The Nowhere Men (38 page)

data analysis and 185–8

feeder clubs 52

scouting/recruitment 11, 28, 31, 40, 52, 82, 83, 95, 149, 151, 153, 185–8, 228, 229, 238, 256, 280, 308, 346, 347, 348, 360

waste of money 40

Manchester United 178, 201, 254–5

EP3 and 8

Prozone and 184

scouting/recruitment 13, 17, 29, 41, 81, 98, 146, 147, 161, 245, 246, 269, 317

Mandaric, Milan 104

Mangotsfield United 316, 317

Mannone, Vito 49

Marcina, Alen 256

Marshall, John 201

Martinez, Javier 322

Martyn, Nigel 206–7

Marwood, Brian 82

Mascherano, Javier 325

match reports 133, 140, 143, 151, 160, 165, 227, 241, 258, 279, 288, 298, 346

Everton and 40, 43, 46, 53, 54–5

intellectual property rights and 54–5

key questions in 121–4

length of 124, 143

Mel Johnson and 13–14, 17–18, 151, 207–8

opposition reports 25, 46, 47, 74, 90, 101, 102, 117–24, 165, 253

outline of 117–24

pay for 117

ranking of players in 119–21

standardisation of 43

storage of 40, 258

technology and 40, 97, 117

time consuming nature of 108

McAnuff, Jobi 224

McCaffrey, Daniel 356–7

McCall, Steve 12, 306

McCarthy, Mick 287

McClaren, Steve 178, 321

McCoist, Ally 244

McDermott, John 87–8

McDermott, Terry 240

McInnes, Derek 368

McLachlan, Scott 175, 176–7

McNally, David 247

McParland, Frank 22, 31, 32, 33, 94–5, 96, 230, 340–1

Mee, Bertie 276

Megson, Gary 107

Memphis Grizzlies 330

Mendes, Jorge 326

Merson, Paul 275

Messi 333

Metz 321

Miami Heat 330–1

Michu 324

Middlesborough 145, 178, 192, 362

mileage men 2, 100–24, 268, 287, 354, 369

Miles, Taylor 9

Milk Cup 228

Millwall 5–6, 7, 14, 43, 92, 102, 126, 149, 232, 287, 312

Milner, James 185

MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, 2012 172–3

Mitchell, Paul 92

MK Dons 29, 92, 126, 241, 339

MLS Cup 111

Mohsni, Bilel 159

Mollo, Yohan 268

Moncur, bobby 138

Moneyball
(film) 21, 36, 173

Moneyball
(Lewis) 21, 26, 36, 171, 172–3, 176, 184, 188, 331, 335

Montaigu tournament, France 34

Montrouge FC 319

Moore, Bobby 137, 259, 260

Moore, Ronnie 189, 191, 192, 193, 372

Moreno, Gio 329

Morgan, Marvin 192, 193, 196

Moss, David 22, 231

Mourinho, José 104

Mouscron 320

Moutinho, João 52–3

Moyes, David 38–40, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 55–6

Mullen, Jimmy 277

Murphy, Colin 136, 137

Murphy, Pat 282

Murphy, Terry 271–84, 287–91, 293

N’Zonzi, Steven 321–2

Napoli 262

Nash, Steve 332, 334–5

NBA 330–1, 332–3, 334–5, 343

New York Yankees 36

New Zealand 256, 260–1

New Zealand Knights 256

Newcastle United 13, 17, 104, 128, 152, 185, 313, 318, 319, 320, 321, 342, 355, 362, 364

Newman, Rob 238

Newport County 203

NextGen Series 78–82, 89–99, 305–6, 308

NFL 340, 343, 344, 356

Nike Academy 216–26

Noades, Ron 261, 359

non-league football 4, 13, 74, 102, 145–6, 167, 129, 194, 195, 200, 256, 281, 305, 317

Northampton Town 176

Northern Ireland 236

Norwich City 13, 77, 90, 227, 240, 242, 244–6, 247, 355

Nottingham Forest 126, 306–7, 335, 354

Notts County 319, 364, 365

Nuneaton Borough 318

Nus, Gerard 235

O’Connor, Shaun 59, 67–8, 69–76, 81, 226–9, 233

O’Driscoll, Sean 198, 202, 297, 307, 308, 368

O’Kelly, Richard 202

Oakland Athletics 21, 27, 37

Obita, Jordan 206

Offensive Efficiency 185

Oji, Seji 227, 228

Ojo, Seyi 29

Old Isleworthians 64

Oldham Athletic 193, 244

Olympiakos 258

Olympic Games, 2012 160

Olympic Stadium 58

Olympique de Marseille 35, 78, 89, 305, 306

‘on fire’, player 334

open days 213–16

opposition reports 25, 46, 47, 74, 90, 101, 102, 117–24, 165, 253

OptaPro 183, 186, 360

Ormonde-Ottewill, Brandon 91

Owen, Brian 106–7, 116, 369

Owen, Michael 30

Oxford City 260

Oxford United 165–6, 167, 228, 241, 295–6

Oxlade-Chamberlain, Alex 16, 288, 308

Ozil, Mesut 323

Padfield, Les 107, 116

Paisley, Bob 25

Panathinaikos 258

Pardew, Alan 198

parents/families of young players:

