Loai Mohamed’s Post

Hey LinkedIn, like me , did you also continuously hear about Bayer Leverkusen's winning streak throughout this football season but didn't actually watch them play? I for one if got a chance would love to play back all of their matches and see this invincible streak in the 2023/24 Bundesliga season. But I am sure most of us don't have that much time, this is where seeing football through data comes in. And thanks to StatsBomb , who has recently released Bayer 04 Leverkusen's event and 360 data for the entire season we can try to see how this team played tactically in their 38 matches. So something that has always been on mind since I started working with football data is how we can analyze a team's corners. And this is what I was able to achieve using this data. If you see the below image (edited to combine all plots) , there are two types of corners recorded in the data i.e. Inswinging (away from the keeper) and Outswinging (towards the keeper) from both sides, from this we are able to show how much goals,shots and xG was Bayer able to generate from these types of corners. And on the other pitch, for the same type of corner we can see the average postion of the attacking players using a heatmap (kdeplot). What I see from these graphs, is that Bayer overperformed their xG from In-swinging corners from both sides and they crowded the central area for these corners as we have seen in this season many times when teams try to disturb the goalkeepers. Would love some feedback on how to improve this and generate much more informative plots. Thanks. Link to code of this plot - https://lnkd.in/ghHMG-c9

USA-Germany 1-3 I've been waiting impatiently for Nagelsmann's first line-up, but I was a little disappointed with the inclusion of Robin Gosens at left-back, Jonathan Tah at right-back and the lack of a real 6 at the back. On paper the team looked like a 4-2-3-1. Ter Stegen Tah-Hummels-Rudiger-Gosens Gundogan-Gross Sané-Wirtz-Musiala Fullkrug But in the attacking phase, it was in 3-3-3-1 or I would even say with Gundogan and Gross almost at the same level as just behind the strikers and in the defensive phase, it was back in 4-2-3-1. The risk with this defensive phase is that it leaves a hole in Tah's side because Gross and Gundogan are too high up. Against a very fast team, Germany would have serious problems. And Gundogan is not the fastest defensive player. Sané, Fullkrug, Musiala and Wirtz don't always make the effort to press the defenders. This tactic is fine against average teams, but against stronger teams, Germany are likely to suffer. Football is a simple game, so why always try to make it complicated? You have to be constantly looking for balance. I'm already going to see how Germany play against Mexico. I think the match will already be more complicated, especially if they play the same way. The USA have a good squad but a very bad coach. If they want to do something at the next World Cup, they'll have to choose another coach because there's plenty of material to do something good.

🔴⚫ How Bayer 04 Builds an Attack from Their Own Goal ⚽️ In modern football, the ability to construct an attack from the back is a crucial component of success on the field. 📈 🔹 Defensive Organization: It all starts with confident play from the defenders and the goalkeeper, who are ready to make bold decisions under pressure. The attack begins with a short pass, often through the center or flanks. 🔹 Midfield Movement: Bayer’s midfielders are constantly on the move, creating opportunities for quick ball progression. This ensures both control and a sudden transition to attack. 🔹 Flank Play: Bayer’s full-backs and wingers provide width, stretching the opponent's defense and creating space for key passes and runs. 🔹 Creativity and Speed: Bayer 04 is known for its quick and creative play. The players use unexpected moves and swift attacks to catch the opponent off guard. 🌟 Support Bayer 04 and watch our matches to see this strategy come to life on the field! ⚡ #Bayer04 #Football #Attack #Strategy #Bundesliga #WeAreBayer

🔴⚫ How Bayer 04 Builds an Attack from Their Own Goal ⚽️ In modern football, the ability to construct an attack from the back is a crucial component of success on the field. 📈 🔹 Defensive Organization: It all starts with confident play from the defenders and the goalkeeper, who are ready to make bold decisions under pressure. The attack begins with a short pass, often through the center or flanks. 🔹 Midfield Movement: Bayer’s midfielders are constantly on the move, creating opportunities for quick ball progression. This ensures both control and a sudden transition to attack. 🔹 Flank Play: Bayer’s full-backs and wingers provide width, stretching the opponent's defense and creating space for key passes and runs. 🔹 Creativity and Speed: Bayer 04 is known for its quick and creative play. The players use unexpected moves and swift attacks to catch the opponent off guard. 🌟 Support Bayer 04 and watch our matches to see this strategy come to life on the field! ⚡ #Bayer04 #Football #Attack #Strategy #Bundesliga #WeAreBayer

