Jobs4Football meets Cameron Bishop
Data analytics in football has become a fundamental tool used by clubs and countries across the world, with arguably the English national team being one of the biggest benefiters of data in recent times.
England manager Gareth Southgate stated that “Technology is fundamental to everything we do.” This also correlates with the country's greatest displays in international tournaments in the 21st century, so could this be because of the data and how it is being used?
Jobs4Football spoke to Performance Analyst Cameron Bishop, who’s worked closely with former England Attacking Coach and current Aberdeen Assistant Coach, Allan Russell since 2016 and supported the attacking coach's preparation for each England camp between 2017 to 2021.
He said: “I supported Allan Russell to make sure he could maximise his effect on the team when he went into the England camp. It was an exciting period and initially came about at a time where the management team at England were looking for new innovative ideas to help make a difference in game.”
“Gareth Southgate, Steve Holland and Allan Russell have been a breath of fresh air for the national team and they have had great success attacking wise in the 2018 World Cup with their set pieces and penalty win shootout for the first time in 24 years, following a lot of time focusing on analysis. It’s great to have been a small part of their successes and the success that will no doubt come in the near future, hopefully in the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar.”
In the past two tournaments, the Three Lions have reached the semi-final of the World Cup for the first time in 28 years and the final of the Euros for the first time ever. Analysis could have been one of the factors for this with England’s emphasis on set pieces serving them well, especially in 2018 where the team scored a total of nine goals from set pieces, breaking a record set by Portugal in 1966.
“I think the data is crucial and only ever evolving along with the individuals in the game who are utilising it. I think it’s a great tool for smaller clubs to gain an edge and I think it’s something that will be embedded in the game forever moving forward. Anyone that isn’t using it still is probably stuck in their own ways a little bit”, Bishop said.
England aren’t the only national team Bishop has helped with attacking player analysis, the 25-year-old also had a stint working with the Bahrain FA in 2019, where he assisted in delivering presentations to the country's best managers and attacking players regarding effective attacking performance in training and in game.
“We came in and worked with the Bahrain FA and Premier League club East Riffa FC. It was interesting to learn a different cultures perspective to football at that time and how they were looking to evolve as a nation and help players grow from their nation. It was an eye opening and exciting opportunity to help inspire the next generation.”
The British born has also had a small spell helping Aberdeen FC this year, where he was part of a team tasked with identifying potential players for the club through the use of data analysis.
“I was given specific positions that the management team had identified were needed, and I was asked to put forward my suggestions. Following extensive research and doing the suitable due diligence, I presented my suggestions to management and they took it from there.”
“I think some people can find it hard to see how a certain player might fit in their system and data can suggest that they can. Everyone has an opinion which isn’t necessarily wrong to think because throughout most of history football has been based on opinion, but I think in today’s game you should at least somewhat allow data to form your opinion or at least consider it.”
“I think my experience in football has been unique because I have primarily been involved and focused on individual training and players individually which I think is an advantage because it’s very new to the game and it’s something people are starting to look at a lot more. So far the projects I’ve been involved with have helped organisations at a high level of the game and have all performed successfully in my opinion.”
Bishop is open to all opportunities in the future but relishes the chance to be involved in recruitment analysis once more despite his success in player development analysis, and is looking forward to hopefully taking on a new exciting project in the near future where he can have an big impact and see his work have an effect on the team over a prolonged period of time.
