Grab A Copy Now

By Ben Knight Onward!

Soccernomics: Hope for the little guy?
You’re going to be hearing a lot about Soccernomics, the breakthrough study of soccer numbers by Simon Kuper (Soccer Against the Enemy) and economist Stefan Szymanski.

If you’re interested in the nuts and bolts of why games are won and lost, and which clubs and nations are likeliest to prevail, just race right out and grab a copy now.

I have almost half an entire bookshelf devoted to Bill James, the legendary baseball stats wizard who changed every thinking person’s approach to baseball by actually counting everything up, and inventing new stats – on-base percentage – that actually correlated directly with on-field success.

Soccer, of course, doesn’t have nearly as many stats – but high-data computer programs like ProZone are already changing that.

Kuper and Szymanski have broader statistical models – population, national wealth, international soccer experience – that neatly predict which nations should win, which can’t and … fascinatingly … which over- and underachieve.

Canada – bless us, every one! – turns out to be one of the most underachieving soccer nations on the planet. England – confirming the honest, outspoken fears of many – consistently wins more than it is entitled to.

There’s far too much in this thrilling book to deal with in one go, so here’s a couple of juicy tidbits to chew on:

Full Story