Skoorb
Alert Team
I stumbled across this book whilst on one of my customary wanderings through a Waterstones bookshop (please note - other bookshops are available) and have found it a thoroughly interesting and thought provoking read.
The author, David Sumpter, is a professor of applied mathematics at the University of Uppsala, Sweden. Born in London but raised in Scotland he has applied mathematics to many fields especially social behaviour. As a part time football coach of under-tens in Sweden, a Liverpool fan and with a soft spot for Dunfermline Athletic he has turned his attention to football - the most mathematical of sports.
From shots on target to league tables and possession stats, football is awash with numbers and patterns. Sumpter brings together mathematics and football to produce a fascinating insight into the game & one which I have found very easy and enjoyable to read.
From looking at how the Barcelona midfield is linked geometrically to the similarity between an ant colony and Dutch Total Football to what defenders can learn from Lionesses I can highly recommend this as an entertaining alternative to many of the other books out there about football. It makes a very refreshing change from football autobiographies that is for sure.
City fans might be especially interested in Chapter Two - How Slime Moulds Built Barcelona given that it focuses on how our new coach developed his style of play at the Catalan club. It may be early days and I have only seen one half of one game so far (having been away on holiday) but I am already looking at how our team is developing with a fresh perspective.
I highly recommend it :026:
The author, David Sumpter, is a professor of applied mathematics at the University of Uppsala, Sweden. Born in London but raised in Scotland he has applied mathematics to many fields especially social behaviour. As a part time football coach of under-tens in Sweden, a Liverpool fan and with a soft spot for Dunfermline Athletic he has turned his attention to football - the most mathematical of sports.
From shots on target to league tables and possession stats, football is awash with numbers and patterns. Sumpter brings together mathematics and football to produce a fascinating insight into the game & one which I have found very easy and enjoyable to read.
From looking at how the Barcelona midfield is linked geometrically to the similarity between an ant colony and Dutch Total Football to what defenders can learn from Lionesses I can highly recommend this as an entertaining alternative to many of the other books out there about football. It makes a very refreshing change from football autobiographies that is for sure.
City fans might be especially interested in Chapter Two - How Slime Moulds Built Barcelona given that it focuses on how our new coach developed his style of play at the Catalan club. It may be early days and I have only seen one half of one game so far (having been away on holiday) but I am already looking at how our team is developing with a fresh perspective.
I highly recommend it :026:
