--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Stats can do anything you wish. When we…" description: "\"Stats can do anything you wish. When we got the sack at Aston Villa it came out there had only been Man City in that calendar year who had scored more ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57c/steve-bruce-4727_city_stats-can-do-anything-you-wish-when-we-g_2150455.jpg" --- # Stats can do anything you wish. When we got the sack at… ![“Stats can do anything you wish. When we got the sack at Aston Villa it came out there had only been Man City in that calendar year who had scored more goals than Villa.” quote by Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57c/steve-bruce-4727_city_stats-can-do-anything-you-wish-when-we-g_2150455.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57c/steve-bruce-4727_city_stats-can-do-anything-you-wish-when-we-g_2150455.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57c/steve-bruce-4727_city_stats-can-do-anything-you-wish-when-we-g_2150455.jpg) > “Stats can do anything you wish. When we got the sack at Aston Villa it came out there had only been Man City in that calendar year who had scored more goals than Villa.” [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He claims statistics can be manipulated to support any narrative, using a football example where goal stats were used to explain a loss. **In simple terms:** Stats can be twisted to fit any story. Key Takeaway Question data sources critically. Themes sports statistics interpretation Mood skeptical analytical Type sports critical When to use this quote - sports analysis - media reporting - fan discussions Key Concepts bias data manipulation Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify the reliability of sports stats? - What other factors should be considered beyond numbers? A Different Perspective Statistical claims may ignore context or nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aston Villa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aston-villa/) [City](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/city/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Goals Villa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals-villa-4519381/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Man City](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-city-726817/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Sack Aston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sack-aston-4519382/) [Stats Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stats-wish-4519383/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [I never thought I'd be in a position like I was at Aston Villa where people weren't going to get paid on a Friday.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/i-never-thought-i-d-be-in-a-position-like-i-was-at-aston-villa-where/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [I've said it for a long time that Aston Villa is a special club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/i-ve-said-it-for-a-long-time-that-aston-villa-is-a-special-club/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [I had a rough year, my first year at Man City, a big club for a big transfer fee. There was a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheem-sterling/i-had-a-rough-year-my-first-year-at-man-city-a-big-club-for-a-big/) [Raheem Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheem-sterling/) > [In football winning games is all that matters, but a team like West Ham and every team apart from Man City are going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-noble/in-football-winning-games-is-all-that-matters-but-a-team-like-west/) [Mark Noble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-noble/) > [For Man City, and the teams up the top or even the teams at the bottom, if you're getting into your stride at that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-wright-phillips/for-man-city-and-the-teams-up-the-top-or-even-the-teams-at-the-bottom/) [Shaun Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-wright-phillips/) > [I really appreciate the people of Man City, and it turns out they appreciate me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hart/i-really-appreciate-the-people-of-man-city-and-it-turns-out-they/) [Joe Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hart/) > [Man City are a top team, but there are a lot of top teams in this division because the Premier League is the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matteo-guendouzi/man-city-are-a-top-team-but-there-are-a-lot-of-top-teams-in-this/) [Matteo Guendouzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matteo-guendouzi/) > [I think when I first went to Man City, they weren't very professional. They were just starting out, and the men's team had just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-duggan/i-think-when-i-first-went-to-man-city-they-weren-t-very-professional/) [Toni Duggan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-duggan/) > [I was desperate to leave Hamburg. 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I've played for England. I've had success and good times - just not enough for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-rodwell/i-ve-been-at-man-city-and-won-the-league-i-ve-played-for-england-i-ve/) [Jack Rodwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-rodwell/) > [Nigeria has a lot of Man City fans, and they're going to have more every time I go home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelechi-iheanacho/nigeria-has-a-lot-of-man-city-fans-and-they-re-going-to-have-more/) [Kelechi Iheanacho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelechi-iheanacho/) ## More by Steve Bruce > [I've been fortunate enough to have some big games as both a player and a manager.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/i-ve-been-fortunate-enough-to-have-some-big-games-as-both-a-player/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [He’s a fantastic talent and the complete footballer, probably the most coveted in the Premiership. It’s a privilege for the rest of us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/he-s-a-fantastic-talent-and-the-complete-footballer-probably-the-most/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [I have not got a CV like Rafa, few do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/i-have-not-got-a-cv-like-rafa-few-do/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [When I was younger, I was a bit awkward to work for, hence why I had about five clubs in two years. