Deceptive stat may well undervalue patient approach

A much-repeated statement about football is true but misleading. Most goals, it says, are scored with a small number of passes.

That is true. The average number of passes in scoring moves in the Premier League last season was three. At the last five European Championships it ranged between two and four.

Though true, the statement is deceiving. Most goals are scored with a small number of passes because most moves consist of a small number of passes.