Sports Pundit’s Post

"(In the 2023/2025 Premier League season) 41 out of 44 left-footed penalty were scored. This is compared to 55 out of 63 right-footed penalties - 41% of all penalties taken were left-footed." To the average Joe, this is a good weapon in arguing against how data and statistics has disrupted the game. It sounds like that extra strand of data that the football fan doesn't need. And this is one of the core discussions of The Eye Test vs. Statistics debate. It may not be as popular as the Ronaldo vs. Messi debate. But it's gaining momentum with each season. Talks about how today's football is easier than when Pele played draws some of its points from the negative aspect of over-reliance on numbers. "It was simple and straightforward then!" Today, sport brands are hiring data analysts more than ever before. Numbers are of the essence. Who losses possession under pressure the most. Who spends the most time out of position. Who makes the most tackles. Who plays their penalties down the middle. The minutest of details can make all the difference in today's game. While that's a good thing, where does it leave eye test? The starting point of this comparison is where we enter the region of Subjectivity vs. Objectivity. Objectivity: Erling Haaland has scored 63 goals in 66 Premier League games for Manchester City. Subjectivity: "The levels of his (Erling Haaland) general play are so poor. He has to improve that. He is almost like a League Two player." Is it a matter of making one superior than the other? Or, is it about finding the balance, like a scout, watching a 15-year old prodigy fall short in the final of a youth tournament after carrying his team all the way? What do you say?

The Champions League kicks off tomorrow. Usually, this is a really exciting time of the season for me – but thinking about the new format, I’m pretty apprehensive. 4 additional teams and *64* additional games, this is great for fans, but seriously worrying for: → club superstars, who are likely to be played for both cup and league fixtures and will end up dangerously overworked → player mental health (Kevin de Bruyne already spoke out about how “money speaks louder than players’ voices” 😟) → clubs who are struggling with injuries/squad depth and need to field the same team twice or three times a week → UEFA, who are going to be overcome with more and more complaints… CL of course isn’t the only culprit – the Club World Cup and Concacaf also mean virtually no summer break… But with players being put in for more and more games season upon season, injuries will become more prominent than ever, players will be more dissatisfied than ever, and clubs who can’t afford a good bench will fall through the cracks. We all want football to be great for the fans – but I don’t think this is sustainable…

Reflecting on the Challenges of High-Stakes Matches Football, like business, teaches us that even the most prepared teams can face unexpected challenges. In the recent Manchester United vs. Manchester City Community Shield match, we witnessed a moment that reminded us all of the importance of resilience and learning from mistakes. A blunder on the pitch is a stark reminder that in high-pressure environments, things don't always go according to plan. But it’s how we respond that defines us. Just as teams must adapt and regroup after a setback, so too must we in our professional lives. Whether on the field or in the boardroom, let’s remember that every challenge is an opportunity for growth. Embrace the lessons, and use them to fuel future success. #Leadership #Resilience #Teamwork #ManchesterUnited #CommunityShield #GrowthMindset #Sports #Adidas #Snapdragon #Football

Introduction Man United vs Fulham The clash between Man United and Fulham is one of the most anticipated fixtures in English football. This article analyzes the recent match between these two teams, exploring everything from historical context to player performances and tactical insights. More News Historical Rivalry https://lnkd.in/g4qnvTPG? #ManUnitedvsFulham #Sportsnews

The Football Benchmark Newsletter provides a comprehensive overview of the UEFA European Championship 2024, focusing on various aspects such as squad values, player analysis, and market trends. Here's a summary of the key points: - Squad Market Values: The newsletter highlights the disparities in squad market values among the 24 nations, with England leading at €1,382 million and Romania at the lower end with €78.1 million. The average squad value is €471.5 million, and only three squads have a market value exceeding €1 billion. - Most Valuable Players (MVPs): Kylian Mbappé is identified as the most valuable player for EURO 2024, valued at 244 million euros. The list of MVPs is dominated by players from Europe's "Big Five" leagues, with a combined market value of 1.865 billion euros. - Players Missing from EURO 2024: The newsletter also discusses notable players who are absent from the tournament due to various reasons such as injuries or not being selected for their national squads. This includes high-profile names like Erling Haaland and Marcus Rashford. - Additional Insights: For those interested in more detailed information, the newsletter offers insights into clubs and leagues sending the most players to the tournament, player workload data, young talents to watch, social media analytics of national teams, and prize distribution. The newsletter serves as a valuable resource for football enthusiasts and professionals looking to stay informed about the latest trends and developments in European football. It's available for download on LinkedIn for those who wish to delve deeper into the subject matter.

Football The various codes of football share certain common elements and can be grouped into two main classes of football: carrying codes like American football, Canadian football, Australian football, rugby union and rugby league, where the ball is moved about the field while being held in the hands or thrown, and kicking codes such as association football and Gaelic football, where the ball is moved primarily with the feet, and where handling is strictly limited.[10] Common rules among the sports include:[11] Two teams usually have between 11 and 18 players; some variations that have fewer players (five or more per team) are also popular. A clearly defined area in which to play the game. Scoring goals or points by moving the ball to an opposing team's end of the field and either into a goal area, or over a line. Goals or points resulting from players putting the ball between two goalposts. The goal or line being defended by the opposing team. Players using only their body to move the ball, i.e. no additional equipment such as bats or sticks. In all codes, common skills include passing, tackling, evasion of tackles, catching and kicking.[10] In most codes, there are rules restricting the movement of players offside, and players scoring a goal must put the ball either under or over a crossbar between the goalposts. #snsdesignthinkers #snsinstitutions #snsdesignthinging

