mark thompson
@markposts.bsky.social
data software engineer @ Twenty3 Sports || sport for all || (he/him) || ⚽🎾💻📰🏎️🤖
Claude/Anthropic just sent an email saying that, as a holiday gift, they were giving double the normal usage limits between the 25th and 31st. Tbf, there is definitely *an* audience for that
December 24, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Claude/Anthropic just sent an email saying that, as a holiday gift, they were giving double the normal usage limits between the 25th and 31st. Tbf, there is definitely *an* audience for that
[Billy Beane voice] How can you not be romantic about data visualisation
🎄 Hope you’ve got all your presents ready 💝
Google search interest shows a stable pattern:
🎅 “Christmas gift wife” peaks just before Christmas Eve
🎅 “Christmas gift husband” peaks much earlier
#MerryChristmas to all of you! 🎁
📈 Google Trends (Nov 18–Dec 24, 2020–2024)
#dataviz #ggplot2
Google search interest shows a stable pattern:
🎅 “Christmas gift wife” peaks just before Christmas Eve
🎅 “Christmas gift husband” peaks much earlier
#MerryChristmas to all of you! 🎁
📈 Google Trends (Nov 18–Dec 24, 2020–2024)
#dataviz #ggplot2
December 24, 2025 at 11:09 AM
[Billy Beane voice] How can you not be romantic about data visualisation
Reposted by mark thompson
How Erling Haaland is taking advantage of a key Man City move.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...
Why Erling Haaland is the Premier League’s cutback king
The Manchester City striker continues to demonstrate why he is the perfect person to take advantage of this specific attacking move
www.nytimes.com
December 24, 2025 at 7:56 AM
How Erling Haaland is taking advantage of a key Man City move.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...
Reposted by mark thompson
🎅🎧 We’ve recorded a bonus Women’s Football Weekly podcast which you can listen to here or live on 5 Live on Christmas day. I become quiz master for Ellen, Jen & Ben 👀 & Charlotte Healy & Tanya Oxtoby come on to discuss the WSL 2. Have a great Christmas 🎄
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
BBC Women's Football Weekly - Christmas Special: WSL2 with Charlotte Healy & Tanya Oxtoby - BBC Sounds
Who will be crowned the Women’s Football Weekly friends quiz champion?
www.bbc.co.uk
December 23, 2025 at 12:02 PM
🎅🎧 We’ve recorded a bonus Women’s Football Weekly podcast which you can listen to here or live on 5 Live on Christmas day. I become quiz master for Ellen, Jen & Ben 👀 & Charlotte Healy & Tanya Oxtoby come on to discuss the WSL 2. Have a great Christmas 🎄
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Reposted by mark thompson
Can we measure the ability to block dangerous passes in soccer? ⛔️⚽️
We recently presented our latest research paper "Quantifying Off-Ball Defensive Impact through Cover Shadows" at the Hudl Performance Insights 2025 Conference:
📺 youtu.be/kf6far1Zst8?...
📝 static.hudl.com/craft/perfor...
We recently presented our latest research paper "Quantifying Off-Ball Defensive Impact through Cover Shadows" at the Hudl Performance Insights 2025 Conference:
📺 youtu.be/kf6far1Zst8?...
📝 static.hudl.com/craft/perfor...
December 22, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Can we measure the ability to block dangerous passes in soccer? ⛔️⚽️
We recently presented our latest research paper "Quantifying Off-Ball Defensive Impact through Cover Shadows" at the Hudl Performance Insights 2025 Conference:
📺 youtu.be/kf6far1Zst8?...
📝 static.hudl.com/craft/perfor...
We recently presented our latest research paper "Quantifying Off-Ball Defensive Impact through Cover Shadows" at the Hudl Performance Insights 2025 Conference:
📺 youtu.be/kf6far1Zst8?...
📝 static.hudl.com/craft/perfor...
Reposted by mark thompson
Reposted by mark thompson
There are far too many interesting football analytics papers that I want to read. From the 1980s. And from before that, if they were actually accessible.
