April 2012

Why Moneyball Doesn’t Work Here

If nobody realised by now, we like a stat or two. For me, analysis, when used correctly, can keep managers and coaches ahead of the game. They can show exactly the sort of patterns and tendencies that unfold over the course of a match and indeed a season and they can allow people to make reliably informed decisions. The idea of ‘moneyball’ genuinely excited me and I was intrigued to see how it could be applied to the world of football until, one day, I realised it couldn’t. Trying to find value for money, based solely on player statistics, doesn’t work. The difference between football and something like Baseball or American Football … Continue reading →

Derry City v UCD: Kevin Deery Analysis

Derry City’s 0-0 draw with UCD marked Kevin Deery’s first start and 90 minutes of the 2012 season. Had Barry Molloy not been dismissed late in the previous match against Drogheda United, it is unlikely that Deery, who has not yet attained full match sharpness, would have been called upon to play the whole game. No doubt Declan Devine will be unhappy that his team were unable to record a fifth consecutive home win, but truth be told, City’s performance lacked intensity and sharpness in the final third. Derry also looked shaky at the back, with Eddie McCallion being forced to play at centre-back as Shane McEleney and Stewart Greacen were absent … Continue reading →

Formula 1 : Success Breeds Social Success

It was big news in the world of sport that BBC would not own the full rights for Formula 1 coverage for the 2012 season. Sky Sports have launched a new channel, Sky Sports F1 HD, and have broken the hearts of many a football fan by giving Georgie Thompson a lead presenting slot on the channel. After the first race in Albert Park, Melbourne at the Australian Grand Prix, where Jenson Button raised the chequered flag, I was given some very interesting social media statistics from Socialbakers, a social and digital analytics company. They were able to track the Facebook engagement rates of drivers and teams between 16-19th March and it … Continue reading →