James Yorke
@jair1970.com
soccer analytics with a glint in the eye
work: Hudl, Data
prior: Statsbomb, Director of Football
Head of Analysis, Head of Product (IQ)
Soccer Analytics writing, various inc The Ringer, ESPN, editor Statsbomb
work: Hudl, Data
prior: Statsbomb, Director of Football
Head of Analysis, Head of Product (IQ)
Soccer Analytics writing, various inc The Ringer, ESPN, editor Statsbomb
Man Utd had 30 shots? That's super fun.
January 7, 2026 at 10:26 PM
Man Utd had 30 shots? That's super fun.
I'm extremely pro Mathys Tel, the boy has some magic in his boots (I've not measured this)
January 7, 2026 at 7:39 PM
I'm extremely pro Mathys Tel, the boy has some magic in his boots (I've not measured this)
not your day when you go 2-0 up in ye olde six-pointer but lose 2-1
January 6, 2026 at 9:57 PM
not your day when you go 2-0 up in ye olde six-pointer but lose 2-1
Stuff on minutes restrictions is interesting. Fairly normal in the NBA, but a typical argument in football where medical departments and managers/coaches clash due to potentially misaligned priorities. Clubs 100% should put power into the medical depts hands on this, and look to enforce
This is the inside story of Enzo Maresca’s exit from Stamford Bridge:
🔹 Recommendations around player minutes were big part of why he wanted to leave
🔹 Wanted new defender in summer
🔹 Concerns over talks with Manchester City
✍️ @sjohnsonsport.bsky.social and more
🔗 bit.ly/4aHVi51
🔹 Recommendations around player minutes were big part of why he wanted to leave
🔹 Wanted new defender in summer
🔹 Concerns over talks with Manchester City
✍️ @sjohnsonsport.bsky.social and more
🔗 bit.ly/4aHVi51
January 3, 2026 at 11:52 AM
Stuff on minutes restrictions is interesting. Fairly normal in the NBA, but a typical argument in football where medical departments and managers/coaches clash due to potentially misaligned priorities. Clubs 100% should put power into the medical depts hands on this, and look to enforce
I was idly thinking: there must be lots of managers that are ideologically disinterested in set pieces, but at some point they kind of have to motion in the direction of it. So perhaps hire a coach, or task one of your current coaches to devise some stuff. Yet at that point...
December 31, 2025 at 4:08 PM
I was idly thinking: there must be lots of managers that are ideologically disinterested in set pieces, but at some point they kind of have to motion in the direction of it. So perhaps hire a coach, or task one of your current coaches to devise some stuff. Yet at that point...
Things nobody said in August: "by 30th December only Arsenal will have lost fewer games than Sunderland"
December 30, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Things nobody said in August: "by 30th December only Arsenal will have lost fewer games than Sunderland"
Reijnders at Christmas is it, try the veal etc
December 27, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Reijnders at Christmas is it, try the veal etc
bbc sport website L to R,
chaos->control->chaos:
chaos->control->chaos:
December 20, 2025 at 9:37 PM
bbc sport website L to R,
chaos->control->chaos:
chaos->control->chaos:
So a weird 9 man defeat against Chelsea was where the wheels started to come loose for Ange. Call me crazy but seeing the life in the team in the last 15 makes me wonder if a weird 9 man defeat against Liverpool could have the opposite effect for Frank #analytics
December 20, 2025 at 8:27 PM
So a weird 9 man defeat against Chelsea was where the wheels started to come loose for Ange. Call me crazy but seeing the life in the team in the last 15 makes me wonder if a weird 9 man defeat against Liverpool could have the opposite effect for Frank #analytics
There were 2-3 moments before the red card that Simons just didn't seem on the right wavelength with himself - and he's had games like that this season - hard not to see the challenge in the same light.
December 20, 2025 at 6:26 PM
There were 2-3 moments before the red card that Simons just didn't seem on the right wavelength with himself - and he's had games like that this season - hard not to see the challenge in the same light.
Wirtz redemption game written all over this, but no I'm not having fun
December 20, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Wirtz redemption game written all over this, but no I'm not having fun
Oof can see why it's a red obviously, but don't see intent there, the way his foot snaps back shows he wasn't expecting the contact he made. You can also argue that no idea what he was tryna do since it wasn't a block or to cut off a pass. Anyway :/
December 20, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Oof can see why it's a red obviously, but don't see intent there, the way his foot snaps back shows he wasn't expecting the contact he made. You can also argue that no idea what he was tryna do since it wasn't a block or to cut off a pass. Anyway :/
Is there a good explanation for "defender passes goal kick to GK, ball in play so GK pressed and has to clear" vs "GK just takes the goal kick"
December 20, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Is there a good explanation for "defender passes goal kick to GK, ball in play so GK pressed and has to clear" vs "GK just takes the goal kick"
*since then they're unbeaten in 5*
And for those of you wondering by when things will be better, i'd wager that when they rock up at Tottenham on 20th December, all will be well, because OF COURSE it will (I dislike this fixture) :)
December 20, 2025 at 3:34 PM
*since then they're unbeaten in 5*
Despite all the misery this man inflicted on me down the years with his goals, this is by far the deepest cut. Thierry Henry is 10 days older than me and is getting a "Lifetime Achievement" award. #old
December 17, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Despite all the misery this man inflicted on me down the years with his goals, this is by far the deepest cut. Thierry Henry is 10 days older than me and is getting a "Lifetime Achievement" award. #old
Things I didn't watch this week:
-any of day 2 or 3 of the Ashes test
-the world cup draw
Join me in the world of reading up afterwards :)
-any of day 2 or 3 of the Ashes test
-the world cup draw
Join me in the world of reading up afterwards :)
December 6, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Things I didn't watch this week:
-any of day 2 or 3 of the Ashes test
-the world cup draw
Join me in the world of reading up afterwards :)
-any of day 2 or 3 of the Ashes test
-the world cup draw
Join me in the world of reading up afterwards :)
I'm curious what exactly has caused [a subset of] football managers in 2025 to value open play crossing highly. Is it a misread of outcome? ie. successful crosses into close areas can be high value chances - missing that it's hard to complete the cross in the first place. Answers on a postcard.