This is the blog I've rewritten the most, and is still so short of doing the subject justice.
www.getgoalsideanalytics.com/analytics-hi...
This is the blog I've rewritten the most, and is still so short of doing the subject justice.
www.getgoalsideanalytics.com/analytics-hi...
'Analytics history' - there is so much to write about and share
The history of football analytics often focuses on expected goals and the 21st century, but decade after decade through the 20th century brought insight
www.getgoalsideanalytics.com
December 18, 2025 at 10:00 PM
There are far too many interesting football analytics papers that I want to read. From the 1980s. And from before that, if they were actually accessible.
This is the blog I've rewritten the most, and is still so short of doing the subject justice.
www.getgoalsideanalytics.com/analytics-hi...
This is the blog I've rewritten the most, and is still so short of doing the subject justice.
www.getgoalsideanalytics.com/analytics-hi...
Premier League coverage keeps saying "Villa keep scoring bangers and maybe they'll just keep doing it" and they are, in fact, still doing it
December 21, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Premier League coverage keeps saying "Villa keep scoring bangers and maybe they'll just keep doing it" and they are, in fact, still doing it
niche complaint about bluesky is that it seems like very, very nested conversations appear in my feed quite often.
Either a quote post of a quote post of a reply to a quote post, or just showing someone I follow stringing two replies in a row deep in a thread
Either a quote post of a quote post of a reply to a quote post, or just showing someone I follow stringing two replies in a row deep in a thread
December 21, 2025 at 12:37 PM
niche complaint about bluesky is that it seems like very, very nested conversations appear in my feed quite often.
Either a quote post of a quote post of a reply to a quote post, or just showing someone I follow stringing two replies in a row deep in a thread
Either a quote post of a quote post of a reply to a quote post, or just showing someone I follow stringing two replies in a row deep in a thread
Reposted by mark thompson
⚽ Join the Data Science team at Opta!
🧮 Looking for an experienced Data Scientist who is passionate about applying AI and machine learning to solve complex problems in sports
📍In Europe, flexible to remote or office-based work
❓Drop me a message if you have any questions!
tinyurl.com/3pdety28
🧮 Looking for an experienced Data Scientist who is passionate about applying AI and machine learning to solve complex problems in sports
📍In Europe, flexible to remote or office-based work
❓Drop me a message if you have any questions!
tinyurl.com/3pdety28
Data Scientist
Overview Stats Perform is the market leader in sports tech. We provide the most trusted sports data to some of the world's biggest organizations, across sports, media, and broadcasting. Through th...
tinyurl.com
December 20, 2025 at 8:39 AM
⚽ Join the Data Science team at Opta!
🧮 Looking for an experienced Data Scientist who is passionate about applying AI and machine learning to solve complex problems in sports
📍In Europe, flexible to remote or office-based work
❓Drop me a message if you have any questions!
tinyurl.com/3pdety28
🧮 Looking for an experienced Data Scientist who is passionate about applying AI and machine learning to solve complex problems in sports
📍In Europe, flexible to remote or office-based work
❓Drop me a message if you have any questions!
tinyurl.com/3pdety28
pretty neat that we're just gonna get tablets that can fold up and fit in your pocket
www.youtube.com/watch?v=trsH...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=trsH...
Samsung Galaxy Z Tri Fold Impressions: NOW It Makes Sense!
YouTube video by Marques Brownlee
www.youtube.com
December 19, 2025 at 9:22 PM
pretty neat that we're just gonna get tablets that can fold up and fit in your pocket
www.youtube.com/watch?v=trsH...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=trsH...
Reposted by mark thompson
It’s quite detailed in terms of explaining his approach to coaching and I found it very interesting. Within three years of it being published City had won every domestic honour as well as the Cup Winners Cup and Big Mal had turned down the Juve job.
December 19, 2025 at 12:05 PM
It’s quite detailed in terms of explaining his approach to coaching and I found it very interesting. Within three years of it being published City had won every domestic honour as well as the Cup Winners Cup and Big Mal had turned down the Juve job.
