The Science of Scouting - Sky articles with our scout

[Babylon]

I know these have been posted here and there throughout the forum, but it seems lots of people haven't seen them. Some interesting stuff in them and worth a read...

 

NEW Updated with the full set of articles now.

 

Signings

Dangers
Experience

Changes

Youth

Comparing

Abroad

Agents

Defenders

[Crinklyfox]

I know these have been posted here and there throughout the forum, but it seems lots of people haven't seen them. Some interesting stuff in them and worth a read...

 

Here is the latest article from our head of technical scouting:

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11662/9453688/the-science-of-scouting-abroad

 

Here are the previous three:

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11662/9439411/the-science-of-scouting-agents

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11662/9427945/the-science-of-scouting-signings

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11662/9417963/the-science-of-scouting-defenders

I hadn't seen them before, interesting read, thanks for posting.

[Guest]

great reads - thanks

 

The lack of which I spoke about several years ago.

[Bellend Sebastian]

Absolutely ruddy fascinating, a great insight into a process I must admit to having no clue about at all.

 

The stuff about taking players from the second tier divisions overseas is particularly interesting, because that's the bit that fries my brain the most - with someone like Mahrez, they may look good where they're playing, but hand on heart who would have the first clue if they'd perform to the same level on another stage?  You can go and watch Sunday league and some of those boys look handy, although in the grand scheme of things they barely register

[DANGEROUS TIGER]

Well, I must have been a child prodigy, because I was a "Boy Scout"!   

[bluebeau]

An excellent read, very informative article. Must be kept as a regular post in Foxes Talk.

[sylofox]

No mention of the secret weapon that is Football Manager.

Personally think they are trying to throw other club off the scent by not mentioning it.

[poggypogpog]

Football manager must be used by some managers. I can see playdoh face 'arry using it for a starter.

[Stadt]

Well Prozone is using Football Manager's extensive database now and most clubs use Prozone

[Alexikokopops]

Well Prozone is using Football Manager's extensive database now and most clubs use Prozone

And here's the link to prove it

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/aug/11/football-manager-computer-game-premier-league-clubs-buy-players

[egg_fried_rice]

Not sky, and from December, but a more in-depth article for Opta from Rob MacKenzie:

 

http://www.optasportspro.com/about/optapro-blog/posts/2013/blog-rob-mackenzie,-head-of-technical-scouting-at-leicester-city/mbuBlogsyPost

[Babylon]

Another new article here.... http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11662/9461735/the-science-of-scouting-comparing-players

 

Also added to the OP.

[Webbo]

If we only use stats to choose players surely we'll only ever get players of a certain standard. We won't be able to sign a player who'll exceed expectations.

[Babylon]

We won't be able to sign a player who'll exceed expectations.

Have Vardy, Drinkwater, James, Mahrez, Morgan, De Laet, etc not exceeded expectations?

 

I don't think they are saying it's the only way they get players, but a tool in the process.

[Webbo]

Have Vardy, Drinkwater, James, Mahrez, Morgan, De Laet, etc not exceeded expectations?

I don't think they are saying it's the only way they get players, but a tool in the process.

I don't know what the club's expectations were.

[filbertway]

If we only use stats to choose players surely we'll only ever get players of a certain standard. We won't be able to sign a player who'll exceed expectations.

 

I've read this a few times and it doesn't make sense to me.

 

Are you saying that these players would be at their ceiling when we sign them and couldn't be improved upon? Surely these are just used as a guide to determine whether the player would be useful within specific roles in the team.

[Webbo]

From what I've read of the articles it seems to me that we scour statistics to identify players of a certain standard to do a certain job, I'm not knocking that but we're not going to find some undiscovered talent who could go on to be a superstar that way.

 

I'm not complaining, so far the policy has been a success. I'm just thinking aloud really.

[Stadt]

How many clubs do find an uncovered talent that goes on to be a superstar?

The main theme there is creating comparisons with our current players using statistics to see how another player stacks up.

[filbertway]

From what I've read of the articles it seems to me that we scour statistics to identify players of a certain standard to do a certain job, I'm not knocking that but we're not going to find some undiscovered talent who could go on to be a superstar that way.

 

I'm not complaining, so far the policy has been a success. I'm just thinking aloud really.

 

I initially interpreted as a negative point, but yeah I suppose it's no bad thing. If they bring players in with high expectations of them initially, then it's largely irrelevant if the players don't exceed them.

[Dan]

If we only use stats to choose players surely we'll only ever get players of a certain standard. We won't be able to sign a player who'll exceed expectations.

 

You don't know what stats they're using and what they're finding out from those stats that average Joe won't.

 

As good as these articles are - we won't be told any of the top secrets in my opinion. It's a scouting team with a really good track record, they would only be adding to their competition for players.

[Babylon]

From what I've read of the articles it seems to me that we scour statistics to identify players of a certain standard to do a certain job, I'm not knocking that but we're not going to find some undiscovered talent who could go on to be a superstar that way.

Sorry I'm pretty confused with what point you are trying to make.

 

Many of the players we signed are already worth vastly more than they cost, have played brilliantly and are playing at a vastly higher level than where we found them. So uncovering talent before others do is exactly what the process seems to be doing.

 

Just to reiterate again, stats are only one part of the process. The traditional watching players play, watching videos, following up scout reports etc will all still exist.

[Webbo]

I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you buy 11 Ford Fiestas you get 11 Ford Fiestas, you're not going to wake up one morning with a Bentley in the garage.

 

As I say, I'm just thinking aloud.

[Haydos]

From what I've read of the articles it seems to me that we scour statistics to identify players of a certain standard to do a certain job, I'm not knocking that but we're not going to find some undiscovered talent who could go on to be a superstar that way.

 

I'm not complaining, so far the policy has been a success. I'm just thinking aloud really.

 

I think that's about it really. It isn't to say that the certain job is mediocraty though. In the case of last season it was players who could help us achieve promotion.

 

It must be hard to identify players without usings stats as you'd just be going on word of mouth, watching random matches and guessing.

[Bellend Sebastian]

I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you buy 11 Ford Fiestas you get 11 Ford Fiestas, you're not going to wake up one morning with a Bentley in the garage.

 

As I say, I'm just thinking aloud.

 

Well I was idly searching for a Lexus on Autotrader the other day, and one of the ones that came up was actually a Ford Ka.

 

I don't what this means or if it's relevant, but what really intrigued me was the thought process of whoever placed the advert

[Webbo]

Well I was idly searching for a Lexus on Autotrader the other day, and one of the ones that came up was actually a Ford Ka.

 

I don't what this means or if it's relevant, but what really intrigued me was the thought process of whoever placed the advert

Hmm, a Lexus. The Japanese BMW.