With due respect stats are invaluable, SB.
In one of G and G Podcast guest columnists, Stefan Syzminski’s Soccernomics, which he co-wrote with globally esteemed football author/journo, Simon Kuper, SAF, Arsene Wenger and Sam Allardyce, used stats well before the rest of EPL coaches. The former duo had resounding, premature success. Now all EPL coaches use comprehensive statistical analysis to analyse players and teams.
Mistakes can be made though. SAF incorrectly read that Jaap Stam was making less tackles per game at Man U. He sold him to a big Italian club, where Stam went on to have resounding success!