The following blog first appeared on A Bergkamp Wonderland on August 16, 2016. It has been reprinted here with their permission.  Since this blog first appeared, Arsenal have signed Lucas Pérez and Shkodran Mustafi – two signings which are a great move towards getting a winning team.

The spring of 2007 was unseasonably warm in London. As the sun crested the early morning, a man shaved and brushed his teeth – rehearsing the lines again in his head.

As he continued to prepare for his morning meetings, he questioned what he was about to do. In the past, he had been clear in his mission – often taking on riskier and riskier endeavors to bring success to the club he loved.… More SMRTETA

SMRTILYTICS is a bit of a hobby of mine.  For a full explanation of this project, check out the main SMRTILYTICS page.  -OG

Week 38 – The Season Finale

Well it seems that enough time has passed since the season has concluded and it feels like it’s now or never to put a bookend on SMRTILYTICS for the 2015/16 Season.  In truth, that time has likely come and gone – but better late than never, right…right?

For the season ender, I’m going to keep it simple.  Of course we’ll have our Big Chart in all it’s glory but in addition I’ll give you a rundown on the Total Shot Ratio on Target, Goals For and Against, and the Combined Metric for each team.… More SMRTETA

We aren’t winning the League this year.

As the embers of our flickering title challenge were extinguished by the 7-minute hat trick of Andy Carroll at the weekend¹, attention shifted from the fragile mentality of one last chance to catch Leicester to the reasons for our diabolical shortfall this season.

The questions have gained in momentum since conspiring to lose at Old Trafford and the subsequent insipid display versus Swansea at home. Although the signs were arguably there already, those results consigned many supporters to the inevitable outcome of a fourth place trophy (perhaps third).

This is not meant to be a damning indictment of Arsène Wenger but the mounting pressure on him is not unfounded.… More SMRTETA

SMRTILYTICS is a bit of a hobby of mine.  For a full explanation of this project, check out the main SMRTILYTICS page.  -OG

Week 33

I’m back from the nether-reaches of the Sea of Cortez (or Baja Sur California as the locals call it) with a tan, some fairly cheap Liga MX replica kits and one helluva hangover!

This week’s SMRTILYTICS update is likely the penultimate 2016 entry as we enter the endgame of the Premier League Season. I have a few things to comment on as per the usual dross before going into a new space which has taken some work as well as grey matter, but more on that to come.… More SMRTETA

SMRTILYTICS is a bit of a hobby of mine.  For a full explanation of this project, check out the main SMRTILYTICS page.  -OG

Week 29

Twenty-nine weeks into the season and I’m forced to ask the question:

Are statistics true predictors of league position?

In terms of points earned, the answer is a resounding “YES!”

But what about the goals conceded and total shot ratio numbers I’ve been carefully collecting to date? This, after all, is an experiment; a hypothesis based on using just two statistics to make overarching statements on league position.

To be honest, there are still 9 weeks of data to be played – and 10 weeks in some cases (Newcastle, Everton, Manchester City and Liverpool) so formulating broad conclusions are premature.… More SMRTETA