smarterscout: The Why in Analytics
Dan Altman, creator of smarterscout, discusses the big issues underlying football/soccer analytics and sports analytics in general. Dan asks why we use data, why we measure the things we do, and why we choose certain analytical methods out of the many tools available. Drawing on his experience working with clubs in the Premier League, Major League Soccer, and other competitions around the world – as well as USA Olympic teams – Dan gets to the core of the questions every analyst faces.
smarterscout: The Why in Analytics
The building blocks of a model of the game
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smarterscout
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Season 1
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Episode 3
There's an infinite number of mathematical models that might explain the game of football/soccer, but how can we strike a balance between usefulness and simplicity? Dan considers the advantages and drawbacks of models using goals, and shots, then begins to explain how expected goals – a measure of shots' chances of scoring – might capture information for rating teams and players.
Intro: "Crackle & Pop" by Digital Primitives
Outro: "No Holiday" by Digital Primitives