Relationship Between Squad Value and Finishing Position


Relationship Between Squad Value and Finishing Position


According to data presented by NewBettingOffers Manchester City’s squad value has now broken through the £1billion threshold – a new record for the Premier League. Hardly surprising that a squad containing the likes of Phil Foden, Kevin De Bruyne, and the force of nature that is Erling Braut Haaland should be valued at such an astronomical sum. No shock either that the league’s most valuable squad should belong to the reigning champions.

Money Always Wins?

“Money always wins” is a phrase which is increasingly associated with the modern game. There is no doubt more to City’s success than simply splashing the cash – Pep Guardiola’s brilliance in the hot seat being one key factor. Nevertheless, the fact that in 2021/22, the title fell to the most valuable club, begs the question as to whether that pattern holds as we move down the standings. Does the second most valuable squad finish second, the third finish third and so on, all the way down to the three least valuable squads being relegated?

A Look Back at 2021/22

The 2022/23 finishing positions are of course yet to be determined, so the best way to investigate this theory may be to take a look back at what happened in 2021/22. The below table lists the estimated squad values at the beginning of the 2021/22 Premier League season.

Premier League Squad Values


So how did the 2021/22 Premier League squad values compare with the finishing positions of the sides? The table below details the squad value rankings and finishing positions of each side, and the difference between the two.

EPL Squad Values


Strong Relationship Between Squad Value and League Position

So, does money always win? Depressingly but unsurprisingly, the above results would suggest that yes it does. The Champions League positions went to the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th most valuable squads – only a beleaguered Manchester United squad missing out from the four most valuable squads. At the other end of the table, the three relegation spots were filled by the sides ranked 17th, 19th and 20th in the squad value table. On average all sides finished within three places of where their squad valuation suggested they should.

But Sides May Still Overperform

Thankfully the relationship between squad value and performance isn’t a perfect one, almost every season at least one or two sides perform significantly above expectations, whilst other, more expensively assembled squads underperform.

Taking the 2021/22 campaign as an example, Brentford were expected to be relegated according to squad valuation but ultimately survived comfortably in 13th spot. The Bees were the season’s biggest overachievers, narrowly ahead of West Ham, Brighton, and Crystal Palace.

No doubt which club achieved the least value for money from their squad. That dubious honour belongs to Everton. Ranked eighth in terms of squad value, they flopped badly to finish 16th in a season to forget for Toffees fans.

Top 20 Betting Offers

Betfred
Betfred
Bet £10 and get £50 in Free Bets Claim Offer

New customers only. Register with BETFRED50. Deposit £10+ via Debit Card and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get £50 in free bets. 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. T&Cs apply.

Gentleman Jim
Gentleman Jim
Money Back Free Bet up to £40 Claim Offer

New UK Customers only. Use code welcomeMB40. Sign up and place at least 3 bets of £10 or more on seperate events on your first day of betting. If account has net sportsbook losses at the end of first day's betting, Gentleman Jim will refund 50% of these as a free bet up to £40. Full Terms apply. 18+ begambleaware.

Bet365
Bet365
Bet £10, Get £30 in Free Bets Claim Offer

Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required.

Bresbet
Bresbet
Bet £10 Get a £10 Free Bet Claim Offer

T&Cs apply. 18+ New customers only. You must place a single win-only bet of £10 or more with odds of evens (2.00) or greater to qualify. £10 Free bet will be credited once the qualifying bet has settled. Must use code B10G10 when creating an account.

William Hill
William Hill
Deposit & Bet £10 to get £60 Free Bet Claim Offer

18+. Play Safe. New customers only, using promo code T60. Valid from 13/04/2022. Online play. Get £60 Bonus split between Vegas & Sports in the following manner – (i) Deposit £10 to unlock £20 Vegas Free Bet on Selected Games (72hr expiry, wagering reqs apply); then (ii) bet £10+ (odds 1/2+) with cash (excl. £10 deposit) or Vegas winnings (after wager reqs met). Once settled, receive £40 Sports Free Bets excluding Virtual Markets (4x £10, 7 days expiry). Full T&Cs apply. #ad

Bzeebet
Bzeebet
Bet £10, Get a £10 Free Bet Claim Offer

18+. New Customers Only. Max 1 x £10 Free Bet. Qualifying bets at Odds of 1/1 or greater. Paid as Bonus Token Min 4/5 Odds Req. Skrill, Neteller, Paypal not eligible. T&Cs Apply

talkSPORT BET
talkSPORT BET
Get up to £40 in Football Free Bets Claim Offer

18+ New customers only. Opt in via mobile device, bet up to £40 (min. £20) on any football market at odds of 2.00+, in 7 days. Get up to £40 in free bets on selected markets. Bonuses expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply, see below. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly

Ladbrokes
Ladbrokes
Bet £5 Get £20 in Free Bets Claim Offer

18+ New UK+IRE Customers only. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 4x £5 free bets. Stake not returned. Restrictions + Free bet T&Cs apply.

