11 Quick Questions with Xander Wilkinson

 

Xander Wilkinson - SC Heerenveen Scout

What was your biggest fear when you decided to become a scout?

The only slight fear that I had was the length of time and difficulty in breaking into the industry in a paid role. It requires a lot of patience, dedication and willingness to make a lot of sacrifices due to the heavily unsociable hours. So it was a case of being wary of possible committing a lot of time and effort and not getting any form of self reward.

Why scouting? Any desire to coach or be an intermediary?

I tried coaching initially, I enjoyed the self development and improving people on the training pitch, but then match days I felt had too much politics and weren’t that enjoyable, more stressful and didn’t suit my personality, so I was recommended to take a look at scouting because it fit my traits and way of working by a former academy coach of mine and it went from there. Intermediary work is something I have considered and would never rule out, but my focus is within a club environment rather than individuals to be honest at this moment. 

What skill or decision opened up the most doors for you when you started out?

The willingness to invest in myself and networking alongside that. I reached out to many people within the game for shadowing opportunities, feedback on my work, and also purchased software’s to aid my work and show a desire to push myself and further my progression. I was of the belief of if you’re not willing to invest in yourself, why would a club want to invest their money/budget into you?

What is a common misconception about "getting your foot in the door" to become a scout?

Scouting qualifications are required. They aren’t. They can help you to an extent and also help you progress up the ladder once in the game, but that is more down to the willingness to invest in your own development, and the networking opportunities, than the actual qualifications themselves I believe. Networking and getting yourself out there is a better way to get in. 

What is the worst advice you've received in becoming a competent scout?

I wouldn’t say I’ve really had much bad advice so far, mainly due to being fairly head strong and I tend to remember the useful advice and information I receive from people a lot more. If anything, possibly someone once said to me “you need a degree in some form to get a real opportunity”, which I don’t have, and I know a large amount of people who don’t too! 

What player have you learned the most about the complete spectrum of scouting? (Not a player you "found" but more so a player that revealed to you what was important and maybe what you were good at recognizing.)

I won’t name individuals due to the fact they might possibly still be on my lists, but especially in the u23 competitions within the U.K. you see it a lot where someone at 15/16 is an average skilled individual at the time, but then as they grow into their body, get exposed to higher quality individuals in the u23 competition and EFL Trophy, they learn from their experiences and blossom quickly and you can see the match intelligence and they become top footballers as a result because they have the right mentality to go with the technical skills, and are capable of constantly stepping up the levels they are exposed to and their performance levels do not drop. 

Tell me about the grind. Everybody wants to find the next Richarlison but nobody talks about hours spent traveling, watching games live & in person, family and friends you have to neglect to get your work done. How do you manage that part of your job?

It’s just something you have to do! If you want to get into a decent level of scouting and have the full social life, do things with friends who just work the 9-5 jobs, it just isn’t possible. But there is a balance there, and you do still get to enjoy a lot of the “normal” side of life. 

The key to this is having the right social circle and understanding partner and family around you. I am fortunate in that I did work before scouting that I hated, and it made me miserable and unbearable to be around at times, but saved money to allow me to pursue scouting because football is my major passion, and everyone around me acknowledges that in order for me to get the best version out of myself I need to be happy, and football and scouting makes me happy, you live your life to make yourself happy, not everyone else. 

Of course you feel like you are missing out on some events, but you know that will be the case when you sign up for the industry. I’ve missed family birthdays, celebrations etc to make sure I am at a match, but I will still also make sure I have 1-2 days completely away from football each week if I can in order to see people, socialise and do the day to day necessities.

What do chief scouts, technical/sporting directors value most in scouts?

Honesty. Respect. Personal skills. Stubbornness (to an extent, if you believe in something, they want you to back yourself). Building a real mutual working appreciation for each other is massive, and acknowledging how to get the best out of each other from a scouting perspective. Then obviously the ability to display the correct level of football knowledge and a willingness to further the club and yourself as a scout.

How have you improved the most as a scout?

Speaking/networking to other scouts and intermediaries away from my club. Every club works differently, even if it is only tiny details. Every scouts see’s slightly different things, so being open to hearing from these people and how they work and what they see has allowed me to incorporate things into my way of scouting and being able to identify things I might not have previously thought about. Being open to methods and ideas without question was the best way for me to improve myself.

