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Manchester City’s Start of the Offensive Phase: A Lag-Sequential Analysis

Year 2023, Volume: 5 Issue: 2, 225 - 243, 30.09.2023
https://doi.org/10.47778/ejsse.1337975

Abstract

Research on the playing patterns of Manchester City, particularly under Pep Guardiola's guidance, is limited. Existing studies do not investigate the associations between the offensive phase's initial actions (interceptions, tackles, defensive behavior followed by a pass) and other elements of the attacking phase, such as pitch space positions (zones) and goals. This study goes beyond subjective observation and applies lag-sequential analysis on Manchester City's 2019-2020 UEFA Champions League group stage matches. Behaviors were recorded using the SoccerEye Observational Instrument and software. The data was analyzed using the Sequential Data Interchange Standard-Generalized Sequential Querier (SDIS-GSEQ) and Microsoft Excel. Of the 417 offensive phase starts, 30.7% began with an interception, 8.2% with a tackle, and 29.5% with defensive behavior followed by a pass. Zone 5 (central mid-defensive sector) had a positive association (z=4.1) with interceptions, while zone 8 (central mid-offensive sector) had a positive association (z=2.67) with defensive behavior followed by a pass. Zones 3 (right defensive sector) and 12 (right offensive sector) showed a positive association with tackles (z=2.96 and z=3.36, respectively). Interceptions (z=-2.61) and defensive behavior followed by a pass (z=-4.46) were inhibited in zone 2. Starting an attack with a tackle may also result in a goal in Lags 7 and 8 (z=2.15, z=2.54, respectively).

