Reposted by Ashwin RamanAshwin Raman @ashwinraman.bsky.social · 06/10/2026*NEW* In my first article for ESPN, I explore how the changing tactical landscape of elite football has led to certain trends in each position across the pitch, from marauding centre-backs to big, physical strikers. www.espn.com/soccer/story...espn.comState of each position in 2026: What are the biggest tactical trends?Elite soccer has changed dramatically in recent years, and the most valued player skill sets have evolved as a result. 2248
Ashwin Raman @ashwinraman.bsky.social · 06/10/2026*NEW* In my first article for ESPN, I explore how the changing tactical landscape of elite football has led to certain trends in each position across the pitch, from marauding centre-backs to big, physical strikers. www.espn.com/soccer/story...espn.comState of each position in 2026: What are the biggest tactical trends?Elite soccer has changed dramatically in recent years, and the most valued player skill sets have evolved as a result. 2248
Ashwin Raman @ashwinraman.bsky.social · 10/06/2026I have nearly a decade's experience in writing about football (some pieces linked below), plus 20 months in a part-time, remote scouting + analysis role for Dundee United, and several consulting gigs since 2022. My email's ashwinraman204[at]gmaildotcom. t.co/aXXnaVjff1t.cohttps://wakelet.com/wake/Mf3C9oM2tb9pbM1ejWTov 121
Ashwin Raman @ashwinraman.bsky.social · 10/06/2026A long shot, but in Sep 2026, my MA course comes to an end, and I'm looking for employment, preferably keeping me in London. I'm open to football writing work, whether full-time/freelance, or professional football scouting/analysis work. My contact details are in the next post. 122
Ashwin Raman @ashwinraman.bsky.social · 17/09/2025If you've DMed me here, do DM me on Twitter or send me an email at ashwinraman204(at)gmail(dot)com, because I'm locked out of BlueSky DMs due to UK age verification rules. The face scan tells me I'm u18 (I am in fact 22), and they aren't accepting my Indian card. 190
Reposted by Ashwin RamanAshwin Raman @ashwinraman.bsky.social · 14/08/2025*NEW* Although there may be a €20-30M gap between Spurs' last bid and City's valuation, I believe that a move for Savinho could very well be the signing of the summer. Here's 2k words on his skillset, ceiling, and team fit for Spurs. Subscribe and read! scoutedftbl.com/savinho-woul...scoutedftbl.comHear me out: Savinho would be the signing of the summerEven at City's asking price, the artist formerly known as Sávio has a staggering ceiling - and could change Tottenham Hotspur's trajectory 062
Ashwin Raman @ashwinraman.bsky.social · 14/08/2025*NEW* Although there may be a €20-30M gap between Spurs' last bid and City's valuation, I believe that a move for Savinho could very well be the signing of the summer. Here's 2k words on his skillset, ceiling, and team fit for Spurs. Subscribe and read! scoutedftbl.com/savinho-woul...scoutedftbl.comHear me out: Savinho would be the signing of the summerEven at City's asking price, the artist formerly known as Sávio has a staggering ceiling - and could change Tottenham Hotspur's trajectory 062
Ashwin Raman @ashwinraman.bsky.social · 13/08/2025From my article dropping tomorrow: I know the percentages seem small, but contrary to prevalent narratives, teams in the 'Big 5' leagues move the ball into dangerous areas through dribbling more and more every passing season. 280
Ashwin Raman @ashwinraman.bsky.social · 31/07/2025My coding skills are mediocre, so I'm better with video analysis/scouting, or something that puts me at the intersection of video and stats. Again, not overly optimistic about this, especially considering how late this is, but my email's ashwinraman204(at)gmaildotcom. 120
