Light without Lamps?
Wednesday 7 September 2011 18:45, UK
What's England's favourite month? What's their record like without Frank Lampard? Martin Tyler knows...
Martin brings you a special teaser from Bulgaria
Martin Tyler's stats and facts column is back for the new season! Every week he will be here to offer you statistical gems to make your day, impress your mates and, on occasion, to settle the odd bet. Sky Sports' voice of football and his back-up team of experts are here to answer your questions and queries on all things statistical and historical from the beautiful game. If you have spotted something from a game or have been stumped by a pub quiz question, simply email skysportsclub@bskyb.com and he will do his best to help.Tyler's Starting Stat - Seven into five for Parker
Scott Parker now has eight caps for England and amazingly he won his first seven with five different clubs. That means he equals Dave Watson (the centre half from 1970's, not the more recent Everton player), Peter Shilton, David Platt, David James and Emile Heskey as winning caps with five different teams. They all had more than 50 - but he did it in seven. John Terry has now captained England 32 times, overtaking Kevin Keegan's 31. Next in line is Alan Shearer (34), David Beckham (59), Bobby Robson (65), Bobby Moore and Billy Wright (90). Ashley Cole moved onto 91 caps overtaking Robson's 90. He's now chasing Wright (105), Charlton (106), Moore (108), Beckham (117) and Shilton (125) Wayne Rooney's two goals against Bulgaria took him to 28 - equal with Steve Bloomer. He's now only behind Vivian Woodward (29), Tom Finney, Nat Lofthouse and Shearer (30), Michael Owen (40), Jimmy Greaves (44), Gary Lineker (48) and Charlton (49).OWED TO AUTUMN?
Hi Martin. Love the column - it's essential reading every week! Can you answer this question for me? People say England are always stronger in September but then struggle towards the end of the season, but do the stats back this up. If you look at the last decade, which month is England's strongest in terms of wins? Julian (Leicester City fan) MARTIN SAYS: England certainly have a fine record in the month of September. They have won their last 12 games in that month, a run that stretches back to September 2005 and that famous shock 1-0 defeat in Northern Ireland. In fact, that's England's only September defeat in the last decade, a total of 21 games. I can also tell you that Wayne Rooney has now scored in each of the last four Septembers! I have broken down England's games by month, starting with the famous 5-1 win in Germany in September 2001. As you can see, England have won all three of their games in the month of April during that period, but tend to struggle in February and November. Their win percentage in the month of June - when major tournaments are held - stands at 57% in the last 10 years. England results by month from September 1, 2001 to present (win percentage in brackets): JANUARY: no games FEBRUARY (25%): P8 W2 D3 L3 F10 A8 MARCH (62%): P13W8 D2 L3 F24 A7 APRIL (100%): P3 W3 D0 L0 F8 A1 MAY (78%): P9 W7* D2 L0 F23 A10 JUNE (57%): P28 W16 D9** L3 F62 A22 WP: 57% JULY (0%): P1 W0 D1** L1 F0 A0 WP: 0% AUGUST (50%): P8 W4 D2 L2 F21 A9 WP50% SEPTEMBER (86%): P21 W18 D2 L1 F42 A11 OCTOBER (53%): P17 W9 D5 L3 F27 A13 NOVEMBER (30%): P10 W3 D2 L5 F13 A15 DECEMBER: No games * excludes 3-0 win against Platinum Stars ** Penalty defeats v Portugal classed as draws
IT'S 'ARD TO BE WITHOUT YOU
Dear Martin. Can you tell me the last time England played without Frank Lampard AND Steven Gerrard, especially in a competitive game? Nick (England fan) MARTIN SAYS: As discussed in the syudio, last Friday's game against Bulgaria was the first competitive game England have started without either Gerrard or Lampard in nine years. The last occasion was in June 2002, as they were eliminated by Brazil from the World Cup. Neither of those two players was included in the squad for that tournament. However, the duo have failed to start in six friendlies in that time, most recently against Ghana at Wembley last March, one of only five England fixtures that has featured neither player since the 2002 World Cup. England games without Gerrard or Lampard in starting line-up: 02/09/2011: Bulgaria 0-3 England (Euro 2012 qualifier)*
