Chapter 187 Big Data Era

"I'm curious, Dr. Satoy, there's a question."

On the way back to the training building with Marcus du Satoy, Yang Huan asked the doubts in his heart.

"Why is football so uninterested in data?"

I believe this is everyone's doubts.

Since big data can solve so many problems, why is no one doing it?

Marcus du Satoy shook his head and smiled, "You are wrong, Master Huan, it's not that no one is doing it, but that many, many people have been doing it for a long time, but the level of data analysis is still too backward compared to other industries. ."

"Let's hear it." Yang Huan was very interested.

He knows his faults and inadequacies, and he has always been self-aware.

Since it is something you don't understand or don't understand, then leave it to someone who understands and understands it.

Or, just put in the hard work yourself to figure out what it is all about.

Marcus du Satoy organized the answer to this question in his head, because he found it cumbersome to answer.

"The introduction of data analysis and high-tech stuff in the football world has actually been done for a long time. After Wenger took over Arsenal, he attached great importance to data. Let me give an example that I know of."

"Flamini, you should know this player, Master Huan?"

Yang Huan nodded. The French midfielder left Milan, Italy, as soon as he played a little bit at Arsenal.

"When Wenger decided to introduce this player, it was because he heard that Flamini can run 14,000 kilometers in a game, which is an amazing number, so he went to investigate and determined that Flamini could run 14,000 kilometers in a game. Arsenal brought in this player after Nee's wide range of movement was not a blunder."

Yang Huan had never heard of this, but thought it was quite interesting.

"In addition, as we all know, Milan has a world-famous Milan laboratory, they were able to win the Champions League, and this laboratory has made great contributions. Even earlier, the Brazilian national team and Nike of the United States have cooperated with the United States to conduct research in this area. "

Having said that, Marcus du Sartoy's conclusion is clear.

Football brings in data,

In fact, it has been done a long time ago, and it has even developed to a certain extent.

"Master Huan, do you know how many items of relevant data OPTA needs to collect in a game?"

Yang Huan shook his head this time, because he had never had any contact with OPTA.

"There are more than 1,500 items, and they are getting more and more detailed. In the past, everyone only cared about some superficial things, such as ball control rate, number of shots, running distance, number of dribbles and so on."

Having said that, Marcus du Satoy couldn't help but laugh.

"I still remember that in the earliest days, OPTA's data was calculated by observers sitting in the stands or sitting in front of live TV broadcasts. It was calculated by the most primitive and inefficient manual methods, and there were many errors. ."

Yang Huan couldn't help but smile. It turns out that the OPTA data company, which sounds very tall, still has such a history?

"After they were acquired by Sky TV, they got sufficient funds to develop, and then they continued to improve their software and hardware, and developed special analysis software, which allowed them to obtain more and more refined data."

"So that's where the movement heatmaps, the passing route maps, that sort of thing."

Interlaced like mountains, Yang Huan doesn't know everything.

For the data field of the football industry, he really does not know much, or even knows nothing.

In the past, the data that ordinary fans could see was only a few items at best, but OPTA needs to collect more than 1,500 data in a game, which shows how deep the water is.

As long as you pay, you can get those advanced data of OPTA.

"Dr. Satoy, as you said, data has been rooted in professional football for so many years, and several data service companies like OPTA have also developed, but why do you still feel outdated?"

Marcus du Satoy nodded and smiled: "Because these are just data."

Now, Yang Huan began to understand a little.

"The data provided by companies like OPTA is really granular. It gives us a lot of data, but what does the data tell us? That's what we need to analyze."

"Data is dead, but analytics is alive."

"To give the simplest example, there is a striker who is very good at scoring goals, he is far ahead of the league goalscorer, but his team is very bad."

"If you just look at this player's stats, he's a top scorer because he gets a lot of shots in every game, and how many shots can be converted into a goal. and many more."

"But if you analyze the entire team more deeply, you will find that this player is in pursuit of his own goals and shoots frantically, which in turn causes the team's overall offense to lack threat and cannot run smoothly."

"Also, there is a defensive midfielder whose interception and steal statistics are very eye-catching, and his running coverage in each game is also very large, but his team has done a terrible job in defense. The media and fans have accused the back line. But in fact?"

"If we analyze in depth, will there be another kind of player? This player's personal ability is indeed very strong, but his team and tactical awareness is very weak. Appearing in front of the defense line provides a strong protective barrier, and randomly exposes the rear defense line to the enemy's artillery fire."

Yang Huan really understood completely now.

Marcus du Satoy's point is very clear, the data is not important, because these things can be bought.

What really matters, or the key link in determining whether the data is useful or not, is the analysis.

