Marc Schmerböck

I think the worry comes when Struber goes and we no longer have an Austrian/German coach.

 

They wouldn't suddenly forget how to play football though.

 

Plus.. don't forget, scoring next to **** all goals wherever he's been may hinda a strikers departure..

 

This all makes me wonder if the "moneyballax" recruitment strategy is still in place.

In the podcast Dane did with Fjørtoft's lad t'other week, he specifically said that we were no longer allowing any new manager that comes in to identify the players he wants the club to sign because he knows them already or likes them — Flitcroft signing his 76 year old pal Mike Pollitt, for example. Instead, the club's recruitment is governed by a universal philosophy; the fabled "spreadsheet" identifies players that fit with our footballing philosophy; if manager X gets sacked off, it doesn't matter because manager Y will be able to work with the players because the recruitment of manager Y was also governed by the universal principle.

Well, if that's true, why does the "spreadsheet" keep identifying Herr Struber's compatriots, and former colleagues?

To be clear, I am not slagging the players: I think Sollbauer was a great signing; and I haven't given up on Ritzy, or Schmidt. I am also looking forward to seeing the Freezer. (And any other Austro-German lads we might sign).

My point is that these signings appear to directly contradict what Murphy (and the club) have repeated over and over: we have a philosophy and we are sticking to it.

 

Sorry read that as manager x gets sucked off

 

Maybe it’s the other way? That all these players were identified and so a manager that knows them was also recruited.

Or maybe a variety of players were identified, including the ones we’re signing but it makes sense to prioritise those that the manager knows? More chance of them signing etc.

 

After he was recruited?

 

How do you know we’ve not been after these players for a few years?

 

So we'd identified them and it just happens that Struber becomes our boss?

I mean, it's not impossible but I think Occam's razor would say that Struber came in and said, "Dane: I want x, y, z from Woflsberger"

 

The spreadsheet identifies three players in each position and the head coach picks the one he likes best and they work backwards from there. I just think the spreadsheet is more focused towards Austria at the minute and it's pure coincidence.

We identified Struber for the excellent work he was doing with young Austrian players. It's only natural we're going to try and sign some decent Austrian or players from the Austrian league for him to work with.

 

It’s not “it just happens” though is it - the manager doesn’t fall out of the sky and that’s who we end up with, he’s identified by the same people as the players.

 

Why weren't we signing Austrians before Struber came in?

 

We signed Radlinger, Knasmullner and Schmidt.

 

Fair point

 

We were?

Knasmullner. Schmidt.

 

Let's hope our next Head Coach is also Austrian, then.

 

There’s no ‘hope’ about it. It’s not a random draw, it’s a decision to be made. If the recruitment team see it as a contributing factor, I’m sure it will be taken into consideration

 

I was being glib

 

Fair enough. Nuance doesn’t come off well in text!

 

We signed Schmidt before Struber came to be fair. I do take your point though