brian mcdonnell
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sixtwofourtwo.bsky.social
brian mcdonnell
@sixtwofourtwo.bsky.social
1.1K followers 290 following 180 posts
A business analyst working with Stats Perform - fascinated by performance analysis, the smart(er) sports story & coaching (then, now, next)
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sixtwofourtwo.bsky.social
At youth level at Barca, the emphasis on link-up play and connecting with others means the responsibility for goalscoring is often shared, but the profile of the serial goalscorer is missing (via @laiacervello.bsky.social for @theathleticfc.bsky.social)
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
Why doesn’t La Masia produce strikers for Barcelona?
The Catalan club's celebrated youth academy turns out scores of players for their first team, so why don't centre-forwards break through?
www.nytimes.com
February 12, 2026 at 8:24 AM
sixtwofourtwo.bsky.social
Brentford were among the favourites for relegation at the start of the season, but now Keith Andrews has them dreaming of Europe (analysis via @davidsegar.bsky.social for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com / @statsperform.optajoe.com)
theanalyst.com/articles/bre...
Long Balls, Careful Shot Selection, and Continuity: How Keith Andrews Made Brentford European Challengers | Opta Analyst
Brentford were among the favourites for relegation at the start of the season, but Keith Andrews has them dreaming of Europe.
theanalyst.com
February 11, 2026 at 5:54 PM
sixtwofourtwo.bsky.social
France kicked off their Six Nations defence in style, with a commanding home victory against Ireland. The key to their victory? The humble offload (analysis via Jonathan McCormick for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com / @statsperform.optajoe.com)
theanalyst.com/articles/fra...
How France’s Offload Game Took Ireland Apart in Paris | Opta Analyst
France kicked off their Six Nations defence in style, with a commanding home victory against Ireland. Their offloading played a huge part in that.
theanalyst.com
February 10, 2026 at 6:02 PM
sixtwofourtwo.bsky.social
Here are 12 numbers that tell the story of Super Bowl 60, in case “29-13” doesn’t do it on its own (analysis via @alexkirshner.com for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com / @optaanalystus.optajoe.com)‬
theanalyst.com/articles/num...
The 12 Numbers That Defined the Seahawks' Dominant Super Bowl Win Over the Patriots | Opta Analyst
We've got some of the key numbers that tell the story of a one-sided Super Bowl 60 in which the Seahawks cruised to a win over the Patriots.
theanalyst.com
February 9, 2026 at 8:24 AM
sixtwofourtwo.bsky.social
How is it possible that an NFL team with a roster that’s not among the nine best in 2025 has played like one of the five best teams of the past 35 years? Good question (analysis via @tmbech23.bsky.social for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com)
theanalyst.com/articles/sea...
A Perfect Sum: How the Seahawks Have Been Historically Good Without an Elite Roster | Opta Analyst
How is it possible that a team with a roster that’s not among the nine best in 2025 has played like one of the five best teams of the past 35 years?
theanalyst.com
February 7, 2026 at 12:03 AM
sixtwofourtwo.bsky.social
Liverpool’s £100 million summer signing didn’t hit the ground running, but Florian Wirtz is now starting to live up to the initial hype (analysis via @davidsegar.bsky.social for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com)
theanalyst.com/articles/liv...
Liverpool Are Starting to See the Real Florian Wirtz | Opta Analyst
Liverpool’s £100m summer signing was expected to hit the ground running. He didn’t, but Florian Wirtz is starting to show why few questioned his price tag.
theanalyst.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:38 PM
Reposted by brian mcdonnell
jrcooper26.bsky.social
Had a lot of fun writing this - some of the more obscure facts around James Milner's Premier League career as he looks to equal the appearance record this weekend. A man whose debut is closer to the 1970s than it is today. A proper legend.
The Staggering Stats You (Didn't Realise You) Need to Know About James Milner's Premier League Career | Opta Analyst
With James Milner set to equal the Premier League appearance record, we look at the stats surrounding his career so far in the English top flight.
theanalyst.com
February 5, 2026 at 3:10 PM
sixtwofourtwo.bsky.social
This is excellent from @hkhaliqueloonat.bsky.social on the transformative effect José Mourinho had on Chelsea (and football) in 2004-05 (for @thetimes.com)
www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...
