Packing was developed in Germany and if you engage Impect and give them money they will provide you with loads of meaningful and insightful data. But if you don’t have loads of money you are stuck with me. Packing covers a multitude of on-ball and off-ball actions and is therefore very useful. Let’s see who … [continue reading]
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Productivity Gaps
I wrote yesterday on the overall team expected goals differential and how it is trending at +2 xG per game, therefore set up well for the end of the season. What of this group of players and their own expected scoring contributions (xSC) versus last season? A reminder: scoring contribution is goals + assists. Therefore, … [continue reading]
Top Cat or Catastrophe?
Luis Palma has settled into the left attacking wide position recently vacated by the much-loved Jota. Stray Cat There are certainly rough edges to the 23-year-old Honduran. His 68% all pass completion is the lowest in the squad equal to barely on the ball Kyogo Furuhashi. In the recent match against Dundee, he gave the … [continue reading]
Honest Mistakes – Christmas ’23 – “How Lucky Can You Get?”
This piece takes us up to the New Year games so covers the 16th December to the 26th December. The impact of big calls being incorrect can then be evaluated using the framework outlined here -> Honest Mistakes in the SPFL. 16/12/23 Celtic vs Hearts Incident 1 Referee Clancy Game Minute 15th Score At Time … [continue reading]
Graham Spiers’ Podcast
I appeared on Graham Spiers’ Press Box podcast this past week to discuss “Do Scottish refs favour Rangers”. If podcasts had open goals…………whits the goaly daen’? Anyway, I was given the space to run through at a very high level some results from various pieces of analysis by myself and others, which, when taken together, … [continue reading]
Honest Mistakes – Week Eleven
A bit of a catch up. We take in the matches from 29th October through 4th November. The impact of big calls being incorrect can then be evaluated using the framework outlined here -> Honest Mistakes in the SPFL. SPFL Game Weeks Ten and Eleven 29/10/23 The Rangers vs Hearts Incident 1 Referee John Beaton … [continue reading]
Honest Mistakes – Week Eight
The latest round of SPFL fixtures saw Celtic take on Kilmarnock whilst Steven Davis took Micky Beale’s Galactico’s to high flying St Mirren. The impact of big calls being incorrect can then be evaluated using the framework outlined here -> Honest Mistakes in the SPFL. SPFL Game Week Eight 07/10/23 Celtic vs Kilmarnock Incident 1 … [continue reading]
The False “Naivety” Narrative
Celtic’s defeat in Rotterdam was particularly frustrating for me given the low expectations going in. At half time, the match was utterly 50/50 by the data and hope had started to rise: If anything, given Celtic were the away side, you could argue based on the performance data, they’d have been the happier side. But … [continue reading]
Honest Mistakes: League Cup Special
A catch up of game week two and a League Cup special given the number of incidents that emerged in the two match ups involving Glasgow’s largest sides. Special thanks to the Yorkshire Whistler who managed to turn around these decisions in quick order due to pressing commitments. Hence the usual fantastic in-depth detail is … [continue reading]
Honest Mistakes 23/24: Disruption In The Force
The new season is underway in the unique environment of Scottish football. With enlarged Champions’ League group stage football on offer for the SPFL winners, the pressure on Scotland’s parttime referees has never been greater. Thankfully we have the calm, measured expert opinions of the Yorkshire Whistler to guide us through the big contentious issues. … [continue reading]