change in expectations of 289

educating 66–7

middle-class 236

pressure on children to succeed 66–7

release of children by clubs and 129–30, 274–5, 281

scouts approach 68, 75, 76, 86, 87, 98–9, 216, 227, 233, 234, 278

scouts build a relationship with 227, 233, 274–5, 278

Paris St Germain 258

Parish, Elliott 264

park football 57–77

Parker, Paul 201

Pavone, Mariano 328

Pearce, Stuart 14, 82, 151–2, 186, 281, 317

Pearson, Bob 232

Pearson, Nigel 103, 104

Penrice, Gary 102, 166, 311–13, 314–17, 320, 321, 322–4, 329, 369, 372

performance analysts 39, 45, 171, 175, 179, 185–8, 238, 250
see also
analytics

performance technology
see
technology

Peterborough 91, 335

Peters, Gary 153

Petric, Mladen 255

Phillips, Matt 117, 208

Philpotts, Dave 189, 190–1, 192, 193–7, 207, 372

physical literacy 65

Piazon, Lucas 5

Pires, Robert 35

Platini, Michel 326

Player Archeology 184–5

Pleat, David 116–17, 278, 318–19

plus-minus principle 331, 332

Plymouth Argyle 102, 165, 313, 374

Pogrebnyak, Pavel Viktorovich 249–50, 251, 252–3, 254

Poland 54, 247, 374

Porto 52, 53, 325

Portsmouth 13, 149, 190, 289

Portugal 34, 94, 144–5, 309–10, 324, 325, 326, 346, 369

Powell, Chris 297

Powell, Nick 161

Pozzo, Giampaolo 95, 265, 268

Pozzo, Gino 95, 265, 368

pre-scholarship agreements 76

Premier League 27, 39, 41, 42, 49, 50, 53, 54, 112, 133, 135, 157, 173, 177, 186, 196, 209, 216, 219, 224, 240, 245, 253, 275, 313, 314, 315, 316, 322, 326, 336, 341, 342, 345, 346, 349, 359, 374

economy of 80

Elite Player Performance Plan (EP3) 7–9, 71, 73–4, 75–6, 132, 226, 234

longest service records of chief scouts in 269

‘Solidarity funding’ and 8

Presland, Eddie 242

Preston North End 39, 43, 45, 114, 267, 268

Pritchard, Alex 82, 83

Professional Footballer’s Association 100

‘Prospect Theory: An Analysis of Decision under Risk’ (Kahneman/Tversky) 344

Prowse, James Ward 296

Prozone 46, 179, 182, 183–5, 197, 331, 360

PSV Eindhoven 329

psychological profile 108

psychometric testing 87–8, 349

Pulis, Tony 316, 321

Puyot, Gus 132, 235

Pye, Jessie 277

Queens Park Rangers 14, 29, 31, 58, 64, 84, 150, 152, 155, 230, 231, 312, 344–52, 355

Quayle, Andy 190

Racing Club 328, 329

Rangers, Glasgow 115, 154, 240, 243, 244, 245, 289, 369

ranking players 119–24

Ranson, Ray 326

Rastrick, Dean 67

Reading 6, 140, 197, 204–5, 206, 220, 223, 236, 251, 253, 254, 282, 296

Real Madrid 28, 91, 184, 255, 323, 329

Redknapp, Harry 12, 102, 133, 259, 260, 344–5, 351, 352

Redmond, Nathan 17

Reep, Charles 171, 172

Reid, Peter 165

Reither, Sascha 255

Rekik, Karim 149

release of player 85, 102, 157, 166, 189–96, 205, 208, 211, 216–25, 235, 240, 284, 317, 355

Rennes 245

resale value 6, 41, 50, 53–4, 133, 221, 349, 368

Richardson, Russ 354

Ridgeway Rovers 12

Ridgeway, Mark 67

Rigg, Mike 231, 345–51

Rios, Miguel 57–61, 62–5, 77, 78, 80, 226, 372

River Plate 166

Road to Perdition, The
(film) 269–70

Robbins, Mike 355

Robinson, Karl 29

Rocastle, David ‘Rocky’ 271–5, 278, 282, 291

Roda JC 259

Rodallega, Hugo 255

Rodgers, Brendan 6, 237, 238, 239, 295, 296, 371, 373–4

Rodriguez, James 52–3

Roeder, Glenn 17

Rogic, Tom 217

Ronaldo, Cristiano 34

Rooney, Wayne 41

Rosenberg 82

Rösler, Uwe 80

Rouen 320

Round, Steve 46–7

Rowe, Terry 202

Rowley, Steve 34, 83, 111, 126, 141, 269, 284, 286, 292, 294, 295, 303, 309

Sabermetric Revolution 170, 186, 355–6

Sage, James 91

Sagers, Hans 152–3

Saint Etienne 21

Saja, Sebastian 329

Samba, Christopher 345

Samper, Sergi 82, 83

Sanchez, Alexis 265, 348–9

Sansom, Kenny 200

Santa Cruz, Roque 40

Santos, Georges 93–4

SAS 218

SC Freiburg 321

Schmeichel, Peter 272

Scout7 110, 184, 360

scouts:

