A bit of research on " Dan"

Our new Director of Football is known as Dan.He lives in Huddersfield.His association with 777 was as an employee for 18 months.He works closely with the clubs other anylsts.Nearly all clubs now have anylists.
Leicester City fans blame Rogers for Dan leaving because what ever the recruitment team put forward to him he was determined to do it his way and evidently he signed some poor players.
Highly regarded at Leicester,Huddersfield and the short time he spent at Everton also.
Some Barnsley fans have phobias with names that are not common like John ,David, Bobby etc.

 

What was his role at hudders ? Was it data/analytics on the recruitment side ?

 

The only thing I don't understand about his appointment is that he appears to be a data analyst but the role was advertised as needing someone to arrange all player contracts. I don't really understand how data analyst = contract manager.

Oh, also wasn't it a director of football role that was advertised? But he's been employed as sporting director instead?

 

I don't think that's much of a leap. I'm a product manager but part of my job is data analysis. We have a Data Analytics product that I build from the ground up and I provide insights to our clients on the data within. I don't analyse football data, but if you gave me it, I could. Data is data. I wouldn't feel that far out of my comfort zone negotiating player contracts. I already write tenders and business plans, hold discussions with potential clients, negotiate with software providers, help solve issues for members of our team. It's all office based work and arranging contracts doesn't seem that far away from some of the things I already do. I'd want to read up on best practices and maybe attend a course, but it doesn't feel like it's outside my skillset or at odds to some of the things I'm already doing. I'm not claiming I'd be any good, but the practices are similar to some things I already do. When you work for small companies, and football clubs are small companies, your role tends to be quite broad. It's not like suddenly being asked to be a trapeze artist... or a football coach.

What would be massively out of my comfort zone is this: "Additionally, the former Leicester man will work with our coaches to create and implement a game model and coaching methodology to be used across the club."

What? You want me to tell Neil Collins and his team of coaches how to coach the players? And all the coaches in the academy? Most of whom (maybe all?) have played the game professionally and all of whom have a wealth of coaching accreditation. And you think I can do that because I'm able to analyse the data? Even though I haven't played football for 30 years and I've never held a coaching session in my life? Is this still reality?

 

Could you not analyse the metrics of play though. Heat maps, number of touches, passing completion, shots on target from various scenarios, link in with the sports scientists around fitness etc.

I think specifying very generic tropes of playing style we want to have I.e. high press, using wingers to create goals, not dicking about at the back etc is what they mean by a coaching methodology, not coming and criticising Collins and staff on the training field.

Not sure why so many on here would get up in arms about that by the way, because they come on here and do it after every match. The only difference is that no one has given them a wage to do so, and no one at the club has to listen to them.

 

I agree that sounds a bit odd.
I wonder if it’s more about communicating an overall philosophy as we’ve done before to some extent - by saying we play a certain way, so will replace coaches with those that have similar approach. . . .?

 

I think I'd have a phobia if someone called David Bobby approached me.

 

See where you’re coming from, I didn’t interpret the coaching bit how you have.
I read that as he is taking responsibility to ensure all football related matters plug into the same philosophy through the entire club.
That wouldn’t be telling them how to coach but sharing the results wanted and reviewed regular which I would have thought would be well within your reach as it’s just different set of data.

 

Whatever happened to scouts going looking at players at matches and reporting that this player can do backflips when he scores,this one can do handstands,this one kisses other players better when they score games gone to pot

 

Scouts still watch the targets so does the coach.

 

Absolutely, and then the real skill is communicating that effectively to those who can act upon it.

I work for a company that provides a service for local authorities in their statutory duty to care for vulnerable children. We collect a lot of data. This used to be primarily presented in spread sheets, our Analytics tool presents the data in much more human friendly, visual way. I know the data very well and I'm able to quickly direct clients towards what may be areas of concern. It's a very valuable tool for highlighting actionable insights.

I have no doubt the same is true for the data collected on the training field and from a Saturday afternoon game. I'm a big believer in the value of data analytics. I make the bloody things. I'm sure it will work for football. It's a great tool. What I don't do, after evaluating the data, is become the caseworker who works directly with the children.

 

Football Contracts are fairly straight forward. They are set formats agreed with FA. So there’s not much to do with it, other than agree details.

Non-playing staff are on normal everyday contracts.

 

I suppose only time will tell, but can confirm in my job there are data analysts who tell me how to run my electrical testing programme who have never been electricians and have no idea how to get a satisfactory EICR.

 

A year on and it's not looking good.

 

You were spot on. I read that without seeing the dates and thought you'd written all of that today.

It's been a real shambles.

 

We had data analysts that would look at how long things would run b4 packing up. What they didn't do is follow a maintenance programme. To get to that length of time. So penny wise pound foolish.
It's ok saying amount of passes completed and shots on target etc. But what they don't do, is say, how that transfers to different levels of opposition. A player may beat 10 men in a Sunday league game. Then score. That doesn't transfer in general to levels higher.
A bit simplistic I know. But I'd rather have someone watch a player and give an opinion. Eg scout. Clubs sign players never having seen em actually play throughout 90 minutes. Both can be utilised to a degree. But analytics don't work without the other. Imo.
I think it was one of the centre halves for example who was signed to the academy (time to evaluate) on the basis of watching him play for Burnley academy by sir Bobby's recommendation. Its no good chucking em int deep end hoping they'll perform.
Maybe Mladen has identified quality players. But not having the clout (money) to sign em it's a complete waste of time. Setting your sights too high. only to fail due to money. leads not to 2nd choices (as they've been snapped up) but beyond that. And even panic signings. As what appears to have happened over the last 2 windows. With only DKD a stand out target signing.

 

Whatever way he does his job and however he gets data and also does the scouting, the proof is in the pudding regarding his results on recruitment and I am afraid to say that the results have been crap.It has contributed to a bloke(Clarke) losing is job last week, for me he needs to follow Darrell through the door ASAP.

 

Agree. However complex these issues may seem to some (like me) the end result of data analysis, heat map usage, goals, touches, retention, distribution, assists etc etc... has resulted in a squad that is totally inadequate, bloated (therefore collectively overpaid) and disjointed. The guy is pinching a living. Hes a clown, jester and comedian all rolled into one. Neerav should sack him OR explain why he thinks its sensible to keep him.

 

Agree that he should follow Clarke through the door but let's not forget they'll all be paid up in full while we watch the decline of our club..

 

Having to pay him up is probably worst of 2 evils imo.