What are your ultimate aspirations in scouting and football?

To gain a full time paid position within the industry! This is my passion, something I have devoted my life to for around half a decade, I’ve proved myself now and a number of years with contracted/paid experience at an elite level/environment. 

So my next step is into the full time part of the industry, and the ultimate goal is being that decision maker within the recruitment department at as high of a level as I can. I want to be the chief scout or technical director calling the shots, whether that is in the U.K. or elsewhere around the world. I’ve massively enjoyed my time so far working in the Eredivisie and my current club will always have my loyalty and preferential treatment as a result of what they have given me to date.

What is one piece of advice you would give to the person reading this that wants to make the leap into scouting?

 Forget about what others think. If this is something you want to do. Go for it! It doesn’t matter what anybody else thinks around you, this is your choice, your life, your path! Pursue your own ambitions to create your own happiness! Be selfish.

9 Questions with Victor Zaferson

 

@Vzaferson

How were you first attracted to scouting?

Someone from Germany's Bayer 04 contacted me in 2001. I did work as football writer at Peru.com and this person from Argentina asked me if I want to work as scout for that German club. I accepted and I worked for them 4 years.  

What skills did you realize you needed to improve once you got your first scouting job?

Watch football matches (2 times) and write all the details (players, ages, positions, how the players read the game, etc) I finally understood the game. 

How do you balance video and live scouting?

I think live scouting is better, actually it's the best choice, but video and numbers now are key. One scout has to watch around 25 full matches to figure out the category of the player at this moment. Players need to play more than 20 full matches to confirm the level. 

Where or who do you see yourself scouting for in the next five years?

I'm so happy as football consultant, scout or informant. I like to work as freelance for some agents, scouts and agencies. I think I would like to work for any football federation or agency during a time.

What do those who are looking to enter scouting need to understand about the football industry?

I think there are a lot of opportunities, but if you want to find a space, it takes time. Is not easy. You need contacts and finally you have to show your skills. I made it after years of fighting.

What is the best advice you've received on scouting?

Watch the games twice and read all the details. If you understand the game things will be easier.

How do you scout strong personalities? What do you look for?

I always see the reactions of the players. If they are mentally strong on the pitch. I think the mind is between 80% and 100%. The mind is everything. There are good players, but they are not strong mentally.

How do you improve your scouting techniques?

Watching a lot of matches helped me to discover more things on the pitch. I always talk to coaches, players, scouts, agents and sporting directors. That's the best course to increase my knowledge about scouting. Information is free around the world. If I want to learn more I always can. 

If you could start all over again in scouting what would you do first?

Watch full football matches and write about the talents in English. Scouting is 99.9% in English. 

Mikael Hjelmberg - Book Release Interview

 

How were you first attracted to scouting?

I found out at a quite early age that I had a good eye for finding talented players. It has grown ever since.

What skills did you realize you needed to improve once you got your first scouting job?

I realized quite early that a good eye wasn't enough. You need to have a good social skills to be able to navigate and expand your network.

What word describes your scouting style best?

Sharp!

How does Hammarby keep getting players like Amoo and Outtara?

We do the work seriously. We are going to Africa several times each year and we are having a great network in Africa.

How do you stay ahead of the competition?

Collecting information is important. Decision making needs to be fast.

Is there a difference in scouting for development and scouting for future value?

Yes it is. You need to have a balanced squad but in football there are two ways of making the club grow in terms of finances. Playing in European competitions and selling players. We need to have a squad were we can do both.

What do those who are looking to enter scouting need to understand about the football industry?

That it takes time and you need to be ready to work yourself up from a lower ground.

What is the best advice you've received on scouting?

Don't overscout a player. If you scout a player too many times its easy to start looking at the negative qualities.

How do you scout strong personalities? What do you look for?

I always try to meet the player in person before signing. Personality is important.

How do you improve your scouting techniques?

You're getting better over time. Your eyes need to be updated and trained. I also try to use data more.

If you could start all over again in scouting what would you do first?

Make sure that I get a good network of people around me.

If Scandinavian nations had a region specific Champions League which country would win the majority of the time?

