The Deceptive Game: 10 Misleading Football Stats

Shots on target – is a statistic that has been hailed as the ultimate indicator of a player’s shooting ability. It’s easy to understand – if you’re putting the ball on target, then surely you’re a good shooter, right? Wrong. This statistic can be misleading and often misused, leading to misguided conclusions about a player’s actual ability. 
To put it simply, shots on target doesn’t tell the whole story. It doesn’t account for the quality of the shot, the position of the goalkeeper, the angle of the shot, or the speed and trajectory of the ball. It’s like judging a chef by how many times they put food in the oven, rather than by how delicious their dishes taste. 
Imagine a striker who takes a hundred shots, all straight at the goalkeeper, who happens to be having a good day. This striker may have a high shots on target percentage, but it’s not an accurate reflection of their shooting ability. Conversely, another striker may take only a few shots, but they’re all perfectly placed and too difficult for the goalkeeper to save. This player may have a lower shots on target percentage, but they’re clearly a better shooter. 
In fact, relying solely on shots on target can lead to some pretty absurd conclusions. A player could, for example, take a shot from the halfway line that is straight at the goalkeeper, and it would count as a shot on target. This would make their shots on target percentage go up, but it wouldn’t make them a better shooter. 

Pass completion rate – is a statistic that is often used to judge a player’s ability to distribute the ball effectively. The idea is simple: the higher the pass completion rate, the better the player’s passing ability. However, this statistic can be very misleading and easily misused 
Pass completion rate does not take into account the difficulty of the passes attempted. A player may have a high pass completion rate simply because they are only making safe, simple passes that do not contribute much to the team’s attack. On the other hand, a player who attempts riskier, more difficult passes may have a lower pass completion rate, but their contributions to the team’s attack are far greater. 
In addition, pass completion rate also does not reflect the effectiveness of the passes made. A player may complete a high percentage of their passes, but if those passes do not result in goals or chances created, their passing ability may not be as effective as the statistics suggest. 
Using pass completion rate as the sole measure of a player’s passing ability is like judging a chef solely on their ability to boil water. It’s important to consider the context in which the passes are made and their impact on the team’s overall performance. 

Distance covered – is another statistic that can be easily misunderstood in football. It is often used to measure a player’s work rate and contribution to the team. However, this statistic alone doesn’t tell the whole story. 
For instance, a player who covers a lot of ground on the pitch doesn’t necessarily mean they are playing well. They could be running around aimlessly, chasing the ball without any real impact on the game. On the other hand, a player who covers less distance but is more efficient with their movements can be far more influential in the game. 
Using distance covered as the sole metric for a player’s performance is like judging a car solely by the number of miles it has driven. It doesn’t take into account how well the car has been maintained, how fuel-efficient it is, or how fast it can go. 
Similarly, in football, we need to look beyond distance covered and consider the quality and impact of a player’s movements. Did they make a crucial run to create space for a teammate? Did they track back to help out the defence? These actions may not cover as much distance as running around aimlessly, but they are far more valuable to the team. 

Tackles won – is a statistic that is often used to evaluate a player’s defensive ability. However, it can be misleading and easily misused. 
Firstly, tackles won does not take into account the quality of the tackle. A player may make a successful tackle, but if it’s a reckless challenge that leads to a foul, it can be detrimental to the team. Similarly, a player may miss a tackle, but still make a positive impact by pressuring the opponent and forcing them to make a mistake. 
Furthermore, tackles won doesn’t account for the context of the game. A player may make numerous tackles because their team is constantly under pressure and on the back foot. This doesn’t necessarily mean they’re a good defender, but rather that their team is struggling to control the game. 
Finally, tackles won doesn’t capture a player’s positioning and decision-making. A player who is well-positioned and able to anticipate the opposition’s moves may not need to make as many tackles, but is still a valuable defender. 
In essence, relying solely on tackles won to evaluate a player’s defensive ability is like judging a chef solely on how quickly they can chop vegetables. It ignores the quality and context of their work, and fails to capture the nuances and complexities of the game. Instead, a more holistic approach that considers a player’s positioning, decision-making, and overall contribution to the team is necessary to truly evaluate their defensive ability. 

