mark thompson
@markposts.bsky.social
data software engineer @ Twenty3 Sports || sport for all || (he/him) || ⚽🎾💻📰🏎️🤖
created September 18, 2023
4,173 followers 555 following 2,354 posts
view profile on Bluesky Posts
Ryan Gilliam (@rygilliam.bsky.social) reposted
Our new project is live. A group of us former Polygon folks have come together to build something new: Rogue. We're a worker-owned, reader supported gaming site. You can read all about our goals and ideas on our (gorgeous) website. Please check us out and share us with your friends!
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social) reply parent
We are all so old in the eyes of Max Dowman
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
Max Dowman was 7 years old when this piece came out
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social) reply parent
And a bit of a full-circle moment of Statsbomb-related blogs about defender goal-framing/positioning on shots: blogarchive.statsbomb.com/articles/soc...
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
Fun example of the kind of thing you can look into with the Statsbomb public dataset
Tan (@tanho.ca) reposted
#nflverse news: we've just published nflreadr v1.5.0 to CRAN in time for the new season 🎉 It comes with a few 🚨breaking changes🚨 to core functions, of note: - load_players() - load_player/team_stats() - load_depth_charts() - load_participation() Full changelog here, details in thread 🧵
Nils Mackay (@nilsmackay.bsky.social) reposted
New year, new coefficients simulation! ⚠️This year is the first time I've seen where the Big 4 might actually be challenged, as 🇫🇷 France _could_ overtake 🇩🇪 Germany. Being Top 4 gives you 4 direct UCL spots, which are now at risk for Germany, after some poor seasons in Europe.
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
Max Dowman was four years old.
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
every time you post about what people are saying about bluesky on twitter, your boss reads a LinkedIn post
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
As a buyer, the trick is to check the top and bottom shelves for the best value, because the most pricey players are always put at eye level
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
brb, going to vibe-code 'goodreads for Posts'
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
Has there been anything online about whether Gauff's serve re-build is visible in her game yet this tournament?
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
Gauff with the aces? Enjoyable.
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social) reply parent
I need to go walk off the thought 'Bluesky user: "I don't understand why chess club isn't rammed"'
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social) reply parent
Oh, I've just realised that 'the problem with bluesky' topic keeps coming up because it's the kind of thing that 'people who still read novels for fun' would do as a hobby
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
make sure you're a good little football fan, otherwise the director of football won't add your transfer target to the list!
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social) reply parent
And people doubt the US's enthusiasm for the beautiful game
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
do love some deadline day jeopardy
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
I'd guess it'd be considered unbecoming to add turns of phrase from your own writing to your lexicon, but I am afraid that 'one-trick pony in a two-trick role' is going to stick in mine www.getgoalsideanalytics.com/play-smarter...
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
If the will of the people is to use some hashtags on this feed to talk about Deadline Day, I will not stand in the way of The People
Ricardo Tavares (@rjtavares.bsky.social) reposted
This is a great example of how tech companies are being irresponsible with LLM deployments. If this can happen, you can't put the result at the top of a google search. Period.
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
"The future of the internet is giving something a vague request and letting it do the rest. No, no, the bot will work perfectly when it knows every single thing about you." is very bet-against-able
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
This was 15 minutes ago
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social) reply parent
well,
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
Taylor Townsend sending down her fastest serve of the match to get herself match point again 🔥
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social) reply parent
Related, this is why libraries are so good too because the book was *free*, you lose absolutely nothing by dropping it after 30 pages
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
Second this, and fwiw putting page count in terms of TV episode length was a thing that helped make this click for me. If I've given a book 50 pages, that's like the opening episode of a TV series, which definitely feels like a fair shake.
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
It's a reverse Samson. Sinner's gotta get someone to sneak in and glue a wig on him before the final.
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social) reply parent
oh no.
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
Salah today looks like he has two right feet #epl-live
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
This match absolutely doesn't deserve that goal, but I will take it #epl-live
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
Really glad that we're finally getting some (VAR) action in this match #epl-live
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
Really love watching a '70-50 metres from goal' possession drill #epl-live
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
Who do we think is coming out on top of this one? #epl-live
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
What do we think about this season's Sky Sports studio sofa?
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
Top stat.
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
well huh
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
"Who?? Who gets a penalty? Me??"