Denmark I think.

Who did you right your book for? Or did you just want to share stories from your journeys?

For all the people that are interested in football and scouting in general and supporting Hammarby in particular.

You can purchase his book(in Swedish) here: LINK

 

4 Quick Questions with Kevin Antunes

 

Kevin Antunes - First Team Scout at Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Why did scouting interest you?

After having been in the business of professional Football for a number of years before that, I slowly started to realize that Scouting was the area of the game where I excelled the most and that I enjoyed doing most. The whole concept of discovering talent, building a squad with the right fit of players, looking for bargains around the world (low risk high reward) were some of the aspects that really attracted me. 

Knowing what you know now, what is one piece of advice you would give to someone who wanted to scout football?

I would recommend being as meticulous as possible with the scouting work that is produced. Pay attention to every detail, always and in every aspect. Whether it be in the actual scouting act, in the work that is being delivered or in the way you interact with people. There are so many different things I could enumerate but this would end up in the size of a book. Never forget that networking is key to getting you opportunities but it's up to you to grab them when they come!

Which player are you proudest of spotting? Why?

First of all I would like to say that in today's Football it is very rare that one single person actually "discovers" a player. With the access to video and information in today's world, it becomes very rare that a given player is not seen by various people. What I would ask instead is, which player are you most proud of convincing someone about that has ended up having success? and there have been a few players that I have spotted throughout the years that have had success at the highest level. Now for the sake of answering the question, it would have to say Stephen Eustaquio, who really impressed me when playing in the third division of Portugal. It was on a tip from his family members that made me take a closer look at him. When I was convinced, I had to then convince his brother's agent to give Stephen a chance in the pro's. The agent listened to my advice, Stephen continued to progress and the rest is history.

Data and video scouting are important for scouting going forward. How do you balance the two with live scouting to identify prospects?

There is no doubt in my mind that the more access we have to information will help in the decision-making process and is always extremely valuable. Today we have an increasing number of data resources available and it's up to us to make good use of them in funneling our targets. Video scouting is an essentially cost saving tool that saves clubs astronomical amounts of time and money in their recruitment processes. In my opinion, video scouting does a large part of the initial work in terms of assessment but still leaves a percentage of the assessment to live scouting. Live scouting permits you to complete your assessment on the players that you have targeted and done a full data and video analysis on beforehand. There are intangibles that only a live analysis will allow you to assess. 

4 Quick Questions with Daniel Ajuh

 4 Quick Questions with Daniel Ajuh 

What is the most under-appreciated aspect of African players settling in Europe?

The most under-appreciated aspect of African players settling in Europe is their ability to

quickly adapt to different environments.

African populations are very diverse with many countries having hundreds of ethnic groups

and languages. For example, Cameroon has over 200 different ethnic groups and around

260 different languages. These different ethnic groups also have different cultures as shown

through the varied foods, dress and religions. This means that African players can easily fit

into a new country as they are used to interacting with people from different cultures and

backgrounds.

How has Covid-19 sped up or slowed down African players moving from Africa to Europe?

COVID-19 has slowed down African players moving to Europe.

The key reason being that European clubs are limited in terms of live scouting of African

players in Africa due to tight COVID-19 travel restrictions on entering most African

countries. As many European clubs feel they need to live scout players before signing them

and cannot do that for these players presently, they decide not to sign the players. This is

compounded by the COVID-19 restrictions in place in many European countries for

foreigners which has prevented some European clubs from signing African players or

bringing in African players on trials as the clubs cannot obtain the requisite visas for the

players to enter the countries the clubs are based in.

Longer-term I suspect that small to medium sized European clubs who in 2-3 years’ time will

still be suffering from the impact that COVID-19 has had on their finances will look to Africa

more to sign players. This is because African players playing in Africa will offer better value

for money than players in other markets.

What club or clubs do the best job at nurturing African players in a new environment?

I think Metz and Nordsjaelland nurture African players in a new environment better than

any other European clubs. Interestingly, both clubs have close ties to African youth player

development in Senegal and Ghana respectively.

