Nick Dorrington

Global Football marketing at @SkillCorner. Occasionally write elsewhere. All views my own (or "borrowed" from people far more clever than I)

[SkillCorner @SkillCorner]

A full understanding of centre-back behaviour 🎯

The seven pictured players share an elite ability to progress the ball through the opposition structure, but the defensive contexts in which they operate vary considerably.

SkillCorner's Game Intelligence data captures that complexity by combining rich on and off-ball insights for precise profiling of player style and performance.

Learn how that can be applied in practice across our two-part series

👉 Analysing Centre-Backs' Defensive Behaviour: https://t.co/dxj3PVBCqV

👉 Centre-Backs Playing Out From the Back: https://t.co/nuo9rMgTF8

[Nick Dorrington @chewingthecoca]

Dick Schreuder doing Dick Schreuder stuff

[SkillCorner @SkillCorner]

Pressure Intensity by Zone | 🇳🇱 Eredivisie | 2025-26

[SkillCorner @SkillCorner]

𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲-𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀: 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘀 ⚽

Advancing the ball inside the opposition defensive structure has become a fundamental element of most possession-oriented teams.

That makes successful inside line-breaking passes executed under pressure among the most valuable actions in the game.

In our latest blog, we use our Game Intelligence data to layer on contextual information like phase of play and degree of pressure to pinpoint centre-backs who regularly complete these passes.

Read the full analysis: https://t.co/nuo9rMgTF8

[Nick Dorrington @chewingthecoca]

We're starting to get into the really fun stuff with our Open Data series now.

Our Dynamic Events files open up a huge range of analysis possibilities, and hopefully this intro to visualising Off-Ball Rums provides a way into that rich dataset for people to explore further

[SkillCorner @SkillCorner]

👉 Open Data: Digging into Dynamic Events

In the previous entries in our Open Data Series, we have used aggregated metrics to chart player attributes, compare players and build archetypes.

This time around we explore our rich event-level Game Intelligence data through the lens of Off-Ball Runs.

🔎Learn how to filter down to a subset of runs and visualise them on a pitch
https://t.co/lggjVYj4kE

[SkillCorner @SkillCorner]

Identifying difference-makers under pressure 🎯

𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 uses our advanced pressure model in conjunction with outcome-based measures to identify players capable of not only dealing with pressure but converting it into favourable situations for their team.

It is one of the key contextual metrics that make up our Game Intelligence suite, combining on and off-ball insights for more precise performance and stylistic profiling.

Watch the video below or check out our blog for more detail 👉 https://t.co/U7zOliWDfi

[Nick Dorrington @chewingthecoca]

This is a must read on using our On-Ball Engagement data and contextual flags to profile the behaviour of central defenders

[SkillCorner @SkillCorner]

For years, evaluating the behaviour of centre-backs has remained a significant challenge for scouts and analysts alike.

With our On-Ball Engagement metrics, we now have the relevant context to better quantify the intricate art of defending.

In our latest blog, discover how these metrics can be used to identify and evaluate game situations relevant to a defined game model 👇 https://t.co/dxj3PVBCqV

[SkillCorner @SkillCorner]

📋 𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁: 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲𝘀

Using Physical and Game Intelligence data, we analyse on and off-ball behaviours to define key positional archetypes.

The report focuses on stylistic profiling rather than simple rankings, showing how to build tailored performance indices that can be directly applied to your scouting process.

Download the full report 👇https://t.co/OJgNPtqJE6

[SkillCorner @SkillCorner]

👉 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀

In Part 3, we expand our analysis by adding Game Intelligence layers to our physical data.

We’ve updated our 2024/25 A-League open dataset to include Off-ball Run (OBR) and Passing aggregates, allowing for a more complete view of player performance.

Building on the z-score methodology from Part 2, we walk you through merging these multi-dimensional datasets to create a unified framework for striker profiling.

Click here to see the full article: https://t.co/MbbGG3a7Tk

[SkillCorner @SkillCorner]

👉 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀?

In our second installment of the SkillCorner Open Data Series, we dive into the world of composite player profiling. After exploring how to visualize physical data in our first article, it's time to answer broader scouting questions like, “𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭?” or “𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘺?”

To do this, we introduce z-scores, a statistical tool that helps standardize different metrics and combine them into one comparable score.

🔍 Get started here: https://t.co/bPYJVjCavJ

[SkillCorner @SkillCorner]

Want to get started in football analytics?

Our SkillCorner Open Data series gives you hands-on experience with the same data driving decisions at professional teams.

In the first entry, we show you how to manipulate & visualise aggregated physical data 👇

https://t.co/S7kM24bAlA

[SkillCorner @SkillCorner]

Metrics such as running volume and high intensity output offer a useful starting point for scouting, but without role specific context or when viewed in isolation, they can be difficult to interpret.

Traditional volume based metrics often fail to capture how players move, overlooking explosiveness and the ability to accelerate, decelerate, and change direction in decisive moments.

👉 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮, 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘀, 𝗯𝗲 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀?

To explore this question, Trym Sørum presents a scouting case study done by one of our data analysts Liam Bailey. For a deeper dive into the analysis, make sure to check out the full blog post here: https://t.co/tlRAfuOFT8

[SkillCorner @SkillCorner]

You can now watch the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗫 @PySportOrg 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗖𝘂𝗽 finalist sessions 𝗼𝗻-𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱.

At our Grand Final in Paris on 𝟱 𝗙𝗲𝗯 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, the top six projects were showcased to a panel of football and data leaders from clubs across Europe.

Congratulations to Amar Shah, winner of the first edition, for his standout project on 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗢𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 🏆

Replay the six finalist sessions here ▶️ https://t.co/Ua06e0xdoF

[Hudl Wyscout @Wyscout]

Widening Horizons: Championship Transfer Trends Post-GBE

In our new report, we dig into the data to see how GBE rule changes have impacted scouting and recruitment in the English second tier.

Download: https://t.co/PWeLcN3nJM

[Nick Dorrington @chewingthecoca]

@Statsbomb Other similar shifts: Aleix García (Bayer Leverkusen), Gabriel Neves (Estudiantes), Gabriel Menino (Palmeiras > Atlético Mineiro)

[Nick Dorrington @chewingthecoca]

It was fun to dig into the @Statsbomb numbers on Declan Rice's slight shift in role this season and how it relates to wider changes in how Arsenal use and occupy space.

Interesting side note to follow in next post

https://t.co/nSDnwt29eS

[Nick Dorrington @chewingthecoca]

@Statsbomb Looking for midfielders with similar role changes this season -- crudely, receiving the ball further back, in more space, and making more progressive passes -- Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest, Rice's midfield partner for England against Serbia, appears prominently.

[Hudl Statsbomb @Statsbomb]

New: Declan Rice, Space and Ball Progression

@chewingthecoca uses our Statsbomb 360 data to analyse how Declan Rice's strong start to the season is related to a wider shift in how Arsenal use and occupy space

🔽
https://t.co/WizbYRnsb1

[Football Statistics @DBFootballStats]

New post: Quantifying the dark arts - how do players steal yards at free kicks? https://t.co/GIz0yPP2QX

[Nick Dorrington @chewingthecoca]

@Blayasensat 🙌 Enhorabuena Albert, te lo mereces

[Nick Dorrington @chewingthecoca]

Celtic seemingly close to signing Shin Yamada.

He was one of the young statistical standouts of the 2024 J1 season: https://t.co/0QYlErya5M

But he hasn't yet hit those same heights in 2025.

Will be interesting to see how he does at Celtic.