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
Shapovalov letting that high ball bounce was a tell and a half
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
I don't know whether the Venus Williams-Leylah Fernandez doubles partnership is repeatable (as a mix of star power and doubles quality and novelty), but I hope there's a way to do it
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social) reply parent
I think there was definitely a different dynamic to it, at least. I feel like when players yelled at their box (in the 2010s, which is old days now) it was about clapping volume more than anything else. And now it's like "great job with the crappy coaching point"
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social) reply parent
You mean crazy relatable?
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social) reply parent
Im not sure I'll do it justice, but I hadn't realised that the switch of game engine was also a switch of coding language or that they'd redesigned the UI at the same time. Also said that Sega were understanding of the "we'd rather release nothing than a shoddy game" stance
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social) reposted
If you have to choose between a player who understands a system but can't execute it, vs one who can execute technically but doesn't understand it, which should you go for? www.getgoalsideanalytics.com/play-smarter...
The Body Serve (@thebodyserve.bsky.social) reposted
Naomi Osaka reaches her first slam R16 since AO 2021 Wacky stats: it's only the 7th time she's advanced to final 16 at a slam. If she makes the QFs, it will be only the 5th time in her career across all slams The other 4 times she made the QFs, she's gone on to win the title Coco Gauff next!
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
This is an interesting read www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
If you have to choose between a player who understands a system but can't execute it, vs one who can execute technically but doesn't understand it, which should you go for? www.getgoalsideanalytics.com/play-smarter...
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
Like most weeks, I'll be hopping away during the mid-afternoon Saturday kick-offs, but keep the chat going and spread the good word
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social) reply parent
It does make saying goodbye tougher though because you get the grief in the emotional ledger as one lump payment
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social) reposted reply parent
That's just a lovely bureaucrat's review #epl-live
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social) reply parent
Interesting. And, y'know, one doesn't need to look far for examples of teams who change style and take a long time to get used to it
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
tempted
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
Yeah - being constructive in the face of, and in the middle of, difficult circumstances is a legit and under-rated management skill #epl-live
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social) reply parent
Like the feed and pin it for easy access. Throw a like or a chat to others on there, maybe (please be courteous). I want bluesky to work for football fans and to find a community for themselves on here, and I hope the feed can help with that
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
the feed has thoughts on that first half. join them.
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social) reply parent
I mean, it's not Maresca dictating transfer policy
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social) reply parent
The season where they tried to be really, really serious about the catch rule still scars me
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social) reply parent
It's still a struggle to work out how good they 'should' be, given the circumstances, but I think they definitely look more cohesive than they might otherwise do under a different coach #epl-live
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
I perceive that people don't like Enzo Maresca, but Chelsea look pretty good, considering that a bunch of these players have only known each other for a few months (and only a few weeks when you amortise it) #epl-live
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social) reply parent
That's just a lovely bureaucrat's review #epl-live
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
That's just a lovely striker's goal #epl-live
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
Not sure that it tangibly matters, but it's always a bit weird when a CB takes a short goal-kick to the goalkeeper *and catches the goalkeeper out* #epl-live
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social) reposted
📌 Leagues pulled into the feed using the hashtag format #UCL-Live: UCL, EPL, EFL, WSL, MLS, NWSL. And ✨new✨: #Footy-Live #Soccer-Live Have fun watching games, be courteous to folks you don't know bsky.app/profile/mark...
UFCC - Unofficial Football Club World Championship (@ufccworld.bsky.social) reposted reply parent
The Matchday programs at that time were just beautiful - @bygonechelsea.bsky.social do you know why they played 2 back-to-back matches 25th & 26th December 1911? bsky.app/profile/bygo...
UFCC - Unofficial Football Club World Championship (@ufccworld.bsky.social) reposted
So far Chelsea F.C. and Fulham F.C. played 3 times versus each other in #UFCC matches - and all of these duels took place in 1911! Chelsea has a clean record of 3 wins, Fulham did not manage to score any goals against Chelsea in #UFCC matches yet - will this change today, 114 years later? #CHEFUL
James Nalton (@jdnalton.bsky.social) reposted
The magic of the F̶A̶ EFL Cup? Grimsby Town demonstrated football's importance to towns and how social and industrial history and community can live on in a sports club. This weekend's Morning Star column.
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social) reply parent
heh, no worries! I know that live-posting matches isn't everyone's cup of tea
UFCC - Unofficial Football Club World Championship (@ufccworld.bsky.social) reposted
And still: 1000 Followers 🎉 yay!!
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
Finding people to chatter to is part of why I started this feed, everyone join the party bsky.app/profile/did:...