allegiance to their own 93, 269, 354–5

analytics and
see
analytics

anonymity 2, 3, 294

attitude of players and 42, 150–1, 157–9, 168, 179, 203, 280, 314

background of players and 11–12, 28, 30–1, 33, 86

boom and bust, reflect cycle of 253

character of players and 12, 28, 41, 42, 85–6, 87–8, 137, 153–4, 193, 252–3, 293–4, 308–9, 315, 328, 348–9

competitive nature of 93

conversation between 127–47

cycles of (changes in fashionable nations of interest) 246–7

decision to let players go and 247–8

dedication of 20, 35, 155, 249–50, 256, 294, 354

disciplinary issues with players and 35, 85, 87, 99, 135–6

discovering ‘the one’/discovery, feeling of 3–4, 29–35, 59, 67–9, 83, 84–5, 150–1, 152–3, 144–5, 202–3, 230–1, 273–4, 321–4

dismissal/sack and 10, 12–13, 92, 103–5, 111–12, 113, 114, 130, 141, 155–6, 161–4, 207–8, 237–8, 248, 264, 269, 286–7, 300–1, 303, 307, 351–2, 354, 357, 364, 365, 368, 371–2

don’t need to be a good pro to be 286

DVDs, watch players on 43, 144, 162, 246, 258, 262, 275, 318, 328, 350

emotional intelligence and 23, 108

emotional investment in 74–5

as an endangered species 172

Europe, increase in interest in 313–15, 317–25, 329

financial impropriety 370

fitting profile and culture of clubs they represent 3

football intelligence and 279

fractured lifestyle of 3, 324

generosity of spirit/humanity of 59, 93, 196–7, 278, 289, 370

hunger/desire of players and 62, 86, 96, 102, 128, 129, 134, 135, 137, 203, 236, 245

injury of players and 42, 217, 339

inner voice 250–1

insecurity of job 48, 92–3, 98, 99, 104, 161–3, 207–9, 239, 241–2, 257, 313, 363, 371

instinct and 9, 21–2, 25, 83–4, 145, 159, 171, 313, 328, 369–70

intimate involvement as aim of 324

job satisfaction 34, 107, 196, 324, 359–60

journalists compared to 371

knowledge base 241, 242, 246

lateral thinking and 278–9

legacy scouting 259

long hours/hard work 7, 20, 35, 74–5, 242–3

longest serving 269

maintain contact with players and families 274–5

man management skills 247–8

managers and
see
mangers
and under individual manager name

mental toughness 35, 85–6, 283

missing out on talent 141, 142, 146, 149–50, 152–3, 194, 195, 198, 249–54, 259–60, 321–2

multi-cultural society effect upon 66

nicking/poaching kids 7–8, 75–6, 80–1, 226, 234–5, 236, 315

one name built up by Chinese whispers of 285–6

pace of players and 11, 14, 17, 31, 84–5, 110, 113, 114, 118, 119, 120, 207, 272, 281, 319, 328, 329

parents and families
see
parents/families

park football and 57–77

pay 2, 3, 65, 80, 92, 105, 117, 124

pay-per-mileage 2, 100–24, 268, 287, 354, 369

physical literacy of player and 65

physicality/aggression of players and 10, 84, 85, 118, 123, 155, 173, 235, 281–2, 283

player release and 85, 102, 157, 166, 189–96, 205, 208, 211, 216–25, 235, 240, 284, 317, 355

players bond with 273–5, 282–3, 359–60

resistant to star system 3

respect between 25, 31, 38, 44, 61, 70, 73, 93, 96, 99, 101, 106, 107, 124, 125, 141, 151, 208, 209, 231, 237, 252, 282, 294, 318, 323, 337, 358, 363

romanticism of role 3–4

secretive nature of work 9, 17–18, 48–52, 173, 254, 326, 336, 368

sense of detachment 33, 173, 247

short-termism in football and 113, 175, 195, 254, 287, 324, 344–52, 356, 364

speed of thought in players, importance of 12, 83, 88

stealth scouting 257

strength and power of player and 120, 169, 173, 207, 227, 272

study the man not the game 15, 62

technology and
see
technology

television, watch games on 143–4, 338

thrown out of clubs 75–6, 80–1, 234

timing and 245, 250, 320

types of 278

unfashionable 370

video scouting and 24, 44, 47, 53, 108, 184, 214, 222, 250, 257, 350, 354, 360

walking out before end of game 12, 203

work permits, players eligibility for UK and 52, 307, 321, 325

Scudamore, Richard 326

Scunthorpe United 179

Senior, Courtney 227–8

Serie A 53, 265, 313

Shankly, Bill 19, 20, 37, 136, 239, 278

Shapiro, Mark 174–5

Shaw, Bob 164–5

Shaw, Luke 91–2, 144, 295, 372

Shaw, Richard 368

Shearer, Alan 333