The Numbers That Mattered In Football This Week

Compiled By Pete Gill

0 The number of points Manchester United, Leeds, Sunderland, Middlesbrough, and Watford have won in the Premiership this Millennium. For different reasons, mind.

1 The number of yards from which West Ham's Paulo Wanchope missed an open goal against Aston Villa on Saturday.

2 The number of Scottish teams who are set to be included in a new European league. It's also the predicted number of years before the Atlantic League, complete with Glasgow giants Rangers and Celtic, comes into force.

3 The number of matches which Sheffield Wednesday are unbeaten in following their win on penalties at Wolves in the FA Cup. It's the Yorkshire outfit's best run of the season so far.

4 The number of MPs who chose the wrong time to criticise Wednesday manager Danny Wilson.

5 The number of months Bryan Robson has given himself to improve Middlesbrough's fortunes after suggesting that he would quit the Riverside at the end of the season if they didn't.

6 The number of matches Bradford have gone without winning, including an FA Cup exit at second division Gillingham and Saturday’s dismal defeat at fellow strugglers Sheffield Wednesday.

7 The number of players Arsenal expect to be without for the key clash with Manchester United on Monday. Davor Suker, Nwankwo Kanu, Tony Adams and Matthew Upson are definitely out while Marc Overmars, Freddie Ljungberg and Dennis Bergkamp are very doubtful.

8 The number of minutes Graham Barrett, who might well start at Old Trafford due to the aforementioned absentees, has played for the Gunners in the Premiership.

9 The number of points Real Madrid are off the top of the Spanish league following their 2-1 win over Real Mallorca.

10 The number of million pounds that Inter Milan are reported to be willing to spend on Coventry's Robbie Keane. It's also the number of billion pesetas that will persuade Barcelona to part with Rivaldo. Just in case you don't have a currency converter handy, that's a cool £44m.

11 The number of players each Premiership team had on the pitch at the end of play this weekend, and for that matter, throughout January.

12 The number of goals Duncan Ferguson and Alan Shearer have scored between them in Newcastle's last nine matches.

13 Newcastle's position in the Premiership following their 5-0 win over Southampton, their highest of the season.

15 The number of points which separate first division leaders Charlton from Stockport, who occupy the last play-off spot.

100 The number of extra tickets Everton have given Preston for their FA Cup fifth round tie at Goodison after the Division Two club sold all but 400 of their 6000 allocation to season ticket holders and shareholders. Half of their 12,000 regular fans are still without a ticket for PNE's biggest cup game in 34 years.

49, 212 The number of people who attended the 1-1 draw between the United States and Iran at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. It was comfortably more than the biggest attendance in the Premiership and first division this weekend.

50,000 The number of pounds Derby paid non-league Nuneaton Borough for Malcolm Christie, who scored twice in his full debut on Saturday as the Rams thumped Middlesbrough, 4-1.

1,000,000 The number of pounds West Ham manager Harry Redknapp is reportedly prepared to sell Paulo Wanchope for at the end of the season.

3,000,000 The cost of Wanchope last summer. Just when will Harry learn his lesson?


If you have a number which you would like to be included in next week's edition, please e-mail the information to with ‘Go Figure’ in the subject field. Cheers!