Reposted by mark thompson
Found this very interesting. It reminded me of a book I read recently, ‘Soccer For Thinkers’ by Malcolm Allison published in 1967. Here are a few pages on stamina and speed. He had the squad working with top athletes like Derek Ibbotson and clearly recording its impact.
December 19, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Found this very interesting. It reminded me of a book I read recently, ‘Soccer For Thinkers’ by Malcolm Allison published in 1967. Here are a few pages on stamina and speed. He had the squad working with top athletes like Derek Ibbotson and clearly recording its impact.
I wound up using 'pre-Opta era' as a descriptor, not out of particular deference to them, but just because it became clear to me - reading as many of these older papers as I could manage to get access to - that needing to self-collect your own data is a huge obstacle
There are far too many interesting football analytics papers that I want to read. From the 1980s. And from before that, if they were actually accessible.
This is the blog I've rewritten the most, and is still so short of doing the subject justice.
www.getgoalsideanalytics.com/analytics-hi...
This is the blog I've rewritten the most, and is still so short of doing the subject justice.
www.getgoalsideanalytics.com/analytics-hi...
'Analytics history' - there is so much to write about and share
The history of football analytics often focuses on expected goals and the 21st century, but decade after decade through the 20th century brought insight
www.getgoalsideanalytics.com
December 18, 2025 at 10:28 PM
I wound up using 'pre-Opta era' as a descriptor, not out of particular deference to them, but just because it became clear to me - reading as many of these older papers as I could manage to get access to - that needing to self-collect your own data is a huge obstacle
Like, I just need to post this paper title: "Analysis of actions ending with shots at goal in the Women’s European Football Championship (England 2005)" (2007).
That's at the 'very recent' end of the things I'm talking about, and it predates the WSL by several years
That's at the 'very recent' end of the things I'm talking about, and it predates the WSL by several years
There are far too many interesting football analytics papers that I want to read. From the 1980s. And from before that, if they were actually accessible.
This is the blog I've rewritten the most, and is still so short of doing the subject justice.
www.getgoalsideanalytics.com/analytics-hi...
This is the blog I've rewritten the most, and is still so short of doing the subject justice.
www.getgoalsideanalytics.com/analytics-hi...
'Analytics history' - there is so much to write about and share
The history of football analytics often focuses on expected goals and the 21st century, but decade after decade through the 20th century brought insight
www.getgoalsideanalytics.com
December 18, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Like, I just need to post this paper title: "Analysis of actions ending with shots at goal in the Women’s European Football Championship (England 2005)" (2007).
That's at the 'very recent' end of the things I'm talking about, and it predates the WSL by several years
That's at the 'very recent' end of the things I'm talking about, and it predates the WSL by several years
There are far too many interesting football analytics papers that I want to read. From the 1980s. And from before that, if they were actually accessible.
This is the blog I've rewritten the most, and is still so short of doing the subject justice.
www.getgoalsideanalytics.com/analytics-hi...
This is the blog I've rewritten the most, and is still so short of doing the subject justice.
www.getgoalsideanalytics.com/analytics-hi...
'Analytics history' - there is so much to write about and share
The history of football analytics often focuses on expected goals and the 21st century, but decade after decade through the 20th century brought insight
www.getgoalsideanalytics.com
December 18, 2025 at 10:00 PM
There are far too many interesting football analytics papers that I want to read. From the 1980s. And from before that, if they were actually accessible.
This is the blog I've rewritten the most, and is still so short of doing the subject justice.
www.getgoalsideanalytics.com/analytics-hi...
This is the blog I've rewritten the most, and is still so short of doing the subject justice.
www.getgoalsideanalytics.com/analytics-hi...
it will have footnotes
Hoping to get a blog over the line this evening
December 18, 2025 at 7:34 PM
it will have footnotes
Hoping to get a blog over the line this evening
December 18, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Hoping to get a blog over the line this evening
Feel like the Athletic's sports Connections game has gotten more difficult/Only Connect-y lately
December 18, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Feel like the Athletic's sports Connections game has gotten more difficult/Only Connect-y lately
Reposted by mark thompson
🧵 Thread: I recently looked into the concept of escaping pressure 👇
1️⃣ 3rd player, up-back combos are the most efficient at escaping pressure
🔷 I defined a press-escaping situation as a pass that found a free player (not pressured in 3 seconds), after 2 consecutive ball carriers were pressurized
1️⃣ 3rd player, up-back combos are the most efficient at escaping pressure
🔷 I defined a press-escaping situation as a pass that found a free player (not pressured in 3 seconds), after 2 consecutive ball carriers were pressurized
December 17, 2025 at 3:18 PM
🧵 Thread: I recently looked into the concept of escaping pressure 👇
1️⃣ 3rd player, up-back combos are the most efficient at escaping pressure
🔷 I defined a press-escaping situation as a pass that found a free player (not pressured in 3 seconds), after 2 consecutive ball carriers were pressurized
1️⃣ 3rd player, up-back combos are the most efficient at escaping pressure
🔷 I defined a press-escaping situation as a pass that found a free player (not pressured in 3 seconds), after 2 consecutive ball carriers were pressurized
I think I disagree with the notion that you've gotta be conventionally attractive to make short-form worthwhile; also, relatedly, I think the conventions of short-form vertical as a medium are only just settling down
I agree that it’s 100% true that the eyeballs are all on short form video - and man, it’s still really depressing how the necessity of Doing Video nowadays seriously disadvantages people who aren’t conventionally attractive (or who just genuinely can’t stand being on camera)
The one thing I keep thinking about is how much direct to camera stuff rewards physical attractiveness. I mean, that's gotta be part of the reason these wellness influencers are successful, right? And you're competing for eyeballs with them.
December 16, 2025 at 9:57 PM
I think I disagree with the notion that you've gotta be conventionally attractive to make short-form worthwhile; also, relatedly, I think the conventions of short-form vertical as a medium are only just settling down
Another example for my "My mental model for guessing the future path of genAI was wrong, through assuming major companies would consider it a risk to put out bad products" file
New: When the Washington Post ran tests on its AI personalized podcasts, the paper found that between 68% and 84% (!!) of the pods had potential issues.
Still, the paper decided to release the product anyway, saying it would “iterate through the remaining issues”
www.semafor.com/article/12/1...
Still, the paper decided to release the product anyway, saying it would “iterate through the remaining issues”
www.semafor.com/article/12/1...
December 15, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Another example for my "My mental model for guessing the future path of genAI was wrong, through assuming major companies would consider it a risk to put out bad products" file
Reposted by mark thompson
I'm doing a live Ask Me Anything on Reddit tomorrow at 16:00 GMT all about women’s football. You can ask me about standout players, how teams have got on or even what it's like working in journalism. Send your Qs in via this link 👇
www.reddit.com/r/FAWSL/s/DE...
www.reddit.com/r/FAWSL/s/DE...
From the FAWSL community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the FAWSL community
www.reddit.com
December 15, 2025 at 7:09 PM
I'm doing a live Ask Me Anything on Reddit tomorrow at 16:00 GMT all about women’s football. You can ask me about standout players, how teams have got on or even what it's like working in journalism. Send your Qs in via this link 👇
www.reddit.com/r/FAWSL/s/DE...
www.reddit.com/r/FAWSL/s/DE...
Meant to post about this yesterday - enjoyed this
The Oxford word of the year is RAGE BAIT. After calming myself down, I tried to work out what the football word of the year would be, 2000-25.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/687...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/687...
The football word of the year, 2000-2025: Park the bus, raumdeuter, prawn sandwich brigade
With 'ragebait' the Oxford English Dictionary word of the year, here's a look at what footballing equivalents might have been since 2000
www.nytimes.com
December 15, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Meant to post about this yesterday - enjoyed this