Catching up now as we move into SPFL week six. The Champions had what was considered a tricky assignment in Livingston. Plucky challengers The Rangers took on a resurgent Motherwell at home. The impact of big calls being incorrect can then be evaluated using the framework outlined here -> Honest Mistakes in the SPFL. SPFL … [continue reading]
Honest Mistakes: Week Five
Down to me but finally here are the big calls from the matches involving the likely top two at the end of the season from week five. Of course, that may not be the case. Although there has never been any suggestion or indeed evidence of cultural predilection within Scottish football governance towards either St … [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]
Going Dutch
I’ve already stated a slightly grumpy attitude to this seasons Champions League campaign given the glaring weaknesses in the squad not addressed but even more importantly the need to prioritise winning the league over anything else given the huge riches likely from revamped 2023-24 participation. But putting the miserabilism to one side for a moment, … [continue reading]
The Weeks Important Business
Celtic’s most important game of the week is on Saturday as the Champions return to league action against newly promoted Dundee. Miserabilism But what about the Feyenoord away Champions League tie on Tuesday? Well, I could get arsey here. Something along the lines of: “If Celtic are not interested in putting a Champions League competitive … [continue reading]
Honest Mistakes: Week Four – “Oh, it’s deflected!”
The Derby weekend was overshadowed by more post-match controversy. Most of the noise come from unskilled partisans. Thankfully we have the Yorkshire Whistler. Although given Sheffield Wednesday’s start to the season it is likely his mood isn’t great! Special thanks, nonetheless. The impact of big calls being incorrect can then be evaluated using the framework … [continue reading]
Making Sense of Space
I found a nice feature on Sofascore today – average player positions. Average position obviously doesn’t mean that was where they always stood, and it doesn’t mean that is where they are always relative to teammates. Nevertheless, without complex tracking data it is the best we have to discern a semblance of shape. I wanted … [continue reading]
Finding Forward Solutions
One of the issues against Kilmarnock was the inability to convert good field positions into chances. Celtic were relying on playing through their wide players, or linking with Kyogo Furuhashi dropping deep, or the number eights creating from the centre. Compared to the first two games of the season, Kyogo did not get on the … [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]