SciSports is excited to showcase a series of new developments in its Recruitment Application which will continue to help football clubs and agencies in data-led player recruitment.
Our latest developments on the Recruitment Application include a brand new performance filter, player comparison tool and new-look career statistic pages – all contributing to a comprehensive platform to provide recruitment services on over 180,000 players in 250 leagues across the world.
Here is a breakdown of new functionalities in the platform:
- Performance filter
- Player comparison
- Career statistics page
Performance filter – finding specific player profiles
The introduction of the performance filter means that users will now be able to search for specific player profiles across our wide-ranging database. In combination with pre-existing filters like SciSkill, Player Roles and others, this addition allows users to be able to tailor their scouting missions to exactly what they are looking for.
Previous to this release, the Recruitment Application has facilitated a further deep-dive into individual players based on their Performance metrics. Through 10 action groups and 50 specific action types, there is a minute level of analysis on players within the platform. However, the ability to now filter these action groups and types enables further development in scouting processes. Being able to filter on the top 10%, 33% or 50% of players in chosen areas from up to the last three years facilitates a deeper level of initial scouting.
What makes this development most powerful is the use of it alongside a clear recruitment strategy. Detailed knowledge of what is needed in specific areas of the pitch allows clubs to fully examine players who have previously thrived in those actions. Below, we have created an example of a Central Midfielder who needs to be strong in Long Pass, Switch of Play, Recoveries, Pressing High Zone and Suppress Passing.
Figure 1. Central Midfielders who match our criteria from a season in the last two years
Out of the names above, users will obviously be aware of these players. Therefore, using other filters with the Recruitment Application can help find uncovered talents or players who could be worth further examination.
Below, a top 10 of players under the age of 24 is shown and sorted in descending order of Potential. The aim here is to show younger prospects who could be long-term investments for this specific area of the pitch.
Figure 2. The top 10 players under the age of 24, sorted by Potential
By using the performance filter, users are able to complete similar searches to this and therefore save time for live or video scouting. Overall, this update helps to create a more detailed overview for what users are specifically looking for in certain areas of the pitch.
Player comparison tool
Further developments within the Recruitment Application have seen a focus on directly comparing up to three players on a range of factors. As explained above, a specific player search can help reduce the number of players to a smaller number but where do you go from there?
One method, of course, is viewing the player page of each player as we outlined in our last platform update blog post. However, the introduction of a direct comparison tool enables users to look at players side by side in a variety of ways. By looking at players directly in terms of basic information, SciSkill development, career statistics and playing style, further detail is added to the scouting process.
As shown here, we can directly compare up to three players for further comparison in different areas.
Figure 3. How the player comparison tool is presented
For instance, a user could be looking at three prospective signings in terms of SciSkill development. By this view below, there is a clear overview of how each player has development so far in their career and indications of further growth by Potential.
Figure 4. Three centre forwards compared directly by SciSkill development
As we see in the visual above, all three players differ in terms of their SciSkill development over time. While Ignatius Ganago may be a slightly less developed talent compared to the other two, this view presents us with a clear indication that he isn’t far from Fedor Chalov’s rate of development at this age.
In addition to SciSkill development comparisons that provide useful take-aways, a direct look at Playing Style can enhance a user’s immediate understanding of a player. In the case of Ganago, Daka and Chalov, all three have performed similarly in this season so far.
Figure 5. Playing Style comparison all of three players
When looking back at a player’s development from a tactical point of view, this tool can be very useful for examining three prospective signings and therefore give a clearer indication on any similarities or differences. In sum, this update comparison tool enables users to fully understand a player’s data-driven profile.
A new-look career statistics page
Leading on from the new player comparison tool, we have also released a new-look career statistics page. This development, as presented below, gives a quick overview of a player’s basic information over the last five domestic league seasons.
Figure 6. Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s career statistics page
This type of view ensures that users can quickly see how a player has developed throughout their career in terms of basic information. If a player has played limited minutes in a particular season or dipped in goal-scoring form when moving to a certain league, these types of examples could be worth further investigation.
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