Using Operational Research to Explain Football Analysis

New Beginnings: Luqman A. Kabange

Meet me, the new guy. Who am I? Why am I here? What to expect? My goals and principles.

BallerzBantzLuqman A. Kabange

Excerpt from essay above.

"I believe in using life as a derivative for principles to apply in football. Football helps me refine what little experiences I've had in life; the lessons are then broadened to a scope that allows complete immersion in both football and life."

In this essay, I adopt principles attained from learning operational research in college to explain how true football analysis should be.

Note: For new readers, I study medicine. Hence, the concepts I have acquired from college, which will be used in this essay, are applied from that domain.

Before we begin, consider this tweet where I state the main thought behind this essay:

Keeping in mind the statement given above. Within it we consider two aspects:

1st: Operational research

I enlist some forms of analytical research studies correlating with football analysis. These forms describe the how and the why as that is the main aim of any analytical process.

Case (oriented) studies: in operational research these deal with single personal cases. Ideally, they intend to provide a better view on a single peculiar medical condition by focusing completely on it alone.

• In football: we find that the same is done during individual player scouting reports. The process behind is a detailed elaboration of the player. When concluded it should be able to give thorough information on the player.

Cross sectional studies: in operational research these involve examining a sample of a large population to establish how many times something occurs within the sample. It aims to establish the prevalence of a medical condition.

• In football: we might analyze frequency of recurring actions to know what portion of the chosen sample (number of teams or matches or players or leagues etc) is affected. Think of a league-to-league comparison of competitiveness in a continent.

Cohort studies: a prospective or retrospective study from which two samples from the population, one that is exposed to a risk factor and another that is not, are compared. The aim is to establish whether or not there is a significant relationship between a medical condition and a risk factor.

• In football: to establish the causes and modality of actions pertaining to a problem is among the major reasons for analysis in football. This is the same as when conducting cohort studies. Think an opposition analysis report explaining their strengths and weaknesses.

2nd: Relative part

Here, I argue a connection between football and non-football phenomena.

Indigenous here insinuates on phenomena originating from within football. It aims to establish the required base upon which a relationship between football and non-football phenomena can be formed and in turn derives correlative principles from one to be used in the other.

To every and any research or analysis process there is a qualitative and quantitative side both of which coincide and hold importance depending on the required outcome(s).

Inferential validity in football

Analysis is a process. To any process, there is a conclusion. A result. An outcome extracted from inferences obtained after analyzing data. And to every conclusion, there should be validation. Only then can we truly measure effectiveness.

To establish relationships, we measure variables.

Manipulation on independent/causal variables showcases a (most of the time) desired outcome on dependent/effect variables.

A valid inference is actionable, topic-centric, relevant, specific, clear and focused.

Please forgive the nerdy medicine blabber but it was essential to align in the same eye view as mine. Now let's get to the good, interesting and most important part of this essay.

What should we learn from this?

1. In an earlier piece, Joel writes:

Effective scouting (analysis) should yield predictions or prescribe solutions, not just describe.

This means:

• That analysis goes much beyond description.
• That description is the floor from which an analyst draws inferences. Proper description is expected to ignite a proper analysis process.
• Though, description is not analysis, it is a pre-requisite.
• Asking the question what neither yields predictions nor prescribes solutions. It provides a description.

2. Analysis is a product of many, multi-faceted, processes that build up to a whole. It is complex.

• This complexity is the essence of analysis. It is essential for unraveling layer by layer of information.
• This complexity allows us multiple problem-solving props.
• The game is complex in itself, to navigate, employing a tool of the same essence is pertinent.
• Complexity offers specificity and allows us to focus on the broader perspective.

3. Analysis offers clarity.

• The state of mind where everything is plain and organized. At professional level that is one of if not the most important.
• Clarity is guidance – whether intrinsic or extrinsic.

4. Analysis enables improvement through continuous assessment, solving and projecting problems.

• Analysis is one way to stay ahead of the curve and continuously poke football's margins before they are at hand.
• Its course offers refinement of the person and the problem.
• Analysis enables adaptation and evolution, both of which are crucial for sustenance in the game.

5. Analysis is cyclic and in that meaning both prospective and retrospective.

• It probes the past. From it, it obtains modifiable sets of information and applies in the present.
• It probes the future and in so alarming for preparedness.
• Never disregard any analytical data, no matter the source. The cyclic nature of analysis ensures any information will come in handy.

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