Midnite
Midnite
Bet £10 Get £20 in Free Bets Claim Offer

New UK Customers. Register using code BETGETSPORTS. Must bet £10 in total on 4+ legs, min odds 4.0. £20 awarded as 4 X £5 free bets once settled, AND 50 Free Spins to use on Big Bass Splash (valued at 10p per spin). Free bet T&Cs Apply. 18+. BeGambleAware.org

Virgin Bet
Virgin Bet
Bet £10, Get £20 in Free bets Claim Offer
£10 min deposit. First bet mins odds 1.5 placed within 14 days of sign-up. 2 x £10 in Free Bets: valid for 7 days, free bet stakes not returned. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org. 18+ T&Cs apply.
Copybet
Copybet
Bet £10, Get £50 in Free Bets Claim Offer

New UK customers only. Qualifying bet should be a Single or Accumulator bet, min stake £10, and min odds 1.9. Get £50 in Free bets which must be placed with a min odds of 2.0 include: 1 x £10 Free bet for horse racing, 1 x £10 Free bet on football, 2 x 10 Free bet In-play, 1 x £10 Free bet Acca (min 3 selections). To unlock the offer, complete the first deposit via the banking app. Max payout – £500. 7 day expiry. 18+. Begambleaware.org

10bet
10bet
100% Welcome Bonus up to £50 Claim Offer

New bettors; Code SPORT; Wager deposit & bonus 8x; Max qualifying bet stake=initial bonus; Valid 60 days; Min odds, payment method exclusions apply; New customers only. T&C apply; 18+

Unibet
Unibet
Bet £10 Get £40 in Bonuses Claim Offer

18+. BeGambleAware.org. New GB customers only. Min £10 debit card deposit. Place a £10+ bet at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days. Opt in for £20 in free bets and £20 Casino Bonus. Valid for 7 days. Geographical restrictions and T&C’s apply. #AD

Bet442
Bet442
Bet £20 Get £10 in Free bets Claim Offer

18+. New customers only. Min deposit £20. Max One £10 Free Bet. Min turnover £20. Qualifying Bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 (2.00) or greater. Paid as bonus token with Min 4/5 (1.80) odds req. T&Cs apply.

Spreadex
Spreadex
Bet £25 Get £50 in Free Bets Claim Offer

New Customers place a £25 fixed odds bet at minimum odds of 1/2. Get £50 in Free Bets as: 5 x £5 free fixed odds bets + 4 x £5 free Total Goals spread bets + 50 free spins on Starburst 18+. Full promotions terms apply.

Betway
Betway
£30 Matched Free Bet Claim Offer

New Customers. Min Deposit: £5. Maximum Free Bet: £30. First qualifying bet with 3+ selections. Overall odds: 3.00+ (2/1). If first bet loses free bets will be credited after bet settled. 100 Free Spins on Gold Blitz credited on settlement of qualifying Acca bet. 18+. BeGambleAware.org. Bet The Responsible Way. Full terms apply

Highbet
Highbet
Bet £10, Get £20 Free Bets + 20 Free Spins Claim Offer

New customers Deposit and place your first bet on Sports at odds of Evens (2.0) or greater. Once bet is settled you will receive 1x £10 Free Bet Token to be used on Football, 1x £10 Free Bet Token to be used on Horse Racing, and 20 Extra spins (value per spin 50p), to be used on Book of Dead. Total bonus value £30. Full terms apply. 18+ begambleaware.

MyriadPlay
MyriadPlay
Bet £15 Get £15 Claim Offer

New customers only. Min deposit £10. Max one £15 Free Bet. Min Turnover £15 to qualify. Qualifying bets must be at odds of Evens (2.0) or bigger. Full Terms apply. 18+ begambleaware.

Betrino
Betrino
Bet £25 Get £50 in Free Bets Claim Offer

New Players Only. Free bet - one-time stake of £50, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings. Wager from real balance first. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Max conversion: £200. Valid for 7 Days from receipt. Limited to 1 sport & 5 casino brand/s within the network. Withdrawal requests void all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill and Neteller deposits. Full Terms apply.

Quinnbet
Quinnbet
50% Bonus up to £50 Claim Offer

Deposit and bet on any sportsbook markets of your choice at odds of evens (2.00) or greater. Get 50% back of your first days losses as a Free Bet up to £50 plus 50 Free Spins. Min. 3 bets required. If your account is up, you’ll receive a £5 Free Bet regardless plus 10 Free Spins. Use coupon code "5050" at registration. T&Cs apply | 18+ New UK Customers Only | GambleAware.org | Gamble Responsibly