Whether they wish to or not, modern managers must embrace big data on the beautiful game, and Graham Gartland can see the fruits of the positive metrics that Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson has pointed to as a reason for the team's improvement.
The World Cup dream may be over, but the prospect of even featuring in a play-off seemed a distant one prior to the qualifiers against Portugal and Hungary.
Those two stellar displays were almost unrecognisable from what came before, and Hallgrimsson has cited how metrics like first contact at attacking and defending corners, as well as defensive duels, and hard yards covered have led to improvement and positive results.
"All metrics in running and sprinting have improved. There is correlation, statistically if you do more running, you win more games," the Ireland boss said after the loss in Prague.
"And then fast attacking, forward-thinking, a lot of things we have improved there tactically, but most of all how we penetrate lines."
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The visuals don't always back up indicators from big data sets, but Gartland feels the improved stats are apparent in the team's play.
"I think, defending set-pieces, we are a bit better," he said on the RTÉ Soccer Podcast. "I think we are defending the edge of our box a lot better, in terms of giving up long-distance shots.
"I think we really struggled with that before and conceded a lot of goals. I'm big on the distances between your units. We're better at that as well.
"I don't think our midfield gets separated from our back four. That gap has been closed. That also allows you, when you transition, to win the ball back.
"We're in passing distance. It's not just knocking it as long as you can and it becomes a 50:50 game, where you're hoping the striker can do something, but not with a lot of support.
"It's great to see that they're running more. I think you can see the endeavour."
In terms of intangibles that can't be easily quantified, Gatland pointed to a restoration of the relationship between fans and players that a litany of underwhelming displays had diminished over the course of years.
"I think it was lost for a while," he said. "How they've built that connection is that they care.
"The players show they care and the fans show they care. That's massive and that brings that connection, that it means something to the players, and the fans are saying that it means a lot to us as well.
"That connection has come back, especially over the Portugal and Hungary games.
"All of them make for positives going forward."
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