The Numbers Game

The Numbers Game Why Everything You Know about Football Is Wrong

Why does stopping a goal beat scoring one? Why do the best defenders rarely touch the ball? Why is ditching your worst player smarter than buying a superstar? In this myth-busting book, Chris Anderson and David Sally show that the normal football terms - goals, possession, points, transfer fees - can actually hinder how we understand the game. Instead, by diving deep into the data, they uncover hidden truths about what is really happening on the pitch. Wonderfully readable and counter-intuitive, The Numbers Game will win you plenty of pub arguments. After reading it you will never think about football in the same way again. 'Rush to read this book immediately. The game [you] love will take on new depth, colour and subtlety.' Ed Smith, The Times 'Pundits, armchair fans and professionals will find that several of their long-cherished truisms are not true at all.' Guardian 'Challenges everything we know about football.' 'Sportshour', BBC World Service 'A highly original contribution to our understanding of what we are seeing at a match . . . unbeatable.' Independent on Sunday
Sign up to use

Reviews

Photo of Bruno Costa Teixeira
Bruno Costa Teixeira@brunoctxa
2 stars
May 5, 2024
Photo of Danshin
Danshin@mikedanshin
4 stars
Aug 5, 2023
Photo of Akinwale Oshodi
Akinwale Oshodi@akoshodi
4 stars
Jul 3, 2023
Photo of Alistair James
Alistair James@amj2264
5 stars
Jan 25, 2023
Photo of Liam Byrne
Liam Byrne @tvtimelimit
4 stars
Jan 17, 2022
Photo of Chris Sutcliffe
Chris Sutcliffe@chriss
4 stars
Jan 11, 2022
Photo of K. Mike Merrill
K. Mike Merrill@kmikeym
3 stars
Sep 5, 2021
Photo of Ze
Ze@ze
3 stars
Jul 30, 2021