March 2012

Shamrock Rovers v Bohemians: Aaron Greene & Karl Moore

Stephen Kenny still appears to be searching for a system and a preferred starting eleven as Shamrock Rovers continue to enjoy their early season form. Kenny’s project at Tallaght Stadium is clearly still a work in progress, yet Rovers’ clear superiority over many teams in the league is what has allowed them to emerge from many early season fixtures with preferable results. Against Bohemians, Shamrock Rovers dominated much of the game’s possession, but were unable to take the lead until the 78th minute courtesy of a terrific goal, engineered by the impressive Ronan Finn and finished majestically by the emphatic Gary Twigg. Rovers then doubled their lead on 93 minutes through Billy … Continue reading →

Getting adidas miCoached

Any keen readers here at SC1 Sports will know we love stats. We believe they can paint a true picture that allows us to understand the performance of certain individuals or teams. Slowly but surely, the analysis being done, especially by Conan and Ciaran, is being recognized worldwide. For anyone who didn’t hear it on Thursday, Ciaran was interviewed by an American guy who runs a Real Madrid fan site, and it was great to hear someone acknowledging his work being done. Since starting my internship at adidas out here in Amsterdam, I have become a little bit fascinated with the ‘Interactive Personal Coaching and Training System’ called miCoach. When I was … Continue reading →

Love of the Game

“I’ve never known a man worth his salt who, in the long run, deep down, didn’t appreciate the grind, the discipline…” Is it possible to overuse Vince Lombardi? I remember, not even two years ago, listening to my name being called from the PA system as I was withdrawn after 20 minutes of championship final action. The anti-climax alone is enough to sicken you but I also recall the days proceeding that affair when I genuinely considered my sporting future. It seemed that it was all give and no take and I was having flashbacks of similar twists of fate throughout my career. What was the point? But after a few sleepless … Continue reading →

Derry City v Cork City: Patrick McEleney and a Number of Tactical Insights

Derry City maintained their 100% home record in 2012 with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Cork City. A double salvo from Mark Farren and Stephen McLaughlin early in the second proved to be enough for Derry to seal all three points. After falling two goals behind, Cork never looked like responding. Patrick McEleney In relation to the performance of Patrick McEleney, there can be no doubt that he will have been both frustrated and disappointed with his display. However at this point it is worth noting that McEleney is still only 19 years old and he is a player on whom many place an extremely high level of expectation. Whilst this expectation … Continue reading →

Analysis of Derry City’s Full-Backs (Derry City v Linfield: Part 2)

Analysing the performances of the three players that played in the full-back positions for Derry City during the Candystripes’ 3-1 win over Linfield provided for a number of intriguing tactical insights. Dermot McCaffrey and Eddie McCallion began the match at left-back and right-back respectively, before Declan Devine substituted McCallion at half-time, moving Simon Madden (who had begun the game at right-midfield) into the right back position. After analysing the first half performances of McCaffrey and McCallion, I felt that a half time change was obligatory. However I was initially critical of Devine’s decision to substitute McCallion. Rather, I thought he should have replaced Dermot McCaffrey with Patrick McEleney, switching Madden from right-midfield … Continue reading →

Linfield Analysis: Carvill and Lowry (Setanta Post Part 1)

Yes, to say this game with Derry City was one of two halves is perhaps a tired cliché but the changes in which home manager, Declan Devine, made at the break really did make the difference between both periods as opposing as Emile Heskey’s feet when his brain asks him to shoot. In the first 45 minutes, Derry were dominated. The Irish League champions had all the possession and all the territory and wingers, Michael Carvill and Philip Lowry were causing the Candystripes defence all sorts of bother – not least when they combined for the first goal of the game. But the change in impact at the restart correlated directly with … Continue reading →

Cork City 1-1 Shamrock Rovers: Analysis of Vinny Sullivan & Ronan Finn

A 94th minute header from Gary Twigg secured a point for 10 man Shamrock Rovers as they held Cork City to a 1-1 draw at Turner’s Cross. Cork had previously taken the lead through a Gavin Kavanagh strike on 62 minutes, but the Leesiders were unable to hold out for their first win of the Premier Division campaign. Both teams lined out like-for-like, in 4-4-2 formations. The first half was rather uneventful. Shamrock Rovers enjoyed large spells of possession without with causing Cork City’s defence any notable problems. Towards the end of the first half it was Cork City who came close to taking the lead as Craig Sives almost put the … Continue reading →

Merseyside Derby: Liverpool’s Tendencies

Sometimes, a complete tactical breakdown isn’t necessary when you’ve just shot down your fierce local rivals in emphatic fashion. Nevertheless, we analysed the way Kenny Dalglish’s men launched their attacks, the effectiveness and wastefulness of certain patterns, and which players imposed themselves most on the game. Looking at attacks, we took one attack as a period where Liverpool were in control and looking to cross into the opponent’s half with intent and with a clear beginning and end. With that in mind, we were able to decipher who was most forward thinking in the Liverpool team and looking to make something happen in open play. Jose Enrique is a man who rarely … Continue reading →

Real Betis v Real Madrid: Marcelo – A Performance Analysis

Saturday night’s 3-2 victory over Real Betis proved to a tactically intriguing game from the perspective of Real Madrid’s left-back, Marcelo. Recently, one of the greatest left-backs in the modern era, Paolo Maldini, commented that in terms of finding a suitable balance between attacking and defending, Real’s Marcelo was “the current best specalist”. Many will recall the Marcelo that joined Real Madrid from Fluminense as a 17 year-old. Technically gifted, energetic and great at getting forward, but very suspect defensively. In the six years that have since elapsed, Marcelo’s game has developed signficantly, however has Maldini got slightly carried away in his appraisal? Marcelo (v Real Betis) As usual, Real Madrid lined … Continue reading →

The Michael Murphy Effect

Does anyone need telling that the guy is a good player? Well let me say it now: Michael Murphy is a hell of a footballer (I always stick my neck on the line). Having analysed their last game against Laois, it was clear that Donegal were extremely wasteful in attack. Even though their defence was its mean, old self, they were let down by slow, laboured attacks and a constant surrender of possession. Bring in Michael Murphy and Colm McFadden to the line up, however, and Donegal’s 8 scores against Cork came courtesy of an efficient passing average of just 3.8 per attack. Absolutely incredible. Michael Murphy, during his stint in the … Continue reading →