References

  • Acar, M. F., Yapicioglu, B., Arikan, N., Yalcin, S., Ates, N., & Ergun, M. (2008). Analysis of goals scored in the 2006 World Cup. In Science and Football VI (pp. 261-268). Routledge.
  • Almeida, C. H., Ferreira, A. P., & Volossovitch, A. (2014). Effects of match location, match status, and quality of opposition on regaining possession in UEFA Champions League. Journal of Human Kinetics, 41(1), 203-214. https://doi.org/10.2478/hukin-2014-0048
  • Argilaga, M. T. A., da Silva Andrade, A., Bañuelos, F. S., & Garganta, J. (2005). Patrones de juego en el fútbol de alto rendimiento: Análisis secuencial del proceso ofensivo en el campeonato del mundo Corea-Japón 2002. Cultura, Ciencia y Deporte, 1(2), 65-72.
  • Bakeman, R., & Gottman, J. M. (1997). Observing interaction: An Introduction to sequential analysis. Cambridge University Press.
  • Bakeman, R., & Quera, V. (2001). Using GSEQ with SPSS. Metodología de las Ciencias del Comportamiento, 3(2), 195-214.
  • Barreira, D., Garganta, J., Guimaraes, P., Machado, J., & Anguera, M. T. (2014a). Ball recovery patterns as a performance indicator in elite soccer. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part P: Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology, 228(1), 61-72. https://doi.org/10.1177/1754337113493083
  • Barreira, D., Garganta, J., Castellano, J., & Anguera Argilaga, M. T. (2013a). SoccerEye: A software solution to observe and record behaviours in sport settings. The Open Sports Sciences Journal, 6, 47-55. https://doi.org/10.2174/1875399X01306010047
  • Barreira, D., Garganta, J., Machado, J., & Anguera, M. T. (2014b). Effects of ball recovery on top-level soccer attacking patterns of play. Revista Brasileira de Cineantropometria & Desempenho Humano, 16, 36-46.
  • Barreira, D., Garganta, J., & Anguera, T. (2011). In search of nexus between attacking game-patterns, match status and type of ball recovery in European Soccer Championship 2008. In M. Hughes, H. Dancs, K. Nagyvaradi, T. Polgar, N.James, G. Sporis, G. Vuckovic, & M. Jovanovic (Eds.), Research Methods and Performance Analysis (pp. 226–237). University of West Hungary.
  • Bergier, J., Soroka, A., & Buraczewski, T. (2008). Analysis of actions ending with shots at goal in the Women’s European Football Championship (England 2005). In T. Reilly and F. Korkusuz, (Eds.), Science and Football VI: The Proceedings of the Sixth World Congress on Science and Football (pp. 197–200). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203131879.
  • Carling, C., Reilly, T., & Williams, A. M. (2008). Performance assessment for field sports. Routledge.
  • Carling, C., Williams, A. M., & Reilly, T. (2007). Handbook of soccer match analysis: A Systematic approach to improving performance. Routledge.
  • Casal, C. A., Anguera, M. T., Maneiro, R., & Losada, J. L. (2019). Possession in football: More than a quantitative aspect–a mixed method study. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 1-12. Article 501. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00501
  • Eckner, C., & Reynolds, A. (2018). How Pep’s Citizens have taken over England, spielverlagerung. Available at: https://spielverlagerung.com/2018/01/02/how-peps-citizens-have-taken-over-england/ (Accessed: 2 January 2018).
  • Garganta, J., Maia, J., & Basto, F. (2014). Analysis of goal-scoring patterns in European top level soccer teams. In Reilly, T. and Korkusuz, F. (Eds.), Science and football III (pp. 246-250). Routledge.
  • Gómez, M. A., Gómez-Lopez, M., Lago, C., & Sampaio, J. (2012). Effects of game location and final outcome on game-related statistics in each zone of the pitch in professional football. European Journal of Sport Science, 12(5), 393-398. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2011.566373
  • Hughes, M., & Franks, I. (2005). Analysis of passing sequences, shots and goals in soccer. Journal of Sports Sciences, 23(5), 509-514. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640410410001716779
  • Kerr-Cumbo, R. (2020). A Case study applying lag-sequential analysis on Manchester City’s end of offensive phase during the UEFA Champions League. Journal of Health, Sports, & Kinesiology, 3(2), 20-31. https://doi.org/10.47544/johsk.2022.3.2.20
  • Kubayi, A. (2020). Analysis of goal scoring patterns in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Journal of Human Kinetics, 71(1), 205-210. https://doi.org/10.2478/hukin-2019-0084
  • Lago-Ballesteros, J., Lago-Peñas, C., & Rey, E. (2012). The effect of playing tactics and situational variables on achieving score-box possessions in a professional soccer team. Journal of Sports Sciences, 30(14), 1455-1461. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2012.712715
  • Lago-Peñas, C., Lago-Ballesteros, J., & Rey, E. (2011). Differences in performance indicators between winning and losing teams in the UEFA Champions League. Journal of Human Kinetics, 27(1), 135-146. https://doi.org/10.2478/v10078-011-0011-3
  • Lago-Peñas, C., Lago-Ballesteros, J., Dellal, A., & Gómez, M. (2010). Game-related statistics that discriminated winning, drawing and losing teams from the Spanish soccer league. Journal of Sports Science & Medicine, 9(2), 288-293.
  • Machado, J. C., Barreira, D., & Garganta, J. (2014). The influence of match status on attacking patterns of play in elite soccer teams. Revista Brasileira de Cineantropometria & Desempenho Humano, 16, 545-554. https://doi.org/10.5007/1980-0037.2014v16n5p545
  • McHugh, M. L. (2012). Interrater reliability: The Kappa statistic. Biochemia Medica, 22(3), 276-282.
  • Mitrotasios, M., & Armatas, V. (2014). Analysis of goal scoring patterns in the 2012 European Football Championship. The Sport Journal, 50, 1-9.
  • Reep, C., & Benjamin, B. (1968). Skill and chance in association football. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society. Series A (General), 131(4), 581-585. https://doi.org/10.2307/2343726
  • Rees, G., James, N., Hughes, M., & Taylor, J. B. (2011a). The effect of match status on attacking strategies in the English Championship. In M. Hughes, H. Dancs, K. Nagyváradi, T. Polgár, N. James, G. Sporis & G. Vuckovic (Eds.), Research Methods and Performance Analysis (pp. 172-176). University of West Hungary.
  • Rees, G., James, N., Hughes, M., Taylor, J., & Vučković, G. (2011b). The use of zone 14 as a strategic attacking area in the English Championship. In M. Hughes, H. Dancs, K. Nagyváradi, T. Polgár, N. James, G. Sporis & G. Vuckovic (Eds.), Research Methods and Performance Analysis (pp. 172-176). University of West Hungary.
  • Reilly, T., & Gilbourne, D. (2003). Science and football: A Review of applied research in the football codes. Journal of Sports Sciences, 21(9), 693-705. https://doi.org/10.1080/0264041031000102105
  • Sarmento, H., Anguera, T., Campaniço, J., & Leitão, J. (2010). Development and validation of a notational system to study the offensive process in football. Medicina, 46(6), 401-407. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina46060056
  • Sarmento, H., Marques, A., Martins, J., Anguera, T., Campaniço, J., & Leitão, J. (2011). Tactical analysis of the Barcelona counterattack. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 45(15), A4. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2011-090606.12
  • Sarmento, H., Anguera, M. T., Pereira, A., Campaniço, J., & Leitão, J. (2016). Patrones de juego en el ataque rápido de FC Barcelona, Manchester United y FC Internazionale Milano-Un enfoque de Mixed Methods. Cuadernos de Psicología del Deporte, 16(1), 31-42.
  • Segrave, J., Spenser, T., & Santos, K. (2018). Pep Guardiola and Manchester City, 2017-2018: A case study. Sport Journal, 20, 1-18.
  • Shestakov, M., Talalaev, A., Kosilova, N., Zasenko, N., Zubkova, A., Leksakov, A., ... & Gusev, A. (2008). An intelligent system for analysis of tactics in soccer. In Reilly, T. and Korkusuz, F. (Eds.), Science and Football VII: The Proceedings of the Seventh World Congress on Science and Football (pp. 186–190). Routledge.
  • Smith, R. A., & Lyons, K. (2017). A strategic analysis of goals scored in open play in four FIFA World Cup football championships between 2002 and 2014. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 12(3), 398-403. https://doi.org/10.1177/1747954117710516
  • Tenga, A., Holme, I., Ronglan, L. T., & Bahr, R. (2010). Effect of playing tactics on goal scoring in Norwegian professional soccer. Journal of Sports Sciences, 28(3), 237-244. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640410903502774
  • Wright, C., Atkins, S., Polman, R., Jones, B., & Sargeson, L. (2011). Factors associated with goals and goal scoring opportunities in professional soccer. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 11(3), 438-449. https://doi.org/10.1080/24748668.2011.11868563

