Ian Holloway hit the nail on the head on TalkSPORT this morning regarding data driven transfers

You can use as much data as you want regarding a player but it’s only when you get into a players mindset which will then determine how good they will be for you. Stats can only show you so much.

Will they run that bit extra for you?

How’s their mindset when they are “up against it”.

Only traditional scouting will answer this. Hence why you need to use both methods to get the info you need as to whether that player will fit the club and managers criteria.

 

Do we actually employ any scouts anymore or is it all done via data and online?

 

I know we laid off a load of long standing scouts couple of years back

 

What data do you think olaure and iseka came from or sam Cosgrove, watters Benson?

 

Data and scouting.

 

No idea, I'm not privy to it

 

Our best recruitment was when we used the spreadsheet. Conor winnall Roberts mawson scowen pinnock etc we don't do that anymore. Listened to mcanthony on talks port last week he said there's still some great finds in non League but everyone's looking at the market now so it's alot harder.

 

I do wonder what people think 'data driven' scouting means. By reading comments in various threads i get the impression people think it's just a quick Google for how many goals and assists they've got.

There's software with hours and hours of game footage so they can watch every minute a player has played.

When it comes to attitude and application, they're bound to ring up coaches that have worked with and the players they know. You just have to watch the players after a game finishes and see the amount they talk after games. The vast majority of these players have been in academy systems since they were in high school. Players and coaches will have more connections than you have with your neighbours. They know their personality traits, they know how they train and how they can and can't play.

Most transfers aren't done on a whim. There will still be bums on seats watching people play football, it's just led by facts that give an idea of the traits in a player that you want.

 

He's spot on. Data doesn't tell you many of the important things like what they are like as a person. Are they good in the dressing room? Someone team mates feel they can come to? Good organiser on the pitch. Not going to give the club any off field drama. Well thought of among their peers. Punctual when they need to be somewhere.

 

I have said same in different post mate

 

Mathematics is the language of nature

 

Brian Young was the senior/ chief scout. He finished then came back last year (think he was away about 2 years).
Good bloke who knows good players Brian....tbh I don't know what role he has at the club...mate of my dads, who definitely knows his players.

 

It only works when they all agree.

Look at Jackson Smith - I'm not having that Clarke (who's had him before at Walsall) fancies him. 4 year deal. Cash tied up and we've used 3 different keepers to him this season.

It works when the data finds good players, the manager likes them and the scouting agrees too. Balance.

 

No idea…..but it goes to show that data doesn’t guarantee anything.

Gone are the days where a manager builds a team with players he “knows” will fit his system.

We are now in a period where the club picks a formation and style…..then they go find a manager to implement it.

We went against the grain for a period with Big Val.

A manager that had a direct style…..not pretty to watch but he got certain players in that fit his style……..whilst simplifying the game for our players by concentrating on getting the “basics” right.

We made Championship playoffs that season and then went back to “saleable asset” football.

 

TGod has already nailed it but I’m here so why not?

What Ian isn’t saying which some people will inevitably be inferring is that you can disregard data in favour of “old-fashioned” scouting. The data will be vastly detailed and there will be measurements on things that fans don’t even know can be measured. It’s not really a new thing any more and it’s certainly not a case of old school scouting vs purely data driven scouting like some fans paint it to be. We’ve heard various interviews from CEOs and recruitment staff at the club talking about the sorts of things they look at when recruiting a player including personality etc. To be blunt you could have someone who posts the same data as Lionel Messi on a consistent basis but if he’s complete *rsehole, you don’t want him at the club upsetting the dressing room. Clubs aren’t daft despite what fans may think or say. They know this. That being said, you can never know fully whether or not you signed the right player until they’re under contract and on the grass.

 

Only last week DC said what convinced him to sign the keeper was when he met him was his general attitude etc, I think that is what Ian was referring to about non data info

 

Wonder how many times someone's been over to France to see Rodrigues or Switzerland to view Lembikisa?

 

Didn't Keith hill and flicker build teams with players they knew look how that one turned out. I doubt little if any data was used to identify the players I mentioned.

 

Is a spreadsheet not created by inputting data?