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Using data to try find a creative midfielder (a thread)...
It's no secret that United need some more creativity midfield. So I thought I'd try to use data to help identify some (realistic) creative players that might not otherwise be obvious targets.
It's no secret that United need some more creativity midfield. So I thought I'd try to use data to help identify some (realistic) creative players that might not otherwise be obvious targets.
First some assumptions.
There's not much/no money to play with = filter to include 'out of contract' players only.
Anyone valued more than £500k would demand too high a wage = filter out players valued >£500k.
We're not going to find any world beaters.
There's not much/no money to play with = filter to include 'out of contract' players only. Anyone valued more than £500k would demand too high a wage = filter out players valued >£500k. We're not going to find any world beaters.
Plot the players on a chart using their stats (from the last 2 years) for:
Accurate Thru Passes per 90
Success. Dribbles per 90
We're looking for players that stand out in one or both of these areas. Top right of the graph is ideal,but top-middle or middle-right also good.
Accurate Thru Passes per 90Success. Dribbles per 90We're looking for players that stand out in one or both of these areas. Top right of the graph is ideal,but top-middle or middle-right also good.
We'll now narrow that search to focus on those that have been playing their football in Europe.
(I'll also discount Adam Frizzell at this stage, on the assumption that he is a known quantity.)
(I'll also discount Adam Frizzell at this stage, on the assumption that he is a known quantity.)
Next I have used my league comparison model to discount anyone that is playing in a league that is at the low end of the 'likeness' and prioritise those that play in 'similar' leagues to the Scottish Premiership.
Banfa Diakite
Maalique Foster https://twitter.com/ArabAnalytics/status/1300421681069150209?s=20
Banfa DiakiteMaalique Foster https://twitter.com/ArabAnalytics/status/1300421681069150209?s=20
That leaves us with 3 players, with the following profiles;
D Prokop
K Wojtkowski
S Malinowski
(Outer limits on the radar are set to the highest scorer in the original data set. Not an ideal way to assess a player, but best way I could think to make the comparisons fair)
D ProkopK WojtkowskiS Malinowski(Outer limits on the radar are set to the highest scorer in the original data set. Not an ideal way to assess a player, but best way I could think to make the comparisons fair)
So we have identified three, out of contract players that have shown creative ability in the past couple of years.
Sebastian Malinowski's radar stands out the most, but Prokop and Malinowski have been playing at a higher level, so all are worth further investigation.
Sebastian Malinowski's radar stands out the most, but Prokop and Malinowski have been playing at a higher level, so all are worth further investigation.
*Addendum*
I would stress that this is a fairly simplistic approach, and as with any data analysis further scouting using video footage would be required.
This is just an example of how data can be used to cut through the vast numbers and identify potential targets.
I would stress that this is a fairly simplistic approach, and as with any data analysis further scouting using video footage would be required.
This is just an example of how data can be used to cut through the vast numbers and identify potential targets.
