If, like me, you read The Guardian of a weekend, you'll be familiar with the likes of David Pleat providing analysis in the form of complicated diagrams showing a load of numbered sperm swimming around a big green box. Pleat, Steve Claridge and David James are used as examples of how the new interactive chalkboard facility can be used to juxtapose different players and different matches to prove or disprove a theory about said player.
I was struggling for inspiration this morning but had a quick play with the tool, which can be found at guardian.co.uk/chalkboards. You can choose any game from the Premier League from the last three seasons, and track passes, shots, tackles, clearances, interceptions - you name it. This is all available broken down player-by-player.
You can compare one match to another, and save and share your findings with notes about what exactly you're trying to prove. I managed to find Paul Robinson's goal for Tottenham against Watford to see just how far it traveled. Bloody miles is the answer.
This is a great and really unique feature, and the sort of thing The Guardian does really well. The most interactivity most football sites manage is Fantasy League or at best weekly score predictions.
I was actually hoping there would be the chance to draw in players and movements, which would have created the opportunity to be a bit artistic and possibly even mischievous. Hopefully that will be the next stage.
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