Aug 30, 2022

Weekly Football Data Analytics round-up for May 8-14

A lot happens in football analytics that doesn’t fit into our normal articles but is worth knowing about anyway. The many incredible analysts who put their work up online should be noticed, and we’d like to point out a few pieces you may have missed on a weekly basis.

Kosta Marcopulos hypes Beto up

Beto is not quite a household name in football, but Kosta Marcopulos suggests that he could be a strong up-and-comer. He looks at how Beto scores, not just numerically but also at his scoring technique, and at other numbers, including the sheer size of the man. Marcopulos sums it up by suggesting that, on his current trajectory, Beto can be truly terrific on the pitch.

John Zuidema examines the Erling Haaland transfer

Looking at Dortmund’s loss of their player to Man City, Zuidema discusses why a player who’s had a relatively bad season would be a desirable asset, and what he could bring to his new club, as well as the problems with the transfer. He discusses Haaland’s strengths and weaknesses and how they fit into his clubs, both old and new, but beyond the analytical side, his tone is entertaining throughout and it’s a thought-provoking read (even if, as he says, it might be disagreeable).

Olly Craven discusses manager transfers

Whenever a club has a terrible season, every fan knows who exactly is to blame and should be replaced: The manager. It’s why the role has a three-year limit (as we discussed last week). Olly Craven examines that logic, asking not just “does it matter” (which he quickly answers with “no”), but the more interesting “when does it matter”.

The Coaches’ Voice host Thomas Frank

As the incredibly data-oriented manager of one of the most analytical clubs in the world, Thomas Frank is someone we are incredibly interested in. The Coaches’ Voice brings him back to discuss the Brentford vs Swansea promotion playoffs finals, and how they won.