Nah I don't believe that's what he meant at all. I believe he was cleverly using the word we to take credit for it without explicitly saying so. It was a deliberate choice of words, make no mistake. Just one of many mistruths told by Paul conway
Does he mention that they’ve presided over 2 relegations in 3 seasons? Or that the average away fan that bought 1 ticket has invested more money into the club than they have in 3 years?
I don’t necessarily think he’s trying to take credit for that one, think it’s just part of the explanation. Still worrying how there’s no actual young players their ownership has developed to use as an example though lol
You believe but not fact, I believe he meant Barnsley. It’s the same as two people reading a text. I say we won the FA cup, is that me claiming I played No, is it me claiming I played any part No, that me being an inclusive part of Barnsley and claiming my club won it.
We're all part of the same human family. For what it's worth he did mean Barnsley. But he's clearly alluding to being part of that Barnsley set up when the transfers took place. That's not my belief, that's what he's doing. He's not lying, he's just making people think that because he's quite skilled with his use of language. Not so skilled at his research of our former players though. Or maybe he is, but the truth of Hourihane's progression is not as impressive or as impactful as the story he told.
Of course we read it differently and that's fine. I'm basing my opinion of his integrity on the many previous examples he has given us. Best transfer window ever. Transfer record broken. Etc etc
You maybe right and as i said to another in his interview there is clearly some poetic licensing. If it was in a different part of the interview I may have been more inclined to agree, but he was trying to explain how data usage works for player identification and used Conor as the example. I don’t believe it was because it was Barnsley but more because he is an International player so more likely to be known. After all for a club of that size to hear that data can help them compete by finding a player at Plymouth and help develop into a International player is a great success story.
'So... we had a great squad that year, some real young talent. The acquisitions of the club, the data we had, really was top drawer. We actually won the FA Cup that year. It was a great year for Barnsley.' I see how it works now. He's just using the royal 'we'! Paul ain't tryna take no credit. Ay olreight...
It's like someone winning the lottery, you marrying his daughter and then he dies and leaves the money to her. You could say "we won the lottery" but it would be misleading. Lying, maybe not, but misleading yes.
I think if there was an example of a player who we'd signed since Paul Conway was at the club, who has gone on to play in the Premier League, he would have used that example. But there isn't. Signing players from a data sheet isn't nearly as successful as Paul Conway would like his audience to believe so he had to use a player who was signed and sold before he had any association with the club as an example of the successful policy he's bringing to his new club. It's not lying but it's entirely disingenuous. Paul Conway's new club aren't getting anyone who was involved in identifying and nurturing Connor Hourihane. Other than Barnsley fans who know what happened, everyone else watching that interview will believe they are.
Was he signed as an unknown player using data analysis? I thought he was the Plymouth captain signed because he was a well known up and coming player getting rave reviews
The additional irony is that if he was identified using data, we probably wouldn't have signed him at aged 23/24 because he would be too old for the model we appear to be using. Conway claims, perhaps through ignorance, that he was 21 when he signed for us.
He certainly implies I keep on hoping for something I can believe in from Paul Conway (as the owner we hear most from) - a statement supported by some substance and evidence. I want to believe that they are the right people for our club. But he keeps on saying / writing things that lead me in the opposite direction. You're right Jay - it is disingenuous. The insinuation here is that they were involved in finding Hourihane, he leads the recipient to draw that conclusion. If a politician (of any party) had done this they'd be lambasted for it.
The man and consortium are frauds, this is not right how they have there hands on our club. They're slowly ruining it, once we've sold this season's better players were going to have a team of nobody's with no future and I fear what they'll do in league one next season. Hope it wont be as bad as that but I can see some very angry fans on the horizon, next season will be the straw that broke the camals back.
What do you mean? That he was signed during a period in which we had access to data analysis? Or that he was found and signed because of it? I could identify Messi as a good player today using data analysis.