Manchester City’s Start of the Offensive Phase: A Lag-Sequential Analysis

Year 2023, Volume: 5 Issue: 2, 225 - 243, 30.09.2023
https://doi.org/10.47778/ejsse.1337975

Abstract

Research on the playing patterns of Manchester City, particularly under Pep Guardiola's guidance, is limited. Existing studies do not investigate the associations between the offensive phase's initial actions (interceptions, tackles, defensive behavior followed by a pass) and other elements of the attacking phase, such as pitch space positions (zones) and goals. This study goes beyond subjective observation and applies lag-sequential analysis on Manchester City's 2019-2020 UEFA Champions League group stage matches. Behaviors were recorded using the SoccerEye Observational Instrument and software. The data was analyzed using the Sequential Data Interchange Standard-Generalized Sequential Querier (SDIS-GSEQ) and Microsoft Excel. Of the 417 offensive phase starts, 30.7% began with an interception, 8.2% with a tackle, and 29.5% with defensive behavior followed by a pass. Zone 5 (central mid-defensive sector) had a positive association (z=4.1) with interceptions, while zone 8 (central mid-offensive sector) had a positive association (z=2.67) with defensive behavior followed by a pass. Zones 3 (right defensive sector) and 12 (right offensive sector) showed a positive association with tackles (z=2.96 and z=3.36, respectively). Interceptions (z=-2.61) and defensive behavior followed by a pass (z=-4.46) were inhibited in zone 2. Starting an attack with a tackle may also result in a goal in Lags 7 and 8 (z=2.15, z=2.54, respectively).

