
The Irish data also allows an extra dimension to be considered. Prior to 1977 when clubs were level on points, league position was determined by goals average. Since then it has bee goal difference. This may create different incentives for clubs. While the objective has remained to win games to achieve maximum points, there is also a consideration that, prior to 1977, it was important to score as many goals as possible. Since then, to go after more goals has to be balanced with the need to avoid conceding. The data has been split between pre and post 1977. It can be seen that, contrary to what may be expected, teams with the most goals won the league on fewer occasions before 1977. Fewer goals conceded was a stronger predictor of success. A previous post showed that the number of goals per game has declined in the League of Ireland over the same period. Perhaps the cavalier attitude of clubs in that period meant that more clubs were high goalscoring teams and the chances of the top team being the top scoring team is subsequently lower.