Just back  (merged)

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

I am anti data because all my working life I have seen it abused, distorted, misinterpreted, misrepresented,  skewed to show one side of an argument. It is often not used as a tool at all; it is a way of making something fit or not to a pre ordained position. In that sense you are right it is an absolute for me.

I hadn't give it any thought as to how data is used in football until I started seeing the xg stats. Some people were genuinely getting excited that we had a high xg despite the fact we scored nil.

Some argue that we will learn a lot from that because we can apply any changes necessary in the next game. There is just the one flaw in that argument in that the circumstances of the next game are completely and utterly different and the previous xg meant absolutely nothing.

I see people raving that player x has made the most Interceptions. What on earth is that about?! Without context it also means absolutely nothing. If he intercepts it and a second later smashes into his own net, or gives the ball away and then has to make another Interception his ratings are going up all the time!

Of course I understand that clubs use data as another tool, but we have made a thing about getting data analysts so it is a good conversation to have but there is nothing to compare to seeing a player live two or three times to get a true reflection of his ability.

Quoted from GrimPol

Isn't the point though that if you can buy these statistics, as GTFC has, then people are reading what we're reading? But a manager's thoughts/nous/skill/competency, call it what you will, is ours, and ours alone.

Quoted from GrimPol

Also, if  we get loads of corners is that A) Good, as it means our players are getting to the by line, or B) Rubbish because it means our players are rubbish at centring, as the opposition is good at blocking.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

You've got it! They basically mean sod all.

Quoted from GrimPol

Also, if  we get loads of corners is that A) Good, as it means our players are getting to the by line, or B) Rubbish because it means our players are rubbish at centring, as the opposition is good at blocking.

Quoted from ska face

Unsurprising to see that the usual suspects have written off something as basic and ubiquitous as data analysis based on nothing but their own assumptions of how it works, what’s being analysed and how it’s being applied.

It’s the same people who are absolutely adamant that the players have no idea how we’re supposed to be playing and don’t know the game plan because they, personally, don’t know it or can’t work it out. With all due respect, it’s a lot more complicated than some on here like to think or have extrapolated from their Sunday league spell in the 70s. Yeah it’s probably more complicated than it needs to be at times, and Hurst is definitely guilty of overthinking things when it comes to the opposition, but there’s more to think about than just 4-4-2 get it wide get it in egg & chips.

Quoted from ska face

Unsurprising to see that the usual suspects have written off something as basic and ubiquitous as data analysis based on nothing but their own assumptions of how it works, what’s being analysed and how it’s being applied.

It’s the same people who are absolutely adamant that the players have no idea how we’re supposed to be playing and don’t know the game plan because they, personally, don’t know it or can’t work it out. With all due respect, it’s a lot more complicated than some on here like to think or have extrapolated from their Sunday league spell in the 70s. Yeah it’s probably more complicated than it needs to be at times, and Hurst is definitely guilty of overthinking things when it comes to the opposition, but there’s more to think about than just 4-4-2 get it wide get it in egg & chips.