What's going on at Spurs? Interview with StatsBomb's James Yorke (podcast)

[Beans]

Afternoon all,

Got a fair bit of good feedback on the two-podcast format last week - thanks very much - so thought I'd continue this week. Very privileged to manage to get to chat to a writer and podcaster (and Spurs fan, of course) who I've always enjoyed the work of: James Yorke, who also happens to be Head of Analysis at StatsBomb, who are one of the biggest names in football analytics.

I asked him about what's going on with Spurs, where they go from here, what his views are on Sheffield United as an outsider, and finally who he thinks will win the Premier League and who is going down. If you're on the Twitters I definitely recommend giving him a follow as well, a great blend of analytical insight with the actual emotion of being a fan.

Thanks as always for listening!



Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/bladespod/id1309198119?mt=2

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wLq5qaiQ123cLHHMnTixJ

 

[Kanye]

licks lips

 

[I should coco]

The fact he doesn't remember the 2015 FLC semis, sums up where we've been in the footballing pyramid.

For us it was our most recent 'big game' whereas for Spurs it was just another 10 a penny game.

I thought you should have pushed the 6-0 a bit more though.

"So you don't remember losing 6-0 a the original Lane?"

"Really?"

"Your record recent defeat!"

"Are you sure you don't remember losing 6-0?"

Etc etc etc

 

[IOM Blade]

The fact he doesn't remember the 2015 FLC semis, sums up where we've been in the footballing pyramid.

For us it was our most recent 'big game' whereas for Spurs it was just another 10 a penny game.

I thought you should have pushed the 6-0 a bit more though.

"So you don't remember losing 6-0 a the original Lane?"

"Really?"

"Your record recent defeat!"

"Are you sure you don't remember losing 6-0?"

Etc etc etc

He doesn't even remember what would have been one of the best nights of my life if Louis Reed's shot was 6" lower. How depressing.

 

[Beans]

He doesn't even remember what would have been one of the best nights of my life if Louis Reed's shot was 6" lower. How depressing.

It was also the night they co-opted "everywhere we go" I think after we'd sung it for most of the second half at WHL. Always found it a bit odd hearing Spurs singing that in every game after and them not saying "we're the Shoreham boys".

 

[Niceguyeddie]

Great pod
Love the new two shows a week format
Starting to feel like we are premier league now and going into games feeling we are on the same level as our opponents and I never thought I would be saying that

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

It was also the night they co-opted "everywhere we go" I think after we'd sung it for most of the second half at WHL. Always found it a bit odd hearing Spurs singing that in every game after and them not saying "we're the Shoreham boys".

Where's me foreskin boys doesn't sound as good even if funny.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

The original United at the original Lane.....I like it.

 

[Antonb]

Nice one Mr Beans! Love your pods, They are now a must listen for blades fans!

 

[Charlieblade]

Really enjoyed this pod. The standard of the guest should be this high as a minimum. Clearly knowledgeable about his own team and, LC result apart, he was interesting to listen to when talking about us.
Good format and hoping for similar quality in the future.
Smart opposition podcast is a great idea and I can see it going places provided you can maintain this level of quality.
Thanks for putting in the effort.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Afternoon all,

Got a fair bit of good feedback on the two-podcast format last week - thanks very much - so thought I'd continue this week. Very privileged to manage to get to chat to a writer and podcaster (and Spurs fan, of course) who I've always enjoyed the work of: James Yorke, who also happens to be Head of Analysis at StatsBomb, who are one of the biggest names in football analytics.

I asked him about what's going on with Spurs, where they go from here, what his views are on Sheffield United as an outsider, and finally who he thinks will win the Premier League and who is going down. If you're on the Twitters I definitely recommend giving him a follow as well, a great blend of analytical insight with the actual emotion of being a fan.

Thanks as always for listening!



Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/bladespod/id1309198119?mt=2

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wLq5qaiQ123cLHHMnTixJ

I can’t actually think of any of the other team guests you’ve had on that have been anything other than pretty decent – it’s been a really good feature, and tends to provide an insight into the other clubs and teams (e.g on the Burnley one, I had no idea that Coyle as the Villain was still a thing, and had actually totally forgotten about all that happening). It’s also been interesting to see who has and has not become a bit more aware of us than others.

I’ve enjoyed the split out to two too. Extra bit to slot in with the end of week buildup to the games. And I guess from your point of view it makes a lot of sense given the number of international breaks making it often impossible to do a proper look-ahead when reviewing the most recent game.

 

[Revolution]

Bloody hell, I’m only half way through the first one!

 

[Bartleby]

Nice one enjoyed that as always Ben.

Interesting the bit around teams will be trying to work out how to deal with us later in the season, and nicely avoided the cliches about "we'll be sussed out" etc but I would say though that that was also being said a lot when we rocked up in "la liga" a couple of years back, and it din't really happen. Guess these are the big boys though so will be interesting to see if they do.

 

[SwissBlade]

Beans This is certainly the most insightful "opposition fan" pod in terms of the statistical analysis, probably because James Yorke analysed both clubs, very much in a similar way to how Jay did things previously. Very different to the other opposition fans and thats not a slight on them as they offer something different.

As someone that knows nothing about Premier League players as i haven't watched any of the division before this season, so i have no idea how each team plays. These types of analysis pre match allow me to understand how they play.

