1. Footymad
  2. Bluebirds Mad
  3. Bluebirds Latest
  4. Bluebirds News

The Loovens Effect

Last updated : 15 August 2008 By John Heyda
Of the 11 games, City won two, drew five, and lost four. Among the losses were such memorable contests as the soul-withering 3-0 loss at Charlton, the listless 1-0 loss at Sheffield Wednesday and the 1-0 St. David's Day home loss to lowly Leicester (the club's first ever loss at home on March 1). City scored 13 goals in the 11 games while conceding 16. The Bluebirds had only one clean sheet in the 11 Loovens missed, the 1-0 home win over Plymouth on New Year's Day.

The 16 goals conceded in 11 games comes to 1.45 per game. Contrast that to the 39 goals conceded in the 35 games Loovens played, a 1.11 goals-to-games ratio.

Bottom line. In games Loovens missed, City collected only 11 points from 11 games. That's 1.0 points per game and that can get you relegated. The Bluebirds gained 53 points from the 35 games Loovens played in. That's 1.51 points per game, or 69 points for a full season. Sixty-nine points would have left City one point short of a playoff berth last season.

John Heyda

Trending on the boards