked for very specific indicators to find undervalued players.
Statistics
Football, a fluid sport with 22 players always engaged and almost unlimited variables, has proved much harder to quantify.
Passing statistics, for example, are largely meaningless, unless boiled down to specific types of pass put into a game context (which, increasingly, can be done, but often is not).
Denne historien er fra November 12, 2017-utgaven av The Football League Paper.
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Denne historien er fra November 12, 2017-utgaven av The Football League Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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LUKE BOOSTED BY WALES ACE LIAM
Swans bid to mark new era in style...
MATT'S DELIGHT OVER RECORD
WYCOMBE boss Wanderers Matt Bloomfield hailed his history-makers after victory at Lincoln City.
TON-UP IAN ENJOYS HIS SPECIAL WIN
AN Evatt described his 100th win as Bolton boss as very special, although he needed Aaron Collins' injurytime goal to bring up the three figures.
DONS LACK A CLINICAL EDGE AS SADDLERS GRAB POINTS
NATHAN Lowe's strike inspired promotion-chasing Walsall to victory over AFC Wimbledon at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.
SUB GRIMES IS IN-SPIRED TO HEAD THE WINNER
CAPTAIN Jamie Grimes headed in a late winner for Chesterfield after a game of very few chances appeared destined to remain goalless.`
COBBLERS TEST IN TROPHY FOR POSH
HOLDERS Peterborough United have been drawn against fellow League One side Northampton Town in the Round of 32 of the newly-named Vertu Trophy.
HORNETS REMINDED OF GRAY'S BRILLIANCE
WAYNE Rooney expressed his delight as Plymouth extended their unbeaten league home run to six after Andre Gray's last-gasp leveller.
MARTI DOUBTING JOB AFTER DRAW
Rangers home run continues
BIG MAC'S ON TARGET TO SEE OFF THE TIGERS
LUTON boss Rob Edwards felt it was a very good day at the office as his team turned in a gritty performance to beat Hull.
Rohl confident Owls
DANNY Rohl said getting results is the only thing missing as his Owls were held at home by Cardiff.