Recent Premier League seasons have been prolific for teams recovering after conceding the first goal (analysis via @mattfurniss.bsky.social for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com) theanalyst.com/articles/pre...

After sweeping Manchester City aside, Manchester United‘s next game gives them the chance to prove to sceptics that it wasn’t just another false dawn (analysis via @rbenson92.bsky.social for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com) theanalyst.com/articles/man...

Giuliano Simeone leads all players for defensive line-breaking passes received (18), piercing the opponent’s back line an average of three times per game (analysis of the Atlético Madrid arrives courtesy of @jamiemkemp.bsky.social for the @optaanalyst.optajoe.com) theanalyst.com/articles/giu...

It’s that time of year again: proposals are now being accepted to present at Opta Forum 2026, which is taking place in London at the end of March. If you are interested in taking part, the submission deadline is 9th February. Full details can be found ⬇️ www.statsperform.com/resource/opt...

Big-money signings Gyokeres and Sesko have come in for criticism, but should we be more sympathetic towards strikers struggling to influence the game? (analysis via @hkhaliqueloonat.bsky.social for @thetimes.com) www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...

This an excellent profile of new Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior (via Philip Buckingham for @theathleticfc.bsky.social) www.nytimes.com/athletic/694...

Interesting stuff from @liamtharme.bsky.social for @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/695...

Jaw-dropping LinkedIn profiles matter more to clubs like Manchester United than coaches with ideas and energy (via @jonathanliew.bsky.social for @theguardian.com) www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Wondering how Chelsea might play under Liam Rosenior? Wonder no more, @hkhaliqueloonat.bsky.social has got you covered for @thetimes.com www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...

Excellent from @liamtharme.bsky.social on how Arnie Slot is trying to develop a new “plan A” for Liverpool (via @theathleticfc.bsky.social) www.nytimes.com/athletic/688...

This is a great listen - Omar Chaudhuri (@omarchaudhuri.bsky.social, Twenty First Group) features on the Where's The Money Gone podcast with Adrian Goldberg (@goldbergradio.bsky.social) and Charlie Methven and an adult conversation about ROI in football breaks out open.spotify.com/episode/5n91...

Wondering why Spain are favourites to win the 2026 World Cup? @robbiejdunne.bsky.social explains why for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com theanalyst.com/articles/spa...

An interview with Rayo Vallecano coach Inigo Perez (via @dermotmcorrigan.bsky.social for @theathleticfc.bsky.social) www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...

The CIES Football Observatory in Switzerland has produced a new report that lists the 100 players who should be earning most due to their talent (story via @sportingintel.bsky.social) sportingintelligence832.substack.com/p/what-do-th...

Here is an outstanding piece of analysis - including smart use of @statsperform.optajoe.com data - from @hkhaliqueloonat.bsky.social on the tactics teams are using this season to disrupt Liverpool for @thetimes.com (*paywall). www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...

What happens if Erling Haaland stops scoring for Manchester City? (analysis via @hkhaliqueloonat.bsky.social for @thetimes.com) www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...

Football Manager is back and @rbenson92.bsky.social has identified ten FM26 Challenges to consume your life (for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com) theanalyst.com/articles/foo...

Backed by Tony Bloom’s analytics and clever player recruitment, could the Edinburgh club change the landscape of Scottish football? (analysis via @mattfurniss.bsky.social for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com) theanalyst.com/articles/hea...

Five more points will bring Mjällby their highest points total in Allsvenskan history - if the champions-elect break that record, it’s because Mjällby appear to have broken expected goals - analysis via @zonal-marking.bsky.social for @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/672...

Haralabos Voulgaris bought Spanish second division side Castellón after leaving the NBA and Dallas Mavericks. Now, he is slowly building a culture of data-driven decision-making (interview via @robbiejdunne.bsky.social for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com) theanalyst.com/articles/har...

“The amount of money that some clubs are willing to lose season upon season makes no sense to me” - Brighton owner Tony Bloom on the future of the Premier League & how his club will adapt (interview via @andynaylorbrighton.bsky.social for @theathleticfc.bsky.social) www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

Here, @sebsb.bsky.social questions the oddity of the situation in England and in many other European leagues whereby the coach is never without a microphone in their face while the sporting directors rarely see one at all (for @theathleticfc.bsky.social) www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

From Noni Madueke to Antoine Semenyo, top Premier League players are putting in the extra work with one-to-one specialists (story via @tomallnutt.bsky.social for @thetimes.com) www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...

With set-pieces and throw-ins increasing this season, are we seeing less of the ball in play in the Premier League? Here, @davidsegar.bsky.social digs into the data to find out (via @optaanalyst.optajoe.com) theanalyst.com/articles/pre...

