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I've meant to do this for a while. ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ง๐๐ซ'๐ฌ ๐๐ฎ๐ข๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐
๐จ๐จ๐ญ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ก๐๐ซ๐
Combining my own experiences with some leading lights I will show the building blocks of a hobby if you are a mathsy, sportsy geek!
Combining my own experiences with some leading lights I will show the building blocks of a hobby if you are a mathsy, sportsy geek!
Firstly, follow the right people.
@AnEnglishGoat did a quite remarkable power rankings network just over a month ago. Take a look. https://twitter.com/AnEnglishGoat/status/1341156553337032709?s=19
@AnEnglishGoat did a quite remarkable power rankings network just over a month ago. Take a look. https://twitter.com/AnEnglishGoat/status/1341156553337032709?s=19
These were in the Top 20 & all a necessary follow (edited a couple out):
@GraceOnFootball
@StatsBomb
@TheM_L_G
@Blades_analytic
@OptaJoe
@Worville
@Zonal_Marking
@AshwinRaman_
@AFHStewart
@GraceOnFootball
@StatsBomb
@TheM_L_G
@Blades_analytic
@OptaJoe
@Worville
@Zonal_Marking
@AshwinRaman_
@AFHStewart
If that isn't enough for you then just follow the 'list' that @LutonAnalytics has very helpfully put together. This will collate the wisdom of many of the accounts in the diagram. https://twitter.com/i/lists/1341323211993182208
It is important to find your natural home though and this Fananalytic 92 from @BeesAnalytica can be great for this. Follow the club accounts that interest you. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kuQT0-nSmPSPbc7eC9dZ6nwwhepaXGl37GkLqchWARE/edit?usp=drivesdk
Now that's sorted. You have to take in the best material out there. From an audio perspective, sticking to statsy/analytic stuff there are some really good podcasts to listen to.
Let's start with @FanalyticsPod. Relatively young, but perfect for someone starting out.
Let's start with @FanalyticsPod. Relatively young, but perfect for someone starting out.
Then add @StatsBomb podcast, available on loads of platforms.
@TifoFootball_ great audio, even better YouTube channel https://youtube.com/c/TifoFootball
Zonal Marking podcast with @AliMaxwell_ on @TheAthleticUK is brilliant & can be listened to at any time https://open.spotify.com/show/1o2ZogNQQmPKCntcdKnXPT?si=4KrYjRUNRh2etdhsWks3DQ
@TifoFootball_ great audio, even better YouTube channel https://youtube.com/c/TifoFootball
Zonal Marking podcast with @AliMaxwell_ on @TheAthleticUK is brilliant & can be listened to at any time https://open.spotify.com/show/1o2ZogNQQmPKCntcdKnXPT?si=4KrYjRUNRh2etdhsWks3DQ
@insightMrkt podcast combines stats with great insight in working in the industry. A brilliant company made from "us"
There are lots of others too, @optapro @smarterscout @Twenty3sport are all platforms that produce pods
Fan pods getting great too @BeesTactical a good example
There are lots of others too, @optapro @smarterscout @Twenty3sport are all platforms that produce pods
Fan pods getting great too @BeesTactical a good example
Now reading! There are countless blogs out there, but we'll start with books. First, if you do buy any books, don't use Amazon please. They dominate the globe enough. There's plenty of other outlets, preferably independent! My personal firsts were The Numbers Game & Soccernomics
I asked the question recently, what got people into analytics?
Got some great responses which follow this tweet. The main thing though is to just read. Anything football or data related is fine! I'm currently reading Arsene Wenger's autobiography. Football Hackers is also great!
Got some great responses which follow this tweet. The main thing though is to just read. Anything football or data related is fine! I'm currently reading Arsene Wenger's autobiography. Football Hackers is also great!