I want to reduce the risk of goalless draws in Football and get more excitement, action and entertainment! It is so unresolved to watch a goalless draw in a Stadium or in front of the TV! It's great that wins are rewarded with 3 points and draws only with 1 point. But Football must be the only sport where you can get a point for not scoring at all? I have just sent a simple proposal to the Danish Football Association (DBU) to reduce the risk of goalless draws. If a match ends with a goalless draw the teams will go straight to a penalty shootout. The winner will get 1 point and the loser no points. I want to remove 1 point from goalless draws giving us more attacking football, excitement, action and entertainment. Americans are used to a lot of action, excitement and entertainment at their NBA, NFL, NHL and Baseball games. I want to give them more entertainment at the World Cup in 2026 by changing the rules for goalless draws. We all love penalty shootouts 😎 What do you think out there all you Football supporters? Do you agree? Dansk Boldspil-Union (DBU) UEFA FIFA #Football

PSG 3:1 FC METS (summary google translate) In the 10th round match between PSG and FC Metz, held at PSG's home at 5:00 AM Korean time, PSG began with a 3-4-3 formation while Metz used a 4-3-3. Coach Luis Enrique's strategy aimed for assertive play but lacked a slight edge, despite deploying four midfielders, causing the first half to miss the desired efficiency. To enhance possession and goal-scoring capabilities, a defensive midfielder with buildup skills and a winger's inclination were deemed necessary. Some PSG players struggled to perform effectively in positions outside their primary roles. Lee Kang-in displayed skill but failed to create clear goal-scoring opportunities against a packed defense. The first half saw multiple attacks into the final third but lacked finishing against Metz's compact defense. Coach Rucco's halftime shift to a 3-3-4 formation led to early second-half goals, with Mbappe scoring twice. Despite conceding one goal from a set-piece, it was an exceptional header rather than a defensive failure. Swapping between a 3-3-4 and 3-4-3 formation to balance attack and bolster defense was seen as effective. Mbappe faced less pressure in the latter due to enhanced attacking contributions. Verratti's consistency was notable, reminiscent of Park Ji-sung's impact at Manchester United. PSG's defensive buildup seemed cautious or lacking trust among teammates, highlighting a need for improvement. Marquinhos' shift to the right side appeared strategic for passing connections. Emery's defensive contributions were noteworthy, emphasizing a strong team effort. Coach Ruis prioritizes players adapted to his tactics, showcasing a clear football philosophy, even sidelining former regulars from the Spanish national team. PSG clinched a 3-1 victory, and hopes are high for similar attacking displays in upcoming matches against Real Sociedad.

On Saturday, May 18, 2024, a historic moment in German football history was made - Bayer Leverkusen was crowned their first ever Bundesliga title and also became the first ever to finish an entire Bundesliga undefeated with 28 wins, 6 draws, and 0 losses. The man behind this success story is Xabi Alonso. Here are some key points on how Xabi Alonso turned around Bayer Leverkusen from a relegation candidate to an unbeaten Bundesliga champion in less than a year! 1. Tactical Acumen: Alonso brought a fresh and strategic approach to Leverkusen, leveraging his deep understanding of the game. His tactics emphasized ball control, fluid attacking play, and a solid defensive structure, which helped stabilize the team's performance. 2. Player Development: Alonso focused on developing young talents and maximizing the potential of existing players. His experience as a former top-level player helped him mentor and guide his squad effectively. 3. Adaptability: Alonso's ability to adapt his strategies to different opponents and situations was crucial. He tailored his game plans to exploit the weaknesses of other teams, which led to improved results in both domestic and European competitions. 4. Leadership and Communication: His leadership qualities and clear communication fostered a positive team environment. Alonso's ability to inspire and instill confidence in his players played a significant role in their improved performances. 5. Strong Start: Alonso made an immediate impact with a strong start, including a decisive win in his first match. This early success helped build momentum and confidence within the squad. 6. Analytical Approach: Utilizing data and video analysis, Alonso and his coaching staff meticulously prepared for each match, ensuring that the team was well-prepared tactically and physically. 7. Experience and Vision: Drawing from his illustrious playing career, Alonso's vision for the game and his ability to see the bigger picture allowed him to implement a coherent and effective long-term strategy for the team. I am sharing this success story to everyone as an inspiration for our career. May we also have our own success story in the making. 😉

