100% NZ-owned | 80,000+ Books In NZ πŸ“š

Buy Today for a Chance to Win a $1,000 Mystery Box! 🎁

The Numbers Game

Why Everything You Know About Football is Wrong
3.72 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 3,494 ratings, 261 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In The Numbers Game by Chris Anderson and David Sally, the book delves into the analytical side of football to explore how statistics and data can reveal insights into the game. The authors examine various aspects of football performance, challenging conventional wisdom and demonstrating how statistical analysis can influence strategies and improve outcomes on the pitch. This sports book combines storytelling with groundbreaking data analysis to transform the understanding of football.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2700
Elsewhere:
$3000
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 3-4 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by how statistics and strategy can revolutionise the world of football. It offers a fresh perspective on the game by dissecting the numbers behind tactics, player performance, and team success, revealing insights that could transform the way you watch and understand the sport.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

The Numbers Game

What if the numbers that really matter, the ones that hold the key to winning matches, are actually 2.66, 53.4, 50/50, and 0 > 1? What if managers only make a 15 per cent difference? What if Chelsea should have bought Darren Bent? This book shows that every shred of knowledge we can gather can help us to love football and understand it even more.

Wonderfully readable and counter-intuitive, The Numbers Game will win you plenty of pub arguments. After reading it you will never think about football in the same way again.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A new sporting classic - The book that could change the game forever (The Times)

Football has always been a numbers game: 4-4-2, the big number 9 and 3 points for a win. But what if up until now we've been focusing on the wrong numbers? What if the numbers that really matter, the ones that hold the key to winning matches, are actually 2.66, 53.4, 50/50, and 0 > 1? What if managers only make a 15% difference? What if Chelsea should have bought Darren Bent?

In this incisive, myth-busting book, Chris Anderson, former goalkeeper turned football statistics guru, and David Sally, former baseball pitcher turned behavioural economist, show that every shred of knowledge we can gather can help us to love football and understand it even more. You'll discover why stopping a goal is more valuable than scoring one, why corners should be taken short, and why it is better to improve your worst player than to buy a superstar.

You'll never play, or watch, a game of football in quite the same way again.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Numbers Game by Chris Anderson and David Sally is lauded for transforming the way people understand and perceive football. Renowned individuals, such as Malcolm Gladwell and Billy Beane, praise the book for its innovative approach to understanding the game, suggesting it adds depth and nuance to the viewer's experience. Critics highlight its accessibility and its ability to appeal to both traditional fans and statistical enthusiasts, potentially altering the reader’s perspective on teams and players.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780241963623

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 05 June 2014

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Books Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 24.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 277g

Pages: 400

About the Author

At 17, Chris Anderson found himself playing in goal for a fourth division club in West Germany; today, he's a professor in the Ivy League at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. An award winning social scientist and football analytics pioneer, Anderson consults with leading clubs about how best to play the numbers game. David Sally is a former baseball pitcher and a professor at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College in the US, where he analyses the strategies and tactics people use when they play, compete, negotiate, and make decisions. He is an adviser to clubs and other organizations in the global football industry.

Also by Chris Anderson

View all

Also by David Sally

View all

More from Sports

View all

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 80,000 books and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.