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Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life

Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life.

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More or Less: Are Manchester United a one-man team?

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Are Manchester United a one-man team?

28/04/2013

BBC World Service - More or Less, Are Manchester United a one-man team?

Lead scorer power calculated; and, maths problems raised in the Kercher murder case

Is it true that Manchester United’s League title is down to Van Persie alone? And has a chance to solve the Meredith Kercher case been missed because of a maths misunderstanding?

Is it true that top English Premier League teams are one-man sides? Before the start of the 2012/13 English Premier League season Manchester City’s manager, Roberto Mancini expressed fears that the signing of Robin Van Persie by big rival, Manchester United, would win United the league. 

His fears were realised earlier this week when a Van Persie hat trick saw United beat Aston Villa to secure the league title.  

But how important really have Van Persie’s goals been to Manchester United’s campaign? Would Tottenham be challenging for a Champions League spot without Gareth Bale’s goals? And how much bite has Luis Suarez’s contribution given Liverpool’s season? More or Less’ Ben Carter creates the Alternative Premier League table, where the leading scorer for each club has their goals chalked off. There are surprises, and one player really stands out as player of the season. And he wasn’t one of the six players nominated for the Professional Football Associations player of the year. Can you guess who it is?

And, as an Italian Court overturns the acquittal of Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito, accused of killing student Merdith Kercher, mathematician and author of Math on Trial, Coralie Colmez, argues that one judge in the case failed to understand some of the probabilities attached to the forensic evidence – and, in doing so, has missed an opportunity to get to the truth of the matter. 

Presenter and producer: Ruth Alexander

Image: Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United - Premier League, Credit: Getty Images

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