References

  • Acar, M. F., Yapicioglu, B., Arikan, N., Yalcin, S., Ates, N., & Ergun, M. (2008). Analysis of goals scored in the 2006 World Cup. In Science and Football VI (pp. 261-268). Routledge.
  • Almeida, C. H., Ferreira, A. P., & Volossovitch, A. (2014). Effects of match location, match status, and quality of opposition on regaining possession in UEFA Champions League. Journal of Human Kinetics, 41(1), 203-214. https://doi.org/10.2478/hukin-2014-0048
  • Argilaga, M. T. A., da Silva Andrade, A., Bañuelos, F. S., & Garganta, J. (2005). Patrones de juego en el fútbol de alto rendimiento: Análisis secuencial del proceso ofensivo en el campeonato del mundo Corea-Japón 2002. Cultura, Ciencia y Deporte, 1(2), 65-72.
  • Bakeman, R., & Gottman, J. M. (1997). Observing interaction: An Introduction to sequential analysis. Cambridge University Press.
  • Bakeman, R., & Quera, V. (2001). Using GSEQ with SPSS. Metodología de las Ciencias del Comportamiento, 3(2), 195-214.
  • Barreira, D., Garganta, J., Guimaraes, P., Machado, J., & Anguera, M. T. (2014a). Ball recovery patterns as a performance indicator in elite soccer. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part P: Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology, 228(1), 61-72. https://doi.org/10.1177/1754337113493083
  • Barreira, D., Garganta, J., Castellano, J., & Anguera Argilaga, M. T. (2013a). SoccerEye: A software solution to observe and record behaviours in sport settings. The Open Sports Sciences Journal, 6, 47-55. https://doi.org/10.2174/1875399X01306010047
  • Barreira, D., Garganta, J., Machado, J., & Anguera, M. T. (2014b). Effects of ball recovery on top-level soccer attacking patterns of play. Revista Brasileira de Cineantropometria & Desempenho Humano, 16, 36-46.
  • Barreira, D., Garganta, J., & Anguera, T. (2011). In search of nexus between attacking game-patterns, match status and type of ball recovery in European Soccer Championship 2008. In M. Hughes, H. Dancs, K. Nagyvaradi, T. Polgar, N.James, G. Sporis, G. Vuckovic, & M. Jovanovic (Eds.), Research Methods and Performance Analysis (pp. 226–237). University of West Hungary.
  • Bergier, J., Soroka, A., & Buraczewski, T. (2008). Analysis of actions ending with shots at goal in the Women’s European Football Championship (England 2005). In T. Reilly and F. Korkusuz, (Eds.), Science and Football VI: The Proceedings of the Sixth World Congress on Science and Football (pp. 197–200). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203131879.
  • Carling, C., Reilly, T., & Williams, A. M. (2008). Performance assessment for field sports. Routledge.
  • Carling, C., Williams, A. M., & Reilly, T. (2007). Handbook of soccer match analysis: A Systematic approach to improving performance. Routledge.
  • Casal, C. A., Anguera, M. T., Maneiro, R., & Losada, J. L. (2019). Possession in football: More than a quantitative aspect–a mixed method study. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 1-12. Article 501. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00501
  • Eckner, C., & Reynolds, A. (2018). How Pep’s Citizens have taken over England, spielverlagerung. Available at: https://spielverlagerung.com/2018/01/02/how-peps-citizens-have-taken-over-england/ (Accessed: 2 January 2018).
  • Garganta, J., Maia, J., & Basto, F. (2014). Analysis of goal-scoring patterns in European top level soccer teams. In Reilly, T. and Korkusuz, F. (Eds.), Science and football III (pp. 246-250). Routledge.
  • Gómez, M. A., Gómez-Lopez, M., Lago, C., & Sampaio, J. (2012). Effects of game location and final outcome on game-related statistics in each zone of the pitch in professional football. European Journal of Sport Science, 12(5), 393-398. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2011.566373
  • Hughes, M., & Franks, I. (2005). Analysis of passing sequences, shots and goals in soccer. Journal of Sports Sciences, 23(5), 509-514. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640410410001716779
  • Kerr-Cumbo, R. (2020). A Case study applying lag-sequential analysis on Manchester City’s end of offensive phase during the UEFA Champions League. Journal of Health, Sports, & Kinesiology, 3(2), 20-31. https://doi.org/10.47544/johsk.2022.3.2.20
  • Kubayi, A. (2020). Analysis of goal scoring patterns in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Journal of Human Kinetics, 71(1), 205-210. https://doi.org/10.2478/hukin-2019-0084
