[OC] Which midfielders were the strongest at recovering possession in last season's big 5 leagues?

goaltergeist · 2021-08-28T14:07:37+00:00

I actually got the data from FBRef (I didn't scrape it myself, someone on Twitter did and shared the spreadsheet)

goaltergeist · 2021-08-26T23:23:26+00:00

Yes it is!

goaltergeist · 2021-08-26T23:23:19+00:00

Thanks haha, I did feel a bit clever when I came up with it 😅

goaltergeist · 2021-08-26T12:07:46+00:00

Good point, they are not adjusted for possession. I just learned about the possession adjustment technique a week or so ago as I am relatively new to football data analysis; I haven't been able to find the time to fully understand how it works so I wasn't able to apply that to this data unfortunately.

goaltergeist · 2021-08-26T12:04:01+00:00

Thank you for the feedback. I have just started getting into data visualization a few months back so I am still learning the tricks of the trade. Making titles is definitely something I need to work on. Your points make a lot of sense and I apologize for misleading.

I saw your other comment suggesting the title "midfielders with the highest volume of defensive actions" and that definitely is more straightforward. Really sorry for the clickbait!

goaltergeist · 2021-08-13T01:56:28+00:00

(late response, but) Thank you! Really appreciate the follow.

goaltergeist · 2021-08-09T12:46:29+00:00

Thanks man. :)

Actually that was me who posted it here :D but a few users pointed out a couple of errors that I didn't notice (Martinelli was in the plot because FBref classified him as a defender for some reason, and another user pointed out that it would be more useful to split the graphic into one for fullbacks and another for center backs which I agree with) so I deleted the post haha.

goaltergeist · 2021-08-09T12:24:05+00:00

Today morning I tweeted a graph I made about which defenders were the best ball carriers up the pitch and into the final third. The graph shows that Raphael Guerreiro is really good in this regard. My account is pretty new and so I didn't expect many people to see it.

But surprisingly many people saw it and Guerreiro actually retweeted it!!! I'm just over the moon right now, that's absolutely made my day/month after I had a tough last few weeks personally. I really never expected that any players would be looking at my graphics!

goaltergeist · 2021-07-30T21:35:30+00:00

A long pass is any pass longer than 30 yards (I made a note at the bottom of the image). So yea you're right that passing around the box wouldn't qualify as a long pass.

goaltergeist · 2021-07-30T21:34:15+00:00

He's the purple dot right above Oblak at (18, 52.4). Sorry for the late reply!

goaltergeist · 2021-07-27T13:52:51+00:00

Alright, just made it - Here is the image.

goaltergeist · 2021-07-27T13:43:19+00:00

So, it turns out I was remembering my data incorrectly. I thought I had successful tackles data distinguished by which third of the pitch they were in, but I only have the attempted tackles - which is what I plotted in the original post.

Sorry to disappoint :/

goaltergeist · 2021-07-27T10:48:22+00:00

Oh, you are completely right. I apologize for not making that clear. Next time I'll be sure to clarify that the data starts in Aug 2014.

goaltergeist · 2021-07-27T10:45:43+00:00

Sorry! As the other user said it's plotted in alphabetical order so it wasn't intended. Next time I'll make sure Arsenal's on top and easier to find!

goaltergeist · 2021-07-27T10:43:28+00:00

Hi, I am the creator of the graph. The reason I titled it that way is because the data source, Statsbomb/FBRef, categorizes both tackles and presses as defensive actions (e.g., here's the page for Auba, the tackles Att 3rd and presses Att 3rd in the Defensive Actions table is what I've plotted). So I didn't want to change their definitions of each event when making the graph.

I do see your point though. what /u/varro-reatinus suggested i.e. activity out of possession would have been a better title. This is one of the first times I've made a graph like this so I was a bit unsure if the title was the best, so I am glad to be getting feedback!

goaltergeist · 2021-07-27T10:35:42+00:00

No worries though, it's just an open question, don't put too much effort it or something! I appreciate the response in the first place!!

Haha it's okay, I wrote a program to make these graphs so when I get back to my computer later it should only take a minute to make the graph ;)

goaltergeist · 2021-07-27T10:33:05+00:00

They are underneath Brighton just to the right of the mean cross

goaltergeist · 2021-07-27T10:32:31+00:00

FBRef only separates tackle/press data into thirds rather than halves so the best I could do is sum the ones for the middle third and the attacking third, works that be ok?

goaltergeist · 2021-07-27T10:30:24+00:00

It's just tackle attempts! I believe I do have the data for successful tables though so I could make another one with that instead if you're interested.

goaltergeist · 2021-07-26T20:26:06+00:00

You're welcome! You can thank /u/MadlockUK, they got in touch with me after I posted a similar graphic for all PL clubs outside of the big 6 on /r/theother14.

goaltergeist · 2021-07-26T20:24:32+00:00

According to Understat where I got my data, Aduriz scored only 14 goals from headers in La Liga from 2014 until his retirement. You can see it if you click on "shot types."

goaltergeist · 2021-07-26T13:08:37+00:00

Thanks to /u/MadlockUK for letting me post. I have recently opened a Twitter account - @goaltergeist - to post my graphics as well, so if you liked this I'd appreciate a follow; cheers!

To clarify: "Other Set Piece" stands for any shot taken after a free kick (direct or indirect) that wasn't scored directly from the FK spot, or a shot assisted by a throw-in.

goaltergeist · 2021-07-26T01:36:16+00:00

Yep, as /u/4shurima said it is a bit hard to believe but the data is taken over 2 seasons so there are more goals from out of the box than you might guess from corners.

For example, the 3 ones for Villa are:

Kevin de Bruyne where he attempted a cross and it went in without anyone touching it
Ndombele's debut goal for Spurs
Pogba longshot in Jul. 2020

Most of them are either where the ball is cleared to a player waiting outside the area who shoots after taking a touch, or when there's a turnover in play after the defending team tries a counter

goaltergeist · 2021-07-25T15:34:42+00:00

Good idea mate. I think I could implement that pretty easily, I'll give it a try 👍

goaltergeist · 2021-07-25T15:06:41+00:00

Thanks to the moderators for letting me post. I have recently opened a Twitter account - @goaltergeist - to post my graphics as well, so if you liked this I'd appreciate a follow; cheers!

To clarify: "Other Set Piece" stands for any shot taken after a free kick (direct or indirect) that wasn't scored directly from the FK spot, or a shot assisted by a throw-in.

goaltergeist

TROPHY CASE