Metz give financial support to Generation Foot, a club in Senegal to develop players and in

return Metz get the pick of Generation Foot’s best players. In recent years the likes of Sadio

Mane and Pape Matar Sarr moved from Generation Foot to Metz, adapted rapidly and

became standout performers for Metz in a short space of time. Key factors behind the

smooth transition from Senegal to France for Generation Foot academy prospects is the way

the players are supported, encouraged and integrated on arriving in France.

Nordsjaelland, is similar to Metz as they too have a direct link to African football. The club’s

owners also own the Right to Dream academy in Ghana. The best players from the Right to

Dream academy are moved to Nordsjaelland and given opportunities to play in the Danish

Superliga very quickly. As seen from the likes of Kamaldeen Sulemana and Mohammed

Kudus. Due to the connection between the Right to Dream academy and Nordsjaelland, the

more talented players from the academy are prepared for life in Denmark before moving

and then given the right support and guidance to thrive in Denmark once there.

Some other European clubs who have nurtured African players well in recent years include

Lille, Sheriff Tiraspol, FC Midtjylland, Yeni Matalyaspor, Basel and Trencin.

Is Scandinavia an attractive destination for African players? Why?

Scandinavia is a very attractive destination for African players. I think there are two key

reasons for this.

Firstly, the difference in level between the top Scandinavian leagues and the level many

African players are playing at in Africa is not too significant. These players know that it will

be easier and take less time for them to adjust to the demands of the Scandinavian leagues

compared to higher level European leagues. In turn, enabling them to receive first-team

chances and cement themselves as regular starters quicker.

Additionally, many African players have excelled in Scandinavia over the last 20+ years and

gone on to have great careers at the highest levels of European football. Therefore, many

African players know that if they shine in Scandinavia that will open up a host of

opportunities for them to play in better leagues and for bigger clubs across Europe.

On a side note, Scandinavia is particularly attractive to English-speaking African players from

Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa etc, as a high proportion of people in Scandinavia are

fluent in English. This makes it far easier for players from these English-speaking African

countries to adapt to life in Scandinavia as they can easily communicate with their

teammates, managers, club officials and with the general public in their private lives.

Check out Daniel's blog as well (LINK)

Hammarby Chief Scout Mikael Hjelmberg

3 Quick Questions with Hammarby's Chief Scout Mikael Hjelmberg 

COVID-19 has increased the value of video analysis in scouting. How do you balance video and live scouting analysis?

For me live scouting is the absolute best and most important. Video and data could be added as a compliment. During Covid-19 obviously I spend more time doing video analysis because its not possible to travel.

The Sweden championship is very competitive. How do you scout players with an eye on the league but also potential resale value?

I always need to follow the structure of the squad. Which qualities do we need to add or replace? Every year we need to sell players I also need to find players with qualities that can take the next step into European topflight football.

Your book seems a thrilling read! What are two takeaways you would encourage those who want to pursue scouting to consider before they venture in?

You need to be aware that its gonna take a lot of time from your private life. Having a good network is really important, work with people that you trust. Social competence is also important. You need to good with people.

Lastly, who is your favorite athlete ? Why?

Odilon Kossonou in Bayer Leverkusen. He has been working so hard, always stayed humble and really have a determination to be successful. He will become a world class player.

 

Profiles I'm Tracking This Season

 

The first round of the Danish Superligaen has been played. After the disappointments, surprises and buzz around the opening weekend I figured I would share a list of some of the player profiles I'm tracking. The list isn't comprehensive yet the majority of these players have upside potential. Players are listed in no particular order.

