Morecambe manager crunches the numbers as part of his preparations

Number-crunching has become an increasingly pivotal aspect of football, be it in assessing would-be signings or highlighting teams’ strengths and weaknesses.

It isn’t any different at the Mazuma Stadium, where Adams pores over the information supplied to him to try and gain any advantage he can.

That analysis came to light when it was pointed out Morecambe had scored a number of goals in the last 15 minutes of matches this season.

Adams said: “We’re in a position now where no Morecambe fan would have thought we would be at the start of the season.

“I think we have surprised a lot of people, which is what we have tried to do.

“The way we have trained and the intensity of that is one of the reasons we have done so well late on in games.

“The other is the way that we analyse our opponents and ourselves.

“We took in a new analyst in Harry Taylor, who has been a big help to me.

“He focuses on the statistics I look for in our games and the opposition’s games.”

Understandably, Adams wouldn’t be drawn on what those statistics were but he used one of the Shrimps’ leading lights this season as an example of how data is used.

Burnley loanee Adam Phillips left the club on deadline day after opting to test himself in League One with Accrington Stanley.

The midfielder departed as the club’s leading scorer this season with 10 goals, as well as registering a high number of assists.

Morecambe skipper Sam Lavelle had previously outlined what Phillips offered creatively despite perhaps giving away possession a bit too often.

It’s a theme Adams took up, adding: “We all look at statistics.

“For example, Adam Phillips scores goals and creates assists but his actual pass completion is very low.

“We have to look at it and think what he’s contributing to the team, his contribution outweighs pass completion.

“That’s a key factor because he takes risks on the ball and gets rewards from that.

“Every manager and coach will look through information and think how we can improve as a football club, how we can improve the way we are playing, the chances we are creating and the chances the opposition have.

“It’s fascinating at times but we have to be careful how we do it and don’t become too obsessed with it.”

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