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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END OF CUP ROAD FOR EFL BATTLERS
EFL interest in this season’s Carabao Cup came to an end in midweek, but it certainly wasn’t for the want of trying.
GOALS GALORE IN THE TROPHY
THE goals flew in from all angles as the Bristol Street Motors Trophy revved into action again in midweek.
KEEPER GAFFE SINKS TOWN
HUDDERSFIELD boss Michael Duff questioned his players’ mentality after goalkeeper Chris Maxwell’s bloomer handed NonLeague Tamworth a shock win.
ACE SLEW & WILLIAMS SEE OFF REBELS...
DECISIVE goals at either end of the game from Jordan Slew and Rhys Williams helped League Two Morecambe avoid a potential banana skin against National League South outfit Worthing.
MATT'S MEN JUST HAVE ENOUGH GAS
HONEST Bristol Rovers boss Matt Taylor has acknowledged his side were pushed all the way in their tie against Weston-super-Mare.
'WHITES' ARRAY OF FIREPOWER WILL GIVE THEM THE EDGE OVER RIVALS'
GARY Rowett says Leeds’ glittering arsenal of attacking stars will bring the Championship title to Elland Road.
POMPEY'S GAME OF TWO HALVES
Murphy's in to deny the Tigers
SET-PLAY PREP PAYING OFF FOR PELACH
NARCIS Pelach admitted Stoke have been working tirelessly on set-pieces since his arrival – and he was pleased the hard work paid dividends with the winner against Derby.
Robins lays marker to his Sky Blues
MARK Robins has challenged his Coventry City players to go on a Championship charge after the Sky Blues ended their wait for success on their travels with resounding victory against ten-man Boro.
JUST FAB FOUR BAYO IS UNSTOPPABLE
FOUR second-half goals in an incredible display from Vakoun Bayo powered Watford to a resounding victory at Hillsborough.