Nerdy stuff

This page collates statistical data and investigations into the WSL (and Spurs Women).

Stats to help make sense of the women’s game.

FB REF has an amazing array of stats about THWFC and individual players.

As a taster, the table below (accurate as of 4th April 2022) includes data on Spurs women players’ performance in the 2021/22 season to date. Click any player’s name to get loads more in-depth stats on their performances, including how they compare to others currently playing in the WSL (can also look at past seasons and loads more).

Standard Stats 2021-2022 Tottenham Hotspur LFC: Women’s Super League Table
PlayPlayPlay PerfPerfPerfPerf ExpeExpe
Player Nation Pos MP Starts Min Gls Ast CrdY CrdR xG xA
Molly Bartripeng ENGDF17171,53001100.10.4
Ria Percivalnz NZLMF,DF17171,51122302.53.3
Maéva Clemaronfr FRAMF17171,40300500.20.9
Ashleigh Nevilleeng ENGDF,FW17161,47922403.81.7
Shelina Zadorskyca CANDF16161,38710100.70.5
Rachel Williamseng ENGFW17161,38441315.81.8
Kerys Harropeng ENGDF14121,10900100.20.7
Jessica Ngungaeng ENGFW,MF121189020101.71.7
Kyah Simonau AUSFW,MF101071930201.80.2
Rebecca Spencerjm JAMGK9981000000.00.0
Tinja-Riikka Korpelafi FINGK8872000000.00.0
Asmita Aleeng ENGDF10769100200.00.7
Kit Grahameng ENGFW,MF8753420102.61.3
Josephine Greenwls WALMF,DF8541900000.30.3
Cho So-hyunkr KORMF,FW8539900000.00.1
Chioma Ubogagueng ENGFW,MF10449401100.90.3
Eveliina Summanenfi FINMF,FW5435900200.40.1
Rosella Ayanema MARFW,MF13342110201.10.0
Angela Addisoneng ENGMF,FW15130010001.00.4
Tang Jialicn CHNFW8119401000.60.6
Viktoria Schnaderbeckat AUTDF216100000.00.0
Isabella LaneFW10100000.00.0
Silvana Floresmx MEXMF00
Eleanor Heepseng ENGGK00
Esther Morganwls WALDF00
Squad Total171871,53018829123.015.1
Opponent Total171871,53013526115.111.1
Provided by FBref.com: View Original Table
Generated 4/4/2022.

If you fancy doing your own statistical analysis you can download stats from the 2020/21 season, along with instructions on how to produce analysis (including pretty charts) using R from StatsBomb.

As time goes on I hope to use some of these in-depth stats in blog posts about individual players.

Meanwhile, Ash has produced some clever analysis of women’s football on the Dribbles and Nutmegs blog.

Investigations into aspects of the women’s game

In Nov 2021 the UK Government published a Fan-Lead Review of Football Governance: securing the game’s future. Chapter 10 is on ‘Growing Women’s Football‘. It’s not very detailed, but makes some recommendations.

FIFPRO, the global union for football players has published a report on workload, which shows scheduling (long periods without games and then bunching) is holding back women’s football. The full report is 31 pages, and has lots of interesting data).

Online and offline magazine She Kicks has lots of good content, but especially good are some investigations/long reads:

Other recent deep-dives:

Academic studies of the women’s game

The following are some recent scholarly articles exploring the WSL. They may be a bit heavy-going if you are not used to reading academic material, but there’s lots of interesting content, and they dig deep on specific topics.

You can find a collection of critical academic contributions about all aspects of football (including women’s football) at The Football Collective’s youtube channel.

There is loads of other interesting and even nerdy stuff out there, so this page will continue to develop.

If you have a suggestion of things to add, get in touch via the Contact page.