"According to the two examples I just gave, if you only take the first step, that is, if you only analyze the data on the surface, you will definitely find that the players are too good and the team is too bad, so many teams will pay a lot of money to go. The player was introduced, and as soon as it was used, it was found that it was wrong, the player was not used well, and it became a so-called parallel import."

"If you analyze it more deeply, you will find that the problem is not so simple, and you can get closer to the truth."

"So it seems to me that a lot of people say the data is lying because the data they get is too one-sided."

"It's a manifestation of a lack of data!"

Yang Huan listened and nodded, this statement is indeed very convincing.

Especially in the United States, NBA, rugby, golf, baseball, tennis, etc., a large number of professional competitive sports are increasing their investment in data analysis, which is enough to illustrate the prospect of data use.

Professional competitive sports have a common pursuit, that is, results!

Every aspect of football has always revolved around scoring goals.

Goal-oriented, everything is quantifiable.

And as long as it is quantifiable, there is room for big data.

"Then why do a lot of football clubs ignore the data?"

It was only at this time that Marcus du Sartoy had to answer the question Yang Huan had just raised.

"There are two situations, one is that they think the data is not credible, and the other is that they lack the courage to invest and think that investing so much is not as cost-effective as bringing in stars, so we see, almost every football in the entire Premier League. Teams are buying data from OPTA, but only buying."

"Milan tasted the sweetness and won the Champions League, but the next year they immediately took action against the Milan laboratory and suspended all scientific research projects. The reason is very simple. Their management believes that the current level is enough, and it is necessary to continue to invest in scientific research. A waste."

"These people just want to have a rough understanding of the data that they are interested in, but they never thought about establishing a system engineering to scientifically analyze the entire team and the entire football field, because the latter invests too much It's gone!"

"Football excludes data and high technology, not because of closed and conservative, but because of money!"

"In the United States, clubs in the NBA, Major League Rugby and baseball all have higher revenue than football, so they have the financial resources to invest in research and development in this area."

This time, Yang Huan completely understood.

Again, there is no one stupider than anyone in this world.

It's as if the founders of OPTA saw that after the Americans began to introduce data into the NBA and NFL, they immediately started it in the Premier League, and it didn't take long.

But now, the data analysis ability of European football and the data analysis ability of several major professional sports leagues in the United States are really not that big.

In the end, it's still a question of money.

The two chatted and walked all the way, and unknowingly, they came to the downstairs of the training building.

Because the new training building is still being renovated, the office of the data analysis center is currently on the first floor of the old training building.

Yang Huan plans to rebuild a separate building for them to work.

From there is the data heart of Southampton.

"Master Huan." Marcus du Sartoy stopped, "When Charlene told me that you were very interested in statistics, I didn't believe it at first, because Southampton was just a League One football. Team, but knowing you, I believe it."

"I believe that in the entire football world, there is no one person who knows the future of data better than you."

Yang Huan couldn't help nodding. WeChat companies and game companies both attach great importance to data collection and analysis.

He knows the magic of big data better than anyone else.

Before, he ignored football, but now he is determined to catch up.

"But I still want to remind you, Master Huan, the data of football is different from that of Internet companies, because it involves people, and people are the most complex, so we need anthropology, physiology, nutrition, etc., very Multi-disciplinary experts collaborate and analyze together.”

That is to say, the more manpower invested, the more R&D funding is required.

"OK, I understand!" Yang Huan clapped his hands vigorously.

"Don't worry, Dr. Satoy, I have explained how much your data center will be funded in the future. As long as you think you need it, you can apply for funding for research, and I will support it!"

"Thank you, Master Huan!" Marcus du Satoy immediately smiled and thanked him.

But Yang Huan waved his hand and shook his head, "Don't say thank you, I haven't finished yet."

Marcus du Satoy immediately listened carefully.

"Although I will give strong support in funding and all aspects, but I want to see results, we Southampton will not be like Milan, just start a good start and stagnate, as long as I am here, I will Do your best to support your research and development."

"But, I have to see results!"

"I understand, Young Master Huan!" Marcus du Satoy immediately nodded in agreement.

"Don't worry, we won't let you down."

This is the case with all scientific research projects in the world. There is no hope in the scientific research projects, or those scientific research projects that will never produce results. No one is interested.

Or to put it simply, scientific research is also an investment.

Marcus du Satoy seemed to be afraid that Yang Huan would not believe it, and immediately pointed to the data center office with a smile.

"I think, Master Huan, you should come in and have a look. Dr. Howard Hamilton has some good stuff!"

It looks like a naughty kid offering treasure.

Yang Huan couldn't help but smile, "A good thing? What is it?"

"A very wonderful product and very helpful for us too!"

Having said that, Yang Huan was really interested. ()