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
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 :/
Doku been unplayable today
November 9, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Doku been unplayable today
"x is up[or down] this season"
*compares 10 game sample to slew of full seasons*
sure i've done this plenty myself in the past but also clearly flawed practice. Better to compare to any or all 10 game stretches
*compares 10 game sample to slew of full seasons*
sure i've done this plenty myself in the past but also clearly flawed practice. Better to compare to any or all 10 game stretches
November 7, 2025 at 4:24 PM
"x is up[or down] this season"
*compares 10 game sample to slew of full seasons*
sure i've done this plenty myself in the past but also clearly flawed practice. Better to compare to any or all 10 game stretches
*compares 10 game sample to slew of full seasons*
sure i've done this plenty myself in the past but also clearly flawed practice. Better to compare to any or all 10 game stretches
*doesn't watch game* palhinha assist for van de ven goal and romero assist for palhinha goal, set piece tottenham again is it
November 4, 2025 at 9:28 PM
*doesn't watch game* palhinha assist for van de ven goal and romero assist for palhinha goal, set piece tottenham again is it
Football eh, thought Bentancur the other day was a red but not that from Johnson, for me anyway, Geoff
November 4, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Football eh, thought Bentancur the other day was a red but not that from Johnson, for me anyway, Geoff
I don't really mind if an extra 10 seconds is spent waiting for a corner or a throw or watching a team recycle possession or teams play long or short. It's all part of the game, and it's fun to see the meta game evolve and people try to work it out.
October 29, 2025 at 3:15 PM
I don't really mind if an extra 10 seconds is spent waiting for a corner or a throw or watching a team recycle possession or teams play long or short. It's all part of the game, and it's fun to see the meta game evolve and people try to work it out.
Very odd PL season, the only thing i'm confident of is that Arsenal are really good
October 26, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Very odd PL season, the only thing i'm confident of is that Arsenal are really good
Reposted by James Yorke
🧵 Thread: I recently explored a few ideas to analyze a team's press in more detail 👇
1️⃣ Pressing triggers
▫️By focusing on the opponent's pass before a 1st pressing action in a sequence, it's possible to separate different triggers
👇 The graphic shows an example, with the 8 triggers that I defined
1️⃣ Pressing triggers
▫️By focusing on the opponent's pass before a 1st pressing action in a sequence, it's possible to separate different triggers
👇 The graphic shows an example, with the 8 triggers that I defined
October 24, 2025 at 3:20 PM
🧵 Thread: I recently explored a few ideas to analyze a team's press in more detail 👇
1️⃣ Pressing triggers
▫️By focusing on the opponent's pass before a 1st pressing action in a sequence, it's possible to separate different triggers
👇 The graphic shows an example, with the 8 triggers that I defined
1️⃣ Pressing triggers
▫️By focusing on the opponent's pass before a 1st pressing action in a sequence, it's possible to separate different triggers
👇 The graphic shows an example, with the 8 triggers that I defined
Said goodbye to my dad today; true story: he played drums with the Beatles then knocked them back cos he wasn't sure they'd amount to anything. Good job really else i'd not exist ha. RIP Peter Reid - he was a good guy
October 22, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Said goodbye to my dad today; true story: he played drums with the Beatles then knocked them back cos he wasn't sure they'd amount to anything. Good job really else i'd not exist ha. RIP Peter Reid - he was a good guy
In truth that was roughly the same Tottenham game as the others
October 19, 2025 at 3:21 PM
In truth that was roughly the same Tottenham game as the others
ok, question time.
name a musical artist with an extensive back catalogue of which you like zero songs at all, i'll go first:
Rod Stewart
name a musical artist with an extensive back catalogue of which you like zero songs at all, i'll go first:
Rod Stewart
October 18, 2025 at 7:52 PM
ok, question time.
name a musical artist with an extensive back catalogue of which you like zero songs at all, i'll go first:
Rod Stewart
name a musical artist with an extensive back catalogue of which you like zero songs at all, i'll go first:
Rod Stewart
apropros of something, I went to Villa in the Holte End a couple of times as a kid (13-14) in the early 90s. Pre-match outside could be quite scary- if you weren't used to it, bit tense (this was vs Man City and Sheff Wed!) & when Villa scored you got absolutely annihilated by people celebrating.
October 17, 2025 at 7:20 PM
apropros of something, I went to Villa in the Holte End a couple of times as a kid (13-14) in the early 90s. Pre-match outside could be quite scary- if you weren't used to it, bit tense (this was vs Man City and Sheff Wed!) & when Villa scored you got absolutely annihilated by people celebrating.
Much as it pains me [fan perspective], Arsenal appear rock solid for the title this year [analytics, reality, depth of squad perspective]. Didn't quite expect Liverpool's wheels to come off quite this quickly after a fast start, but it at least makes it interesting.
October 4, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Much as it pains me [fan perspective], Arsenal appear rock solid for the title this year [analytics, reality, depth of squad perspective]. Didn't quite expect Liverpool's wheels to come off quite this quickly after a fast start, but it at least makes it interesting.
I like this Tottenham lineup. Simons in midfield theoretically helps, and i'm somewhat invested in Tel and Odobert coming good; they can only do that if they're on the pitch. Udogie has been lively recently & i'm more positive than many that eventually passes will connect & the team looks better
October 4, 2025 at 11:03 AM
I like this Tottenham lineup. Simons in midfield theoretically helps, and i'm somewhat invested in Tel and Odobert coming good; they can only do that if they're on the pitch. Udogie has been lively recently & i'm more positive than many that eventually passes will connect & the team looks better
Fun with pressure maps
This is Richarlison in the Super Cup, with a neat pattern i've been looking for since:
This is Richarlison in the Super Cup, with a neat pattern i've been looking for since:
September 21, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Fun with pressure maps
This is Richarlison in the Super Cup, with a neat pattern i've been looking for since:
This is Richarlison in the Super Cup, with a neat pattern i've been looking for since:
1:42.77 gets you last place in the men's 800, a madness
September 20, 2025 at 1:25 PM
1:42.77 gets you last place in the men's 800, a madness