--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Statistics can be so misleading. It is…" description: "\"Statistics can be so misleading. It is funny, though, how often at the moment you see one team had 60 per cent of the ball but still lost.\" — Neil Warnock" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be6/neil-warnock-4977_ball_statistics-can-be-so-misleading-it-is-fu_2393552.png" --- # Statistics can be so misleading. It is funny, though, how… ![“Statistics can be so misleading. It is funny, though, how often at the moment you see one team had 60 per cent of the ball but still lost.” quote by Neil Warnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be6/neil-warnock-4977_ball_statistics-can-be-so-misleading-it-is-fu_2393552.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be6/neil-warnock-4977_ball_statistics-can-be-so-misleading-it-is-fu_2393552.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be6/neil-warnock-4977_ball_statistics-can-be-so-misleading-it-is-fu_2393552.png) > “Statistics can be so misleading. It is funny, though, how often at the moment you see one team had 60 per cent of the ball but still lost.” [Neil Warnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-warnock/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Statistics can be deceptive; they don’t capture the full dynamics of a game. **In simple terms:** Numbers can mislead about performance. Key Takeaway Look beyond raw numbers. Themes sports statistics misinterpretation Mood skeptical analytical Type observational critical When to use this quote - football match analysis - team performance review - media reporting Key Concepts probability contextual analysis Questions to Reflect On - How do you assess performance beyond percentages? - What other metrics matter more? A Different Perspective Statistical snapshots ignore qualitative factors like strategy and luck. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ball/) [Ball Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ball-lost-879392/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost/) [Misleading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misleading/) [Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moment/) [Statistics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/statistics/) [Statistics Misleading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/statistics-misleading-5969630/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [At 15 we put down my bag to hunt for a ball, found the ball, lost the bag.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-trevino/at-15-we-put-down-my-bag-to-hunt-for-a-ball-found-the-ball-lost-the/) [Lee Trevino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-trevino/) > [“Regarding positional play, he insisted on making sure the player stayed in his corresponding area, especially when the ball was lost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/regarding-positional-play-he-insisted-on-making-sure-the-player/) [Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) > [I've just got back from Oklahoma where I was shooting Mat Hoffman's tribute to Evel Knievel. I had a ball, too, even though I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-knoxville/i-ve-just-got-back-from-oklahoma-where-i-was-shooting-mat-hoffman-s/) [Johnny Knoxville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-knoxville/) > [The Premier League is guided by this dynamic: ball lost - ball recovered - ball lost again. That makes matches unpredictable, teams must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-villas-boas/the-premier-league-is-guided-by-this-dynamic-ball-lost-ball-recovered/) [Andre Villas-Boas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-villas-boas/) > [The happiest moment was when I just played with a ball as a boy, carefree, without worrying about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-ji-sung/the-happiest-moment-was-when-i-just-played-with-a-ball-as-a-boy/) [Park Ji-sung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-ji-sung/) > [You never know what's going to happen when somebody endeavors to do a true crime story. It can be horribly misleading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-clark/you-never-know-what-s-going-to-happen-when-somebody-endeavors-to-do-a/) [Marcia Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-clark/) > [I've had two instances when I've met journalists face to face and we've had good interviews and I've said, 'We don't have children, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-mckee/i-ve-had-two-instances-when-i-ve-met-journalists-face-to-face-and-we/) [Gina McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-mckee/) > [It is misleading in a crucial way to view information as something that can be poured into an empty vessel, like a fluid or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatol-rapoport/it-is-misleading-in-a-crucial-way-to-view-information-as-something/) [Anatol Rapoport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatol-rapoport/) > [“I became wary of medical blood and urine tests and came to regard them as very misleading.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-became-wary-of-medical-blood-and-urine-tests-and-came-to-regard/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Bill Clinton was impeached primarily for criminal conduct: lying under oath and misleading a federal grand jury about his affair with Monica Lewinsky. Nixon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-turley/bill-clinton-was-impeached-primarily-for-criminal-conduct-lying-under/) [Jonathan Turley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-turley/) > [No good model ever accounted for all the facts, since some data was bound to be misleading if not plain wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-d-watson/no-good-model-ever-accounted-for-all-the-facts-since-some-data-was/) [James D. Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-d-watson/) > [Lyrics are always misleading because they make people think that that's what the music is about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/lyrics-are-always-misleading-because-they-make-people-think-that-that/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [“...his horoscope had been pretty misleading as well. It had mentioned an unusual amount of planetary activity in his sign and had urged him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/his-horoscope-had-been-pretty-misleading-as-well-it-had-mentioned-an/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [The memory of the Second World War hangs over Europe, an inescapable and irresistible point of reference. Historical parallels are usually misleading and dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-beevor/the-memory-of-the-second-world-war-hangs-over-europe-an-inescapable/) [Antony Beevor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-beevor/) > [One of the worst things to come out of the Consumer Protection Board's misleading claims is the impression that government resources are to hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lesko/one-of-the-worst-things-to-come-out-of-the-consumer-protection-board/) [Matthew Lesko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lesko/) ## More by Neil Warnock > [On the plus side, leaving Leeds meant I have been able to spend a lot of time with the family, enjoying a very rare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-warnock/on-the-plus-side-leaving-leeds-meant-i-have-been-able-to-spend-a-lot/) [Neil Warnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-warnock/) > [Oh, I love Cornwall, it's so special. We bought the house when I was with Plymouth Argyle and we've just kept that on and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-warnock/oh-i-love-cornwall-it-s-so-special-we-bought-the-house-when-i-was/) [Neil Warnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-warnock/) > [It is a fine line between communicating and being too chummy. My players, when I've been promoted, have been upset by top-flight refs being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-warnock/it-is-a-fine-line-between-communicating-and-being-too-chummy-my/) [Neil Warnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-warnock/) > [I've played for managers who said one thing and did another and players find you out like that. You've got to trust them and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-warnock/i-ve-played-for-managers-who-said-one-thing-and-did-another-and/) [Neil Warnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-warnock/) > [My son William is only nine but he's had four public schools so far, one in Cornwall, one when I was at Sheffield, one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-warnock/my-son-william-is-only-nine-but-he-s-had-four-public-schools-so-far/) [Neil Warnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-warnock/) > [Ask anyone in the game: if you want a player from France or a French player, 99 per cent of the time, you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-warnock/ask-anyone-in-the-game-if-you-want-a-player-from-france-or-a-french/) [Neil Warnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-warnock/) > [Apparently I have 12 league games to go to get 1,500 and that is really tempting to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-warnock/apparently-i-have-12-league-games-to-go-to-get-1-500-and-that-is/) [Neil Warnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-warnock/) > [My son William and my daughter Amy are both really into their hockey now and I can enjoy watching that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-warnock/my-son-william-and-my-daughter-amy-are-both-really-into-their-hockey/) [Neil Warnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-warnock/) > [If you look at my past in the Premier League, without going into too many details, I don't think I had much of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-warnock/if-you-look-at-my-past-in-the-premier-league-without-going-into-too/) [Neil Warnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-warnock/) > [My biggest achievement at Cardiff is bringing the whole club together in my two years here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-warnock/my-biggest-achievement-at-cardiff-is-bringing-the-whole-club-together/) [Neil Warnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-warnock/) > [Who's been with me longest? Kevin Blackwell. I signed him as a goalkeeper at Scarborough in '86 and he's basically been with me my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-warnock/who-s-been-with-me-longest-kevin-blackwell-i-signed-him-as-a/) [Neil Warnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-warnock/) > [In the intervening 48 Christmases I have always either been a player, having to watch what I eat and drink, or a manager, worrying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-warnock/in-the-intervening-48-christmases-i-have-always-either-been-a-player/) [Neil Warnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-warnock/) > [No disrespect to Cardiff but they probably needed me more than I needed them, when I was appointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-warnock/no-disrespect-to-cardiff-but-they-probably-needed-me-more-than-i/) [Neil Warnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-warnock/) > [It doesn't bother me what division I am managing in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-warnock/it-doesn-t-bother-me-what-division-i-am-managing-in/) [Neil Warnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-warnock/) > [It's suggested I am big pals with Willie McKay. Am I? I don't think I am. He is an agent. You need these agents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-warnock/it-s-suggested-i-am-big-pals-with-willie-mckay-am-i-i-don-t-think-i/) [Neil Warnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-warnock/) [Explore all 104 Neil Warnock quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-warnock/) ## More Ball quotes > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/) [Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/) > [Sometimes in midfield, it's nice because you do get a little bit more of the ball, and maybe out wide you rely on people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-oxlade-chamberlain/sometimes-in-midfield-it-s-nice-because-you-do-get-a-little-bit-more/) [Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-oxlade-chamberlain/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [After '8 Mile' came out and blew up, the ball has been rolling ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-benson-miller/after-8-mile-came-out-and-blew-up-the-ball-has-been-rolling-ever-since/) [Omar Benson Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-benson-miller/) > [I don't believe in moral victories. I don't think in pro ball they exist, and they shouldn't exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-witten/i-don-t-believe-in-moral-victories-i-don-t-think-in-pro-ball-they/) [Jason Witten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-witten/) > [I think cricket is there in Usain Bolt's blood. Since I got to watch from close quarters, it was amazing to see him run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh/i-think-cricket-is-there-in-usain-bolt-s-blood-since-i-got-to-watch/) [Harbhajan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh/) > [In Memphis we don't talk. We ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/in-memphis-we-don-t-talk-we-ball/) [Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/) > [Football is not just all about throwing the ball. You got to run the ball, too. Defense has to be good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-jefferson/football-is-not-just-all-about-throwing-the-ball-you-got-to-run-the/) [Justin Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-jefferson/) > [I'm good with the ball, I can score.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-bergwijn/i-m-good-with-the-ball-i-can-score/) [Steven Bergwijn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-bergwijn/) > [The golf ball doesn't care about know how hard you're working, or how many hours you slept that night. It only matters, what speed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-hovland/the-golf-ball-doesn-t-care-about-know-how-hard-you-re-working-or-how/) [Viktor Hovland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-hovland/) > [Throwing a ball is not natural, whether it's overhand or underhand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennie-finch/throwing-a-ball-is-not-natural-whether-it-s-overhand-or-underhand/) [Jennie Finch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennie-finch/) > [I have to chase down the most scientifically efficient way to get the golf ball in the hole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryson-dechambeau/i-have-to-chase-down-the-most-scientifically-efficient-way-to-get-the/) [Bryson DeChambeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryson-dechambeau/) > [I dislike the gym, but I'll chase a tennis ball all day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kuchar/i-dislike-the-gym-but-i-ll-chase-a-tennis-ball-all-day/) [Matt Kuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kuchar/) > [There's one ball on the field, and that ball is mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-mendoza/there-s-one-ball-on-the-field-and-that-ball-is-mine/) [Salvador Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-mendoza/) [Browse all 1,822 Ball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ball/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Statistics can be so misleading. It is funny, though, how often at the moment you see one team had 60 per cent of the ball but still lost.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Neil Warnock" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-warnock/statistics-can-be-so-misleading-it-is-funny-though-how-often-at-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ball" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-warnock/statistics-can-be-so-misleading-it-is-funny-though-how-often-at-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be6/neil-warnock-4977_ball_statistics-can-be-so-misleading-it-is-fu_2393552.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be6/neil-warnock-4977_ball_statistics-can-be-so-misleading-it-is-fu_2393552.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be6/neil-warnock-4977_ball_statistics-can-be-so-misleading-it-is-fu_2393552.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Statistics can be so misleading. It is funny, though, how often at the moment you see one team had 60 per…” — Neil Warnock", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Neil Warnock", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-warnock/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Statistics can be so misleading. It...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-warnock/statistics-can-be-so-misleading-it-is-funny-though-how-often-at-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-warnock/statistics-can-be-so-misleading-it-is-funny-though-how-often-at-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```