29/03/2011: England 1-1 Ghana (Friendly)
14/11/2009: Brazil 1-0 England (Friendly)
11/02/2009: Spain 2-0 England (Friendly)*
19/11/2008: Germany 1-2 England (Friendly)
31/05/2005: Colombia 2-3 England (Friendly)
28/05/2005: USA 1-2 England (Friendly)
21/06/2002: Brazil 2-1 England (World Cup) *Lampard came off bench
MIDDLE MEN
Dear Martin. Much has been said about England's options in central midfield, but can you tell me which of the following players is most valuable to the national team: Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Gareth Barry, Scott Parker. Since they made their debuts what is England's record like with them in the team and without them in the team? Niall (Coventry City fan) MARTIN SAYS: We asked the boys at Opta to look into this for you, considering England's results with / without these players since making their debuts. Here's what they found. FRANK LAMPARD (debut: 10/10/1999)
WITH: P87 W52 D19 L16 F172 A77
WITHOUT: P50 W27 D13 L10 F86 A41 Since his debut England have won 59.7% of their games with Lampard in the side compared to 54.0% without him. They score an average of 1.97 goals per game and concede an average of 0.89 with Lampard in the side. Without him they score 1.72 goals per game and concede 0.82. So on average they win more and score more with him in the side - but they also concede more. STEVEN GERRARD (debut: 31/05/2000)
WITH: P88 W58 D19 L11 F188 A66
WITHOUT: P44 W19 D11 L14 F65 A50 Since his debut England have won 65.9% of their games with Gerrard in the side compared to 43.2% without him. They score an average of 2.14 goals per game and concede an average of 0.75 with Gerrard in the side. Without him they score 1.47 goals per game and concede 1.14. The stats suggest they win more, score more and concede fewer when he plays. GARETH BARRY (debut: 31/05/2000)
WITH: P47 W29 D7 L11 F90 A41
WITHOUT: P85 W48 D23 L14 F163 A75 Since his debut England have won 61.7% of their games with Barry in the side compared to 56.5% without him. They score an average of 1.91 goals per game and concede an average of 0.89 with Barry in the side. Without him they score 1.92 goals per game and concede 0.88 - almost identical numbers. SCOTT PARKER (debut: 16/11/2003)
WITH: P8 W4 D1 L3 F12 A9
WITHOUT: P83 W52 D17 L14 F171 A68 Since his debut England have won 50.0% of their games with Parker in the side compared to 62.7% without him. They score an average of 1.50 goals per game and concede an average of 1.13 with Parker in the side. Without him they score 2.06 goals per game and concede 0.82. The stats do not reflect well on Parker, but as he has only played eight times it is perhaps not a fair comparison.
RIGHT CALLS
Dear Martin. The debut of Chris Smalling for England got us thinking about that position. Can you tell us how many right-backs England have used since the retirement of Gary Neville and how many games they've played? Mark (England fan) MARTIN SAYS: England have now played exactly 50 times since Gary Neville's last England appearance against Spain in February 2007 and below we have detailed the right-backs who STARTED each of those games. As you can see, England have used six different players at right-back in that time with Glen Johnson accounting for more than half of those games. England starting right-backs since Gary Neville retired: Jamie Carragher (2 apps) Micah Richards (8 apps) Wes Brown (10 apps) Phil Jagielka (1 app) Glen Johnson (27 apps) Chris Smalling (2 apps)
BOGEY TEAMS
