Stat-attack: Demba Ba v Andy Carroll.
Like it or not, comparisons will be made between Andy Carroll and the new man that is at least partially charged with replacing his goals.
If they don't then I'll bear my arse in Fenwick's window, but I have a suspicion that at some point, rightly or wrongly, there will be comparisons made between the two, even if it's something cursory like "Carroll would/wouldn't have done that" or something along those lines.
But what do the stats say? Well thanks to a website called WhoScored.com we can compare them and see just what the real picture is. Have we signed a pup? Or have we signed a player that has a real chance of being able to emulate Carroll's goalscoring exploits?
Well first off I guess we need to look at the stats.
Andy Carroll average (Newcastle only):
Shots 3.1, Key Passes 1.16, Successful Dribbles 0.5, Aerial Duels won 62%, Fouled 1.6, Goals 11, Goals per Shot 5.52
Demba Ba average:
Shots 2.9, Key Passes 0.92, Successful Dribbles 0.4, Aerial Duels won 43%, Fouled 1.8, Goals 7, Goals per Shot 4.97
The stats show that Andy Carroll was better in the air, had more key passes, won more in the air and scored more goals. However the stats also show Ba to be the more clinical player of the two, plus he clearly rattles opponents as he gets fouled more.
However, it's worth bearing in mind that Demba Ba's stats aren't too different to Carroll's, which is pretty good considering that Carroll was playing in a Newcastle side that was built to his strengths, had managed to score goals and get themselves as high as fifth in the table whilst Ba had to make do with a relegation scrap at West Ham with colleagues who looked as though they had given up the ghost a long time before their relegation was confirmed.
The reason I've written this is because I never realised the two were so close when it comes to the stats. You can make what you like with statistics, but these ones are pretty comprehensive and make up just about every aspect of the role of a striker. I'm fairly certain that if Demba Ba can remain fit that he will beef up our attack, especially when you look at the stats for our current strikeforce.
Now these are the stats for our attack (including top-scorer Kevin Nolna) as it stood at the end of the season minus Nile Ranger and Shefki Kuqi.
Newcastle attacker average:
Shots 1.75, Key Passes 0.64, Successful Dribbles 0.35, Aerial Duels won 43%, Fouled 1.1, Goals 7.5, Goals per Shot 5.12
As you can see, Demba Ba has them all pretty much licked. Our most ambitious striker was Leon Best who managed 2.4 shots per game, which is eclipsed by Ba. In fact the only area where our current strikeforce comes close is in the air, and even then they couldn't beat him.
I love all this, which is why my mates call me statto, among other, slightly more x-rated names naturally.
So there you go. The stats are there to back it up. We've signed a player who is better than what we have, only marginally worse than a £35 million striker, and all for the price of fresh air with regard to a transfer fee.
Now, if we can only keep him fit... :???:
