Division 2 stats and figures

Division 2 stats and figures.

After a tiring night with her abacus,  Professor Algie Bra turned her attention to Division 2.

 

GK def mid Att top15 top21 average Dortmund 89 91 93 90 90 88 90.17 PSG 91 91 92 95 87 84 90.00 Napoli 90 90 91 92 88 87 89.67 Schalke 88 91 90 92 88 87 89.33 Tottenham 92 90 91 89 87 86 89.17 AS Roma 89 92 91 91 88 84 89.17 Wolfsburg 89 90 91 90 88 85 88.83 Zenit 88 90 88 89 88 87 88.33 Galatasaray 90 88 90 90 87 85 88.33 Borussia Moenchengladbach 90 89 90 89 87 83 88.00 Newcastle 89 88 89 88 87 86 87.83 Everton 90 88 89 88 87 85 87.83 Sporting 90 87 89 88 86 85 87.50 Spartak 86 88 89 88 87 86 87.33 Athletic Bilbao 86 88 89 90 86 84 87.17 Lokomtiv Moscow 87 89 88 89 87 83 87.17 Sunderland 87 87 88 89 86 85 87.00 Boca Juniors 87 87 87 88 86 86 86.83 Benfica 88 87 88 89 85 83 86.67 St Etienne 89 88 88 88 85 82 86.67
Again there is no managerial bias. Lokomtiv Moscow have an unusually small squad so the top 21 figure has been increased to stop it skewing the mean. Firstly it is worth noting that Division 2 has an overall average of 88.23 compared to Division 1 of 89.7. Less difference than one might think.  To survive in division 1 , you are likely to need a rating above 88, this in reality rules out all teams below Borussia M  for promotion, as things stand. The 2 star sides are Dortmund and PSG. PSG have an attack better than any defence , whereas Dortmund should have more possesion than any other team in the league. PSG perhaps lack depth but should still gain automatic promotion. There is then a group of closely matched teams, often the way in division 2 , all of whom could win the league, get automatic promotion or a playoff spot.  Napoli and Schalke use a potent attack. Tottenham will be tough at the back, with Roma being a good all round team.. Roma have good depth but poor deep strength which is an interesting condundrum for their boss. Hanging on their coat tales, the remaining playoff contenders, Wolfsburg, Zenit ,  Galatasaray, Borussia M.  Wolfsburg and Zenit are defensively strong, probably a good idea against the stronger attacking opponents already mentioned Then we have the twilight zone teams, not good enough for promotion, but too good for releagation. Mostly they lack the depth of a division 1 squad, while still having quality. One or two of these squads could well challenge early on but will drop back as the season progresses.  Athletic Bilbao could well be that team.  There do seem to be 3 firm favourites for relegation with Sunderland just sitting above them.  Boca do have depth and they would be my favourites to surprise.  St Etienne and Benfica will struggle all season and it is doubtful that they will have the where with all to drag themselves out of a relegation scrap.