  • Lago-Ballesteros, J., Lago-Peñas, C., & Rey, E. (2012). The effect of playing tactics and situational variables on achieving score-box possessions in a professional soccer team. Journal of Sports Sciences, 30(14), 1455-1461. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2012.712715
  • Lago-Peñas, C., Lago-Ballesteros, J., & Rey, E. (2011). Differences in performance indicators between winning and losing teams in the UEFA Champions League. Journal of Human Kinetics, 27(1), 135-146. https://doi.org/10.2478/v10078-011-0011-3
  • Lago-Peñas, C., Lago-Ballesteros, J., Dellal, A., & Gómez, M. (2010). Game-related statistics that discriminated winning, drawing and losing teams from the Spanish soccer league. Journal of Sports Science & Medicine, 9(2), 288-293.
  • Machado, J. C., Barreira, D., & Garganta, J. (2014). The influence of match status on attacking patterns of play in elite soccer teams. Revista Brasileira de Cineantropometria & Desempenho Humano, 16, 545-554. https://doi.org/10.5007/1980-0037.2014v16n5p545
  • McHugh, M. L. (2012). Interrater reliability: The Kappa statistic. Biochemia Medica, 22(3), 276-282.
  • Mitrotasios, M., & Armatas, V. (2014). Analysis of goal scoring patterns in the 2012 European Football Championship. The Sport Journal, 50, 1-9.
  • Reep, C., & Benjamin, B. (1968). Skill and chance in association football. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society. Series A (General), 131(4), 581-585. https://doi.org/10.2307/2343726
  • Rees, G., James, N., Hughes, M., & Taylor, J. B. (2011a). The effect of match status on attacking strategies in the English Championship. In M. Hughes, H. Dancs, K. Nagyváradi, T. Polgár, N. James, G. Sporis & G. Vuckovic (Eds.), Research Methods and Performance Analysis (pp. 172-176). University of West Hungary.
  • Rees, G., James, N., Hughes, M., Taylor, J., & Vučković, G. (2011b). The use of zone 14 as a strategic attacking area in the English Championship. In M. Hughes, H. Dancs, K. Nagyváradi, T. Polgár, N. James, G. Sporis & G. Vuckovic (Eds.), Research Methods and Performance Analysis (pp. 172-176). University of West Hungary.
  • Reilly, T., & Gilbourne, D. (2003). Science and football: A Review of applied research in the football codes. Journal of Sports Sciences, 21(9), 693-705. https://doi.org/10.1080/0264041031000102105
  • Sarmento, H., Anguera, T., Campaniço, J., & Leitão, J. (2010). Development and validation of a notational system to study the offensive process in football. Medicina, 46(6), 401-407. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina46060056
  • Sarmento, H., Marques, A., Martins, J., Anguera, T., Campaniço, J., & Leitão, J. (2011). Tactical analysis of the Barcelona counterattack. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 45(15), A4. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2011-090606.12
  • Sarmento, H., Anguera, M. T., Pereira, A., Campaniço, J., & Leitão, J. (2016). Patrones de juego en el ataque rápido de FC Barcelona, Manchester United y FC Internazionale Milano-Un enfoque de Mixed Methods. Cuadernos de Psicología del Deporte, 16(1), 31-42.
  • Segrave, J., Spenser, T., & Santos, K. (2018). Pep Guardiola and Manchester City, 2017-2018: A case study. Sport Journal, 20, 1-18.
  • Shestakov, M., Talalaev, A., Kosilova, N., Zasenko, N., Zubkova, A., Leksakov, A., ... & Gusev, A. (2008). An intelligent system for analysis of tactics in soccer. In Reilly, T. and Korkusuz, F. (Eds.), Science and Football VII: The Proceedings of the Seventh World Congress on Science and Football (pp. 186–190). Routledge.
  • Smith, R. A., & Lyons, K. (2017). A strategic analysis of goals scored in open play in four FIFA World Cup football championships between 2002 and 2014. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 12(3), 398-403. https://doi.org/10.1177/1747954117710516
  • Tenga, A., Holme, I., Ronglan, L. T., & Bahr, R. (2010). Effect of playing tactics on goal scoring in Norwegian professional soccer. Journal of Sports Sciences, 28(3), 237-244. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640410903502774
  • Wright, C., Atkins, S., Polman, R., Jones, B., & Sargeson, L. (2011). Factors associated with goals and goal scoring opportunities in professional soccer. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 11(3), 438-449. https://doi.org/10.1080/24748668.2011.11868563
There are 37 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Sports Training
Journal Section Articles
Authors

