STATISTICS CAN BE misleading, certainly. Context is important, etc. A team may have 85% of the ball but still lose 1-0.
But, sometimes stats help illustrate a greater point.
And there was one that did the round immediately after Manchester City’s resounding 4-1 thumping of Tottenham that seemed to perfectly reflect Pep Guardiola’s style and approach.
It wasn’t about his outfield players and their work on the ball but his goalkeeper.
Ederson completed more passes (26) than both Christian Eriksen (24) and Dele Alli (17) during Man City 4-1 Spurs today.
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) December 16, 2017
Pep's kind of goalkeeper... 😏 pic.twitter.com/wTuxiiBlZI
After Claudio Bravo’s stint with the side didn’t exactly go to plan, the club shelled out a world record to bring Ederson to the club.
And it seems to have been a really smart move.
Guardiola always wants his keeper to be a shot-stopper but also a valuable outfield player when required. So that means being good in possession.
During the Spurs game, Emerson managed more completed passes (26) than two of Tottenham’s main attacking threats Christian Eriksen (24) and Dele Alli (17).
Now, an easy counter-argument is that Ederson’s role sees him sweeping a lot – making himself available as an out ball for full-back or centre-halves – and just keeping things tidy with short passes.
But he’s much more than that and he conjured an absolutely remarkable pass to Raheem Sterling in the second-half to prove it.
We all know Ederson's distribution is the best on the planet, but this pass from earlier in this game was unreal pic.twitter.com/zGqCY0fNxi
— Real Talk Football (@RealTlkFootball) December 16, 2017
City have substantially upgraded this term but while the likes of Raheem Sterling and Kevin de Bruyne get the headlines, it’s the development between the posts that has provided a crucial foundation.
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):
Even as a Spurs fan I thought this fellas distribution was a joy to watch-coolness personified
@Baz: city are going to dominate the EPL for years they’re pure class and a joy to watch
In other news expect Hughes to be sacked by Monday
@Mr Nimziki: hopefully the way he was shouting at the West Ham player coming off as a sub was disgraceful.
@Mr Nimziki: definitely next to go. A bit of a surprise though cause i thought they were at least heading in the right direction before this season
I neur heard of him?
World #1 Maybe , him or Neur !
@Is mise muc gránna: who is Nuer? Never heard of him.
@Is mise muc gránna: De Gea would be up there if you ask me! He’s kept United in games they have no right to be in over the past 4 years!
@Daniel Casey: he just doesn’t want to acknowledge any man utd player…its his kinda thing. Bit sad really
@Stephen Coveney: he’s just stirring the pot lads, ignore him. Everyone and their dog knows De Gea is the best keeper in the world.
@Daniel Casey: true only for him the last 4 years United would be mid to lower table easily
@Stephen Foster: Jeez my opionion. Stop getting so bent out of shape. Not everything is about how poor United are. De gea is a fine goalkeeper. Coming on alot. Improved so much he is probably Uniteds best player. Himself and Mignolet doing well. Mignolet the superior in my eyes as he is a phenomenon at saving pens !
To all the muppets giving out about Joe Hart being hard done by, struggling for game at West Ham now……
This world record designation is a bit of a misnomer. If you are talking about in £ equivalent it was a small bit more than Buffon. But in , which both deals would have been concluded in, Buffon was about €50 million to €40 million.
@William Boland: it is, its more trying to spice up articles than add information. The sun style
Stephen Cluxton in disguise