Championship squad stats, experience indicators for the new season

[JumpersforGoalposts]

Analysing the “official” squads on club sites and career stats show that Cardiff City have 23 senior pros with 2,996 league games at Premier/Championship level (and equivalents) scoring 308 goals. That’s an average of 130 appearances per squad member and 13 goals.
How this shapes up against the opposition surprised me as we look far better placed than last season’s play-off sides albeit (unsurprisingly) way behind the relegated clubs.

The relegated sides
Fulham look very strong with a large squad although their promising goal stats are heavily reliant on Mitrovic who has 308 league games at Premier/Championship level scoring 122 goals. They have 28 senior pros with 5,408 league games at Premier/Championship level (and equivalents) scoring 510 goals. That’s an average of 193 appearances per squad member and 18 goals.
Sheffield United look way behind Fulham but still strong although their goal stats are heavily skewed by the presence of Sharp (381 games and 129 goals) and McGoldrick (381 games and 85 goals). There must be some concern that Sharp and McGoldrick at 35 and 33 respectively may not be up to the task nowadays. They have 23 senior pros with 3,667 league games at Premier/Championship level scoring 412 goals. That’s an average of 159 appearances per squad member and 18 goals.
West Brom look to be on much the same level as Sheffield United although experience and goals are much more evenly distributed around their squad. They have 21 senior pros with 3,404 league games at Premier/Championship level scoring 360 goals. That’s an average of 162 appearances per squad member and 17 goals.

Last season’s play-off losers
All these sides are looking way off the relegated clubs, Swansea have a clear lack of goals in the side, Barnsley lack experience at this level while Bournemouth’s squad is small and includes no experienced ‘keeper at this level.
Swansea - 27 senior pros with 2,176 league games at Premier/Championship level scoring 112 goals. That’s an average of 81 appearances per squad member and 4 goals.
Bournemouth - 20 senior pros with 2,256 league games at Premier/Championship level scoring 189 goals. That’s an average of 113 appearances per squad member and 9 goals.
Barnsley - 25 senior pros with 1,438 league games at Premier/Championship level scoring 159 goals. That’s an average of 58 appearances per squad member and 6 goals.

Ranking these sides by average experience per squad member at Premier/Championship level (and equivalents) we get:
1. Fulham 193 games per squad member
2. West Brom 162
3. Sheffield Utd 159
4. Cardiff City 130
5. Bournemouth 113
6. Swansea 81
7. Barnsley 58

Maybe the play-offs are within reach this season.

[2b2bdoo]

We don't have a great squad but it also isn't half bad when you think about players we have coming back. I bet a lot of teams would swap with us.

[ferrari_andretti]

Analysing the “official” squads on club sites and career stats show that Cardiff City have 23 senior pros with 2,996 league games at Premier/Championship level (and equivalents) scoring 308 goals. That’s an average of 130 appearances per squad member and 13 goals.
How this shapes up against the opposition surprised me as we look far better placed than last season’s play-off sides albeit (unsurprisingly) way behind the relegated clubs.

The relegated sides
Fulham look very strong with a large squad although their promising goal stats are heavily reliant on Mitrovic who has 308 league games at Premier/Championship level scoring 122 goals. They have 28 senior pros with 5,408 league games at Premier/Championship level (and equivalents) scoring 510 goals. That’s an average of 193 appearances per squad member and 18 goals.
Sheffield United look way behind Fulham but still strong although their goal stats are heavily skewed by the presence of Sharp (381 games and 129 goals) and McGoldrick (381 games and 85 goals). There must be some concern that Sharp and McGoldrick at 35 and 33 respectively may not be up to the task nowadays. They have 23 senior pros with 3,667 league games at Premier/Championship level scoring 412 goals. That’s an average of 159 appearances per squad member and 18 goals.
West Brom look to be on much the same level as Sheffield United although experience and goals are much more evenly distributed around their squad. They have 21 senior pros with 3,404 league games at Premier/Championship level scoring 360 goals. That’s an average of 162 appearances per squad member and 17 goals.

Last season’s play-off losers
All these sides are looking way off the relegated clubs, Swansea have a clear lack of goals in the side, Barnsley lack experience at this level while Bournemouth’s squad is small and includes no experienced ‘keeper at this level.
Swansea - 27 senior pros with 2,176 league games at Premier/Championship level scoring 112 goals. That’s an average of 81 appearances per squad member and 4 goals.
Bournemouth - 20 senior pros with 2,256 league games at Premier/Championship level scoring 189 goals. That’s an average of 113 appearances per squad member and 9 goals.
Barnsley - 25 senior pros with 1,438 league games at Premier/Championship level scoring 159 goals. That’s an average of 58 appearances per squad member and 6 goals.

Ranking these sides by average experience per squad member at Premier/Championship level (and equivalents) we get:
1. Fulham 193 games per squad member
2. West Brom 162
3. Sheffield Utd 159
4. Cardiff City 130
5. Bournemouth 113
6. Swansea 81
7. Barnsley 58

Maybe the play-offs are within reach this season.

It would be interesting to see whether there is a correlation between experience and performance within the championship over the last few years

[the other bob wilson]

It would be interesting to see whether there is a correlation between experience and performance within the championship over the last few years

That's the relevant point I'd say. Although the research is very good and is persuasive, there is a point where "experienced" transforms itself into "past it". I'd say that an "experienced" side could not have played in the same relentless manner that Leeds did in winning the title in 19/20, but I suppose that Norwich and Watford had a bedrock of experience this time around.

[ferrari_andretti]

That's the relevant point I'd say. Although the research is very good and is persuasive, there is a point where "experienced" transforms itself into "past it". I'd say that an "experienced" side could not have played in the same relentless manner that Leeds did in winning the title in 19/20, but I suppose that Norwich and Watford had a bedrock of experience this time around.

Yes, you’re spot on there!