EPISODE 1 OVERVIEW
ANALYZING OPPONENTS WITH EVENTING DATA
1
GAME STATE
READING BETWEEN THE LINES
2
PLAYER CONNECTIONS
MAPPING ON-FIELD CHEMISTRY
3
PHASES
THE ESSENCE OF BALL PROGRESSION
4
PPDA
DECODING DEFENSIVE ACTIONS
5
CHANCES
OPTIMIZING CHANCE ANALYSIS
Game State: Reading Between the Lines
Opposition Concept: Game State Analysis
Data Type: Event Data
Game state analysis focuses on discerning how teams adjust their playing style based on whether they are losing, drawing, or leading. This helps understand the strategic adjustments teams make in various game situations. For instance, when trailing, do teams tend to become more aggressive, opting for long-ball strategies or counter-attacks?
In this video we'll dive into game state analysis in MatchTracker to visualize significant shifts in gameplay. We will also expand our analysis data across multiple games to detect recurrent patterns, offering a holistic view of a team's adaptive gameplay in various game states.
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SETTING UP GAME STATE ANALYSIS
Filter & view phase types for each game state (lose, draw, and lead) on corresponding charts & heat maps visuals.
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ANALYZING OPPONENT TRENDS BY GAME STATE
Analyze the total & average individual opponent phase types within a match for each game state to uncover trends.
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LONGITUDINAL ANALYSIS
Expand analysis across multiple matches to further identify & confirm opponent phase type trends for each game state.
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DRILL DOWN BY PHASE TYPE
Once opponent phase types trends are identified, filter down to each individual phase type and view field positions on heatmap pitch view.
Player Connections: Mapping On-field Chemistry
Opposition Concept: Player Connection Analysis
Data Type: Event Data
This opposition analysis centres on understanding the dynamics of ball distribution among players as it transitions across different pitch zones. It identifies the most frequent player combinations during ball movements, essentially revealing the linchpins in transitional plays. For instance, in a dissected scenario, most plays from the defensive third to the mid-third were found to happen via the left channel.
Here, Gibson emerged as the primary player orchestrating these transitions, mainly passing to Foreshaw. By utilising pitch channel add-ins and filtering specific players, such insights can be extracted for various matches, enhancing tactical preparation.
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IDENTIFYING AND ANALYZING PLAYER PAIRINGS AND CHANNELS
Identify key player pairings and their pitch third connections. Analyze ball flow in pitch channels (left, center, right) for phase transition insights.
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FILTERING INTERACTIONS AND APPLYING INSIGHTS
Use filters for player role clarity in transitions and apply pitch channel add-ins to deepen connection insights.
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EXPANDING ANALYSIS FOR CONSISTENCY
Analyze patterns across games to verify consistency and tactical impact.
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DEMONSTRATING TRANSITION STRATEGIES
Highlight transition examples (mid-third to attacking third) to showcase strategic plays.
Phases: The Essence of Ball Progression
Opposition Concept: Phase Analysis
Data Type: Event Data
Phase analysis segregates instances based on ball progression. Two main facets are considered: phases where the ball has been effectively moved forward and those where progression was halted, leading to turnovers or interceptions.
A valuable tool here is the 'build-up' phase filter.
In the presented example, a substantial amount of build-up play was observed on the left-hand side channel.
Further drilling down, the end position filter reveals specific players influencing these instances. Pairing table views with video data adds a layer of contextual richness. For instance, narrowing down instances where Gibson lost ball possession can shed light on external factors like opponent pressure tactics.
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CATEGORIZING BALL PROGRESSION AND UTILIZING FILTERS
Categorize plays by progression success or failures and apply the 'build-up phase' filter for structured play analysis and spatial insights.
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VISUAL ANALYSIS AND PLAYER FOCUS
Use heat maps to locate build-up play zones and the 'end position' filter to identify crucial players in these phases.
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CONTEXTUAL AND TACTICAL INSIGHTS
Merge table views with video for in-depth analysis of plays, highlighting effectiveness and pinpointing failure reasons.
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REFINEMENT FOR STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE
Focus on specific instances, like last player passes, to dissect progression failures and identify tactical improvements.
PPDA: Decoding Defensive Actions
Opposition Concept: PPDA (Passes Per Defensive Action) Analysis
Data Type: Event Data
PPDA offers a lens into the defensive temperament of teams. By analysing this metric, we can gauge whether a team's defensive strategy is aggressive, frequently interrupting opponents' ball possession, or more passive, allowing the opponent more freedom.
A lower PPDA indicates a more aggressive defensive posture, as fewer passes are allowed before a defensive intervention.
This metric provides an alternative perspective on team defensive behaviour, enriching the overall opposition analysis insight.
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UNDERSTANDING AND ASSESSING PPDA
Learn PPDA to measure defensive tactics, where lower values signal more aggressive pressing strategies.
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EVALUATING DEFENSIVE STRATEGIES
Use higher PPDA values to gauge defensive passivity and teams' strategic emphasis on formation over quick ball recovery.
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COMPARATIVE AND STRATEGIC ANALYSIS
Perform comparative analysis to spot defensive trends, informing offensive strategy adjustments against varied defenses.
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GAINING ALTERNATIVE INSIGHTS
View PPDA as offering additional insights into defensive pressure and ball recovery tactics, supplementing standard defensive metrics.
Chances | Optimizing Chance Analysis
Opposition Concept: Opportunity Mapping and Analysis
Data Type: Event Data (live pitch position uses tracking data)
Utilise shot maps and event data to ascertain where and when scoring chances occur. Assess shot outcomes and the body part utilised, offering insights into player preferences and proficiencies, e.g. identify a player’s weak foot.
Passes leading to chances can be highlighted, providing clarity on the origin of scoring opportunities.
In addition, combined with tracking data, ‘Live Pitch Position’ data, can shed light on positional changes during turnovers, indicating strategies such as counter-pressing.
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SHOT MAP CONSULTATION AND OUTCOME ANALYSIS
Begin with shot maps to review shot locations and outcomes (goals, saves, misses, blocks) for initial attack pattern insights.
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PLAYER PREFERENCE ASSESSMENT
Analyze shots by body part for insights into player strengths and preferences, identifying areas for improvement.
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KEY PASSES AND POSITIONAL SHIFTS INSIGHTS
Identify key passes leading to chances and use 'Live Pitch Position' data for insights on positional changes and tactics like counter-pressing.
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TACTICAL TREND IDENTIFICATION
Combine shot outcomes, player data, and positional shifts to uncover tactical trends and strategic opportunities.
NEXT STEPS
Access the next episode to learn how to analyze opponents in MatchTracker with tracking data