As Alan recently shared, Celtic central defenders averaged just over 100 passes from open play during the 2024-2025 season, which is up from averages of about 77 under Ange Postecoglou and 62, 68, and 71 during Rodgers’ first tenure. If we throw in actions when they carry the ball and/or take on opponents via dribbles, the total numbers reach 150+ depending up on the specific player last season!
In comparison, Celtic central defenders do not do anywhere near as much…defending. Combining defensive actions like aerial duels, tackles, interceptions, ball regains, etc. the average is around 1/5th the volume of passes and carries!
The conversation regarding new Celtic signing, Hayato Inamura highlights this massive skew for central defenders at the club, in my opinion. One of the core aspects of the data revolution and associated analytics across sports has been pretty simple:
Try to accurately quantify things via quality data and models to determine what increases versus decreases the probabilities of winning. There is a reason bookmakers use sophisticated models, Statsbomb launched a live data product, and Tony Bloom’s background is as a hugely successful professional gambler.
Align how a team is organized and run to try and optimize by increasing probabilities.
At it’s core this is all quite intuitive and simple - our health is similar. Our expected health outcomes get far better if we align our diet and lifestyle away from beer and pizza (fail!) and sedentary day to day physical activity. Forming daily habits to eat well and staying physically/intellectually active increases probabilities of physical and mental health. We can measure things via calories, sugar, blood counts, etc. to monitor and build plans to increase our odds.
Two of the more outlier and controversial opinions I have held over recent seasons are anchored in thinking this way - aligning player attributes with phases of play that increase probabilities of team success:
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