My database is nearing completion and I now do player-combination comparisons. Disregarding all the facts about how you can't compare different seasons and competitions, these figures comprise whole NUFC career regardless of season and competition:

Let's have a look at our winger combinations:

Player	Player	Matches	Points	G/F	G/A
Solano	Robert	8	2.00	1.88	1.38
Ginola	Gillespie	35	1.77	1.69	1.11
Solano	Glass	21	1.71	1.33	1.05

-- Anonymous, October 10, 2001

Answers

This is all about games that both players started in each instance. Here come the defenders...

-- Anonymous, October 10, 2001

Player	Player	Matches	Points	G/F	G/A
Peacock D	Pearce	11	1.27	0.91	0.91
Albert	Pearce	19	1.58	1.16	0.95
Dabizas	Helder	10	2.40	2.40	1.00
Hughes	Helder	8	2.38	2.50	1.00
Peacock D	Albert	57	1.68	1.61	1.02
Dabizas	Marcelino	11	1.73	1.91	1.09
Peacock D	Howey	33	2.15	1.91	1.12
Albert	Dabizas	7	1.14	0.71	1.14
Dabizas	Pearce	20	1.45	1.15	1.15
O'Brien A	Hughes	6	1.33	1.50	1.17
Dabizas	Howey	21	1.62	1.57	1.19
Howey	Albert	18	1.56	1.61	1.22
O'Brien A	Dabizas	11	1.64	1.18	1.27
Dabizas	Hughes	43	1.58	1.70	1.30
Hughes	Marcelino	7	1.00	0.71	1.43
Dabizas	Goma	10	0.70	1.00	1.90
Goma	Marcelino	6	0.33	1.17	2.00

-- Anonymous, October 10, 2001

I'm not doing the strikers until I've finished putting 1993-94 and 1994-95 on: wouldn't be the same without Cole and Beardsley.

-- Anonymous, October 10, 2001

Your missing Distin/O'Brien ;-))

I se the long winter evenings are drawing in then!

-- Anonymous, October 10, 2001

So how muh would Helder cost??? Bring him back!!

-- Anonymous, October 10, 2001

Goma/Marcelino - £11 million. Nuff said.

-- Anonymous, October 10, 2001

Maybe we should team Marcy and Dabz up again...

-- Anonymous, October 10, 2001

What about Helder and Farcelino? Can you do (ahem) projections??

-- Anonymous, October 10, 2001

Interesting isn't it that these stats suggest that two of our best defenders of recent years have been Sharon and the Prince - both brought to the club by that manager whose teams couldn't defend according to the pundits!

-- Anonymous, October 10, 2001

Great work Softie - puts Helder in a good light doesn't it? Or did we play with 3 centre halves in some games when he was at the club - could indicate that a change of formation rather than a change of personnel is in order?

-- Anonymous, October 10, 2001

Very interesting. Thanks Softie. The Solano Robert partnership result will make my week a lot brighter. I'm not sure they can really be blammed all that much for a higher G/A. But clearly its a sign we are on the right track there.

-- Anonymous, October 10, 2001

ADK, I was toying with using an indicator to show how each player was used tactically in each game to allow that kind of analysis but found that it was far too subjective. For instance, Barnes found himself as winger, centre forward, defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder, sweeper and wing back in different games and often a combination of those as players were brought on or departed. I also have stats for 4,689 appearances already (2 seasons to go) comprising 109 players in 413 matches and think that maybe a line has to be drawn somewhere :-)

Many of Pearce's games will have been as left full-back but sufficient were either as a centre half or a static member of a back 3 to make his inclusion worthwhile. Chavet has been left out, however, since he played as a wingback or full back in the majority of his games.

The above stats include all games: i.e. cup games have been given the same points values as premiership games to include them in the reckoning. A very blunt tool but an interesting exercise nonetheless.

-- Anonymous, October 10, 2001

Here're a few midfield cobinations to throw into the melting pot:

Player	Player	Matches	Points	G/F	G/A	Gdiff
Dyer	Lee	43	1.49	1.53	1.35	7
Lee	Speed	97	1.48	1.41	1.22	7
Dyer	Speed	62	1.47	1.65	1.45	7
Dyer	Solano	49	1.29	1.61	1.63	-1
Acuna	Lee	20	1.15	1.30	1.75	-17
Acuna	Speed	23	1.09	1.22	1.70	-18

I've never rated Acun'a combination to breaking up or launching attacks but hadn't realised quite how stark it would be. Bearing in mind that his Inter Toto involvement has boosted his stats accordingly, these are very poor (although better than Bassedas who doesn't have a representative sample to call on!).