Ashwin Raman @ashwinraman.bsky.social · 31/07/2025Not sure how much use this will be but: I'll be moving to London this September for my MA, so I'm looking for — preferably well-paying — part-time football work, whether that's on-location or remote/semi-remote. 193
Reposted by Ashwin RamanAshwin Raman @ashwinraman.bsky.social · 28/07/2025*NEW* Here's my big 'summer essay' for @scoutedftbl.com. With data, footage, and words from experts, I look into why the striker meta has changed at the top level, with big, physical strikers becoming the default once again. Subscribe and read! scoutedftbl.com/why-all-the-...scoutedftbl.comWhy are all the strikers massive again?Detailing the reasons for and ramifications of the jumbo-sized centre-forward trend 0136
Ashwin Raman @ashwinraman.bsky.social · 28/07/2025*NEW* Here's my big 'summer essay' for @scoutedftbl.com. With data, footage, and words from experts, I look into why the striker meta has changed at the top level, with big, physical strikers becoming the default once again. Subscribe and read! scoutedftbl.com/why-all-the-...scoutedftbl.comWhy are all the strikers massive again?Detailing the reasons for and ramifications of the jumbo-sized centre-forward trend 0136
Reposted by Ashwin RamanAshwin Raman @ashwinraman.bsky.social · 18/07/2025*NEW* Standing at 6'6", Genk's Tolu Arokodare is a prolific goalscorer linked with big moves away. There's just one issue: his finishing. Is he worth the punt, and will his performances translate well to the big-5 leagues? Subscribe and read! scoutedftbl.com/tolu-arokoda...scoutedftbl.comTolu Arokodare, the goalscorer who can’t finishCan a striker be great if they can't keep shots beneath the crossbar? 133
Ashwin Raman @ashwinraman.bsky.social · 18/07/2025*NEW* Standing at 6'6", Genk's Tolu Arokodare is a prolific goalscorer linked with big moves away. There's just one issue: his finishing. Is he worth the punt, and will his performances translate well to the big-5 leagues? Subscribe and read! scoutedftbl.com/tolu-arokoda...scoutedftbl.comTolu Arokodare, the goalscorer who can’t finishCan a striker be great if they can't keep shots beneath the crossbar? 133
Ashwin Raman @ashwinraman.bsky.social · 10/07/2025*NEW* Thierno Barry's €32.5-million move to Everton is one of the most exciting signings of this transfer window. Here's a piece on his unique player profile, his peculiar career path, and how well he'd fit into Moyes' Everton. Subscribe and read! scoutedftbl.com/thierno-barr...scoutedftbl.comIs Thierno Barry a good signing for Everton?We've got the lowdown on David Moyes' newest addition, a jumbo-sized French striker 041
Ashwin Raman @ashwinraman.bsky.social · 05/07/2025Plugging this again. I do think his value is blunted as a starting left-winger while being too good/expensive to serve merely as a Saka backup at Arsenal, though. 050
Ashwin Raman @ashwinraman.bsky.social · 05/07/2025*NEW + FREE TO READ* With @tomoc.bsky.social and @jakeentwistle.bsky.social, I contributed to SCOUTED's take on Jamie Gittens' move to Chelsea. I assess his broader profile, his fit at Chelsea, and how it'd all work out. Give it a read! scoutedftbl.com/jamie-gitten...scoutedftbl.comTransfer Analysis: Jamie Gittens joins ChelseaWho is Jamie Gittens? Is he good at football? Well, yes. But will he be good at football for Chelsea? Much to ponder. 030
Ashwin Raman @ashwinraman.bsky.social · 04/07/2025*FREE TO READ* Most scouting discourse surrounds the new and the upcoming. But do talents whose stocks have fallen in recent years offer clubs bargains? Here are profiles of three such cases: Arnau Martinez, Folarin Balogun, and Löis Openda. Buy the dip! scoutedftbl.com/europes-leas... 0164
Ashwin Raman @ashwinraman.bsky.social · 26/06/2025*NEW* With Chelsea seemingly being open to selling Madueke, the 23-year-old's stocks are very low. However, in this in-depth piece, I argue that he's a very underrated player on the brink of a scoring explosion, despite a couple of flaws. Subscribe and read! scoutedftbl.com/noni-madueke...scoutedftbl.comHear me out: Noni Madueke is about to explodeA goalscoring boom is on the horizon for England's divisive winger, even if everyone's quite sniffy about him 6273