Hi Martin, Greeting from Nairobi, I'm Milton a Chelsea fan. I never miss reading your column because I love football stats. I got a question. I heard before the Chelsea vs Norwich game that only three teams - namely Arsenal, Norwich and Oldham -have won more than they have lost against Chelsea in the Premier League. Can I know the teams that have more wins than losses against the seven ever-present teams in the Premier League. Thanks. Milton Getono MARTIN REPLIES: well after Chelsea's win over Norwich, their record against the Canaries now reads P9 W4 D1 L4, so now only Arsenal and Oldham can boast more Premier League wins than losses against the Blues. I've looked into the records of the other ever-present Premier League teams - Arsenal, Aston Villa, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham - and there are some interesting results. Only one team - Chelsea - can boast more wins than losses against United, while QPR are, surprisingly, one of only three teams who have more wins than losses against Arsenal. Teams with more wins than losses against Premier League's ever-presents: Arsenal (three teams)
v Liverpool: P39 W11 D13 L15
v Man Utd: P39 W11 D11 L17
v QPR: P8 W1 D5 L2 Aston Villa (nine teams)
v Arsenal: P38 W7 D13 L18
v Chelsea: P38 W10 D12 L16
v Leicester: P16 W3 D8 L5
v Liverpool: P38 W10 D8 L20
v Man City: P28 W6 D8 L14vv Man Utd: P38 W3 D10 L25
v Newcastle: P34 W8 D9 L17
v Oldham P4 W0 D2 L2
v Stoke: P6 W1 D3 L2 Chelsea (two teams)
v Arsenal: P38 W10 D11 L17
v Oldham P4 W0 D1 L3 Everton (10 teams)
v Arsenal: P38 W5 D9 L24
v Aston Villa: P38 W7 D14 L17
v Chelsea: P38 W6 D16 L16
v Coventry P18 W3 D9 L6
v Liverpool: P38 W9 D13 L16
v Man Utd: P38 W4 D6 L28
v Newcastle: P34 W11 D8 L15
v QPR: P9 W2 D1 L6
v Sheff Wed: P16 W3 D5 L8
v Tottenham W6 D14 L18 Liverpool (three teams)
v Blackpool: P2 W0 D0 L2
v Chelsea: P38 W15 D7 L16
v Man Utd: P38 W11 D7 L20 Man Utd (one team)
v Chelsea: P38 W11 D14 L13 Tottenham (14 teams):
v Arsenal: P38 W7 D17 L14
v Aston Villa: P38 W11 D14 L13
v Blackpool P2 W0 D1 L1
v Chelsea: P38 W3 D13 L22
v Coventry: P18 W7 D3 L8
v Ipswich: P10 W3 D3 L4
v Leeds: P24: W8 D6 L10
v Leicester: P16 W5 D3 L8
v Liverpool: P38 W11 D10 L17
v Man Utd: P39 W3 D8 L28
v Newcastle: P34 W13 D5 L16
v Nottm Forest: P10 W3 D1 L6
v Sheff Wed: P16 W6 D2 L8
v Swindon P2 W0 D1 L1
ABSENT FRIENDS
Martin, a friend and I started talking about injury-prone players. We then got onto how much time some players have spent not actually playing. My question is, in the last five seasons, who has played the most minutes of first-team football between Jonathan Woodgate, Owen Hargreaves and Kieron Dyer? My money would be on Hargreaves but it wouldn't be more than 50p! A strange question but your help would be appreciated! James, Southend. MARTIN SAYS: We have broken this down for you, although we have only taken into account Premier League games to make it a fair comparison (Kieron Dyer, for example, would not have had the same opportunity to play in European fixtures as Owen Hargreaves has). We have classed a full appearance as 90 minutes (injury time is not taken into account) and substitute appearances have been recorded according to the time they entered or left the field. On this basis, you would definitely lose your 50p. Jonathan Woodgate has played more than three times as many Premier League minutes as the other two. He did not play a single league game last year, but as a near ever-present in 2008/09 he is well ahead of the others with 5,828 minutes under his belt. Our stats then put Owen Hargreaves on 1,652 minutes and Kieron Dyer on 1,368mins since the start of 2007/08. Minutes played: Kieron Dyer
2011/12: 1app, 7mins
2010/11: 11apps, 608mins
2009/10: 10apps, 380mins
2008/09: 7apps, 193mins
2007/08: 2apps, 180mins TOTAL: 31apps, 1368mins Jonathan Woodgate
2011/12: 3apps, 257mins
2010/11: 0apps, 0mins
2009/10: 3apps, 194mins
2008/09: 34apps, 2935mins
2007/08: 28apps, 2442mins TOTAL: 68apps, 5828mins Owen Hargreaves
2011/12: 0apps, 0mins
2010/11: 1app, 10mins
2009/10: 1app, 1min
2008/09: 2apps, 114mins
2007/08: 23 apps, 1527mins TOTAL: 27apps, 1652mins Perhaps the most interesting question is which one of them will play the most minutes this season? We'll see as the campaign progresses...
