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Data Analysis in Sport 15:44 - Oct 3 with 838 viewsnumptydumpty

Know there are some on here, well versed in this aspect of modern sports.

i am weirdly intrigued by this particular topic.

Anyone got any places on the net or decent books that can explain a lot of this trickery in plain English.

its very much part of modern sport and i think we possibly could be one of the clubs that has seemingly gone over to the dark side with this, more than most, in our recruitment policies and attempts to build a balanced squad.

Its interesting and i think it has its place today but as seen by going back to basics. Two big men up top, one that is fast and one that can finish, it often negates all, anyhow.

Yes but any online links or recommendations. Am interested enough to try to learn and understand more...

And then in a couple of years, will be emailling my QPR CEO / DOF / HEAD COACH / KIT MAN / THERAPIST / STRATEGISTS / PERFORMANCE DIRECTOR applications in.

Seriously though, do have an interest so any links, book recommendations etc be appreciated..

"Walking in a Mackie Wonderland"
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Data Analysis in Sport on 16:38 - Oct 3 with 723 viewsKensalT

Expected Goals by Rory Smith gives a good background into how data analysis got a foothold in the game:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Expected-Goals-conquered-football-changed-ebook/dp/B09P

Although he's not afraid to use fifty words where ten will do!

Smith talks a lot about Chris Anderson. He was Professor of Government at Cornell but became so convinced data could change football he tried to buy a club to prove his theories. That proved to be out of his price range but he did have a tough stint as Coventry CEO along the way. He also has a book on the subject:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Numbers-Game-Everything-About-Football-ebook/dp/B00AHO2

Soccernomics by Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski is also worth a read:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Soccernomics-Simon-Kuper-ebook/dp/B006PVZ3LE/ref=sr_1_1

If you just want an overview of how xG is calculated then the FBref website has a good page on this:

https://fbref.com/en/expected-goals-model-explained/
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Data Analysis in Sport on 16:56 - Oct 3 with 678 viewsGroveR

Give "How to Win the Premier League: The Inside Story of Football’s Data Revolution" by Ian Graham a go. If you can ignore the obvious Liverpool-centricity, it does a good job explaining the statistical and data analysis bits in layman's terms.

One interesting insight from reading it was that when it comes to signing a player, the data, video and traditional "football" analysts (scouts) might all be right or they might all be wrong. He talks about Sadio Mane being a target for them when at Southampton and being off the charts in terms of his stats but the football guys were saying "don't sign him, he's a bad influence in the dressing room, unprofessional trainer, etc. They took a gamble and apparently he's the most humble, friendly chap you could meet.

https://amzn.eu/d/6L55bwQ
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Data Analysis in Sport on 17:11 - Oct 3 with 657 viewsKensalT

Data Analysis in Sport on 16:56 - Oct 3 by GroveR

Give "How to Win the Premier League: The Inside Story of Football’s Data Revolution" by Ian Graham a go. If you can ignore the obvious Liverpool-centricity, it does a good job explaining the statistical and data analysis bits in layman's terms.

One interesting insight from reading it was that when it comes to signing a player, the data, video and traditional "football" analysts (scouts) might all be right or they might all be wrong. He talks about Sadio Mane being a target for them when at Southampton and being off the charts in terms of his stats but the football guys were saying "don't sign him, he's a bad influence in the dressing room, unprofessional trainer, etc. They took a gamble and apparently he's the most humble, friendly chap you could meet.

https://amzn.eu/d/6L55bwQ


You have to wonder how some of these football insider rumours get started.

I remember a tale about a very young Cesc Fabregas growing up in a remote part of Catalonia but being such a standout talent that even the mighty Barcelona got to hear about it and sent out a scout to give him the once over.

The coach of CF's team got wind of this but didn't want to lose his star player so for the game where he knew the scout was watching he played CF out of position so that he would look like nothing special and get overlooked.

The coach basically wanted to hang on to his star player for another year and was banking on CF being so good that Barcelona would give him another chance a year later.

So getting back to Sadio Mane. Perhaps it was the Saints coaches putting it about he was a wrong un simply because they wanted to keep hold of him for a bit longer!
[Post edited 3 Oct 17:13]
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Data Analysis in Sport on 17:17 - Oct 3 with 637 viewsWatford_Ranger

Another vote for Soccernomics. Also read the cricket version which is nearly as good. Not so much about analytics in the sense you might mean (xG and the like) but excellent reads.
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Data Analysis in Sport on 17:39 - Oct 3 with 601 viewsnumptydumpty

Thanks so far for all the recommendations

Knew asking on here, would be better than a google search.

Intrigued but also slightly sceptical around exactly how important it is or isnt as the case maybe.

if it could give me the winner of the 3.30 at Haydock also that would be even better !!

"Walking in a Mackie Wonderland"
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Data Analysis in Sport on 18:59 - Oct 3 with 489 viewslassel

To give some sort of insight into the level it goes, I’ve posted before I think that a relative works for City as a sports scientist and as some examples, every player has a specially designated meal plan pre and post sessions, ice bath lengths are specialised for each player and the temperature of the post ice bath warm water dip is also designated per player by the sports science team.

There are countless more examples but it’s insane the level of detail they get into at the top top level.
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Data Analysis in Sport on 19:09 - Oct 3 with 468 viewsBeckenhamhoop

Data Analysis in Sport on 18:59 - Oct 3 by lassel

To give some sort of insight into the level it goes, I’ve posted before I think that a relative works for City as a sports scientist and as some examples, every player has a specially designated meal plan pre and post sessions, ice bath lengths are specialised for each player and the temperature of the post ice bath warm water dip is also designated per player by the sports science team.

There are countless more examples but it’s insane the level of detail they get into at the top top level.


I suppose they have to justify their existence somehow.
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Data Analysis in Sport on 20:50 - Oct 3 with 374 viewsaston_hoop

It's not exactly something new, it's just the methods change

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61648608

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Data Analysis in Sport on 21:32 - Oct 3 with 335 viewsKensalT

Data Analysis in Sport on 20:50 - Oct 3 by aston_hoop

It's not exactly something new, it's just the methods change

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61648608


Rory Smith in his Expected Goals book talks about Charles Reep and the way his ideas have been misrepresented but he doesn't go into the same detail as that article.

At the bottom of that article it mentions that the author Rob Haywood was working on his own book about the evolution of football data.

I couldn't find the book on Amazon so maybe it never got published but there is a website to accompany it:

https://www.manyimpossiblethings.com/about
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