England’s performance was a reminder that a team’s optimal performances are often decided by playing the best 11 rather than their 11 best (via @markcarey93.bsky.social for @theathleticfc.bsky.social) www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...

Sunderland are fifth in the Premier League following their promotion. Here, @alitweedale.bsky.social takes a look at the numbers behind their impressive start to life back in the big time (for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com) theanalyst.com/articles/sun...

Naomh McElhatton discusses being a voice for women in the technology sector and the responsibility she feels to steer progress.

Excellent analysis from @robbiejdunne.bsky.social on what Xabi Alonso has already achieved in his rebuild of Real Madrid for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com theanalyst.com/articles/rea...

Crystal Palace are on the verge of equaling the longest unbeaten run in their history, but the data suggests things could get even better for them (analysis via @alitweedale.bsky.social for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com) theanalyst.com/articles/cry...

Over the last 38 games, only Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Man City have earned more points than Nottingham Forest - please read @davidsegar.bsky.social’s analysis of Nuno Espírito Santo’s Premier League record as Forest manager (for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com) theanalyst.com/articles/nun...

This is good from @markcarey93.bsky.social on the rise of individual player coaching in the Premier League (for @theathleticfc.bsky.social) www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...

Pep Guardiola and Ederson revolutionized what is expected of goalkeepers in the Premier League, so is Manchester City's signing of Gianluigi Donnarumma a sign of things to come? (analysis via @alitweedale.bsky.social for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com) theanalyst.com/articles/gia...

This is a terrific read from @henrybushnell.bsky.social on Matt Crocker’s vision for youth development in the United States and his plan to realize that vision (for @theathleticfc.bsky.social) www.nytimes.com/athletic/658...

Excellent analysis from @conor-oneill.bsky.social for @theathleticfc.bsky.social on the impact that "squad churn" has and can have on team performance in the Premier League www.nytimes.com/athletic/658...

“Ederson changed what teams expected of their goalkeepers, and perhaps even what ’keepers expected of themselves” - analysis via @jamesgheerbrant.bsky.social for @thetimes.com www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...

Vitesse Arnhem have been kicked out of the Dutch league, the season rolls on without a club older than Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV - story via @dtathletic.bsky.social for @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/659...

1. I am excited to launch Sports D3c0d3d with Iddo Diamant - a monthly newsletter focused on career development and talent advancement for Irish and European SportsTech professionals. sportsd3c0d3d.beehiiv.com

I'm Dan, an illustrator & motion designer Here's a showreel of some recent client work danleydon.com

@grimsbytown.bsky.social are partnered with Jamestown Analytics (an offshoot of Starlizard & the hand behind Brighton’s recruitment) - Tony Bloom was impressed by Jason Stockwood and Andrew Pettit’s vision for the club (story via Gregor Robertson for @thetimes.com). www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...

Excellent analysis from @conor-oneill.bsky.social - because Coventry scored seven goals against QPR from a total xG value of just 1.27 does not mean that an xG model is broken (for @theathleticfc.bsky.social) www.nytimes.com/athletic/657...

Liverpool’s research and modelling led them to Hugo Ekitike despite the Frenchman significantly under-performing his xG last season (report via @pjoyce1.bsky.social for @thetimes.com) www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...

Arsenal dropped points in eight of their 19 Premier League home games in 2024-25 - improvement required if Arteta hopes to get his side over the line (analysis via @orbinho.bsky.social for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com) theanalyst.com/articles/ars...

New season, new reminder that you can follow a bunch of smart soccer people here

Here, the @theguardian.com's Michael Roberts tells his story about how a trip to watch the Dons at Plough Lane helped him to fall back in love with the beautiful game @afcwimbledon1889.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Johnny Cardoso isn’t the kind of player you build a strategy around, but without someone like him, your options start to narrow fast - here is @robbiejdunne.bsky.social on the player Diego Simeone has been waiting for (for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com) theanalyst.com/articles/joh...

The lasting legacy of Moneyball for Billy Beane is that it has empowered brilliant minds to get involved in running sports teams (interview via @conor-oneill.bsky.social for @theathleticfc.bsky.social) #sportsanalytics #performanceanalysis #moneyball www.nytimes.com/athletic/651...

Granit Xhaka is heading back to the Premier League with a move to Sunderland, but after developing and growing up at Bayer Leverkusen, this isn’t the same player we saw at Arsenal (analysis via @alitweedale.bsky.social for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com) theanalyst.com/articles/gra...

Best wishes to @simonkuper.bsky.social

Football is a market (analysis via @jonawils.bsky.social for @theguardian.com). www.theguardian.com/football/202...