December 5, 2025 at 12:36 AM
I'm curious what exactly has caused [a subset of] football managers in 2025 to value open play crossing highly. Is it a misread of outcome? ie. successful crosses into close areas can be high value chances - missing that it's hard to complete the cross in the first place. Answers on a postcard.
Couple of years ago I shortlisted and interviewed Yash for a role we had at Statsbomb around a large consultancy project; unfortunately soon after the project faltered and we had to withdraw the role, but I would have hired Yash - they were an excellent candidate.
Hello everyone,
To the people following me from Twitter would know of my work and I would share samples of it here too.
I am available for freelance work (data vizzes, data and tactical writing around women's football and men's football).
Would love to have any leads. Thank you!
To the people following me from Twitter would know of my work and I would share samples of it here too.
I am available for freelance work (data vizzes, data and tactical writing around women's football and men's football).
Would love to have any leads. Thank you!
December 3, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Couple of years ago I shortlisted and interviewed Yash for a role we had at Statsbomb around a large consultancy project; unfortunately soon after the project faltered and we had to withdraw the role, but I would have hired Yash - they were an excellent candidate.
Liverpool's metrics are still in the broadly fine range despite defensive numbers ticking up. Quick comparison of first 12 league games last season vs this is roughly 1.5 xG For (both seasons), 0.8 xG Against last season, this 1.1; goals going in at a high rate too. They'll be back winning soon imo
November 27, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Liverpool's metrics are still in the broadly fine range despite defensive numbers ticking up. Quick comparison of first 12 league games last season vs this is roughly 1.5 xG For (both seasons), 0.8 xG Against last season, this 1.1; goals going in at a high rate too. They'll be back winning soon imo
Two very different heavy Tottenham defeats away at legit top teams. A ton more value tonight than Sunday, to compete is table stakes and they did that tonight, at least
November 26, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Two very different heavy Tottenham defeats away at legit top teams. A ton more value tonight than Sunday, to compete is table stakes and they did that tonight, at least
Reposted by James Yorke
That was quite a day.
Nice to see so many old faces and thanks to all the speakers and our Hudl team for making it happen.
Nice to see so many old faces and thanks to all the speakers and our Hudl team for making it happen.
November 15, 2025 at 7:50 AM
That was quite a day.
Nice to see so many old faces and thanks to all the speakers and our Hudl team for making it happen.
Nice to see so many old faces and thanks to all the speakers and our Hudl team for making it happen.
I'm at the Hudl Performance Insights Conference today (it's past midnight here). If you're coming do come say hello, we have a great venue and great speakers down in Fulham (river views...) See you there
November 14, 2025 at 12:21 AM
I'm at the Hudl Performance Insights Conference today (it's past midnight here). If you're coming do come say hello, we have a great venue and great speakers down in Fulham (river views...) See you there
EFL crew assemble
Coventry's game against Sheff Wed has single handedly extended the scale :/
Coventry's game against Sheff Wed has single handedly extended the scale :/
November 11, 2025 at 7:50 PM
EFL crew assemble
Coventry's game against Sheff Wed has single handedly extended the scale :/
Coventry's game against Sheff Wed has single handedly extended the scale :/
Ye olde xG per game chart w/various lightweight takes:
1. Arsenal is the blueprint here, 7 good games, 4 ~equal, 0 bad
2. Man City no bad games recently
3. stacking up the bad games: West Ham (but 2 good), Wolves (0 good) and Burnley (0 good) and curiously Bournemouth
4. No "good" Tottenham game :/
1. Arsenal is the blueprint here, 7 good games, 4 ~equal, 0 bad
2. Man City no bad games recently
3. stacking up the bad games: West Ham (but 2 good), Wolves (0 good) and Burnley (0 good) and curiously Bournemouth
4. No "good" Tottenham game :/
November 10, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Ye olde xG per game chart w/various lightweight takes:
1. Arsenal is the blueprint here, 7 good games, 4 ~equal, 0 bad
2. Man City no bad games recently
3. stacking up the bad games: West Ham (but 2 good), Wolves (0 good) and Burnley (0 good) and curiously Bournemouth
4. No "good" Tottenham game :/
1. Arsenal is the blueprint here, 7 good games, 4 ~equal, 0 bad
2. Man City no bad games recently
3. stacking up the bad games: West Ham (but 2 good), Wolves (0 good) and Burnley (0 good) and curiously Bournemouth
4. No "good" Tottenham game :/