Analytics is becoming more and more integrated into the modern game, with clubs becoming increasingly reliant on it.
Every big club in Europe has an analytics team, analysing everything from the performance of their players, the rest of the league and even using data to scout potential signings.
Yet, while analytics and data is playing an increasing role in the day to day life of football clubs, it’s yet to become something players focus on in their own time. Unless, of course, you’re Juan Foyth.
The Tottenham star, currently on international duty with Argentina at the Copa America, spoke to Clarin Sports about their recent quarter-final win over Venezuela.
Foyth started the game at right-back and helped his side keep a clean sheet, and when questioned about how well he knew Venezuela’s strikers, he explained his analytical approach to his preparations.
“I downloaded an application to the cell phone, and always before the games, I start to see, review and investigate the forwards that I have to face. And this time I did the same,” he said.
“It’s an application called Wyscout, it was passed to me by my representative, you have to pay to access the content, payment exclusively to analyse the rivals.
“You put the name of a player and there all the information appears, his best moves … And there I try to analyse who I have to face, their characteristics.”
This is a really introducing revelation from the Tottenham player and shows that players are starting to pick up on the usefulness of analytics as well.
It makes sense as well. Why wouldn’t a player want to know his opponent’s weaknesses and strengths to use that knowledge against them?
That kind of knowledge separates the top players from the rest, and on this evidence, Foyth is using every tool in his possession to ensure he gets as high as possible.
