[Official Site] MLADEN SORMAZ APPOINTED AS SPORTING DIRECTOR

That's the entire point of the Director of Football and underpins all of our recruitment. We find players with a particular profile of skills who are capable of a particular style of play and will fit into our particular system. But it's not just players, we appoint head coaches to implement that system. There is no point us hiring a head coach who wants to play with wingers because we don't sign them. The reason for all of this is because we believe in data and statistical evidence, and to that end the Director of Football for BFC is going to be somebody with a background in data analysis to make the final decision on the evidence he is given. The only other aspect of the role is contract/transfer negotiation.

 

Yes I’m that dude and to date there is still nothing that says you HAVE to have a qualification to be a DoF, it clearly does no one any harm to have it especially someone coming from the footballing side and not the business side but it’s not essential, you can be a DoF without one.
You’ve listed his ‘other’ stuff that I would consider being a comprehensive knowledge of analytic systems, maybe he has insights into significantly better data systems than we currently have, maybe he has better understanding of the internal workings of them, maybe he has better insights into how other teams work and integrate them.

Your reply seems to indicate you think I am saying he’s a better choice then BH, you couldn’t be further from the truth if you check back I think you’ll find I was the first person to say, I would support him if appointed but wasn’t the route I would have chosen.
All I did was replied to your post showing instead of just insulting him like you posted there were other plausible reasons.

 

I don't get it, seems very Conwayesque, his track record doesn't inspire confidence!

 

It’s so Barnsley , announcing a new Director of Football responsible for identifying players and transfers on the day after the transfer window closes

 

I would say reserve judgement until the bloke gets a chance to prove his worth

 

Rumour at the Exeter game was that he’s a mate of Cryne’s and Hassell is fuming. Apparently this had come from Hassell originally.

No idea if true but seems fairly accurate bearing in mind I heard it a few days before any news came out. Might also be complete ******.

 

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Think your last sentence is probably accurate. Don't think Bobby does fuming, most unchristian.

 

Well I’ll add my two pence worth,as far as I can see it’s another high wage to pay when when we already had BH doing a perfectly good job of it and I suspect much cheaper

 

Yeah I’d be pretty pïssed off too. I’d be more surprised if he wasn’t.

 

Doesn’t this guy predominantly specialise in analytics? If so, it feels like the club are doubling down on an approach that has seen us still in league 1, having spent all the money. Was hoping that this role being created would be part of a change in ‘the model’.

 

Bobby does an excellent job in the academy - and that can’t be ignored.

However, that doesn’t mean he will be an excellent DoF - either currently or in the future. It also puts him at the thin edge of the blade. Perhaps the club thought it was a little too early for him.

Both him and Devaney are well thought of by the club itself, and its fans, and sometimes it’s best for these type of people to be a continuous presence and not at the sharp end where they might become under pressure to be sacked.

All it takes is 2 poor transfer windows and then the fans will turn on the DoF and question their ability…….

 

The approach that every club in the country uses. That’s how football is these days. We were early adopters - but others have caught up now.

Everything is data driven at professional levels, and the tech is readily available to support it.

 

Classy from Bobby as always!

 

Thats not quite true.Collins explained the procedure of transfer recruitment and hes fully involved.

 

If Bobby had taken the job we'd have to find a new Academy Director, so we're not saving a wage.

I find all the speculation to be incredibly disrespectful to somebody who has only ever acted with class and dignity. Bobby accepted the job on an interim basis knowing that there would be a full recruitment process. To imply he might get the face on because he didn't get the job on a permanent basis says a lot about the character of some posters. Bobby is highly valued and regarded at the club and his remit includes supervision of some of our most valuable assets, particularly Fabio.

 

Exactly. The role of Academy Director isn’t exactly a poor one. He’s just as important bringing the youth through as the DoF is brining external recruits in.

 

How come we've sent all our non league players signed in the summer back out on loan? Where was the data to warrant signing solely non league punts?........ If those signings had been complimented with players such as Earl and Pines then I could see the logic.

It failed in the championship and it's failing in League 1

 

Perhaps that was Mladan’s first input. Let’s get these players that aren’t good enough out on loan?

 

Maybe it was the people using the data failing or how it was being used (non league punts etc), perhaps they have recognised it hasn’t been used properly and are trying to address.