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social) reply parent
Feels like driving exclusively between the speeds of 0-5mph and 75-80
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
Thought I'd dip into today's News Agents episode, which has an interview with Anthropic's co-founders. Feel like the tendencies to 'miss the wood for the trees in the day-to-day' are also at play in saying we 'may be about to invent a tech which at a stroke denudes the one advantage humans have'
April Glick Pulito (@aprilglick.bsky.social) reposted reply parent
update: Kamil Majchrzak is an adorable sweetie
Ahmed Walid (@ahmed-walid.bsky.social) reposted
Priced out by the Premier League: Where do clubs in Italy, Spain, Germany and France shop for players? 🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/657...
Ben Rothenberg (@benrothenberg.bsky.social) reposted
Leandro Riedi did something I'd never seen before at the #USOpen: Asked for a spectator to get kicked out for cheering too loudly for him. On the growing number of invested bettors making themselves heard courtside. Free for all to read at Bounces! www.benrothenberg.com/p/tennis-bet...
Gabriele Marcotti (@marcotti.bsky.social) reposted
Things you should know about transfers and recruitment… from somebody who does this for a living… www.espn.com/soccer/story...
Alex Stewart (@afhstewart.bsky.social) reposted
This is a really, really good piece that explains some apparently simple stuff that people just don’t appear to realise. Point 1 especially.
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
More broadly, I think the FT - from website UX to free-to-read links to the FT Edit app - has a really clear editorial(?) sense and grounding of itself. Presumably the income that traditional FT readership brings in helps with that, but money's no guarantee of good decisions
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
Matthijs de Ligt crashing the back post in open-play is absurd, lol #footy-live
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
On League Cup nights, feel free to use #efl-live or #footy-live/#soccer-live
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
That United fan is never going to be able to cut his hair #efl-live
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social) reply parent
I think there are serious questions to ask about both the technology (models) and the products which use them, but I think differentiating between the two leads to better questions (and, eventually, legislation)
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social) reply parent
There's lots of complexity and difficult problems with language models, some of which can be addressed in the models themselves, but there is always a product decision about how to deal with those issues that models have within the user experience.
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
I think, as a kinda public education PSA, it's worth knowing that there's a difference between language models as a technology and the product decisions that go into things like ChatGPT This isn't to downplay concerns - the fact that product decisions are at play means companies have *more* agency
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social) reply parent
I feel like some of the weird behaviours that people do around contactless is a case of something they did one time which worked but really works because it is 'holding the device steady and within range of the reader'
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social) reply parent
I do think it's pretty confusing that 1) you're right, these things just sort of appeared, we should've had PSA ads about it 2) so many contactless readers behave differently, even ones that look the same
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
Very strong content note for this around suicide and suicidal ideation, but very valuable reporting
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
Feeling very old at the amount of nostalgia-Barclays this match has thrown up #epl-live
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social) reply parent
Liverpool no longer getting as many points on the board
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
Refcam reminds me of umpirecam at the French Open where it started as "oh, this will be such a novel way to view tennis" but turned into "this is a way we get to see a close call on the clay better" #epl-live
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social) reply parent
[expanding on a loosely-written original post] The underlying numbers are the underlying numbers, but past xG doesn't necessarily predict future xG, and in some situations 'points on the board' counts for a lot (more often, season run-ins, but also moments when underlying form may well change)
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social) reply parent
Analysis is a craft
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
This reminds me - the perception of 'what stats people think' is funny to me because some of the smartest 'stats people' I know will look at a team's situation and go "[shrug], they've got points on the board"
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social) reply parent
I didn't get on with the writing style, but it's at least well-contained enough that I still 1) finished it 2) enjoyed the run down the final ~quarter of the book. Wish that The Culture could generate similar word-of-mouth boost for more books that length, it's a great 'storm through it' size
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
woah
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social) reply parent
Yeah, this is the other part of my differentiation - my assumption is that the OP was mainly talking about Online
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social) reply parent
Yeah, I just wanted to separate online posters to jobbing data analysts. Lazy takes with the former are annoying but forgiveable, just people are pro-data lazy now when they didn't used to be; lazy takes if it's your job is a different spreadsheet of fish
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social) reposted
No big live matches currently ongoing, but plugging this feed again
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social) reply parent
It's absolutely true, online at least - people always have their foibles and mental shortcuts, and if it's not your job and you're a stats-focused poster then yeah, you're probably using stats as an opinion crutch too much. This isn't a scold, it's just life
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
The only eye test that matters is the xG score
mark thompson (@markposts.bsky.social)
MNF with Thierry Henry? What a Bank Holiday delight