Lies, Damned Lies And Statistics

There is a time and a place for a man (or woman) in an anorak.

A figure of fun, or indeed fear, to some, people who wear anoraks, keep statistics and who used to be famed for their train spotting activities have gradually moved into the less dangerous world of football over recent years.

All over the country there are people sitting close to the touchline on football pitches fervently counting what to most of us would be the uncountable (well how else do they get the information?).

Not just the number of goals scored or the number of red cards given out, but other things such as the number of dribbles and runs one person does in a season or the number of tackles.

And if you believe the statistics published as a result then in the Premiership this season:

• Renaldo is top scorer (19) (although Adebayor has a better success rate of turning shots into goals at 27%)
• Bentley has played the most crosses (277)
• Adebayor has been offside the most (49)
  

and

• Bolton's Davies has played the most fouls (71)
  

If you haven't fallen asleep yet you can read even more fascinating figures here.

Like I say there is a time and a place for numbers and statistics and to be truthful most of us probably have a bit of anorak in us. It's all a matter of proportion.

Where am I on that continuum? Well if it helps I would far rather listen to this than this.
(And if you are reading this after watching the whole of that last video I'm sorry but it is time to get a life!)