Really interesting article about Brighton's recruitment

[archie]

https://theathletic.com/4237821/2023/04/21/brighton-scouting-premier-league-tony-bloom/?source=nyt_app_android

[Ronniekirk]

It might be if there was a link that worked

[cameronw-hfc]

If there's a club we should be basing recruitment on its Brighton. They very very rarely miss with players and seem to find gem after gem.

[Allant1981]

It might be if there was a link that worked

It does

[w pilton hibby]

https://theathletic.com/4237821/2023/04/21/brighton-scouting-premier-league-tony-bloom/?source=nyt_app_android

https://theathletic.com/4237821/2023/04/21/brighton-scouting-premier-league-tony-bloom/?source=nyt_app_android

[Ronniekirk]

It does
Not for me

[Ronniekirk]

https://theathletic.com/4237821/2023/04/21/brighton-scouting-premier-league-tony-bloom/?source=nyt_app_android

cheers this one works

[Glory Lurker]

Sort of team we need a partnership with.

[Helensburghhibs]

I'm sure recruitment becomes easier with millions of sky money. Tinpot clubs artificially inflated in a tourist league

[Glory Lurker]

I'm sure recruitment becomes easier with millions of sky money. Tinpot clubs artificially inflated in a tourist league

Thumbs up.

[Unseen work]

It might be if there was a link that worked

Copy and paste the URL.

[cameronw-hfc]

I'm sure recruitment becomes easier with millions of sky money. Tinpot clubs artificially inflated in a tourist league

Maybe, but doesn't explain why every other team spends crazy amounts and get a lot less bang for buck than Brighton. Signed Caicedo for 5m, rejected 70m bid.

Mitoma for 2.7m and looking at 30/40m minimum bids.

Marc Cucurella 12m sold for 60.

Bissouma 15m sold with a year left on his deal for 35m

They're success is mental, sky money or not.

[badabing67]

There was an interview with David Weir their Technical Director on the Monday Night Club on 5 live should still be available on BBC Sounds

[Hibbyradge]

I'm sure recruitment becomes easier with millions of sky money. Tinpot clubs artificially inflated in a tourist league

"Tourist league" :faf:

Jealous much?

[CapitalGreen]

The most pertinent parts of that article for me are,

Scouts are sent a list of names to watch and compile reports on players who have passed the data tick list…

Marrying data with more traditional methods of scouts on the ground with an eye for a player is a balancing act for all clubs.

A source at one rival says of Brighton: “They have a strong physical presence in the market, as well as data. The whole data thing is exaggerated. I don’t know any club that uses data over scouts.

“It’s there to complement the work the scouts do and basically point them in a direction of player they are looking for.”

There’s a common misconception from people who believe Brighton and Brentford’s successes in the transfer market is purely data driven and they have replaced in person scouting with video analysis. In reality, going to watch a prospective signing in person is still essential and can’t be replicated by an algorithm or watching videos on Wyscout.

Our previous Director of Football lost sight of the importance of in person scouting - experienced senior scouts with a strong network in the game were let go and replaced with Sports Science graduates. There has been a lot of talk about Duk lately and how Aberdeen were lucky to get him while we ended up with Tavares. It isn’t luck, Aberdeen had scouts watching him - this from last summer describes the time spent travelling to watch players their Head of Recruitment Darren Mowbray puts in - ”Head of Recruitment Darren Mowbray and his team are constantly flying all over Europe. Darren has been in 16 different countries in Europe since I came in.”

Hibs new DoF has to be experienced in recruitment and as part of their review of our processes needs to rebuild our scouting and knowledge network.

[cameronw-hfc]

The most pertinent parts of that article for me are,

Scouts are sent a list of names to watch and compile reports on players who have passed the data tick list…

Marrying data with more traditional methods of scouts on the ground with an eye for a player is a balancing act for all clubs.

A source at one rival says of Brighton: “They have a strong physical presence in the market, as well as data. The whole data thing is exaggerated. I don’t know any club that uses data over scouts.

“It’s there to complement the work the scouts do and basically point them in a direction of player they are looking for.”

There’s a common misconception from people who believe Brighton and Brentford’s successes in the transfer market is purely data driven and they have replaced in person scouting with video analysis. In reality, going to watch a prospective signing in person is still essential and can’t be replicated by an algorithm or watching videos on Wyscout.

Our previous Director of Football lost sight of the importance of in person scouting - experienced senior scouts with a strong network in the game were let go and replaced with Sports Science graduates. There has been a lot of talk about Duk lately and how Aberdeen were lucky to get him while we ended up with Tavares. It isn’t luck, Aberdeen had scouts watching him - this from last summer describes the time spent travelling to watch players their Head of Recruitment Darren Mowbray puts in - ”Head of Recruitment Darren Mowbray and his team are constantly flying all over Europe. Darren has been in 16 different countries in Europe since I came in.”

Hibs new DoF has to be experienced in recruitment and as part of their review of our processes needs to rebuild our scouting and knowledge network.


Agree with all you've said here. Stats can be brilliant, but only when used properly. If for instance you watch 5 players and all seem a similar level, stats can help separate that. However if you're only using stats, it's easy to be deceived by purple patches in form/players that do well on stats but aren't all that effective.

I always use Grealish as an example(Villa being my English team has a lot to do with that). Statistically, he's pretty pants. Always has been, but watching City this season he's been brilliant for them, and their fans have really taken to him.

Used properly together, you get situations like Brighton, Brentford or Leicester in their early prem days.

[ScottB]

A few clubs down there have managed similar, Southampton for example, but all the others have eventually failed to keep the conveyor belt moving.

Will be interesting to see how long Brighton can keep this up, even as they lose senior people involved in the system.

That acceptance of always having to be ready to replace anyone at the club is spot on though, and the reality all but a few clubs in the world need to accept they are in.

[Torto7]

Man City have got insane value for money as well. Akanji 15 mill, Alvarez 20 mill, Rodri 28 mill, Gundogen 8 mill etc. Some players are undervalued due to playing in certain systems. Defenders at Dortmund are left out to dry due to the forwards all stat hunting. So a guy like Akanji who was playing in a system that makes him look bad was available at a bargain fee.