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/when-i-was-younger-i-was-a-bit-awkward-to-work-for-hence-why-i-had/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [I've got the utmost respect for Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/i-ve-got-the-utmost-respect-for-mauricio-pochettino-at-tottenham/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [From a playing or managing point of view relegation is a blot on your CV that you don't want, but you have to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/from-a-playing-or-managing-point-of-view-relegation-is-a-blot-on-your/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [You have to be as truthful as you possibly can. That's always been my philosophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/you-have-to-be-as-truthful-as-you-possibly-can-that-s-always-been-my/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [I accept I am not everyone's cup of tea, but judge me over a period of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/i-accept-i-am-not-everyone-s-cup-of-tea-but-judge-me-over-a-period-of/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [Alan Shearer is a friend of mine and he is entitled to his opinions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/alan-shearer-is-a-friend-of-mine-and-he-is-entitled-to-his-opinions/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [You do get labelled in the game, and that's why I enjoyed my time managing in the Championship. I'd back myself against most people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/you-do-get-labelled-in-the-game-and-that-s-why-i-enjoyed-my-time/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [I'm delighted and incredibly proud to be appointed as head coach of Newcastle United.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/i-m-delighted-and-incredibly-proud-to-be-appointed-as-head-coach-of/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [Management, whether you're managing in the lower division or you're right at the top, is about getting the best out of what you've got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/management-whether-you-re-managing-in-the-lower-division-or-you-re/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [I'm a Newcastle lad, so to be manager is every Geordie's dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/i-m-a-newcastle-lad-so-to-be-manager-is-every-geordie-s-dream/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [I'm always sad to see a manager go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/i-m-always-sad-to-see-a-manager-go/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [I've said it for a long time that Aston Villa is a special club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/i-ve-said-it-for-a-long-time-that-aston-villa-is-a-special-club/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) [Explore all 107 Steve Bruce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) ## More City quotes > [I've seen a lot of people come out of Carol City, but I had this distinct vision for Carol City, just me coming out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-curry/i-ve-seen-a-lot-of-people-come-out-of-carol-city-but-i-had-this/) [Denzel Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-curry/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [I've been to Manchester enough to know it's a real place. It's not Factory Records and the Smiths bicycling around. I get it. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-murphy/i-ve-been-to-manchester-enough-to-know-it-s-a-real-place-it-s-not/) [James Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-murphy/) > [Though 'Fat City' was written long before cellphones or the Internet, its human apparatus is state of the art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-dunn/though-fat-city-was-written-long-before-cellphones-or-the-internet/) [Katherine Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-dunn/) > [I get paid to play, to win, to give the city pride, so maybe everybody can forget for a little while how hard life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-cunningham/i-get-paid-to-play-to-win-to-give-the-city-pride-so-maybe-everybody/) [Randall Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-cunningham/) > [In my first 100 days as Ontario's Minister of Transportation, I found a willing municipal partner in the City of Toronto that shares our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-mulroney/in-my-first-100-days-as-ontario-s-minister-of-transportation-i-found/) [Caroline Mulroney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-mulroney/) > [Even after my family moved West, I would come back to Long Island as a teenager, stay with aunts and go to the city…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/everlast/even-after-my-family-moved-west-i-would-come-back-to-long-island-as-a/) [Everlast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/everlast/) > [We all got driven out of Manhattan. It was a very conducive place for artists when I was growing up, and now it's definitely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaby-hoffmann/we-all-got-driven-out-of-manhattan-it-was-a-very-conducive-place-for/) [Gaby Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaby-hoffmann/) > [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [“Poor people do not go on holiday; they go home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/poor-people-do-not-go-on-holiday-they-go-home/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [I know of not one Republican candidate that would not appear publicly with Mitt Romney and I know many Democrats that don't even want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/i-know-of-not-one-republican-candidate-that-would-not-appear-publicly/) [Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/) > [We have an obligation at the local level to do everything we can with the resources we have. And we do those things. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/we-have-an-obligation-at-the-local-level-to-do-everything-we-can-with/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) > [I didn't know the city at all, but I was so happy to be in New York I cried. I was so excited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-gerwig/i-didn-t-know-the-city-at-all-but-i-was-so-happy-to-be-in-new-york-i/) [Greta Gerwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-gerwig/) > [I loved 'Chicago Code;' I watched that a lot. 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