The red one looks a cross between the matrix and one of mario's sewer tunnels.

Most stats in most sports are useless and abused. I can see how these stats can be useful to a managerial team that views the stats in a comprehensive fashion. Eg runs 14 km is not enough. It needs to be put in context of where one is running, and the 'impact' that his running has on the game, vv tackles won, chances created, etc. For the average fan, detailed sports statistics are not informative and are often horribly misused to crucify or elevate players

Burnwinter wrote:

Probably some crappy managers could already be replaced by an algorithm that outperformed them if the players would countenance it and someone put up the cash for R&D.

Burnsy is right, thats a great idea !

We should all pitch in!

The Stoke Algorithm would probably be the easiest to implement.

the article is right, those who can quantify the contributions made by their players will have an advantage over those that don't. it's probably more difficult to do so accurately in football - it's relatively simple in baseball and even basketball, because there are so many possessions and points scored and relatively few players on the court.

generally, those who are suspicious of quantitative analysis in sports have got the wrong idea about what sort of statistics the clubs are using or what it all means. it's only natural that when more money and glory is at stake, people will invest more effort in getting things right. i'm not really sure why the spectator would care.

burnsy's right about the charts, though. rubbish from a practical standpoint, it's pure eyecandy. i guess it does the job of sexing up an article about stats.

Burnwinter wrote:

The Stoke Algorithm would probably be the easiest to implement.

Whatever- But if you program another Wenger one I'll break your fingers.

My Wenger algorithm would be pretty simple.

1. Always sign and sell players two years earlier than everyone else on the performance bell curve.
2. Always train using randomly selected five a side scratch matches.
3. Always select the least worst keeper and then the ten smallest outfield players.
4. Always and inflexibly play a 4-3-3 with false pressing and apparently slightly illogical selections.
5. State that we "lacked sharpness" or "showed character and maturity" depending on the result after each match.

Oh yeah I'm not claiming that algorithm would beat "real" Wenger.

But with our current squad it might win a few matches.

With 2. the five a side games to include outfield players only as goalkeepers don't matter.

Great work Capi, I'm actually writing my masters thesis on data visualization so I enjoyed those graphics quite a bit, even if they are a little OTT

Interesting article. Will be interesting to see how this develops as the statisticians begin to find out the real meaning of some of the stats they are producing. The distance a player runs or how many tackles he makes is now seen as almost irrelevant, wonder how long it will be before they say that Goals Probability Added is no longer useful and come up with something else.

Funny you should mention that, it appears Wenger (as the worlds most respected manager) is lobbying FIFA to change the rules whereby games will be decided on passes rather than goals.

Biggus wrote:

Funny you should mention that, it appears Wenger (as the worlds most respected manager) is lobbying FIFA to change the rules whereby games will be decided on passes rather than goals.

Grow up Biggus, the best teams in the world play the passing game. Dont tell me you want to returnto kick and rush football???

New boy tells Biggus to grow up. Good on you Rory.

Go home to wank!!!

Lol.

Biggus wrote:

Go home to wank!!!

More meaningful debate from Biggus, the sum of your intelligence and that's what you come up with, as I said grow up man, thought this forum was for grown up fans with a bit more sense, maybe you should go on AM with comments like that??

He was joking. Biggus has always been keen on rhetorical purity.

It was a reference to a banner on the pre-season tour that Burnsy posted.
Try to keep up Rory.....