When Edinburgh and Glasgow clash, the Yorkshire Whistler has a severely disrupted week. Added to my holiday, we’re a bit late this week but here we are. The impact of big calls being incorrect can be evaluated using the framework outlined here -> Honest Mistakes in the SPFL. 20/08/22 Hibernian vs The Rangers Incident 1 … [continue reading]
Honest Mistakes – Week Three
Week three of the SPFL and a relatively quiet week as the top two clubs racked up 9 goals without reply. But there is always one! The impact of that call being incorrect can then be evaluated using the framework outlined here -> Honest Mistakes in the SPFL. 13/08/22 The Rangers vs St Johnstone Referee … [continue reading]
Did Jenz Do Enough To Keep The Shirt?
The misfortune of others (Karl Starfelt not being 100% ready, Stephen Welsh suffering a virus after an excellent season’s opener) gifted Moritz Jens a debut start against Ross County. The (effective) winning goal was quite the entrance. Memories are made of moments but performance analysis is made up of hundred of wee Excel cells! So, … [continue reading]
Honest Mistakes – Week 2
Week two of the SPFL and another round of big calls. Let’s get fell in. The impact of that call being incorrect can then be evaluated using the framework outlined here -> Honest Mistakes in the SPFL. 06/08/22 Ross County vs Celtic Incident 1 Referee Don Robertson Game Minute 65th Incident Hart pushes over Tillson … [continue reading]
New Season, New Honest Mistakes
This season sees Video Assistant Referee (VAR) take its place in Scottish football as it struggles out of the 17th Century and into the 21st. Those of you whom are erudite enough to be following this blog for some time will know we had our own virtual VAR in operation throughout the 2021/22 season. The … [continue reading]
Confident Welsh Asserts His Claim
With the arrival of Moritz Jenz, the future of Stephen Welsh may have seemed a little uncertain. Rumours of reasonable money bids from European sides also added to the uncertainty. An injury to Carl Starfelt and a solid preseason run next to Cameron Carter-Vickers has seen the young Scot take a starting position in the … [continue reading]
The Power of Recovery
When I started Celtic By Numbers the data I collected was very basic. Mainly defensive actions and passing and shot data but no xG. It has developed over the years as you learn more techniques and best practise. Now I rarely add “new” data points a) because it’s a real pain to do and b) … [continue reading]
Mikey Johnston – A Problem of Potential
A lively debate ensued on Twitter (it does happen!) after @celticrumours posted this: I am no different to any other supporter in that I want every player to succeed at Celtic. Ideally, I’d love a first team of 11 local Scottish lads, just like ’67. I am also old enough to know that will not … [continue reading]
Jenz and Jullien
Whilst it would be unfair to say the signing of centre back Moritz Jenz on loan from Ligue 1 side Lorient was met with indifference, it certainly didn’t generate the buzz of the Carter-Vickers or Jota recruitments. Maybe the “loan” element is a factor The reality is Celtic have spent nearly £20m on incomings with … [continue reading]
The Impact of Honest Mistakes
Over the season a Sheffield Wednesday supporting referee from South Yorkshire with no skin in the Scottish football game, has been providing expert assessment of big calls in Scottish Premier League matches. This exercise has focussed on matches involving the top two in the SPFL – Celtic and The Rangers. With a Champions League bounty … [continue reading]