I have always stood firmly on the “full support” side of the Naby Keïta dividing line among LFC supporters. The guy’s had a really bad injury history, but when he’s been on the pitch he’s been really exciting. And, not only does his playing style delight my eyes, but Naby has consistently outperformed his LFC midfield teammates in virtually all relevant statistical categories. But this thoughtful piece by Grace Robertson strongly argues that Keïta’s statistical dominance is deceiving. It’s easy to grumble that “it’s just stats,” but it’s difficult to provide convincing arguments why specific statistics may create misleading impressions about a particular player. That’s what Grace has done. Kudos. I still find myself strongly on the pro-Naby side of the dividing line, and I disagree with her assessment that “To the eye, his performances have always looked short of where they need to be.” Nonetheless, I very much appreciate the analysis about why his stats may overstate his efficacy.
Thoughtful piece on Naby Keïta