BE MORE VARDY Most football fans will have been delighted to see Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy storm back into the Premier League in style with a goal against Tottenham on Monday night. The 37-year-old is not just an excellent footballer - 137 goals in 308 top-flight games don’t lie - but also one of the best wind-up merchants around. Witness his verbals to the Spurs players about who has won the most Premier League titles and general sledging to see that he hasn’t lost his edge. But the old timer, who rose out of non-league football to win 26 caps for England, is also a useful lesson for those in the PR game. That’s because Vardy shows not to give up on something if it doesn’t work out first time. He was playing for Stocksbridge Park Steels and Halifax Town early on in his career but showed the commitment and desire to become a full international and player known around the world for his goalscoring ability. Even this week he was ruled out by Leicester manager Steve Cooper ahead of the game against Tottenham after struggling with injury throughout pre-season. Vardy assured his boss he was up for the task and duly netted the equaliser in a 1-1 draw. Stick within it and you will get your rewards. And so it is with media campaigns. The best content sometimes takes a while to filter through before it really takes off. Maybe the angle isn’t quite right, the timing is unfortunate - being as we seem to have had a world-shaking event every week for the past eight years - or the journalist who is perfect to cover it is on holiday, on another story. The key takeaway from Jamie Vardy is to keep going. Try and try and try again. Sure, sometimes things just don’t work out. Every PR will remember a campaign that didn’t go to plan. But if you keep plugging away, constantly review your work with brutal honesty and remain across the sectors your clients are involved in, it will pay off in the end. And who doesn’t like it when something you’d almost given up hope on suddenly turns into a hugely successful coverage-grabber? So when it comes to breathing life back into a PR campaign, be more Vardy…. but maybe without flicking the Vs at your opponents and calling them every name under the sun! https://lnkd.in/ei7zuH49 📸: @brfootball on X #PRLesson #PRTips #PRAgency #PRCampaign #SEO #LinkBuilding

The Premier League 2024/25. 💥 I watched and analysed the Chelsea Football Club v Manchester City Football Club game, with a City focus. Having worked with both clubs, over the last 11 years, I thought it was an ideal opportunity to provide some tactical insight on their Stamford Bridge encounter. ⚽Man City In Possession Formation 3-1-3-3 The formation was initially shown as a 4-2-3-1, this formation will often just be a start point. When City had possession, they pretty much played 3-1-3-3. Lewis pushed into a midfield position as soon as they had possession. If the ball was on the left-hand side, he would also make a narrow movement as well as forward. ⚽Man City Wide Players Swapping Sides By the 13-minute mark, Doku and Savinho had swapped sides. Doku as a right footed player started on the right and Savinho, as a left foot player, started on the left. Once they had swapped, Savinho showed some excellent football as he had the ability to beat Cucurella on the outside, and make a positive movement to the right hand side with being a left footed player. He also demonstrated good movement driving infield with his left foot. Doku was excellent when moving back to the left-hand side. He also moved in field from this position which gave De Bruyne the ability to move very wide on the left hand side. ⚽Man City Playing Out From The Back On 16 minutes, there was an outstanding movement when playing out from the back. Akanji receives the ball on the goal line near the corner flag and makes a square pass, almost across the goal, to Dias. The ball actually goes right across the goalkeeper. Dias then plays left to Gvardiol. Gvardiol then makes an infield pass back to Ederson. He then makes a square pass to Akanji and this enables City to play out from the back. In summary, an excellent first performance of the season from City, and one which makes you think who will compete with them at the top of the table again this season. -- Our NEW Training App will include weekly tactical insight for all subscribers, complete with video. Watch this space…it’s coming soon!! #footballanalysis #premierleague #formations #tactical

The Rising Tide of ACL Injuries in Football: Impact of Excessive Match Fixtures and Competitions. In my recent article, I explore the causes of these injuries, shedding light on the physical and mental strain players face. I highlight the urgency for FIFA and UEFA to prioritize player well-being in the midst of excess competitions. ACL injuries are on the rise in football, with the 2023/2024 season seeing a notable increase in cases among top players. Athletes like Thibaut Courtois, Neymar Jr., Rodri, Carvajal, Leah Williamson and others have been affected, the trend shows no sign of slowing as we enter the 2024/2025 season, spreading concerns about the toll of demanding schedules on players’ health. Click the link below to delve into the crucial conversation on reforming football's match scheduling and safeguarding our players. https://lnkd.in/gSxpF3xE Or https://lnkd.in/gUS6fphh #Football #ACLinjuries #SportsInjuries #PlayerWelfare #FIFPRO #SportsLaw #FIFA #UEFA #CAF #CONMEBOL

What a day of state league football! The effort and sacrifices these players make to play at this level in a semi-professional environment intertwined with the full-time AFL - Australian Football League athletes are highly underrated. Still in the wake of 35,000 attending the SANFL Grand Final and 25,000 at the WAFL Grand Final. You can't help but think we still leave so much on the table. As an event, the State League Grand Finals are brilliant. What the SANFL does with their festival of football and the activations around the day are special, and as a player, it is a brilliant reward. 7 AFL do a brilliant job covering the game and JAM TV produce a fantastic televised product to maximise what we have. Can we do more? I think we can, I think the VFL can further leverage Grand Final weekend in the AFL and extend this event to make it part of the week. We have seen 13 stand-alone state league clubs play finals across the 3x state leagues and only 5 AFL reserves or aligned teams play finals. That is around 300 players playing at Stand-Alone clubs who are not on AFL lists. These athletes deserve to be playing on the biggest stage they can and in front of packed houses on their biggest day. We need to continue to work to leverage this and keep the best talent playing state league football. https://lnkd.in/gnSJ6MT8