At some point on Friday, MLS launched the beta version of their upgraded site, dubbed “Project Ramos” after the first-ever players signed by the league, Tab Ramos. The site appears to be fully active, meaning users can browse the site and check out some of the new features. In an introductory message to users, MLSSoccer.com editor Greg Lalas lists off some of his favorite new features:
Sneak Peek Of MLS’s Upgraded Website: Now With More Stats, But Still A Bit Lacking
There are lots of things to like and the site appears to be moving in the right direction, but it’s hard to deny that what is there falls short of what was expected.
- Updated homepage interface. The homepage look has gotten a few tweaks, but from a navigation perspective it has received a more robust makeover so you can easily get to the content you want.
- Search. Yes, the long-sought-after search function is up and running.
- A new MatchCenter. Now includes a fully integrated experience with video, live commentary, and enhanced stats from our new stats partner, Opta Sports.
- Upgraded stats section. Now there are more stats, easier navigation, and a full historical stats section.
- The new FutbolMLS.com. MLSsoccer.com’s Spanish-language edition is now a robust center for futbol coverage in North America
Lalas goes on to note that “Project Ramos” is still in a beta stage, so we should not assume that this is a finished product. Of course, that shouldn’t stop us from looking around and making some early observations.
On a somewhat cursory inspection, there’s no question that these new features are sometimes significant upgrades over what the current site offers:
- The lack of a search function, as Lalas alludes to, was always one of the most frustrating aspects of MLSSoccer.com. Now that it's included, you can actually find stuff that is not on the homepage. Why this very basic function wasn't always available remains a mystery, but at least we will have it now.
- The biggest upgrade, at least for the stat nerds among us, is in the MMatchCenter, where team data like passing, duels and possession gives us new insight into how well a team performed outside of metrics lots shots, fouls and corner kicks. We now know, for instance, that the Seattle Sounders out-possessed the Chicago Fire roughly 60-40 last Saturday and completed 75 percent of their passes. Unfortunately, it does not include similar in-depth data on individual players. Hopefully this will be something that comes later.
- The stats section does not appear to be significantly upgraded from a data standpoint, although it does look nicer and is easier to navigate. We're able to get stuff like shots, road and home goals, goals per 90 minutes and scoring percentage, but that's really all stuff an enterprising person could have found. It's nice that we can now see who the best players are in those areas, but there doesn't appear to be plans to have deeper data like passing available for individual players. Information like that would really open windows for deeper analysis.
- The biggest disappointment, at least for me, is that there doesn't seem to be an area to find some of the stuff we can currently get at MLSSoccer.com like historical attendance numbers, limited disciplinary data and information about penalty shots. I would think all of that will eventually show up, but it would be hugely disappointing if that kind of data were lost.
- Of a somewhat lesser concern is the general lack of visualized data, the kind of which was hinted at when the Opta relationship was announced. At the time, we were left with the impression that Guardian-style chalkboards or passing charts like you'd see at the Bundesliga website would be made available. As it stands now, that looks like it might be restricted to the occasional column, not fit for mass consumption.
- One other disappointing aspect of the site is the lack of historical data on players no longer in the league. A search for Blaise Nkufo, for instance, yields no results. This seems like it would be relatively simple to provide, but as of right now it is missing from the site.
Generally speaking, the upgraded site is moving in the right direction. But it’s also hard to deny that the beta site falls short of what many of us expected when Chris Schlosser, the league’s director of digital strategy, told me this in March:
“You’ll see us expose a lot more data over time and allow fans to perform their own analysis in a lot of ways,” he said. “We’re trying to figure out which data, which statistics should be shared with the public. Our goal is to provide much deeper statistics and information.”
I trust that Lalas is being honest when he says that this beta version is not a finished product. Let’s just hope the folks at MLS believe more information is better and that providing this kind of data enhances the viewing experience.
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