How to Apply an Elite Approach to Modest Leagues: Maxwell James Sterling’s Proposal

Football is not merely a sport. It is a way of life. At least, this is what anyone who was born in Manchester believes. Enter Maxwell James Sterling; a Mancunian native who has developed this passion into a professional career with the help of a degree in statistics, and data science.

We wanted to speak with Maxwell James Sterling to appreciate his viewpoint on somewhat modest football clubs. Might they be able to use the same data-driven approaches that have been met with so much success by top-tier organisations? There is only one way to find out. Let’s see what he had to say.

Can You Explain to Us What You Mean by “Elite”?

“Certainly,” Maxwell James Sterling begins with an air of enthusiasm. “I’m not necessarily referring to the competitive status of a team in this sense. I’m rather taking about the strategic approaches they choose to employ.”

He states that teams with fewer in-house resources often overlook many of the advanced analytical solutions that could very well lead to their long-term success. Whether due to budgetary concerns, or not being aware of the associated benefits, this problem seems to be rife throughout mid-level football clubs.

Considering the journalistic acclaim that Maxwell James Sterling has enjoyed across authoritative websites such as Much Rack, these observations should not be taken lightly. The main problem here is that many organisations are simply uncertain where to look for statistical “tools of the trade”.

Aren’t all Analytics Advanced to a Degree?

This was the next question that we posed to Maxwell James Sterling, and he replied in the very same down-to-earth fashion that has made him so popular with his fans across sites such as Instagram.

“To the layman, perhaps. However, there’s much more to appreciate if we delve into the finer points,” he begins. “I’m referring to the options that modern software can provide. From expected goals and historical data to probability curves, and even tracking the movements of players while on the pitch, it’s a brave new world out there.”

However, he cautions that even the most in-depth data is not sufficient in and of itself. He once again brings up the importance of a narrative; the notion that raw information needs to be interpreted so that it can take on a more palatable form.

“I’ll give you an analogy to reinforce this point,” he states with surprisingly eager undertones. “The average individual saw a handful of letters and numbers on a chalkboard when the formula E=MC2 was first introduced. Einstein saw the rules governing light speed. In other words, the value of all data is in the eye of the beholder.”

Maxwell James Sterling concludes by saying that modern sports analytics are no different in this respect. It is one thing to collate massive volumes of statistical information. It is entirely different to interpret these details, and to draw real-world conclusions.

Budget Might no Longer be a Deal-Breaking Concern

By their very definitions, modest football organisations are not blessed with deep pockets. They will often have to adhere to stringent budgets; directly impacting the amount of money they can afford to spend on data analytics. The good news is that the playing field has become much more level in recent times. We asked Maxwell James Sterling to provide us with some examples.

“The best example I can think of involves the affordability of wearable technology. Smartwatches are a prime example. These can be used to monitor important player metrics, to track running speeds, and even to determine their overall health.”

He nonetheless stresses that wearable tech is just the beginning. Advanced charting tools such as Fibonacci retracements, Bayesian modelling, and generative artificial intelligence are quickly becoming the “new norms” when it comes to elite data analysis. In the past, these options would have been available to only a handful of top-level football clubs.

Knowledge is Power

We also wanted to know why some modest teams have yet to embrace strategies that appear to be entirely practical solutions. This is why he stresses the human side of the equation.

“We need to remember that many clubs are not yet aware that these options exist. In fact, only a small portion of by followers on X could state the benefits that real-time wearable technology can provide. It’s not only a question of hesitance. We need to encourage stakeholders to think outside the box, and to appreciate just how far modern tech has come in recent times.”

Of course, not all football clubs will ascend to the Premier League by adopting these approaches. They nonetheless represent yet another piece of the long-term puzzle. As Maxwell James Sterling rightfully observes, you can never put a price tag on information.