If they don’t then I’ll bear my **** 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… 😕
Shots per goal maybe? £35m is nothing for someone grabbing 5.52
goals per shot!
blip(Quote)
ba ba black sheep,have you any WOE?
YES SIR YES SIR,KNEE CAP WOE!
😳 😆
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
i remember someone told me that our own lovenkrands is one of the most lethal finisher in epl last season with his shots per goal..can someone confirm this
bron(Quote)
Oh Demba Ba, to me he is so wonderful,
Oh Demba Ba, to me he is so good.
BeeGuy(Quote)
Comments with links don’t seem to be working for me, so Bron… from the Sunday Sun:
“ACCORDING to the good men and women of Opta, the Premier League statisticians, Peter Lovenkrands is the third most accurate striker in England’s top division.
“Trailing only Arsenal’s rough diamond Samir Nasri and Liverpool’s dependable Dirk Kuyt, United’s Great Dane apparently hit the target with 60% of the efforts unleashed from his Exocet left foot last term.”
blip(Quote)
Even Messi doesn’t get close to that scoring rate 😳
Rafa(Quote)
with good service and alot of crosses just about anybody can knock a few in durring a season.
Utah-Mag(Quote)
We could probably rip off Villas **** paul mcgrath, Kum bya song…
CC(Quote)
Leon Best scored a goal every 125 mins too, apparently. Which put him 4th…
blip(Quote)
Blip@1 well spotted 😆
richietoon(Quote)
They may end up pretty close on time spent on the treatment table too 😉
richietoon(Quote)
git some nuts!!!!!!!!!!!!!
bob(Quote)
Yeah and Andy Carrolls worth 35million and we get Demba Ba for nowt pmpl
James(Quote)
Wonder how many times he punches their lasses lights oot in comparison to carroll or how many cars on Nolans drive get burnt oot belonging to Ba
bob(Quote)
Compare how many times we see Ba doon the quay holding up a bar whilst playing drinking games with his mates from gatesheed the night before a match
bob(Quote)
Funnily enough, none of that has happened since he’s been on Merseyside. Wonder what the difference may be…..
Rafa(Quote)
to me it seemed like carroll was better with set pieces and free kicks and in open play not so good. hopefully ba is effective at both
Utah-Mag(Quote)
ees got nee mates on merseyside to back him up and he can’t understand the scouse nonces anyways plus with his silly high pitched voice they all think he’s bent so steer clear
bob(Quote)
Rumour has it Nolan only moved to London cos carroll asked if he could leave the car in his drive while he went on holidays
bob(Quote)
Nolan – one of the most level headed blokes around. Rooney – a t**t. Yet even in Ibiza with Rooney he never starts anything. Go figure.
Rafa(Quote)
Rooneys been showing Carroll how to bag a granny prossie – it’ll all come oot in the rags soon enough
4411(Quote)
4411, I’m sure Carroll learned at an early age how to bag-a-slag
Rafa(Quote)
Good thread statto I just hope Ba can continue to improve on his stats will Carroll continues to improve on drinking and slapping lasses 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
DAVE thats you and richie that have took the bite today.
yous are better than that lads 🙁
icedog(Quote)
Try this:
Shots AC 7% more
Key passes AC 26% more
Successful dribbles AC 25% more
Aerial duels AC 44% better
Fouled AC 45% more
If Joey Barton had fewer free kicks to take, he would have had fewer assists and the team fewer goals, probably fewer points.
It might look close, but when you compare the percentage difference, it is significant.
John(Quote)
Ice if you read right through I was quite restrained 😉
richietoon(Quote)
Ok the stats look quite decent for the Avatar, but what is the percentage against the rest of the teams input and comparison with league place…… In other words West ham were very poor and went down, we on the other had did OK 12th.
I personnally couldnt give a rats about whats happened but I do care about what Ba does in a B&W shirt then make a call
Waldo P. Barnstormer(Quote)
Ice I couldn’t resist mate because I hate Lennon and know all about the c@nt 😉 😆 😀
John @ 25 spot on mate 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
Best article on here for awhile. Well up my street anyhow.
If we can keep Ba off the injury table I reckon he will score maybe 15 goals in the league next season.
Lacedaemonian(Quote)
2+2=99oops
xbox form someones front room =stolen by the scouser
Rafa(Quote)
Rooney was lickin oot grannies and Carroll was chinning them at the same time in a kind of pain/pleasure combo
bob(Quote)
carroll will be the ultimate striker in england next year
trev(Quote)