This little piece is pretty much the definition of pointless stats. It’s comparing football results from very different times, with very different rules and regulations and declaring one better than the other. So take these figures for what they are, a bit of fun. I’m not sure too many conclusions can be made by comparing an 18 game season in 1929 (with 2 points per win) to a 33 game season in 2008 (with 3 points per win), but that hasn’t stopped me.
So first the caveats
1) The league awarded 2 points per win until 1993/94, except for the ludicrous 4 points for away win, 3 points for home win, 2 points for away draw, 1 point for home draw system of 1981/82. For the purposes of these tables, I’ve awarded all teams 3 points per win.
2) The length of the season has varied from 14 to 36 games. Most would argue a 36 game season is harder but I’ve not accounted for this. Because I haven’t a clue how to.
3) Thankfully, most football clubs don’t think about points per game or win percentages. They go out to win championships. So there’ll be cases when teams have already won the league and ‘took their foot off the pedal’. Again, this isn’t accounted for.
4) Performance in various cups don’t count. Nor does play offs etc. Regular league season only.
With that said, here’s the Top 20 LOI seasons based on 3 point per win
Shels 1928/29 season comes out top with 16 wins and a draw in their 18 game season. Bohs finished second that season and they’re ranked as the 3rd best season of all time. Rovers win in 1986/87 is the top ranked Premier Division win while there are only 2 season with 30 or more games in the top 20. 11 of the top 20 come in the first 10 years of the league. See caveat 2 above…
Of course there are other ways to rank. US sports use a win percentage system that uses the matsh equation (wins + (draws / 2)) / games played. It sounds more complicated than it is, but its another way to rank them. Handily, it produces tables for us if clubs were awarded 2 points per win. So here’s the Top 20 LOI seasons based on win percentage
You can see that the top team remains the same but Rovers unbeaten 1926/27 season is now ranked second. The fact they won only won 14 games off set by the 4 draws. Both tables are separated by Goal Difference average, and then goals scored if level on PPG or Win %
While I’m here here’s the Worst 20 LOI seasons too. Bohs the only team to appear in best & worst lists.
As you see, these stats really are pointless. Feel free to comment though…
Stats that are Pointless 