Ipswich Town midfielder Conor Chaplin on the Importance of Statistics and Analysis
Ipswich Town midfielder Conor Chaplin acknowledges the increasing significance of statistics and analysis in modern football but emphasizes the need for their judicious application for effective impact.
Players at Ipswich, including Chaplin, have highlighted the value of halftime team talks led by Kieran McKenna, featuring discussions around first-half clips to strategize improvements for the second half. Ipswich has notably excelled in turning around matches, securing more points from losing positions than any other Championship team.
Chaplin notes that in his early professional football days, such in-game analysis was not prevalent. His experience at Barnsley, particularly during the 2020–21 campaign under manager Valerien Ismael, demonstrated the positive outcomes achievable with proper data and analysis support.
The midfielder highlights the growing influence of in-game analysis, noting its effectiveness in making strategic tweaks that often lead to significant improvements in the second half of games. He credits this approach for Ipswich’s success in the latter parts of matches.
Chaplin also addresses the role of statistics in football, acknowledging their potential utility while cautioning against overcomplication. He mentions the metric of expected goals (xG) as an example, pointing out its limitations in capturing the nuances of a match, such as the impact of the game state. He cites Ipswich’s FA Cup defeat to Maidstone United, where dominating xG did not translate into victory due to their inability to convert chances.
While recognizing the educational value of certain stats like expected goals on target (xGOT) and passes per defensive action (PPDA), Chaplin emphasizes the importance of focusing on the ultimate goal of putting the ball in the back of the net and winning games. He acknowledges the progress in the use of statistics since his early career but emphasizes the need for players to discern which stats are truly meaningful and consult with the manager for guidance on improvement areas.
