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3. Soccer Analytics 101. In terms of stats usage in soccer, the speakers at the soccer analytics panel at the SSAC divided it into three broad groups: Match analysis, player recruitment and sports science. While not yet as advanced as data in other sports (particularly baseball and basketball), there's been an increased focus as of late among clubs in bringing in analytical staff, particularly in the area of player recruitment. Scott McLachlan, Head of International Scouts at Chelsea noted that "there's a core group in the EPL, Fulham, Everton, Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham [who] are the drivers, while abroad teams such as Dortmund and Hamburg lead the way." Data has become increasingly important as a filter in determining which players are worth closer examination by scouts. ""Ninety-nine percent of scouting is who you don't sign," said Steven Houston, Head of Technical Scouting at Hamburg. However, Houston notes that as currently construed, no decision is ever going to be a majority stat-based decision, and ultimately scouts give the final say. With growth in soccer analytics still slow, Houston thinks part of the problem is that as data is largely not public, "superfans aren't able to develop their own models" as in other sports -- hence there's a need for stats analysis to evolve in complexity and add deeper layers.
Houston pointed out that it's not just data clubs wanted, but good data. For example, it's simply not enough to know how just many shots were taken, but rather where the shots were taken from. StatDNA is one company that attempts to add some depth. "Rather than simply counting events such as passes, key passes and coming up with stats such as completion percentage," said Fran Taylor, director of StatDNA. "We look at the actual effect of those passes, whether they are continuously positive and setting up chances, to create a value that differs." The key driver of success for clubs going forward are those that are able to combine new-age data mining along with the traditional scouting eye for talent. Although as Drew Carey, part-owner of the Seattle Sounders quipped, there are always other intangible factors to consider outside of sophisticated number-crunching. "We kind of have a no-asshole rule at our club," said Carey.
4. Performance Analytics 101. While usage of analytics in clubs is growing, it's largely concentrated on player recruitment at present. Everton's Steve Brown notes that it's "still in the infancy on the performance side." Brown heads a team at Everton that assesses match data to help Everton prepare for its opponents. For example, for the 2009 FA Cup final Everton used performance analytics to help devise a game plan for attacking and defending Chelsea on corners. U.S. international Landon Donovan was one player who was keener than most to take advantage of the metrics and benefitted from Everton's approach on his most recent loan spell. "Landon was quite interactive, always looking for the next step and the next advantage he could get on his opposition," said Brown. "He'd ask for a breakdown on his opposition winger and who he'd have to double up on for our fullbacks and on his opposition fullback that he'd be up against. He'd want to know the trends and traits of what that player was doing and what their strengths and weaknesses were."
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/20120305/monday-musings/#ixzz1oJuFfHbZ
Houston pointed out that it's not just data clubs wanted, but good data. For example, it's simply not enough to know how just many shots were taken, but rather where the shots were taken from. StatDNA is one company that attempts to add some depth. "Rather than simply counting events such as passes, key passes and coming up with stats such as completion percentage," said Fran Taylor, director of StatDNA. "We look at the actual effect of those passes, whether they are continuously positive and setting up chances, to create a value that differs." The key driver of success for clubs going forward are those that are able to combine new-age data mining along with the traditional scouting eye for talent. Although as Drew Carey, part-owner of the Seattle Sounders quipped, there are always other intangible factors to consider outside of sophisticated number-crunching. "We kind of have a no-asshole rule at our club," said Carey.
4. Performance Analytics 101. While usage of analytics in clubs is growing, it's largely concentrated on player recruitment at present. Everton's Steve Brown notes that it's "still in the infancy on the performance side." Brown heads a team at Everton that assesses match data to help Everton prepare for its opponents. For example, for the 2009 FA Cup final Everton used performance analytics to help devise a game plan for attacking and defending Chelsea on corners. U.S. international Landon Donovan was one player who was keener than most to take advantage of the metrics and benefitted from Everton's approach on his most recent loan spell. "Landon was quite interactive, always looking for the next step and the next advantage he could get on his opposition," said Brown. "He'd ask for a breakdown on his opposition winger and who he'd have to double up on for our fullbacks and on his opposition fullback that he'd be up against. He'd want to know the trends and traits of what that player was doing and what their strengths and weaknesses were."
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/20120305/monday-musings/#ixzz1oJuFfHbZ
