Let's Pump the Breaks, Manchester United

C'mon, what'd you expect?

I’m back — and only a two-week delay this time. I’m thinking I’ll settle into an every-other-week cadence with these, but we shall see.

Anyway, I’m moderating a panel at the Sloan Sports Analytics Conference next week. Should be fun. If you’ll be in Boston, let me know.

Ryan O'Hanlon @rwohan

I'm moderating a panel at this year's @SloanSportsConf. It's called "Soccer's Analytics Frontier", and yes, @OmarChaudhuri and I will be wearing the same outfit at the conference, too. Come say hi if you're in Boston next week.

Our panel is on Friday. Hopefully it’ll be available on the Internet for non-attendees at some point.

Everything Else

• Newcastle United are the richest sports team in the world — and they’re already way better than anyone thought they’d be. Uh … oh?

• Players get assigned positions when they’re teenagers, and then they just stick. Shouldn’t more managers experiment with midfielders at left back and strikers in the midfield?

• Oh no, we’re doing it again. We’re doing it again! Manchester United have played at a decent level for a few months. They just qualified for the Europa League Round of 16 after finishing second in their Europa League group to Real Sociedad. And … Erik Ten Hag is the new Sir Alex Ferguson, they’re title contenders, and they’re back among Europe’s elite? Here’s some cold water.

• Napoli, huh? Let’s make the stats case for Spalletti, Osimhen, and Kvaradonna winning the Champions League.