Point contributions measured: RSL and player involvement

If we were to devise a statistic that masqueraded as being useful but was almost completely useless, some sort of "contribution to points or wins" might be it. Alas, that is what I've done, and while drawing too much from it is dangerous, we can surely derive something.

To start, I'm using several different figures.

• Minutes/match: This is straightforward. The average number of minutes played in a match.
• Points/match: Again, this is straightforward. The average number of points gained per match played.
• Contributed points/match: This is where things get hazy. It's the percentage of minutes played of possible minutes multiplied by points per match.
• Total points contributed: See above, multiplied by the matches played.
• Percent contributed: The contributed points/match over the points per match. Still a bit simple.
• Involvement in team points: Weighted points over total points.

These statistics value purely numerical time played over the quality of time played. They don't account for anything actually performed, so admittedly, there is a major flaw when taken on its own. But the numbers can still be elucidative.

For example, of players to have played at least five matches Jamison Olave holds the highest "contributed points per match" total at 2.02. He's the only one above 2.0 at all, although Kyle Reynish clocks in at a lavish 2.07, owing to the few matches he's played in.

Some interesting disparities appear as well: Yordany Alvarez holds the third-highest points-per-match average at 2.13, but one of the lowest contributed points averages at 0.79.

The biggest problem with this is that it relies on valuing minutes over quality, with an implicit assumption that a player influences a match by merely being on the pitch. Your view on this matter may differ.

If anything, the biggest revelation is perhaps how important Jamison Olave is to the side. Matches in which he has played end with RSL winning an average of 2.15 points, with his minutes contribution being 93.83 percent.

As ever, these numbers ought be taken with a grain or two of salt. They should prove illustrative in some sense, and they might help us to strike an understanding of one sense of player value.

Without further ado, the interesting but not entirely useful table, ordered by points involvement.

Pictured: Jamison Olave taking out Alan Gordon. You know you like it.