679: Brentford Football Analytics Special- Interview with Ted Knutson from Statsbomb. Brentford’s Season. Success or Failure?

Billy Grant and Matt Allard Beesotted caught up football analyst Ted Knutson (http://twitter.com/mixedknuts) from Statsbomb (http://statsbomb.com) - touching base on a number of issues relating to Brentford and The Championship post Playoff Final  A really interesting chat which opened with the question - in the analysts’ eyes, was Brentford’s season seen as successful - despite the playoff final loss. And ultimately where did it go wrong? We also discussed  Isn’t stats all nonsense? Surely it’s about whoever scores the most goals. Or is it? Luck in footballing terms The difference between Dean Smith and Thomas Frank’s term as manager at Brentford Defensive midfield. How important is Norgaard? And do we need a Douglas or Toumani type player in the side Fan rationality (or irrationality) How did Fulham outmanoeuvre Brentford in the playoff final? Didn’t Brentford choke? Or were Fulham good? Could Fulham have executed the same gameplay if Mitrovic was playing? If Brentford’s ‘magical players’ are not performing, does our whole gameplay fall down? How did the Barnsley and Stoke game fit into the bigger scheme of things?  What about the early matches like Birmingham and Charlton where Brentford should have won? Spreadsheet w@nkers - Brentford previously finished lower than predicted by the statisticians. This season they finished higher/on par. What was the difference? This season we bought experienced players. How much difference has that made to the team? Do we need to buy more experience? Have set pieces improved for Brentford this season? In what way? The Warburton era - where did w stand in terms of set pieces. What position would we have been if w just improved set pieces alone? Why did Brentford lose a quarter of their games 1-0 this season? Has having no fans in the stadium helped Brentford? Do Brentford need to bring in different types of players to combat teams clogging the defence and midfield and stopping their creative play? Do Brentford need to become better at the dark arts and sh!thousing? The future. Who will go? How will Brentford fare after selling three or four key players this summer How good are Brentford at finding centre backs (this was recorded before the signing of Goode)? Why did Jack O’Connell pass us by? Why did we let him go after signing him through our stats analysis? What type of players do we need to buy in the closed season? What does Brentford need to improve on in the closed season? We may have failed this season. But is the Premier League an inevitability for Brentford 0 min - Intro. Who is Ted Knutson? What has he done? What is the benefit of using Stats in football? 7 m 10 sec - Has Brentford’s season been successful. And where did it go wrong? Did Brentford choke? Luck. Brentford and midfield. Fan rationality  17m 10 - Was it Brentford who choked or did Fulham play the game of their lives? Mitrovic. Skilful players. Barnsley and Stoke. More luck. Spreadsheet wankers. Experienced players 33m 58 sec - Set pieces for Brentford throughout the ages. Long throws. Corners. Set piece coaches. Brentford losing 1-0 for more than quarter of their matches. No fans in the stadia. Plan A and plan B. Do Brentford need different players to execute plan B? Sh!thousing. Do Brentford need to be better at it? 45m 33 sec - The Future and Brentford. Which players will we lose close season? Centre backs and Brentford. Where do players like Canos and Marcondes fit into the future? Who should we sign? What areas do we need to strengthen next season? Will Brentford eventually get to the Premier League? 59m 19 sec END