Ashwin Raman @ashwinraman.bsky.social · 20/06/2025This is what things look like with shot-creating actions, which places a larger emphasis on creation through dribbling and passing, minus factoring in shot quality. Some of the changes from the one for xG/xA are thoroughly interesting. 030
Ashwin Raman @ashwinraman.bsky.social · 20/06/2025Ahhh yeah, great shout, thanks so much! So considering this as a sample rather than the entire population? 010
Ashwin Raman @ashwinraman.bsky.social · 20/06/2025Includes set pieces too, I think. Not sure; depends on whether FBRef filter out set piece deliveries for xA in their match logs, which I, err, haven't taken a look at. I'll look at their glossary when I'm back home in a wee bit 020
Ashwin Raman @ashwinraman.bsky.social · 20/06/2025I know there's more of the OG analytics twitter here, so I know youse are the right bunch to discipline me into adopting better methods :) 300
Ashwin Raman @ashwinraman.bsky.social · 20/06/2025Experimenting with ways to measure 'consistency' in contributing to shots game-by-game. I've made a simple attempt with the 'coefficient of variation' for PL big 6 forwards' xG and xA figures, and this seems to be a decent start, albeit simplistic. More explanation in the follow-up. 3203
Reposted by Ashwin RamanAshwin Raman @ashwinraman.bsky.social · 19/06/2025Nico Paz simultaneously represents the traditional image of a playmaking 10 as well as the 10's modern incarnation. For @scoutedftbl.com, here's 2.5k+ words onhis skillset and why I think he's one of the best attacking midfield prospects around. Subscribe and read! scoutedftbl.com/nico-paz-dec...scoutedftbl.comDeconstructing Nico PazA player out of time, Como's creator is even better than you think 1179
Ashwin Raman @ashwinraman.bsky.social · 19/06/2025Nico Paz simultaneously represents the traditional image of a playmaking 10 as well as the 10's modern incarnation. For @scoutedftbl.com, here's 2.5k+ words onhis skillset and why I think he's one of the best attacking midfield prospects around. Subscribe and read! scoutedftbl.com/nico-paz-dec...scoutedftbl.comDeconstructing Nico PazA player out of time, Como's creator is even better than you think 1179
Reposted by Ashwin RamanAlex Stewart @afhstewart.bsky.social · 18/06/2025I had a look at Jude Bellingham using scouting theory, for @analyticsfc.bsky.social (Thanks to @ashwinraman.bsky.social / @scoutedftbl.com for some inspo) analyticsfc.co.uk/blog/2025/06... Raising the ceiling or raising the floor? The curious case of Jude Bellingham - Analytics FCanalyticsfc.co.ukRaising the ceiling or raising the floor? The curious case of Jude Bellingham - Analytics FCUsing Jude Bellingham as an example, Alex Stewart looks at how scouting theory can identify player types and make better use of them 6288
Ashwin Raman @ashwinraman.bsky.social · 12/06/2025While we're at it, I...forgot to log in here to plug my deep dive into Hayden Hackney's skillset from last Thursday. Do give this a read too! scoutedftbl.com/hayden-hackn...scoutedftbl.comHayden Hackney: the art of ball progressionThe Middlesbrough midfielder is on a "different planet" - but is he ready for the Premier League? 061
Ashwin Raman @ashwinraman.bsky.social · 12/06/2025*NEW* Nico Williams' low-G/A 24/25 season has prompted concern about his supposed stagnation and 'rawness'. For @scoutedftbl.com, I instead argue that Nico's much better than his stats say, and that his skillset 'scales up' perfectly. Subscribe and read! scoutedftbl.com/nico-william...scoutedftbl.comNico Williams is better than his stats...at least his goalscoring ones. Someone's gotta drop the bag. 1153
