Hello,

A lot of matches are also quite frustrating in that only chances, goals and fouls are shown during the match. And that’s it. Sometimes several long minutes, or even a whole half, can pass without any updates. That doesn’t mean nothing is happening, but we have absolutely no information about what is going on. There was a time when in-play xG provided some insight during these lulls – admittedly partial and with its drawbacks, as it was prone to a lot of misinterpretation. The idea isn’t necessarily to bring them back as they were.

For post-match analysis, we can retrieve a team’s cumulative xG figures at the moment a particular play occurred, but that’s all. In other words, this allows for some analysis of what happened during the match, particularly for matches with numerous chances or those where chances occur in quick succession, but apart from that, it tells us nothing. However, just because nothing is happening doesn’t mean the tactics aren’t sound; it’s still a game of probabilities. This lack of information remains frustrating, nonetheless.

I’d like a compromise solution – something a bit more visual, similar to what’s done in real-life matches today, using a graph and a ‘momentum’ display.

During a match, this could be displayed as follows – please excuse the rough sketch:

This would show, throughout the match, which team currently has possession; we could also add information on the current area of play (A/M/D) – I realise that’s quite a lot to ask, but it would be a huge help in following the matches.

At the end of the match (or updated during the match), we could have a graph like the one below:

Normally, these momentum metrics are calculated using parameters such as the number of corners, shots and so on. On VF, none of that: it’s simply based on which team has the ball at a given moment and the danger posed by the move (based on xG, or simply whether it results in a chance or a goal within its area of play, if we don’t want to go into detail). Personally, a hybrid approach – based on the xG of the current move for the overall impact, and weighted more heavily if it results in a chance or a goal – would already be quite useful.

We’d then have more to go on. It won’t eliminate all the confusion, nor the frustrations that some people feel during certain matches. But it’ll provide a little extra insight into the matches, whilst remaining something that’s understandable and accessible to the widest possible audience. For many people, xG is a bit of a mystery.

I think incorporating this would also fit in well with VF’s new visual identity.

Have a good day.

In my personal opinion, this momentum is already in place, but it’s invisible.