How Chelsea set defensive record — and can it ever be beaten?
José Mourinho’s 2004-05 title winners conceded only 15 league goals, a record that will not be matched this season after Arsenal’s tally recently reached 17
www.thetimes.com
February 3, 2026 at 5:43 PM
sixtwofourtwo.bsky.social
Man City have dropped 11 points from half-time leads in the Premier League this season (analysis via @mattfurniss.bsky.social for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com)
theanalyst.com/articles/man...
Second-Half Surrender: How Man City's Frailties After Half-Time Are Hindering a Title Challenge | Opta Analyst
Manchester City lost a half-time lead in a Premier League match for the fifth time this season, highlighting a worrying trend for Pep Guardiola’s side.
theanalyst.com
February 2, 2026 at 10:57 PM
sixtwofourtwo.bsky.social
Happily, we can use Opta Vision data to identify and measure the quality of Enzo Fernández’s box-crashing runs for Chelsea (analysis via @alitweedale.bsky.social for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com)
theanalyst.com/articles/enz...
Chelsea's Box-Crasher: Enzo Fernández Makes the Most Valuable Runs in the Premier League | Opta Analyst
Enzo Fernández completed a historic comeback win for Chelsea at the weekend after a goal following a run from deep, the type of which is increasingly becoming his trademark.
theanalyst.com
February 2, 2026 at 10:52 PM
sixtwofourtwo.bsky.social
There were tears after Como’s nonsensical draw with Atalanta, but Cesc Fàbregas’s young possession-based team is going places (analysis via @nickybandini.bsky.social for @theguardian.com)
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Frustration for Como but Fàbregas’s side have one of strongest identities in Serie A | Nicky Bandini
There were tears after Como’s nonsensical draw with Atalanta but this young possession-based team is heading places
www.theguardian.com
February 2, 2026 at 9:42 PM
sixtwofourtwo.bsky.social
Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha massively out-performed their xG last season. That's not the case this season, but that's fine (analysis via @rbenson92.bsky.social for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com)‬
theanalyst.com/articles/man...
Man Utd Knew xG Would Catch Up With Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, But That Was the Point | Opta Analyst
Ignoring their xG overperformances last season, the underlying numbers of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha always provided cause for optimism at Man Utd.
theanalyst.com
January 27, 2026 at 8:39 AM
sixtwofourtwo.bsky.social
Recent Premier League seasons have been prolific for teams recovering after conceding the first goal (analysis via @mattfurniss.bsky.social for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com)
theanalyst.com/articles/pre...
First Goal Wins: Just How Important is It to Open the Scoring in a Premier League Game? | Opta Analyst
Which teams score the first goal of the Premier League game the most often, and is it even important to get the opening goal?
theanalyst.com
January 21, 2026 at 9:18 PM
sixtwofourtwo.bsky.social
After sweeping Manchester City aside, Manchester United‘s next game gives them the chance to prove to sceptics that it wasn’t just another false dawn (analysis via @rbenson92.bsky.social for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com)
theanalyst.com/articles/man...
‘False Dawn FC’: After Man Utd Dismantled Man City, Arsenal Are the Perfect Follow-Up Test | Opta Analyst
After sweeping Manchester City aside, Manchester United's next game gives them the chance to prove it wasn't just another false dawn.
theanalyst.com
January 21, 2026 at 8:37 PM
sixtwofourtwo.bsky.social
Giuliano Simeone leads all players for defensive line-breaking passes received (18), piercing the opponent’s back line an average of three times per game (analysis of the Atlético Madrid arrives courtesy of @jamiemkemp.bsky.social for the @optaanalyst.optajoe.com)
theanalyst.com/articles/giu...
Giuliano Simeone: Atlético Madrid's Swiss Army Knife Who's Proved He Belongs on Merit | Opta Analyst
Halfway through his second campaign, Giuliano Simeone is proving he has the technical quality to match the grit to live up to his father’s legendary standards.
theanalyst.com
January 21, 2026 at 7:44 PM
Reposted by brian mcdonnell
andycoops83.bsky.social
It’s that time of year again: proposals are now being accepted to present at Opta Forum 2026, which is taking place in London at the end of March.