Particularly intrigued by Dyer since the combination with Solano where he mostly played inside are less impressive than when he has either Speed or Lee which comprises those games where he played up front or out wide.

I can already hear demands for the ability to pick combinations of 3 or 4 players and shall get on with it right away.

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001

I've started limiting these stats to Premiership appearances only. I have had a quick gander at back fours, and the first thing that really grabs you is how hard it is to find repeating combinations across the back which is probably why we are so crap at defending. Anyways, an early offering:

Player	Player	Player	Player	Matches	Points	G/F	G/A	G Diff
Barton	Dabizas	Helder	Hughes	3	2.33	2.33	0.67	63
Griffin	Dabizas	Hughes	Domi	2	2.00	2.50	2.00	19
Barton	Dabizas	Helder	Domi	2	1.00	2.00	2.00	0
Barton	Howey	Dabizas	Domi	4	1.25	1.50	1.50	0
Watson	Albert	Pearce	Pistone	6	1.33	0.83	1.00	-6
Barton	Dabizas	O'Brien A	Quinn	5	1.60	1.00	1.20	-8
Barton	Dabizas	Hughes	Domi	6	1.17	1.50	1.83	-13
Watson	Albert	Peacock D	Pearce	3	0.67	0.67	1.00	-13

I can compare 3s as well as 4s and pairs if anyone has any burning desire to compare particular combinations.

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001

Is the baby still keeping you awake then Softie :-)

Keep up the good work - it's very interesting, not sure what to make of it but it is still very interesting.

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001

My brain hurts and I'm boss-eyed. But thanks for an interesting set of stats - not many of those around IMHO.

Hope all well in the Soft Southerner household.

lots of love

val x x x

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001

Softie, you need a hobby mate.

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001

I was thinking of taking up golf...

...but I can't afford the vet's bills ;-)

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001

Come back Helder I say

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001

Good stats as well, Softie, must have took you ages

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001

Thanks. I've just wasted an hour downloading every combination of defenders used by Robson in the Premiership since taking over (a staggering 40+) but my PC crashed before I could save it and I don't have the heart to go through it all again just now :-(

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001

Ya, great work Softie. I think your hobby is great =)

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001

Wow! That's it for Clarence. There's lies, damn lies and statistics - but I don't see how Clarence can survive that analysis. Now I see why Mr Robson opts for Lee whenever he can - and we are a long way from replacing him. Clarence doesn't even rate as "cover" with those stats.

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001

Here are the defensive combinations employed by Robson in the league since he joined us. No wonder there is no understanding.

