Blog Posts

  • Michael’s Keane passing

    So, I’ve been mucking about making an expected pass (xP) model recently and who should turn up in it as the season’s best progressive passing centre back but reported Everton target Michael Keane. We all know that straight passing % provides no context to the type of passes being made by players so an xP…

  • Dele’s Belly Full of Goals

    I posted something like this on twitter after the last round of games: Which led to a good (not noob) question: @footballfactman Some noob Qs: Big diff in Allis xG v Actual. Can we infer anything from this disparity? Predict anything? A cooling maybe? — Tony (@Tony_The_Red) January 4, 2017 I reckon the best way…

  • Fraser Forster’s Failings

    Southampton are having an absolute nightmare with shots on target (SoT) in the box at both ends of the field. They’re the worst team in the Premier League at saving those they face and the worst team in the Premier League at scoring the ones they have themselves. Today, I’m concentrating on the defensive side.…

  • To Hull and Back

    How the League Table Tells Lies After 4 games this season, Hull were in 8th place in the Premier League. If all the teams were ranked at that time according to the volume and quality of chances created versus those conceded (xGD), then Hull were 17th best. Hull did an Aston Villa and handed care-taker…

  • In search of a balanced Barry and Gueye…

    A ‘ball recovery’ is when a player picks up a loose ball or makes a tackle/interception and his team retain the ball. All interceptions and tackles aren’t ball recoveries but just looking at ball recoveries might still be useful. Where a team recovers possession of the football probably matters at some tactical level, right? If…