The power of filtered pass maps
Pass maps can be wonderful and weird. They can tell a story, help shape a narrative and confirm a theory. They can also be too busy and this, occasionally, means context is missed. Without that, they can be confused with a piece of abstract art.
Pass maps are one of the few visualisations in the football sphere that suffer due to volume. Usually, the larger the sample size, the better for analysis. However, the same can’t be said with pass maps. The more passes attempted, the less you can take from them.
Ruben Dias’ pass map since his switch to Manchester City is a perfect example of this. He’s averaging 77 passes per 90 in the Premier League. A one-game sample would paint part of a picture, but it wouldn’t be enough to truly analyse the former Benfica man. Add multiple matches, though, and all you can really take from it is that the 23-year-old attempts a lot of passes.
One of the latest updates to the Twenty3 Toolbox solves that problem. Users can now filter passes by start and end points.
Not only does this make for some interesting content, but it also helps with analysis. You can help differentiate between those centre-backs who get the ball forward from deeper areas and those who like to step into the middle third.
Sticking with the Dias example, it’s clear to see that he rarely attempts passes from the defensive third into the attacking third and that he tends to play a lot his passes from the middle third. You’ll also note that, when combining the two, only two of his attempted passes from the defensive and middle thirds ended in the opposition box.
His deeper passes aren’t that accurate either, so a point of analysis might be to look at whether these misplaced ones are due to getting pressed or whether it is just a little loose. Should he be pressed high up the pitch or not? It can’t solely be used for a tactical plan, but these sorts of pass maps can be useful in the build-up.
Another interesting example is of Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara.
The 25-year-old plays as a left-sided centre-midfielder for Steven Gerrard’s side. The pass map shows that he isn’t a playmaker and he’s definitely not risky in possession. He keeps play ticking over from the middle third and looks to get the ball into wide areas. The Finland international helps pin the opposition back and this sort of player is integral to a team that dominate possession and often require patience. You need that recycler in the middle third and Kamara does it expertly.
Filtered pass maps really are a game-changer for analysis.
If you like the look of our pass maps, or any of our other visualisations, and think they could be valuable to your business, don’t hesitate to get in touch.