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Brentford’s majority shareholder, Matthew Benham, has long been recognized for his innovative approach to football analytics, which has played a significant role in the club’s impressive rise from the lower leagues to the Premier League. In a recent interview, Benham shared insights into his philosophy on evaluating strikers, emphasizing the importance of considering the opportunities a striker creates rather than solely focusing on their goal-scoring record.
Matthew Benham said: “For a striker, getting in position is way more informative than finishing. There is an awful amount of randomness in finishing. So, for example, if you show me two players at a similar level and they both scored 15 goals last season but one of them had twice the number of chances, I want the guy who’s had twice the number of chances. Even though you might say: ‘Oh, but he was less efficient.’ The fact that he was getting in position for the shot, that’s really important for us.”
Benham’s comments came during an interview with Roger Bennett, founder and host of the Men In Blazers podcast, at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference. He discussed the case of Everton’s Beto, who has recently returned to the starting lineup after a challenging season. Despite missing key opportunities, Benham believes Beto should be credited for consistently finding himself in goal-scoring positions.
Benham suggested: “When we played Everton at our place late last year, Beto missed three one-on-ones. Any decent model worth its salt would give Beto an upgrade. Any player who manages to make three one-on-ones in a single game, even if he actually happens to miss them. The fact that he’s got three one-on-ones, he’s got to get an upgrade on any decent model. Obviously, the man in the street would slate him, but actually receiving is more important than finishing.”
Brentford’s strategy in the transfer market, driven by Benham’s data-driven approach, has been instrumental in their success. Notable signings like David Raya, who was acquired for £4 million from Blackburn Rovers and later sold to Arsenal for £30 million, underscore the club’s ability to identify and develop talent. This season, Brentford has defied expectations, sitting seventh in the Premier League, largely due to the contributions of their latest find, Igor Thiago.
Benham’s emphasis on evaluating strikers based on their ability to create opportunities rather than just their conversion rate is a testament to his forward-thinking approach. It highlights the importance of a comprehensive analysis of player performance, which has been a cornerstone of Brentford’s remarkable journey in English football.
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