Cunha, is Mbeumo real?

Thanks to their public methodology, SofaScore is one of the most respected platforms for assessing football scores. Their system is built on a complex algorithm that processes over 1,500 different metrics.

However, scoring based on statistics alone cannot be a reliable measurement. SofaScore's score after the MU - Arsenal match is a proof.

Ignore the non-shadow value

On the evening of August 17 ( Hanoi time), Arsenal continued to cause sorrow for MU at Old Trafford with a 1-0 victory. The rookie duo Cunha and Mbeumo were both named in the starting lineup by coach Ruben Amorim against Arsenal.

Both not only played effectively but also caused trouble for the away team's defense with their flexible and powerful movements.

Cunha showed his class when he led the way in terms of successful dribbles (6) and contested opponents (20). Every time he touched the ball, he often dribbled past 1-2 Arsenal players and created opportunities for his teammates.

SofaScore's post-match score. Photo: SofaScore.

Meanwhile, Mbeumo also had some notable moves despite being closely followed for most of the match. He had two shots on target in the last match but could not score for the "Red Devils".

However, SofaScore only gave Cunha 7 points and Mbeumo 6.8 points. Meanwhile, the highest rated player on the "Red Devils" side is Bruno Fernandes with 7.8 points.

The paradox is that the Portuguese midfielder was one of the most criticized players after the match when he could not complete the task of coordinating the ball well in the number 8 role.

Despite its complexity, SofaScore's scoring method cannot escape its core limitations.

According to the formula published by this site, the key point of the scoring algorithm is mainly focused on the actions on the ball. In other words, the algorithm only records and evaluates what happens when a player directly interacts with the ball.

This creates a huge flaw. It ignores off-the-ball contributions, which are a vital part of football. A striker may not score goals, but his ability to put pressure on the opposition defence or stretch the line is tactically invaluable.

These actions cannot be counted, resulting in players doing "silent" work often having lower scores than their actual impact.

Low score does not mean bad play

Mbeumo's off-the-ball movement and Matheus Cunha's ability to carry the ball were key. The duo had a total of nine shots, with Cunha completing four successful dribbles - more than any other player on the pitch.

The scoring algorithm recognizes actions related to shooting or scoring goals, giving very high weight to the lower-line positions. Photo: SofaScore.

However, these values of the duo are not recorded by the SofaScore algorithm. Meanwhile, actions related to shooting or goals give a very high weight to the positions below.

This explains why Bruno Fernandes was rated the highest on the pitch, as he made 5 key-passes.

In fact, this statistic has its shortcomings. In coach Amorim's system, Bruno Fernandes is deployed as a deep-lying midfielder.

This position is highly regarded for its ability to dictate the tempo of the game and link up the lines. SofaScore can record the number of passes, but it cannot quantify the importance of a precise pass in tight areas to help the team escape pressing, or a simple but effective pass to slow down the tempo of the game.

Additionally, one of the biggest limitations of statistical analysis is assessing defensive effectiveness. SofaScore gives high marks to successful tackles, interceptions, and clearances.

However, this can be a big mistake. A defender who is constantly having to tackle or clear the ball may not be a good defender, but rather he is being put in dangerous situations due to poor positioning or poor defensive system.

Conversely, a good centre-back like Virgil van Dijk often has low defensive statistics, due to not having to make too many tackles.

Mbeumo's ability to stretch the opposition defence and open up space for his teammates went unnoticed by the system. Photo: Alamy.

Excellent reading of the game and positioning allow top centre-backs to stop threats early, before opponents can get into the box. However, SofaScore rates a player with 10 tackles higher than one with just two, but those are decisive.

SofaScore has created an impressive algorithm to quantify a player's on-field performance. However, by focusing solely on measurable actions, the computer has inadvertently overlooked the human and intangible factors that make a player great.

The subtlety of the first touch, leadership, mental influence on teammates, and especially intelligence off the ball, are still aspects that data cannot capture.

Source: https://znews.vn/cunha-mbeumo-co-hay-that-khong-post1577889.html