Goals conceded  – When it comes to evaluating a team’s defence in football, the number of goals conceded is often used as a key metric. However, relying solely on this statistic can be incredibly misleading. 
For starters, a team’s defensive performance is not solely dependent on their ability to prevent goals. A team may concede a goal due to a momentary lapse in concentration or a well-executed opposition attack, but still perform exceptionally well defensively overall. Conversely, a team may concede very few goals but still have a weak defence, due to factors such as luck or the quality of their opponents. 
Furthermore, a team’s style of play can greatly impact their goals conceded statistic. For instance, a team that plays defensively and focuses on counter-attacking may concede fewer goals, but this does not necessarily mean that their defence is better than a team that plays a more attacking style. 
To put it simply, relying solely on goals conceded to evaluate a team’s defence is like judging a book by its cover. It may give you some surface-level information, but it doesn’t give you the full picture. A more thorough analysis of a team’s defensive performance would take into account factors such as the number of shots faced, the quality of opposition, and the overall defensive strategy employed by the team. 

Shots taken – is a statistic that is often used to evaluate a team or player’s attacking performance. However, this number alone can be incredibly misleading. A team could take 30 shots but only have a few actually on target, while another team might take only 5 shots but score 3 goals. 
It’s like a chef who boasts about the number of dishes they can make, but the quality of the food is subpar. Just because you’re cooking up a storm in the kitchen doesn’t mean you’re creating something worth savoring. 
A team could take plenty of shots, but if they’re not hitting the target or creating high-quality chances, those shots are essentially useless. In fact, a high number of shots taken could indicate a lack of creativity or precision in the team’s attack. 
On the other hand, a team that takes fewer shots but is able to convert a higher percentage of them into goals is much more dangerous and efficient in front of goal. It’s like a sharpshooter who takes their time to line up the perfect shot, rather than a wild shooter who sprays bullets everywhere without hitting the target. 

Fouls committed: is a statistic that is often used to evaluate a player’s discipline on the pitch. However, this number can be misleading and easily misinterpreted. A high number of fouls committed does not necessarily mean a player is undisciplined or reckless. In fact, sometimes committing a foul can be a strategic move to prevent an opposing player from advancing or even to stop a counter-attack. 
Additionally, the number of fouls committed can also be influenced by the style of play and tactics used by a team. For example, a team that prefers a high-pressing style of play may commit more fouls as they try to win the ball back quickly. 
Furthermore, the number of fouls committed can also be affected by the referee’s interpretation of the game. Some referees may be more lenient while others may be stricter in their decisions, leading to inconsistent numbers across different matches. 

Crosses attempted: When it comes to football statistics, crosses attempted is a commonly used metric for measuring a team’s attacking prowess. However, this statistic can be incredibly misleading and easily misused. 
Imagine a player who attempts 20 crosses in a game but fails to connect with any of them. Despite his lack of success, his crosses attempted stat will still look impressive on paper. On the other hand, another player may only attempt a few crosses but successfully deliver a crucial assist or goal-scoring opportunity. 
In this way, the crosses attempted statistic can be compared to a chef who constantly tosses ingredients into a pot without any real plan or skill. Just as adding more ingredients does not necessarily make a dish taste better, attempting more crosses does not always make a team more effective in attack. It is the quality of the crosses and the ability to create goal-scoring chances that truly matters. 

Aerial duels won: is a statistic that can be misleading in football analysis. It measures the number of times a player has won an aerial challenge against an opponent. While it may seem like a useful metric to evaluate a player’s strength in the air, it can be easily misinterpreted. 
A player with a high number of aerial duels won may be seen as dominant in the air, but this does not necessarily mean they are a good player overall. A player could win every aerial duel they engage in but still struggle with their positioning or decision-making. On the other hand, a player who rarely wins aerial duels could be an intelligent defender who relies on their reading of the game rather than brute strength. 
Using aerial duels won as the sole metric for evaluating a player’s aerial ability is like judging a book solely by its cover. The true value of a player’s aerial ability lies in their ability to read the game, anticipate the ball’s trajectory, and position themselves correctly. A player with a high number of aerial duels won may have succeeded in these aspects, but it is not a guarantee. 

Possession percentage: Possession percentage is one of the most commonly cited statistics in football. It’s a simple and easy way to measure a team’s dominance in a match. However, it can be a misleading statistic if taken at face value. Possession doesn’t always translate into success, as a team can dominate the ball without being effective in attack. It’s like a person who has a lot of money but doesn’t know how to spend it wisely. Possession can be a seductive mistress that lulls teams into a false sense of security, making them think they are in control when they are not. 
Moreover, some teams might prefer to sit back and defend deep, allowing their opponents to have more of the ball. In this case, a low possession percentage doesn’t necessarily mean they are playing poorly. It’s like a martial artist who waits patiently for their opponent to attack before countering with lightning speed. Possession is just one aspect of the game, and it’s important to look at other factors such as shots on target, scoring chances, and defensive solidity when assessing a team’s performance. Possession percentage can be a valuable statistic when used in context, but it’s important not to rely on it too heavily and always consider the bigger picture.