Analysis
Analysis
Football statistics look simple: years, competitions, numbers. But old tables were compiled under different rules, competitions changed format and clubs changed names. This section offers six steps for analysing historical statistics, a table of tactical systems described in general terms, and a few remarks on how to keep numbers from turning into myths.
A number without context easily becomes a legend. The job of analysis is to give it its context back.
How to analyse historical statistics
Identify the source
Where do the figures come from: an official competition history, an encyclopaedia, a club publication or an amateur database? The closer the source is to the organiser, the more reliable it is.
Pin down the competition and format
Competitions changed format and names. Serie A has existed as a single league since the 1929–30 season, and the European Cup later became the Champions League.
When comparing achievements from different eras, state which format of the competition you mean.
Check the club's name
Clubs changed their names and ownership structures. Milan was founded as Milan Foot-Ball and Cricket Club and may appear under a different name in old documents.
Compare several sources
If the figures differ, do not pick the convenient one. Note the discrepancy and look for the original source.
Separate fact from opinion
The number of titles is a fact; "the best team of the era" is an opinion. Keep these layers apart in your analysis.
Milan's seven wins in Europe's top club competition are a fact; conclusions about "greatness" are already interpretation.
Do not fill in the gaps
If there is no data, say so. Scores and line-ups reconstructed from memory easily become errors that are then copied from text to text for years.
Tactical systems in general terms
| System | Idea | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Catenaccio | A compact defence with an extra free defender behind the line, plus quick counter-attacks | Associated with Italian football of the 1960s; the word itself means "door bolt" |
| Zonal marking | Each defender is responsible for an area of the pitch rather than a specific opponent | Contrasted with man-marking, it strongly influenced later systems |
| Man-marking | A defender follows a specific opponent all over the pitch | A classic method of old-school football, often combined with catenaccio |
| Pressing | The team tries to win the ball back immediately after losing it, close to the opponents' goal | One of the key ideas of later football, opposite in spirit to defending in front of your own goal |
Related sections
- People
Who creates football culture: supporters, fanzine writers, journalists, historians, photographers, commentators.
- Articles
Magazine topics: Milan's clubs, San Siro, colours and nicknames, fanzines, catenaccio, the language of calcio. Plus the article catalogue.
- History
A timeline of Italian football from the founding of Milan in 1899 to the 2007 Champions League.
Sources
- Encyclopaedic sources on the history of Italian football
- UEFA — competition history
Historical information is based on encyclopaedic sources and official competition histories. Competition rules, stadium names and museum visiting arrangements change, so check them on the organisers' official websites.