Is the analyst role changing?

Is the analyst role changing?

It’s been over 10 years since I went to university with the intention of becoming an analyst. As you can imagine, a lot has changed since then.

The role back then involved filming the game, distributing the footage and coding it to show specific clips to the coaches and manager. You would then try to source opposition footage, code it, and produce a plan of how to best come up against that particular team.

A lot of time (and I mean a lot!) was spent coding and picking out specific clips. There were even things called DVDs, remember them?!

Also, back in the day the analyst was pretty much also the 'tech guy' as most coaches were just not very good with technology and software. If the office printer broke, that was on you. The coach got a new phone and needed help setting it up, ask the analyst...

Improved Technology
Just like an any sector, as technology moves forward, different roles are created, and existing roles change (or even fade away). We are now seeing some big advancements in AI and machine learning which can also take away roles that we once had.

For example:

  • Automated Filming - An analyst is no longer required to film games. This will only become for accessible over time and even more affordable.
  • Automated Tagging - AI is now able to automatically code games to a certain level.
  • Machine Learning - maybe we aren't here yet, but I definitely think we will be. By this I mean computers can recognise patterns of play and study things like set pieces. I think they will be able to be fed hours of footage and give recommendations on which style to play, or how to nullify a threat. This would still require input from coaches but still, it is an interesting thought.
  • Access - All footage from games around the world is readily accessible to clubs. Years ago, you had to lean on your network and favours between analysts to get hold of specific video.

Blur between the analyst & coach
As I mentioned, a lot of coaches were useless with technology or software, but this is definitely not the case anymore.

Coaching courses have analysis engrained in them and you are seeing modern coaches have a similar understanding to analysis than what some analysts have. The lines between these two roles really are different and so I believe they have the potential to eventually merge into one.

A lot of coaches have their own software tools and can get on just fine. That isn't to say analysts are required, but I think they need to adapt.

I actually did a video a while back on the average week of analyst that you can check out below. Which things do you see changing over the next few years?

Should analysts be concerned?
If I was a newly qualified analyst, this is definitely something I would be thinking about. I don't think analysts will be wiped out altogether, but rather, the role will continue to change for sure.

Software and technology always need someone to operate it for example.

I'd be looking to enhance my skills and personally would look to doing coaching qualifications. As mentioned, I think the role of coach/analyst is becoming more of one, and so to me, an analyst can somewhat future proof by taking on coaching qualifications. The more an analyst knows about the actual game (football) the better. Rather than being an expert on how to code a game or use software, an analyst should be an expert on the game and know who to ultimately interpret the huge amounts of data and results that AI and automation will deliver.

The main point of this post is about automation. A football club is a business and at the end of the day, a business intends to make profit. If jobs like filming and coding can be replaced with technology completely, that is what will happen. A club won’t pay for someone if that role can be done much cheaper (and quicker) by a computer or software.

Curious to hear other people’s thoughts on this...

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