Attempts on goal - City had 676 shots on goal in 56 games played (46 league games, six FA Cup and four League Cup games). That's an average of 12.1 attempts per game. City's opponents had 531 shots on goal for 56 games, an average of 9.5 per game. In short, the Bluebirds had 27% more attempts on goal than their opponents. City had the edge in league games 547 to 429 (or 11.9 to 9.3 per game), and in cup games by a margin of 129 to 102.
Attempts on target and off target - City put 385 of its 676 shots on target (or 57%), 280 off target (or 41.4%). Opponents put 288 of 531 on target (or 54.2%), 234 off target (or 44.1%). In league games, the Bluebirds had 313 on target (6.8 per game) and 225 off target (4.9 per game), opponents had 245 on target (5.3 per game) and 177 off (3.8 per game). In cup games, City had 72 on target and 55 off, opponents 43 and 57.
Hitting the woodwork - City hit woodwork 11 times, with nine coming in league matches, the other two in cup games. Opponents whacked the woodwork nine times, seven coming in league tilts and the other two in cup games.
Corners - The Bluebirds had 336 in total, 269 in the league (5.8 per game), 67 in cups. Opponents had 279 overall, 239 in the league (5.2 per game) and 40 in cup games. City had 20.4% more corners than their opponents in all games.
Fouls - City committed 563 fouls in all games (472 in the league, 91 in cups), while opponents were charged with a total of 743 (612 in league games, 131 in cups). In league games, the Bluebirds averaged 10.3 per game, opponents 13.3. Overall, opponents ommitted 32% more fouls than City.
Offsides - City were offside 194 times (181 in league play, 13 in cup games), while opponents show a figure of 211 (177 in the league, 34 in cup games). In league tilts, the Bluebirds averaged 3.9 per game, opponents 3.8. The offsides total for opponents is 8.8% higher than City's for this category.
Yellow Cards - The Bluebirds had 58 yellow cards (45 in league games, 13 in cup tilts), while opponents had 88 (70 in the league, 18 in cup games). Overall, opponents received 51.7% more yellows.
Red Cards - City had three, all in league matches. Opponents had only one, that coming in a cup game.
Substitutes - City employed 125 substitutes (100 in league games, 25 in cup matches). Opponents used 151 substitutions (124 in league games and another 27 in cup tilts). Opponents' total for this category is 20.8% higher than City's.
Scoring first - The Bluebirds scored first in 29 of the 52 matches featuring at least one goal. In league play, City scored first in 22 of 42. In cup matches, the club got the first goal in seven of 10.
So, what to make of all of this? Cardiff City finished 12th in their division in 2007/08, with a league record of 16-16-14, scoring 59 goals and conceding 55. Including ten Carling Cup and FA Cup matches, City won 24, drew 16 and lost 16, netting 76 and conceding 62. Do these marks sound like adequate return for a season in which the Bluebirds had 27% more attempts on goal and 20% more corners than their opponents in all games, not to mention seeing opponents commit 32% more fouls, get whistled for 9% more offsides, and pick up 52% more yellow cards? In short, should City have done better with the edge they had in these categories? Or is this just further evidence that it's a funny old game (and good luck making much sense of it all)?