If you are interested in taking part, the submission deadline is 9th February. Full details can be found ⬇️

www.statsperform.com/resource/opt...
Opta Forum 2026: Call for Proposals - Stats Perform
Following the announcement of the return of the Opta Forum to London in 2026, we are pleased to confirm that submissions are now being accepted for the event’s annual data analytics competition. For o...
www.statsperform.com
January 16, 2026 at 2:33 PM
sixtwofourtwo.bsky.social
Big-money signings Gyokeres and Sesko have come in for criticism, but should we be more sympathetic towards strikers struggling to influence the game? (analysis via @hkhaliqueloonat.bsky.social for @thetimes.com)
www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...
Strikers are taking fewer touches and scoring less — this is why
Increasingly effective defensive systems have isolated forwards and created stalemates in the middle of the pitch — and no one has yet found a solution
www.thetimes.com
January 14, 2026 at 9:14 PM
sixtwofourtwo.bsky.social
This an excellent profile of new Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior (via Philip Buckingham for @theathleticfc.bsky.social)
www.nytimes.com/athletic/694...
The making of Liam Rosenior, the head coach: ‘He had a light. He was different’
Those who have worked with Chelsea's new boss explain how he got to this point - and the type of approach he will bring
www.nytimes.com
January 10, 2026 at 6:36 PM
sixtwofourtwo.bsky.social
Interesting stuff from @liamtharme.bsky.social for @theathleticfc.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/695...
Why Brentford are currently the Premier League’s most tactically influential team
Right now, it's Keith Andrews' world and the rest of us are just living in it
www.nytimes.com
January 10, 2026 at 6:08 PM
sixtwofourtwo.bsky.social
Jaw-dropping LinkedIn profiles matter more to clubs like Manchester United than coaches with ideas and energy (via @jonathanliew.bsky.social for @theguardian.com)
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Ruben Amorim’s error? Taking on Jason Wilcox and execs who are never wrong | Jonathan Liew
Jaw-dropping LinkedIn profiles matter more to clubs like Manchester United than coaches with ideas and energy
www.theguardian.com
January 6, 2026 at 9:45 PM
sixtwofourtwo.bsky.social
Wondering how Chelsea might play under Liam Rosenior? Wonder no more, @hkhaliqueloonat.bsky.social has got you covered for @thetimes.com
www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...
What can Chelsea fans expect from Liam Rosenior?
Intricate goal-kick routines, aggressive pressing and tactical flexibility — Rosenior’s Strasbourg have impressed by playing a very similar style to Maresca
www.thetimes.com
January 5, 2026 at 8:14 AM
sixtwofourtwo.bsky.social
Excellent from @liamtharme.bsky.social on how Arnie Slot is trying to develop a new “plan A” for Liverpool (via @theathleticfc.bsky.social)
www.nytimes.com/athletic/688...
Liverpool lack a Plan A – minor tactical issues are creating a major problem
www.nytimes.com
December 12, 2025 at 10:45 PM
sixtwofourtwo.bsky.social
This is a great listen - Omar Chaudhuri (@omarchaudhuri.bsky.social, Twenty First Group) features on the Where's The Money Gone podcast with Adrian Goldberg (@goldbergradio.bsky.social) and Charlie Methven and an adult conversation about ROI in football breaks out open.spotify.com/episode/5n91...
Return On Investment FC: How To Make Money From Football
open.spotify.com
December 7, 2025 at 11:24 PM
sixtwofourtwo.bsky.social
Wondering why Spain are favourites to win the 2026 World Cup? @robbiejdunne.bsky.social explains why for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com
theanalyst.com/articles/spa...
Why Are Spain Favourites to Win the 2026 World Cup? | Opta Analyst
The 2026 World Cup draw takes place on Friday and the Opta supercomputer has no doubt Spain are favourites for the tournament.
theanalyst.com
December 4, 2025 at 10:10 PM