Richard Montague

[Swanjaxs]

I hope he starts by trimming some of our massive squad. We have two teams worth if players and it’s obvious that half of them are never going to play for us. Get 10 out and two or three in. Getting the likes of Congrieve and Parker on the pitch would be a start.

Our massive squad

 

[Nocountryforoldjack]

I've just seen Richard in Staples buying a new abacus and a jar of magic Beans ready for his new job.

As someone said.... ambition is critical.

 

[Dr. Winston]

To be brutally honest though, I’m reall sceptical about ‘data driven’. It fills me with dread. If that’s slagging him off, so be it.

Yep. I'd much prefer our signings to be of the "we got off our arses and went to watch him play numerous times rather than perused Microsoft Excel for an hour" type, but I guess that's the way the game has gone.

 

[magicdaps10]

Yep. I'd much prefer our signings to be of the "we got off our arses and went to watch him play numerous times rather than perused Microsoft Excel for an hour" type, but I guess that's the way the game has gone.

It still happens. It's just a case that tech geeks have now worked their way in with databases that involves punching things into a computer and the computer gives the answer to what is required.

It's like a car garage, they do the same and the computer gives the answer which is likely to be wrong.....can't beat the guy who actually investigates it physically himself.

I like yourself would rather scouts actually spending time watching games, be that in person or in today's world when you can actually watch all games on various devices. Nothing wrong with going to see a player that was shouted from a TV screen.....did they go and see Eom play in person after finding him off a TV screen?

 

[Swanjaxs]

Yep. I'd much prefer our signings to be of the "we got off our arses and went to watch him play numerous times rather than perused Microsoft Excel for an hour" type, but I guess that's the way the game has gone.

As I said previously, individuals tasked with player recruitment who wouldn't know the difference between a football and a melon ball...

 

[Dr. Winston]

Notts County fans seem to be disappointed he's gone and clearly rate this Football Radar thing.

Richard Montague

Apparently could be off to Swansea as their Head of Footballing Operations. https://x.com/swansea_indy/status/1887547988475601334

boards.footymad.net

Less positive about Williams.

Reading that thread is trippy. You can "find and replace" the word Williams with Martin at any point and the managerial opinions are equally valid.

 

[ThurrockJack]

Are people really under the impression that we are or will be signing players just because their number is high on a spreadsheet? There is nothing wrong with using data to compile shortlists that you then scout, Brighton and Brentford do it very successfully. The real question is how good at it the new guy will be?

 

[Itchysphincter]

Our massive squad

We do have a lot of players.

 

[Dr. Winston]

Are people really under the impression that we are or will be signing players just because their number is high on a spreadsheet? There is nothing wrong with using data to compile shortlists that you then scout, Brighton and Brentford do it very successfully. The real question is how good at it the new guy will be?

How many times do you think we went out to watch Eom play? Or Vipotnik? Or Ronald?

I'm not being critical of them because I think they are all capable of more than Williams can get out of them, but I'd find it very hard to believe that any of them were physically scouted before signing.

 

[ThurrockJack]

How many times do you think we went out to watch Eom play? Or Vipotnik? Or Ronald?

I'm not being critical of them because I think they are all capable of more than Williams can get out of them, but I'd find it very hard to believe that any of them were physically scouted before signing.

I believe it would have been reasonable to scout Vipotnik and Ronald yes, with how quick and cheap flights are you could even scout them as easily and extensively as you would someone playing for Norwich or Carlisle. Eom would be more difficult but even then it isn't unreasonable to spend a couple of grand to cast an eye over an investment of millions. Whether the Swans actually did any of the above I don't know. I'm just saying that it is a reasonable way to approach recruitment.

 

[Smurph]

Reading that thread is trippy. You can "find and replace" the word Williams with Martin at any point and the managerial opinions are equally valid.

No plan B made me smile when referring to William's

 

[Andrew - North Hill]

I believe it would have been reasonable to scout Vipotnik and Ronald yes, with how quick and cheap flights are you could even scout them as easily and extensively as you would someone playing for Norwich or Carlisle. Eom would be more difficult but even then it isn't unreasonable to spend a couple of grand to cast an eye over an investment of millions. Whether the Swans actually did any of the above I don't know. I'm just saying that it is a reasonable way to approach recruitment.

The other missing piece of the jigsaw here is character references. Did anyone pick up the phone to previous managers and teammates and ask what they were like in training, around the dressing room, domestic life, etc. You're looking out for red flags.

Not saying this was or wasn't done, but all of this should be done before you sign any player.

 

[Dr. Winston]

The other missing piece of the jigsaw here is character references. Did anyone pick up the phone to previous managers and teammates and ask what they were like in training, around the dressing room, domestic life, etc. You're looking out for red flags.

Not saying this was or wasn't done, but all of this should be done before you sign any player.

Yep. A lot of the human factor gets lost when too much emphasis is placed on the numbers.

Data analysis absolutely has a role to play these days, but no amount of stats can replace a human eye watching a game, or actual study of the personality.

 

[Cinio Dydd Sul]

I believe it would have been reasonable to scout Vipotnik and Ronald yes, with how quick and cheap flights are you could even scout them as easily and extensively as you would someone playing for Norwich or Carlisle. Eom would be more difficult but even then it isn't unreasonable to spend a couple of grand to cast an eye over an investment of millions. Whether the Swans actually did any of the above I don't know. I'm just saying that it is a reasonable way to approach recruitment.

The timing wouldn't have worked out to realistically scout Vipotnik. We can't have known Bordeaux were going to have to release a lot of their squad when they did, which was deep into pre- season.

It's possible there were whispers of Bordeauxs demise towards the end of last season and we physically flew to France to scout him then, but I'd say with him having been in the Slovenia squad, I doubt signing him was ever a realistic prospect for us until he was released.

 

[Swansea93]

Richard Montague: Luke Williams welcomes new Swansea City director of football

Luke Williams believes Richard Montague's arrival as director of football will be a major boost for Swansea City.

www.bbc.co.uk