Did you that in an average football 🏟 match, the ball ⚽ stands still for almost 35 minutes❓ This is a lot of time not used effectively for the sport’s performance. But can it be used for 🍿 entertainment and 🛒 commercial purposes❓ According to CIES Football Observatory research, Swedish Allsvenskan is the league with the most fluid matches with an effective time at the level of 60.4%. At the same time, Portuguese Primeira Liga hit the bottom in the study with the result of 50.9%. How does the TOP5 stand in this research? German Bundesliga International GmbH chases the top with 58.5% while LALIGA is the 5th with 55.8% of effective time. What are the outtakes for us❓  🤔💭 The football industry has to figure out how we can effectively govern the breaks and pauses to entertain fans and offer some commercial possibilities.  ✅💡 We have successful business stories coming from team sports with much more predictable and more frequent pauses like 🏀 basketball, ice hockey, 🏈 American football, and ⚾ baseball. 🙋♂️🤷♂️ We have still to listen carefully to the fans' needs as what we see as an opportunity might be also a treat if we tend to overpack the games with additional content. #footballbusiness #sport #soccer

Hot Takes Wild Card week European League of Football Time for Playoff football 💣 The playoffs are here, and Saturday bring us an amazing game Berlin Thunder vs Frankfurt Galaxy. One of the best defense on the League, against one of the most versatile teams. At this point of the season, any detail matters and Berlin has been working on those details game after game, and they managed to get their most successful season so far. While Frankfurt already know how to win in the playoffs, the Thunder defense is motivated enough to knock down another though opponent. Key factors: Berlin's D-Line and Frankfurt´s Jakeb Sullivan. 💡 Fun fact: This will be the first Playoff game between Berlin and Frankfurt since 2004 (NFL Europe) when Berlin defeated Frankfurt in the World Bowl XII. Sunday will be funday in Stuttgart. Panthers Wrocław have the best RB in Dawid Brzozowski and a truly All Star in the defense with A.J Wentland. Stuttgart Surge offense tend to start slow but they manage to warm up their engines in the 2nd and 3rd quarter. If Wroclaw find the way to take an early lead, will put more pressure to Surge´s defense. Key factor: Surge´s O-Line giving enough time to Reilly Hennessey. #Storytelling #ELF23 #EuropeanLeagueOfFootball #AmericanFootball #Europe #RoadToDuisburg

At 4:45 a.m. on the 18th, PSG faced LOSC Lille in a match at LOSC's home stadium. PSG utilized Lupo Enrique's recent 3-3-3-1 formation while LOSC employed a 4-2-3-1 tactic. PSG had slightly more possession, creating numerous threats, but neither team was significantly dominant. Lee Kang-in played on the left side of the midfield trio without notable offensive contributions, showcasing technical prowess rather than creative play. The game ended 1-1, featuring Lee Kang-in's start, Mbappe's goal, and a missed pass by Asensio. Enrique's fluid tactics, still in an experimental phase, have prompted varied opinions. Personally, the tactics seem advantageous for Lee Kang-in's versatility and align with the coach's strategy of ball possession and position-flexible scoring. While these tactics might be beneficial for league and Champions League play, criticism arose after a recent PSG match that strayed from the team's usual dominant victories. The team's flexibility in positioning players, though advantageous, raises concerns about confusion among players due to frequent formation changes. Despite this, the tactic aids in long-term races and player management, considering PSG's depth and fewer injuries. Lee Kang-in's continued involvement is seen as beneficial, balancing defensive concerns with his creative abilities. The observation from the game suggests PSG's improvement in not losing to lower-ranked teams as in previous seasons. A key factor for Champions League success seems to be having players aside from Mbappe who can score goals when needed.