Player	Player	Player	Player	P	Pts	G/F	G/A
Barton	Helder	Goma	Hughes	1	3.00	2.00	0.00
Pistone	Dabizas	Helder	Dumas	1	3.00	1.00	0.00
Griffin	Barton	Hughes	Domi	1	3.00	2.00	1.00
Charvet	Dabizas	Helder	Hughes	1	3.00	2.00	1.00
Griffin	Howey	Dabizas	Barton	1	3.00	4.00	2.00
Barton	Dabizas	Helder	Hughes	3	2.33	2.33	0.67
Griffin	Charvet	Hughes	Domi	3	2.33	2.00	1.33
Barton	Dabizas	Marcelino	Pistone	5	2.00	2.20	1.00
Charvet	Goma	Hughes	Domi	3	2.00	1.67	1.00
Griffin	Marcelino	Hughes	Barton	3	2.00	1.33	1.33
Barton	Goma	Hughes	Quinn	3	2.00	2.33	1.67
Griffin	Dabizas	O'Brien A	Elliott R	3	2.00	1.67	1.67
Barton	Dabizas	Hughes	Elliott R	3	1.67	2.00	1.00
Barton	Dabizas	O'Brien A	Quinn	5	1.60	1.00	1.20
Barton	Dabizas	Hughes	Pistone	4	1.50	1.50	1.00
Barton	Howey	Dabizas	Hughes	5	1.40	1.20	1.00
Barton	Dabizas	O'Brien A	Hughes	3	1.33	1.00	1.00
Barton	Dabizas	Hughes	Domi	6	1.17	1.50	1.83
Barton	Hughes	Goma	Domi	8	1.13	2.00	1.50
Charvet	Hughes	Goma	Barton	1	1.00	0.00	0.00
Pistone	Marcelino	Dumas	Domi	1	1.00	0.00	0.00
Dabizas	Marcelino	Dumas	Pistone	2	1.00	0.50	0.50
Pistone	Dumas	Dabizas	Domi	2	1.00	0.50	0.50
Griffin	Goma	Hughes	Domi	1	1.00	1.00	1.00
Griffin	Caldwell S	Hughes	Quinn	1	1.00	1.00	1.00
Hughes	Marcelino	Dabizas	Pistone	1	1.00	1.00	1.00
Barton	Dabizas	Helder	Pistone	1	1.00	2.00	2.00
Barton	Dabizas	Goma	Domi	4	0.75	1.00	1.50
Griffin	Goma	Hughes	Barton	3	0.67	1.33	2.00
Barton	Hughes	O'Brien A	Quinn	3	0.33	0.67	2.00
Barton	Marcelino	Goma	Domi	3	0.33	1.67	2.33
Charvet	Goma	Hughes	Griffin	1	0.00	0.00	1.00
Griffin	Goma	Hughes	Quinn	1	0.00	0.00	1.00
Barton	Caldwell S	Hughes	Quinn	1	0.00	1.00	2.00
Barton	Howey	Goma	Hughes	2	0.00	0.50	2.00
Barton	Marcelino	Goma	Hughes	1	0.00	0.00	2.00
Barton	Dabizas	Marcelino	Hughes	1	0.00	0.00	2.00
Barton	Marcelino	Caldwell S	Hughes	1	0.00	0.00	2.00
Barton	Marcelino	Hughes	Quinn	1	0.00	0.00	2.00
Barton	Hughes	Helder	Pistone	1	0.00	0.00	2.00
Barton	Dabizas	Goma	Hughes	4	0.00	0.75	2.75
Barton	Dabizas	Hughes	Quinn	1	0.00	0.00	3.00
Barton	Dabizas	O'Brien A	Elliott R	1	0.00	0.00	3.00
Griffin	Caldwell S	Hughes	Barton	2	0.00	0.00	3.50

-- Anonymous, October 12, 2001

Barton Dabs Hughes Quinn
Only played together once? Are you sure?

-- Anonymous, October 12, 2001

Yeah, that would be about right, I think because Hughesie was injured at the end of last season just when Dabs came back and O'Brien came in, then Hughesie was left back. I would guess Softie's one combination of those four would be the intertoto (although I'd have thought it was more than one game)?

-- Anonymous, October 12, 2001

These are all just Premiership games, folks, I'll double check later but that's the only one that came up. I have gone on starts only, so games where a player gets carried off in the first five minutes are still attributed to the starters. There are games with 5 at the back and games with only 3 defenders (2 with Rob Lee as sweeper for example) which either crop up more than once or not at all.

For all the shortcomings, that is an awesome list for the 78-odd Premiership games with Robson in charge.

-- Anonymous, October 12, 2001

The man does say that these are "league" games.

How many times have we played 3/5 at the back to give even more combinations/disruptioms??

Have you got the stats for Winterburn Adams Keown Dixon?

-- Anonymous, October 12, 2001

Not to mention attendances and atmosphere ratings - as we all know, a good atmosphere really improves the players' performances. Maybe Softie could factor in whether it was a Saturday 3pm, Sunday 4pm, midweek kick off as players' body clocks are a factor. Not to mention the festive season - that New Year game against West Ham showed that our players had been on the lash.

-- Anonymous, October 12, 2001

Or doing other things, Dougal. Wasn't that the season 3 or 4 player wives had babies around August/September? And how did those players fare in the weeks after the births? The screaming baby factor should be figured in as well. ;-)

-- Anonymous, October 12, 2001

You've just reminded me Dougal....Our young un reckons he saw a few of the players out in Baa Haa the night before the recent Liverpool game! no wonder we were shite.....

-- Anonymous, October 12, 2001

They're on here Dougal. Let me know if you need a "proper" version which will only pick out back 4's when we actually played with them.

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2001

Thanks, Softie, you're a hero!

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2001

all proves how good helder is

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2001

Helder played in Deportivo's last CL game. ITV showed the highlights, and from the little we saw he was cack - at fault for at least two goals, badly so on one of them.

I watched the Fulham v Spurs game last night, and thought Goma was also cack - we're well shot of him.

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2001