Moneyball in Football Theory: From Positionism vs Relationism, To The Data Revolution Of The Beautiful Game

Explaining Positionism vs Relationism and how we must be modest about football data analytics

“There is more than meets the eye” — W.H. Auden

Football can get pretty interesting if you choose to think about it intellectually. The game is constantly evolving, ever since the game’s inception in England to the coffee houses of Europe and the various schools of thought that have emerged as the game has grown (which you can read a bit about in my older posts in this publication based on Jonathan Wilson’s book “Inverting The Pyramid”)

But here we are in 2023 and we’re seeing more managers, coaches and thinkers starting to explore and modify and evolve tactics, and get creative at times.

There are some interesting theories and philosophies that are emerging in the modern game as of 2023/24. But they have also been around for years if you dig deep enough. However, we’re slowly seeing an evolution, perhaps the next cycle and re-invention of the game in today’s times.

Just like this tactic of the inverted fullback, which we’re seeing used pretty often in the game these days: