DATA DISCIPLES DON’T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS JUST YET

THERE is a new book out charting the rise of data analytics in football. one passage concerns the input of Decision Technology at Tottenham, detailing the company’s role in recruiting rafael van der Vaart. Harry redknapp, it is claimed, was no part of that deal. And this is true. In his autobiography, redknapp stated Van der Vaart was his chairman’s signing. But did the manager want him? yes. And was it redknapp’s idea to give the player the freedom to dictate the game, without tying him too tightly to defensive duties? Most certainly. Van der Vaart said redknapp wasn’t much for the tactics board. ‘What did he think would happen — I would get him in the team and tell him how to play?’ was his manager’s riposte. ‘I put him in a position I thought would suit him best. The better the player, the more advice should be kept to a minimum.’

And redknapp had already got Tottenham into the Champions League for the first time when Van der Vaart arrived. So it wasn’t all data analytics. But here’s the thing: Decision Technology’s contract with Tottenham only ran out in 2018. Which means they were still on the books when the club received close on £100million from real Madrid for Gareth Bale and blew it on a collection of players only one of which, Christian eriksen, was successful. So did Decision Technology steer those purchases, too? That’s the complication with data analytics. everyone uses them, and somebody still has to get relegated. So what’s the new marginal gain? Coaching, maybe, and old-fashioned instinct. The sort that knows where to play Van der Vaart.