Some great shouts from my @rovers_chat mate Glenn here. Football Manager is a way in for loads of people too. Loved it since CM99/00 https://twitter.com/glennentwistle/status/1352554733509238793?s=19
Can learn from the best as well of course. That's what Oli & I did by reading these Pep books by @martiperarnau https://twitter.com/gorn__/status/1352313267398602754?s=19
Now more blogs. As I said these are plentiful so there's no way I can do them justice. My own is here http://andywatsonsport.wordpress.com . But for more quality look at what the main man @Blades_analytic says https://twitter.com/Blades_analytic/status/1352322556100018180?s=19
@C_Carpenter14 is a Statsbomb employee so he knows his onions when it comes to this stuff. This is the @lemonwatcher blog that got him in https://twitter.com/C_Carpenter14/status/1352324520959377410?s=19
There are many many more and I would invite anyone who reads this post to reply to this with their own favourites
But for now, the aforementioned @lemonwatcher has produced an amazing resource. An engine that searches quality blogs for the topics you want https://twitter.com/lemonwatcher/status/1352732119290818561?s=19
But for now, the aforementioned @lemonwatcher has produced an amazing resource. An engine that searches quality blogs for the topics you want https://twitter.com/lemonwatcher/status/1352732119290818561?s=19
Now once you've been inspired you'll need to do something, so you will need data.
I'm not going to do ANY of the heavy lifting here when the boy wonder @lgopfelix has recently done an amazing job on this himself. All the best free data options https://twitter.com/lgopfelix/status/1353692807798681600?s=19
I'm not going to do ANY of the heavy lifting here when the boy wonder @lgopfelix has recently done an amazing job on this himself. All the best free data options https://twitter.com/lgopfelix/status/1353692807798681600?s=19
I personally went through about 8 free trials of Wyscout as well when I was starting out. You can get them to quote you a price, but it's not cheap.
@MarkOHaire is an excellent source of data on Twitter, mainly used towards gambling but can be used for performance analysis too
@MarkOHaire is an excellent source of data on Twitter, mainly used towards gambling but can be used for performance analysis too
Once you have the data, you can start manipulating it. The basics can be done on Excel, can go more in depth with that programme too, @Gegenpressing91 is the absolute Excel legend as far as I am concerned. And he teaches you too!
However most people use the likes of Tableau or Power BI. Then it may also be of great value to learn a programming language such as Python or R.
This is super helpful from @brendankent about how you should go about it https://twitter.com/brendankent/status/1354821475916685315?s=19
This is super helpful from @brendankent about how you should go about it https://twitter.com/brendankent/status/1354821475916685315?s=19
There are tonnes of helpful people who will help you. I myself have done a beginners course in R by @AttackingCB. Can highly recommend that.
Friends of Tracking YouTube channel is superb https://youtube.com/channel/UCUBFJYcag8j2rm_9HkrrA7w
Also, follow the likes of @petermckeever, @FC_Python & @FC_rstats
Friends of Tracking YouTube channel is superb https://youtube.com/channel/UCUBFJYcag8j2rm_9HkrrA7w
Also, follow the likes of @petermckeever, @FC_Python & @FC_rstats
@From_The_Wing & @NinadB_06 are two of a number of people very skilled in Tableau who offer tutorials and courses.
In fact, it seems that Stuart has 50% off his udemy course at the moment... https://twitter.com/From_The_Wing/status/1355103682862477313?s=19
In fact, it seems that Stuart has 50% off his udemy course at the moment... https://twitter.com/From_The_Wing/status/1355103682862477313?s=19
I'm almost done. If you want some more good advice from someone who is moving on up in the industry check out @GregorydSam blogs. He put a lot of great advice for starting out into 2 blogs. Required reading tbh https://twitter.com/GregorydSam/status/1352362182172925962?s=19
Think I'm done.
One or two words of general wisdom though if you'll permit me.
1. Don't try to "keep up with the Joneses". Yes, other people will produce great stuff & you can feel left behind, but focus on your own lane and your own journey. Have your own goals.
One or two words of general wisdom though if you'll permit me.
1. Don't try to "keep up with the Joneses". Yes, other people will produce great stuff & you can feel left behind, but focus on your own lane and your own journey. Have your own goals.
2. There is a difference between "engagement analytics" and "club analytics". If you ever get the chance to work in the game you realise a lot of the Twittersphere stuff isn't relevant & fails to answer real life football questions. That's fine, there's an audience for both.
3. Just do things that you enjoy. Your best work will come through that & you'll get a better reaction too.
Hope this has all been helpful! Took a while to pull together but hopefully it'll help someone. Any RTs gratefully received.
Hope this has all been helpful! Took a while to pull together but hopefully it'll help someone. Any RTs gratefully received.