James Scicluna 0009-0003-4733-0517

Renzo Kerr-cumbo 0000-0002-1324-9257

Kemal Göral 0000-0001-8030-2276

Ender Şenel 0000-0001-6276-6704

Early Pub Date September 15, 2023
Publication Date September 30, 2023
Acceptance Date September 14, 2023
Published in Issue Year 2023 Volume: 5 Issue: 2

Cite

APA Scicluna, J., Kerr-cumbo, R., Göral, K., Şenel, E. (2023). Manchester City’s Start of the Offensive Phase: A Lag-Sequential Analysis. Eurasian Journal of Sport Sciences and Education, 5(2), 225-243. https://doi.org/10.47778/ejsse.1337975
AMA Scicluna J, Kerr-cumbo R, Göral K, Şenel E. Manchester City’s Start of the Offensive Phase: A Lag-Sequential Analysis. EJSSE. September 2023;5(2):225-243. doi:10.47778/ejsse.1337975
Chicago Scicluna, James, Renzo Kerr-cumbo, Kemal Göral, and Ender Şenel. “Manchester City’s Start of the Offensive Phase: A Lag-Sequential Analysis”. Eurasian Journal of Sport Sciences and Education 5, no. 2 (September 2023): 225-43. https://doi.org/10.47778/ejsse.1337975.
EndNote Scicluna J, Kerr-cumbo R, Göral K, Şenel E (September 1, 2023) Manchester City’s Start of the Offensive Phase: A Lag-Sequential Analysis. Eurasian Journal of Sport Sciences and Education 5 2 225–243.
IEEE J. Scicluna, R. Kerr-cumbo, K. Göral, and E. Şenel, “Manchester City’s Start of the Offensive Phase: A Lag-Sequential Analysis”, EJSSE, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 225–243, 2023, doi: 10.47778/ejsse.1337975.
ISNAD Scicluna, James et al. “Manchester City’s Start of the Offensive Phase: A Lag-Sequential Analysis”. Eurasian Journal of Sport Sciences and Education 5/2 (September 2023), 225-243. https://doi.org/10.47778/ejsse.1337975.
JAMA Scicluna J, Kerr-cumbo R, Göral K, Şenel E. Manchester City’s Start of the Offensive Phase: A Lag-Sequential Analysis. EJSSE. 2023;5:225–243.
MLA Scicluna, James et al. “Manchester City’s Start of the Offensive Phase: A Lag-Sequential Analysis”. Eurasian Journal of Sport Sciences and Education, vol. 5, no. 2, 2023, pp. 225-43, doi:10.47778/ejsse.1337975.
Vancouver Scicluna J, Kerr-cumbo R, Göral K, Şenel E. Manchester City’s Start of the Offensive Phase: A Lag-Sequential Analysis. EJSSE. 2023;5(2):225-43.

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