Thanks again, looking forward to the inane ramblings of yourself and Roygbiv as well. I presume that Roygbiv will tell us further failings of Billy

 

[Dronfield Blade]

Had to snigger a little when James (the spurs fan) said something along the lines of “League cup games, with respect, are something that don’t lodge in my brain, you just move on”

With respect the League Cup is all spurs really have achieved recently.

Edit: we have won fuck all regarding major trophy's recently, but Spurs are no footballing giants. Bring it on.

 

[Houston_Blade]

He sounds a lot like Gareth Keenan that bloke.

 

[SwissBlade]

Had to snigger a little when James (the spurs fan) said something along the lines of “League cup games, with respect, are something that don’t lodge in my brain, you just move on”

With respect the League Cup is all spurs really have achieved recently.

Edit: we have won fuck all regarding major trophy's recently, but Spurs are no footballing giants. Bring it on.

View attachment 64112

Really good point, but it also shows how little respect the league and fa cup have when finishing 4th in the league (and often we’ll behind the winners) is seen as a better achievement than getting to a cup final.

 

[Dronfield Blade]

Really good point, but it also shows how little respect the league and fa cup have when finishing 4th in the league (and often we’ll behind the winners) is seen as a better achievement than getting to a cup final.

I agree with you and top 4 is a fantastic achievement, if a club then goes onto win the Champions League.... Spurs keep qualifying for Europe but cant win the trophy.

If I supported Spurs, I personally would want the club to at least start taking domestic competitions seriously, the whole point of the game is to win trophy's. Give me a the FA cup over 2nd place in Champions League anyday.

 

[AnotherSpur]

I agree with you and top 4 is a fantastic achievement, if a club then goes onto win the Champions League.... Spurs keep qualifying for Europe but cant win the trophy.

If I supported Spurs, I personally would want the club to at least start taking domestic competitions seriously, the whole point of the game is to win trophy's. Give me a the FA cup over 2nd place in Champions League anyday.

Most of us over the age of 30-35 think the same. I'd take a trophy over 4th place all day long.

 

[Blade for Sale]

Most of us over the age of 30-35 think the same. I'd take a trophy over 4th place all day long.

That's the conundrum for clubs like Spurs (and it's a 'problem' a lot of us would like to have). To be succesful means CL qualification. CL qualification entails some level of sacrifice in the cups. CL qualification doesn't feel succesful in the same way as lifting a trophy. Lifting a trophy probably entails taking the cups more seriously. Taking the cups more seriously compromises league position. Compromising league position entails Levy popping down to have a quiet word with Pocchetino.

At some level I feel for Poch as it must feel a bit like sitting under the sword of Damocles, abeit in a really privileged 1st world problem kind of a way.

 

[AnotherSpur]

That's the conundrum for clubs like Spurs (and it's a 'problem' a lot of us would like to have). To be succesful means CL qualification. CL qualification entails some level of sacrifice in the cups. CL qualification doesn't feel succesful in the same way as lifting a trophy. Lifting a trophy probably entails taking the cups more seriously. Taking the cups more seriously compromises league position. Compromising league position entails Levy popping down to have a quiet word with Pocchetino.

At some level I feel for Poch as it must feel a bit like sitting under the sword of Damocles, abeit in a really privileged 1st world problem kind of a way.

CL football helps fill the new ground with tourists. For Levy and Enic that is what matters until the stadium is paid off.

Looks like we will struggle to get top 6 this season so we will have to settle for winning the CL this year to qualify for next season.

 

[SwissBlade]

I agree with you and top 4 is a fantastic achievement, if a club then goes onto win the Champions League.... Spurs keep qualifying for Europe but cant win the trophy.

If I supported Spurs, I personally would want the club to at least start taking domestic competitions seriously, the whole point of the game is to win trophy's. Give me a the FA cup over 2nd place in Champions League anyday.

It will never happen as the authorities in the game (FIFA and UEFA) demand that the national leagues push the continental competition, but the domestic cup competitions should be given more more credibility for them to be even taken seriously.

Its a subject for another thread entirely, but I personally don't believe that the 2nd-4th place teams should be entered into a tournament which is known as the Champions League. It should be reserved for the Winners of the Premier League, the FA and the League Cups.

If they want to put 2nd to 6th into the Europa League then fine, but only the league and cup winners should be in the Champions League.

There should be no qualifying games for teams from shittier leagues (thats basically how UEFA have classified leagues like Scotland etc). All the champions should be automatically entered. Otherwise its a fake tournament

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

It will never happen as the authorities in the game (FIFA and UEFA) demand that the national leagues push the continental competition, but the domestic cup competitions should be given more more credibility for them to be even taken seriously.

Its a subject for another thread entirely, but I personally don't believe that the 2nd-4th place teams should be entered into a tournament which is known as the Champions League. It should be reserved for the Winners of the Premier League, the FA and the League Cups.

If they want to put 2nd to 6th into the Europa League then fine, but only the league and cup winners should be in the Champions League.

There should be no qualifying games for teams from shittier leagues (thats basically how UEFA have classified leagues like Scotland etc). All the champions should be automatically entered. Otherwise its a fake tournament

And no seeding.