"As a lifelong Liverpool fan, I marveled at a fact I read earlier this week: the reds could have lost every single game after the season restarted and yet still have secured the title. Reflecting on this fact, however, I questioned whether this large gap between the top and bottom clubs was a one season phenomenon or evidence of a growing trend. In other words, is the Premier League becoming less competitive?"
Alisson Becker and the Evolution of Goalkeepers: (The Numbers Behind the World’s #1)
"Legendary Dutch and Ajax manager, Johan Cruyff once said, “In my teams, the goalie is the first attacker and the striker is the first defender.” While the idea of a goalkeeper as an ‘attacker’ may not sound as revolutionary today as it did in the 1980s, it remains an area of the game in which there is certainly room for innovation. Liverpool’s Alisson Becker, The Best FIFA Goalkeeper award winner, is a case in point."
Chelsea’s Kepa is (statistically) the worst goalkeeper in the Premier League
"Kepa Arrizabalaga may play in goal but come the next transfer window, Chelsea may no longer consider him a keeper. Forgive my terrible puns and let me explain why the Chelsea number 1 has been the worst goalkeeper in the Premier League so far this season."
The Next Håland? Why Salzburg’s Patson Daka may be on the radar of Europe’s top clubs (and rightly so)
“In this post, I will focus on examining the impressive stats being generated by Daka this season (2019-2020) at RB Salzburg.”
An xG Model for Everyone in 20 minutes (ish)
"In this post, I'll be showing you, an ordinary football fan like myself, how to make a basic xG model of your own in 20 minutes (or less)."
“The Worst Miss Ever”: The Beginner’s Guide to Expected Goals (Part 1)
When former Nigerian international, Yakabu, failed to stick the ball into an open net from 2 yards out at the 2010 World Cup, many declared it the worst miss ever (if you don’t believe them, take a look at it yourself). I was only 11 years old, a hopeful Zambian rooting for a fellow African…
The Story Behind Our Name
In 2011, when Thomas Müller was asked about his playing style, he replied, in his typical, witty manner, “Ich bin ein Raumdeuter.” (“I am the space investigator/interpreter.”) Anyone who has seen Müller play likely has some understanding of what he meant. His tactical role, now popularly known as the ‘Raumdeuter’, is characterised by an intelligent…
Raumdata Football 