Prozone

NEWS

Wolverhampton Wanderers FC

An insight into the developments and usage of performance analysis following promotion to the Premier League.

The promotion of Wolverhampton Wanderers FC to the Premier League also brought with it a desire to change the level of performance analysis to PROZONE3 and a full installation at the Molineux stadium.

It has become a regular occurrence at the Compton training ground for the players to enter the large meeting room and take a seat in a theatre-style layout. The lights are then dimmed, down comes the big screen and the projector starts rolling. But Mick McCarthy, his coaching staff and the players are not settling down to view the latest blockbuster film release… far from it!

Instead it's the club's continuing use of the Prozone’s performance analysis services, designed to not only brush up on opponents' trends and tactics but dissect and look back at previous Wolves performances to discover just how to improve.

"There are three tiers of Prozone," explains Wolves match analyst James Lovell. We were on the middle tier last year and have now bumped it up to the top one with full system. The club has had the top tier in the past but now the system is so much improved with new technology. With the changes it's become so much easier to share all the information and from an analysis perspective we are seeing the benefits already."

Chief executive Jez Moxey commented on the Prozone system; "It’s invaluable because the camera doesn’t lie – not eight of them anyway! We aim to get every last sinew of effort at optimum levels and this data helps determine what the following week’s training programme will be.“

Jez added; "We’re becoming more and more scientific in our approach but you can have brain overload, so the coaches pick and choose when and how they use the information and how much the players are able to absorb because some are more interested than others in the analytical approach. It would, however, be remiss of us not to use the system because all clubs are – it’s just the way you use it that might give you an advantage."

Wolves already had the 'middle tier' of the program as described by James, which included access to all manner of information including data relating to pass, cross and shot success and physical information relating to the distances covered by players.

But with the new investment Wolves can step up their analysis programme in a variety of different ways including:

• Now covering every area of Molineux to note players' actions while 'off the ball'.
• 2D animation to view movement during the game.
• A more streamlined database to access information on opponents.
• Extending the analysis to Academy and Development teams.
• A brand new 'Analysis Room' at the Compton training ground.

It's certainly a far more extensive operation now being undertaken both on Wolves' own players and in scouting the opposition, and as a result the club have taken on an intern to assist James - Phil Boardman, who has completed a Masters Degree in Analysis at Cardiff's UWIC University.

"The first major difference is that we've not only got statistical data in terms of pass completion and crossing and defensive stats," says James. "We've also got all the fitness data as well. We've had a lot of small cameras put up in the roof in both the Jack Harris and Stan Cullis Stands which means we can cover every corner of the pitch now and see everything. All that information goes off to Prozone who provide us all the accurate fitness data. We used to have just the broadcast footage, which was fine to a degree, but obviously the cameras follow the ball so you can't see everything else which is going on. If a striker is chasing the ball you can't see what the defenders are doing or if the action is down the right hand side then what is the left back doing and so on. Coaches like to see the whole picture for team shape, and with the new cameras we've got an all-seeing eye. They help us get all the fitness data, which is broken down not only into how far players have run but all the different components such as sprinting, jogging and walking."

That data can also be presented in the form of these 'sprites' – 2-dimensional coloured dots which travel around the television screen depending on a player's movement.

"We still have broadcast footage with which to watch the game but also the sprites which can show the movement of every single player," adds James. "We've used it already this season. "It's particularly useful from corners and set pieces. With broadcast footage you might see what's going on in the box but then it pans to the corner taker and by the time the ball comes back in everyone has made their move. With the system we've got now, we can see all the movement from the players as the ball comes in. It's something which (goalkeeping coach) Pat Mountain is particularly interested in because you can see the positioning of the keepers at all times."

There are other brands of software linked to the PROZONE3 product which have also improved the analytical qualities of Wolves' backroom operation.

Then there's the ‘TREND’ software, which manages the games on Wolves' database to ensure it becomes easier to search for specifics not to mention the fact that a new server has been set up making the analysis and detail available to more members of the club's staff.

James explains more.

"Prozone still send us the most recent games from the opposition before we play them and that system is based online now which means we don't have to wait for the post and so on. "From that we can run stats to see if there are any particular trends with the opposition over maybe the last five games rather than just the one. "Does a team focus their attacks in a particular area? How do they concede goals? Any strengths or weaknesses from set pieces? "It gives us a huge library on top of the Prozone footage from which we can run our own stats while also helps in scouting circles because we can access games abroad as well."

James continues: "The TREND software helps manage the database of all the games we've got, our own fixtures and those of the opposition. "From there we can search for specifics, such as a player's goals, while we can pick up averages and other such stats.

"Previously we'd have had to dip in and out of games manually for such information, which can become a long process, but with this search facility it works a lot better and is far more time efficient."

And the new server is proving particularly important given that Prozone has now been extended down to Academy level to ensure consistency at all levels of the club.

"With Phil coming in, we're able to video all of the Academy under-18 games home and away and the under-16s at home," James explains. "It's sometimes more difficult to do under-16 games away because sometimes teams don't want players filmed. "We can't obviously provide as much detail because we haven't got all the different cameras set up but the Academy will effectively get the service the first team had last year which is a great starting base. "It brings in a level of continuity, so the Academy players don't come through the ranks and suddenly get plastered with video feedback which they know nothing about. "We are also getting the Reserve team games filmed as well to also help with that continuity. "It also means we can compare certain stats for the young players with the corresponding player in the first team. "They can benchmark themselves against the senior players which gives them a good idea about what they need to be aiming for. "With the specific server everyone can access the information as well. "In the past if someone needed any particular data they had to come to me which can be difficult if I'm working on something else at the time. "Now it's easy for say Steve Weaver (Development Coach) or Kevin Thelwell (Academy Manager) to access the system and it's so much easier to share the different information. "As we develop the process we can also put things like Match of the Day and Sky's The Last Word with Andy Gray onto there as well. "For the young players, there might be some good bits of analysis which the Academy manager and coaches might want to pass on as regards what the top players do. "The system is all so much more shareable and useable for everyone at the club."

There are also other practical additions this season including more television feeds into the dressing room to help Mick McCarthy provide any instant feedback if needed at half time as well as a new Analysis room at Compton.

"The manager uses the large meeting room if it's for the whole squad but we've also set up this smaller room for when he might want to go through something with an individual player or particular group," adds James. "Previously we might have all been there hunched around a laptop but this room has all the facilities and provides a better environment for players to watch and learn."

The sum total of all these different parts are a far more efficient and indeed extensive analysis system in place for the Barclays Premier League, to ensure the management and coaching staff are able to cover all bases in terms of dissecting Wolves performances as well as those of the opposition.

Throw in this extension of Prozone to Academy and Development matches and no stone is being left unturned.

"Everyone can benefit from what we are doing now," James concludes. "We're up and running with the top tier now and everyone is using the analysis which is becoming more and more beneficial. "It such a useable system as well as being a great learning tool for everyone at the club - hopefully from here it will be onwards and upwards as we continue to improve."

Article content courtesy of Paul Perry at Wolverhampton Wanderers FC

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