Football and Analytics

[ellafella]

A good article on the growing use of "analytics" in football. - view external link

[RamBamFan]

It's interesting. Paul Clement has spoken about 'Moneyball' before which infamously failed under Damien Comoli at Liverpool. But he says he can't see it being anything other than a success in the future. I don't know where I stand on it to be honest. I always believe that good old fashioned judgement will prove to be better withstanding than statistics and analytics. But who knows. Maybe one day specialised analysts will be as important a position behind the scenes as the manager.

[KingCharlieGeorge]

I'm pretty sure Clough and Shankly would have something to say Ella and I suggest it would be something along the lines of "football is a simple game made complicated by fools!".

[AnagRam]

I agree Ella, it is a good article but I also agree with KCG's suggestion about what Clough and Shankly would have to say. Personally I'm sure there's a place for Analytics in, not just football, but rugby and cricket as well. Whether the example of Midtjylland actually proves anything though is debatable, clearly they believe in the use of analytics but they may also simply have the best players or the best team and there I think is the question. Analytics may indeed have a role to play but no amount of 'number crunching' will ever replace the need to find players who can time a tackle, place a pass, cross the ball properly and demonstrate that courage and split second timing which separates the best from the rest. With that in mind I have to come down on the side of 'Bill and Brian' who probably forgot more about football than most of the analysts ever knew.

[Ramstein]

Data can be used in almost all scenarios.

I recently went to a conference were Sir Clive Woodward presented and he changed the face of analytics within the sporting arena in many respects in this country. Fantastic use of analytics to improve the teams ideology and the tactical nuances of how they played.

Statistics have their place and gut feel will only get you so far. Using both is the key....knowledge through educational learning backed by robust data, statistics and analytics.

[blackandwhite56]

The article is fanciful. Brentford had an edge when they had Mark Warburton as manager and to pretend they 'still have it' seems far fetched.

Anyone who could brave the radio programme last night about Clough and Forest will have heard about a day when the input from the manager was simpler. It may not be like that anymore but the stand out thing for me was hearing about how Clough was able to motivate John Robertson to play well and how that contributed to the team's success.

[FindernRam]

The statistical analysis can obviously help in terms of picking out skills and weaknesses, maybe laziness and bravery in individuals but kind of overlooks two things:
1)How to get a team to gell as one. If player a hates player b or is a selfish so and so in front of goal then he is not going to make the "obvious" pass. Every team has cliques and outsiders.
2) Football is essentially a series of random events that have probabilities related to them. If that were not so you would be able to predict the result of every game. Over the years many have tried and failed going back to the "Harold something infradraw system" that was advertised on Radio Luxemburg. You pick any stat and relate it to results and the correlation is pretty weak. Possession is a current fashion yet only 55% of games were won by the team with majority possession.

I think a manger picking the correct tactics outweighs all the rest of the analytics and it is as simple as formation and instruction to shoot go long

[AnagRam]

How much use would the analytics have been if Woodward hadn't also had the strongest pack, Jonny Wilkinson and Jason Robinson twelve years ago though Ramstein? I agree Woodward changed the face of coaching and was an innovator but having such talent at his disposal and a captain like Martin Johnson didn't half help.