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
Sheffield United 101, 105, 109, 113, 117, 208
Sheffield Wednesday 29, 107
Shelvey, Jonjo 134
Sheringham, Teddy 14
Sherwood, Tim 32
Shorey, Nicky 10
Shorey, Steve 140, 206
Shreeves, Peter 275
Shrewsbury Town 152, 153, 189, 192
Silkman, Barry 91
Silva, David 41
Silver, Nate 355–6
Simmonds, Barry 32, 176, 249–62, 268–9
Sinclair, Jerome 29
Sinclair, Scott 318
Sitton, John 14
Slade, Russell 139
Slew, Jordan 113–14
Smales, Ryan 68–9
Smartodds 332, 336
Smith, Dan 95
Smith, Gary 110–12, 114, 115, 160, 284
Smith, James 38, 39–43, 44–5, 46, 47–8, 51, 53–5, 175, 182, 360
Smith, Paul 200
Smith, Roger 111, 113, 114, 176, 284–7
Smith, Tommy 349
Smith, Walter 154, 244
Smithies, Alex 25
Snodgrass, Robert 245
Solksjaer, Ole Gunnar 246
Solly, Chris 109, 110
Sordell, Marvin 85
Souness, Graeme 145, 154, 362
South America 23, 43, 48, 51–2, 54, 247, 324, 325, 326, 327, 328–9
South Bank University 39, 175
Southampton 12, 33, 77, 91–2, 93, 102, 105, 106, 131, 144, 145, 176, 200, 235, 295, 296, 314, 362
Southend United 6, 148–9, 150, 154, 157, 158, 238, 297, 304, 307, 351, 365, 373
Southern League 166, 202, 210–11, 217
Spain 128, 166, 214, 238, 247, 298, 309, 314, 315, 324, 372
Spartak Moscow 253
Spendlhofer, Lukas 89
sporting director 20, 55, 79, 96, 255 see also Comolli, Damien
Sporting Lisbon 82, 96, 325, 329
Sports Analytics Innovation Summit 356
Sports Illustrated 46
sports science 39, 59, 87, 92, 171, 175, 351
St Albans City 210–13, 297
St John, Ian 30
St Johnstone 106, 115, 240
Stafford Rangers 202–3
Staines Town 1, 4–5, 110, 369
Stam, Jaap 16–17
Stanislaus, Roger 141
Stannard, Jim 201
stealth scouting 257
Sterling, Nadine 30
Sterling, Raheem 29–33, 81, 84–5, 95–6, 230, 231, 232, 340, 341
Stevenage 110–11, 114, 115, 133, 136, 160, 284, 292
Stevens, Andy 90, 162
Stockport County 139, 191, 193
Stoke City 137, 193, 313, 316, 320, 321–2, 340, 373
Stokes, Chris 312
streaming games 53
Sturrock, Paul 307
Stuttgart 251, 320
Suarez, Luis 36, 83
Suckling, Perry 166
Sugar, Alan 117, 208–9, 278, 300
Suggett, Colin 242
Sunderland 165, 168, 241, 245, 359
Suso 82
Sussex 236
Swansea 152, 182, 318, 324
Swift, John 10
Swiss League 211
Switzerland 90, 150
Sy, Ibrahima 306
Szcze˛sny, Wojciech 339
Talbot, Brian 306
Tampa Bay Rays 174
Tampa Bay Rowdies 202
Taylor, Graham 172, 267, 268
Taylor, Peter 126, 136–7, 309
Team GB 160
technical scouting 39, 173, 176, 182, 208–9, 318, 360, 370–1
technology:
blind faith in 370–1
football people uncomfortable with 97
mistakes caused by advances in 371
Moyes and 39
NFL ‘anti-technology’ rule 356
Opta and see Opta
Prozone see Prozone
Scout7 and see Scout7
short-termism and 350–1
as threat to scouts 2, 24, 44, 53, 108, 117, 175, 181–3, 184, 214, 222, 246, 350–1, 370–1
video scouting 24, 44, 47, 53, 108, 184, 214, 222, 250, 257, 350, 354, 360
see also analytics
Teixeira, João 82
Tello 333
Ternant, Stan 261
Terry, John 132
Tettey, Alex 245
Tevez, Carlos 325
Think Fitness 181
Thinking Fast and Slow (Kahneman) 337–8, 344
third-party ownership 52–3, 325–7
This Pattern Weaving Talk Is All bunk! (Reep) 172
Tillson, Jordan 217, 223
Timlin, Michael 157
Tiote, Cheick 321
Tombati, Sido 157
Tomlin, Gavin 168
Tomsk, Tom 253
Torquay United 267
Torres, Fernando 364
Tottenham Hotspur 6, 83, 87, 106,129, 145, 243, 245, 250, 271, 275, 278, 284, 297, 299–300, 355, 362, 365
Academy/School of Excellence 13, 133, 135, 166
scouting network 12, 13, 14, 21, 23, 29, 32, 69, 76, 80, 82, 87, 116, 129, 152–3, 208–9, 242, 294, 318–19
youth team/policy 13, 126, 129, 130, 133, 135–6, 145, 166
Tours 205, 322
Traffic Sports 326–7
Tranmere Rovers 93–4, 189–94, 196, 372
trials 13, 32, 72, 146, 189–93, 195–6, 210–26, 233, 279–80, 283, 307, 319
Trotta, Marcello 262–3
Tuleta, Operation 198, 263
The Nowhere Men: The Unknown Story of Football's True Talent Spotters Page 30