Or " there are lies, damn lies and statistics" as Arthur Wellesley aka the Duke of Wellington aka Beaky once said. As old as I am I have forgotten why he said it, even though I was there at the time, I think.
In a discussion about who is better between Herrera or Henderson, a debate as intellectually challenging as who makes the best burgers McDonalds or Burger King it was suggested it was Henderson was the better passer based on some statistics. What !!!
Statistics are useless for nearly anything connected with a players ability. It is not golf, not an individual game, it is a team game. Therefore every member of the team affects the others statstics. If Glen Murray of Brighton played for Manchester City and Aguerro for Brighton the stats might suggest Murray was a better striker. Our eyes on the other hand would tell us a different story.
Stats may be useful for a professional who has all the context, in defence for example which CBs like playing together, who is playing through a slight injury, who is good on the ball etc etc.For us they are almost useless;
If I was a manager and we were scouting a left winger and got a page of stats about one I would bin it. I would want to know;
Is he quick, can he dribble, is he two footed, does he track back, is he good in the air, does he stay wide or cut in, is he used as much as the other winger (some midfielders tend to pass one side more than another).Does he speak English, is he popular, does he dive, etc etc etc.Whatis his character like.
We should pretty much ignore all stats, watch the game, and make our own minds up who is good.
Some stats may say Rushy was better than Kenny or that
Rooney was better than Gearge. Stats can lie and do.
Statistics
posted on 26/2/19
Perhaps I should change my user name to Chateau Haut Brion.
posted on 26/2/19
How do you pick a good wine anyway?
Do you just go by price, because the range of wines in shops now is mind boggling
posted on 26/2/19
I live in Normandy but have daughters in the alps and the south west. When I visit I drive through the burgundy region going to one, and the other is in the medoc region so I visit the vineyards and buy the ones I like. But not everyone can do that.
https://www.theguardian.com/.../how-to-buy-wine-look-for-specific-words- on-the-label-not-cute-design
Worth a read maybe.
posted on 26/2/19
And remember, the best wine is the one you like most. trite but true.
posted on 26/2/19
I only drink it occasionally, it tends to send me to sleep but the wife likes a glass of red, prefer lager myself
posted on 27/2/19
Tend to agree with the OP that stats are not a great indicator of particular abilities such as passing, vision etc.
That said, nothing wrong with using stats to back up their argument. TOOR seemed to learn - after a painful afternoon - that actually it's not a fact that Henderson is a better passer than Herrera and that actually it's just his opinion, for which he has some stats to support.
The issue with that of course is the miserable period that United have had under several managers means that naturally, the quality of football has been affected - so stats under those managers are unlikely to yield an accurate analysis on a player's ability.
For an example, Martial and Rashford. No doubt their stats have improved under Ole. Does it mean they've suddenly become a better player? Of course not.
posted on 27/2/19
"The issue with that of course is the miserable period that United have had under several managers means that naturally, the quality of football has been affected - so stats under those managers are unlikely to yield an accurate analysis on a player's ability."
I would say that would likely increase Herrera's passing stats, rather than decrease them, considering Mourinho didn't like to take as much risk.
posted on 27/2/19
comment by There'sOnlyOneReds (U1721)
posted 2 minutes ago
"The issue with that of course is the miserable period that United have had under several managers means that naturally, the quality of football has been affected - so stats under those managers are unlikely to yield an accurate analysis on a player's ability."
I would say that would likely increase Herrera's passing stats, rather than decrease them, considering Mourinho didn't like to take as much risk.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Of course you would, because you see things in a very simplistic fashion.
posted on 27/2/19
It's on
posted on 27/2/19