Opta Forum has been an event that I have followed and admired from afar, where the best minds of football analytics meet up and exchange ideas. So when Liam Cody encouraged me and other Australian-based analysts to submit a proposal for the 2023 edition of the Forum back in late 2022, I did not hesitate to find an idea to present at the Forum. Along with fellow analyst Nick Gerver, we came up with the idea to use tracking data to quantify channel attacks and attempted to distinguish the channel and the half-space.

Having talked to a few coaches, we identified that little to no studies have been done for the channel due to natural assumptions by coaches and analysts. There is also a misunderstanding where the channel overlaps with the half-space and it gets grouped together with the half-space. Using data, we managed to identify the channel as the space in between the centre-back and the full-back and can be dynamic based on the positioning of the defenders. Meanwhile, the half-spaces are static and are specific vertical zones on the pitch between the central lane and the two wide lanes.

With the provided tracking data, we have also identified that many teams have used channel runs with or without realising. This could be due to training from a young age and has developed a natural instinct, or due to training exercises that accompanied channel runs. However, since teams have not realised the potential of such runs, many attacking opportunities were less threatening as a result, which demanded for more specific rondos and exercises to help players make the most of the channel run more often. It also provides a challenge for analysts as they have to identify players who are typically dangerous with channel runs and develop solutions to defend against such players.