The Backpass Rule

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The Backpass Rule · Apr 12, 2018

B.U.R.L.E.Y. Projects the SPFL Table for the Rest of the Season

My SPFL Model, B.U.R.L.E.Y. predicts how he sees the end of the Scottish season going...

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The Backpass Rule · Mar 22, 2018

Celtic Have Found a Midfield Maestro in Olivier Ntcham

Olivier Ntcham has become key to Celtic’s midfield in his first season in Glasgow...

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The Backpass Rule · Feb 23, 2018

Some Quick Numbers on Mikael Lustig

In the aftermath of yesterday’s 3-0 loss to Zenit St...

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The Backpass Rule · Dec 7, 2017

What’s Wrong with Stuart Armstrong?

Celtic fans opinions on Stuart Armstrong have seemed to turned negative this season, but does he deserve it?

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The Backpass Rule · Sep 26, 2017

A Statistical Preview of Celtic’s Champions League Opponent RSC Anderlecht

Looking at the stats behind Celtic’s Champions League opponent RSC Anderlecht...

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The Backpass Rule · Sep 26, 2017

A Statistical Preview of Celtic’s Champions League Opponent RSC Anderlecht

Looking at the stats behind Celtic’s Champions League opponent RSC Anderlecht...

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The Backpass Rule · Sep 21, 2017

Alfredo Morelos: Some Quick Praise from a Small Sample

Alfredo Morelos has been a huge improvement at striker for Rangers six matches in...

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The Backpass Rule · Aug 4, 2017

Using Data from Leagues Around Europe to Improve xG for the SPFL

Expected goals are having a moment right now. The stat most associated with advanced stats in football has recently gotten think-pieces from outlets like The Guardian, The Telegraph, Goal...

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The Backpass Rule · Aug 3, 2017

B.U.R.L.E.Y. Makes His SPFL Premiership Season Predictions

We have arrived upon the dawn of a new Scottish football season...

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The Backpass Rule · Jul 25, 2017

A Statistical Preview of Celtic’s Champions League Opponent Rosenborg

Check out the preview of Celtic from a Rosenborg perspective at our sister site, KroneBall...

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The Backpass Rule · Jul 4, 2017

Identifying Possible Break-Out Players By Making League-Wide Comparisons

As I am writing this, Barrie McKay is being sold to Nottingham Forrest and former boss Mark Warburton for a rumored £500,000...

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The Backpass Rule · May 10, 2017

Bringing the Age Curve to the SPFL

The parallels between analytics in football and where analytics in Baseball was years ago are uncanny...

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The Backpass Rule · Apr 30, 2017

What Type of Voodoo is Tommy Wright Working at St. Johnstone?

On Saturday St. Johnstone beat Aberdeen 2-0 despite being outshot 13-8 and the xG being in favor of Aberdeen 1...

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The Backpass Rule · Apr 12, 2017

The Biggest Underachievers in the SPFL: Tony Watt said what?!

Being petty is something I believe I have shown I have no problem doing...

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The Backpass Rule · Mar 23, 2017

Unleashing Kenny McLean: Aberdeen Push Up Midfielder to Move Up the Table

On December 17th, 2016 Aberdeen had just lost 2-1 to Ross County at Victoria Park...

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The Backpass Rule · Mar 9, 2017

Finding the Best Pass in the SPFL (Don’t Look at Rugby Park)

The image here is not one of those ink-blot pictures that psychiatrists show you...

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The Backpass Rule · Feb 16, 2017

Introducing Expected Assists to Scottish Football: Sinclair, Tavernier, and Cowie Stir their Team’s Drink

The idea of “expected assists” (or xA for short) has been in football for awhile now...

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The Backpass Rule · Jan 27, 2017

When Losing a Defender Hurts Your Attack: What Will Happen to Hearts Without Callum Paterson?

It would be fair to say that noted laptop enthusiast Ian Cathro has had a rocky start to his managing career...

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The Backpass Rule · Jan 14, 2017

Mailbag: Set Pieces, Transfers, xG, and Who in the SPFL Would Make the Best Bachelor?

Welcome to the first in a possible reoccurring series of posts where I take questions from you, the reader interested in some combination of Scottish football and stats in football...