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Lies, damned lies, and statistics.
Trendy soccer exists as a lot on spreadsheets on laptops because it does in stadiums such is the unimaginable proliferation of statistical evaluation lately.
Golf equipment like Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion have achieved unimaginable success, on and off the pitch, through the use of knowledge to achieve important benefits on golf equipment with extra sources however far much less information. We’re taking a look at you Manchester United.
However this shift in the direction of statistics can typically result in particular person knowledge factors getting used to type narratives that are far more nuanced than on first look. And a current chart, detailing how Matheus Cunha “spent extra time strolling” than every other outfield participant within the Premier League, is an ideal instance of this misrepresentation.
Information With out Depth
Matheus Cunha is heading to Manchester United however Opta stats reveal he spent extra time strolling than every other Premier League participant this season. 🤔🚶#MUFC #BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/qrW6D4UnJQ
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) Might 28, 2025
Tweet: “Matheus Cunha is heading to Manchester United however Opta stats reveal he spent extra time strolling than every other Premier League participant this season.”
Match of the Day revealed the Wolverhampton Wanderers ahead spent 77.1% of his season “strolling” – the very best within the league outdoors of goalkeepers, with 4 defenders making up the remainder of the highest 5.
This chart blew up on social media given Cunha is about to hitch United this summer season in a deal price £62.5 million after an settlement was reached with the Brazilian worldwide.
It was described as proof the membership had been welcoming one other lazy participant with a lackadaisical angle to Previous Trafford for giant cash; an illustration the Crimson Devils weren’t heeding classes from the previous.
However the chart omits the truth that Cunha was one in all solely two gamers within the ‘backside ten’ of the Premier League to succeed in the 20 mark for targets and assists, together with West Ham winger Jarrod Bowen.
The 26-year-old ahead completed the season with 15 targets and 6 assists with out scoring a single penalty. Solely 5 gamers scored extra non-penalty targets than Cunha – Mohammed Salah, Alexander Isak, Erling Haaland, Yoanne Wissa, and Chris Wooden.
The chart ignores Cunha produced these numbers whereas enjoying for one of many worst groups within the division, a aspect who flirted with relegation for a lot of the marketing campaign earlier than Vitor Pereira’s arrival at Christmas.
However, being honest, neither Cunha’s attacking risk nor his place in a poor crew (although this expertise will put together him properly for a swap to Previous Trafford) essentially excuse a lazy angle on the pitch. He will be an elite aim risk hindered by inferior teammates and nonetheless display a lethargy which may fear United followers.
The problem is that this chart provides zero perception into what Cunha does for the remaining 22.9% of his time on the pitch.
“If you’d like explosiveness…”
STATSports, an trade main knowledge evaluation group in soccer, reveals Cunha ranks extremely compared to his Wolves’ teammates for ‘explosive’ statistics, dispelling the concept of laziness.
Amongst the senior squad at Molineux, Cunha ranks third for “most dash distance” and “most sprints”, whereas clocking in at second for “proportion of his time spent sprinting (per 90).”
The concept that the Brazilian spends the second most period of time sprinting for his aspect whereas concurrently spending probably the most period of time strolling out of any outfield Premier League participant reveals the problem with evaluation statistics in isolation.
The previous paints the image of a relentless participant who merely doesn’t cease operating; the latter suggests a narrative of laziness and vanity, a participant who considers himself ‘above’ operating off the ball such is his expertise on it.
As with each black and white story, the reality will lie someplace within the gray.
Cunha is an explosive participant in assault who can contribute far more in defence. This doesn’t point out an inherent difficulty with work-rate, slightly the fact of a superb attacker enjoying for a crew teetering on relegation. A participant who believes he has outgrown his membership will typically wrestle to search out the motivation to run for each ball.
A superb instance of this case was Youri Tielemans at Leicester Metropolis who finally moved to Aston Villa on a free switch, regardless of wonderful performances on the coronary heart of the Foxes’ midfield. But there have been issues over the Belgian’s work-rate, most notably from Leicester followers themselves, and different golf equipment uncared for to comply with up their curiosity.
However it has confirmed a revelatory signing for Villa with Tielemans arguably Unai Emery’s most vital participant within the final two season. The 28-year-old midfielder was spurred on by arriving at a much bigger membership with higher gamers and better expectations; slightly, he felt he was at residence.
It ought to show an analogous expertise for Cunha who’s believed to see Previous Trafford as a dream transfer with a agency motivation to assist flip the golf equipment fortunes round.
Ruben Amorim has repeatedly referenced the necessity for arduous yards since arriving in Manchester n November. Working arduous is a pre-requisite to play below the Portuguese coach, as Marcus Rashford can attest to from Birmingham.
However Amorim has performed a key function in figuring out Cunha as a goal and spoken with the ahead over the function he’ll play for the Crimson Devils. If the previous Sporting supervisor was in any nervous by Cunha’s tendency to stroll, United would have walked away from the deal way back.
STATSports concludes their evaluation of the Wolves Participant of the Season by stating, “If you’d like explosiveness, Cunha provides it to you.” Amorim will probably be hoping the Brazilian worldwide has an explosive impact on United’s misfiring assault subsequent season.
Featured picture Carl Recine by way of Getty Photos
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