Goalkeepers

Kamil Grabara - Copenhagen

Peter Vindahl - Nordsjaelland

William Eskelinen - AGF

Oliver Christensen - Odense

Centrebacks

Ivan Mesik - Nordsjaelland

Maxwell Woledzi - Nordsjaelland

Sebastian Hausner - AGF

Mathias Ross - Aalborg

Anders Hagelskjaer - Aalborg

Stefan Gartenmann - Sonderjyske

Philipp Schmiedl - Sonderjyske

Simon Graves - Randers

Joel Felix - Silkeborg

Lars Kramer - Viborg

Leftbacks/Wingbacks

Victor Kristiansen - Copenhagen

Daniel Svensson - Nordsjaelland

Martin Frese - Nordsjaelland

Clinton Antwi  - Nordsjaelland

Oliver Bundgaard - Randers

Peter Bjur - Brondby

Rightbacks/Wingbacks

Alexander Munksgaard - AGF

Tobias Molgaard - Vejle

Emil Holm - Sonderjyske

Jeppe Simonsen - Sonderjyske

Rasmus Carstensen - Silkeborg

Daniel Anyembe - Viborg

Midfield

Raphael Onyedika - Midtjylland

Victor Torp - Midtjylland

Mohamed Diomande - Nordsjaelland

Tochi Chukwuani - Nordsjaelland

Morten Frendrup - Brondby

Tobias Borkeeiet - Brondby

Anis Slimane - Brondby

Albert Gronbæk - AGF

Benjamin Hvidt - AGF

Zachary Duncan - AGF

Pedro Ferreira - Aalborg

Iver Fossum - Aalborg

Magnus Christensen - Aalborg

Saeid Ezatolahi - Vejle

Mouhamadou Drammeh - Vejle

Mads Frokjær - Odense

Moses Opondo - Odense

Tarik Ibrahimagic - Odense

Victor Ekani - Sonderjyske

Rasmus Vinderslev - Sonderjyske

Frederik Lauenborg - Randers

Mark Brink - Silkeborg

Anders Klynge - Silkeborg

Justin Lonwijk - Viborg

Sofus Berger - Viborg

Attacking Midfield

Abu Francis - Nordsjaelland

Rezan Corlu - Brondby

Emil Fredriksen - Sonderjyske

Left Midfield/Winger

Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson - AGF

Gift Links - AGF

Lukas Engel - Vejle

Arbnor Mucolli - Vejle

Simon Adingra -Nordsjaelland

Oskar Fallenius - Brondby

Tosin Kehinde - Randers

Nicolai Vallys - Silkeborg

Younes Bakiz - Viborg

Right Midfield/Winger 

Anders Dreyer - Midtjylland

Ibrahim Sadiq - Nordsjaelland

Louka Prip - Aalborg

Allan Sousa - Vejle

Emmanuel Sabbi - Odense

Julius Eskesen - Sonderjyske

Tobias Klysner - Randers

Sebastian Jorgensen - Silkeborg

Tobias Bech - Viborg

Center Forward

Junior Brumado - Midtjylland

Emeka Nnamani - Nordsjaelland

Dawid Kurminowski - AGF

Soren Tengstedt - AGF

Alexander Ammitzboll - AGF

Tim Prica - Aalborg

Wahid Faghir - Vejle

Max Fenger - Odense

Mikkel Hyllegaard - Odense

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PS: I send out a weekly email where I share player recruitment trends and best practices. Sign up for it here.

2021- 2021 Danish Superligaen Preview

 

The 2021-2022 is quickly approaching.  

Here's a quick overview of each club in the Superligaen.

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Brøndby

Last Season Finish: Champion

Manager: Niels Frederiksen 

3 Key Performers: 

Mikael Uhre - Forward

Simon Hedlund - Forward

Josip Radosevic - Midfielder

Players to Watch: 

Anis Ben Slimane - Midfielder

Rezan Corlu - Midfielder

Morten Frendrup - Midfielder

Key Question

Do they have enough to muster a title defense?

Brøndby's rebirth as a dominant club in Denmark has been built on the backs of their Masterclass academy and shrewd purchases in the transfer market. Last season's title revealed a club and a manager that has earned the resolve to withstand countless punches from the division heavyweights. With academy jewel Jesper Lindstrom on his way to Eintracht Frankfurt and other profiles potentially moving to new pastures, other profiles in the squad will need to step up.

Midtjylland

Manager: Bo Henriksen

3 Key Performers:

Evander - Midfield

Sory Kaba - Forward

Frank Onyeka - Midfield

Players to watch

Victor Torp - Midfield

Anders Dreyer - Winger

Junior Brumado - Forward

Key Question

How good of a manager is Bo Henriksen really?

From the outside, last season's failures for FCM boiled down to one recurring theme: lack of resolve. In Italy the concept is referred to as grinta, which loosely translates to grit and determination. FCM had a few player-manager "disputes" that either unsettled the squad or exposed the growing disenchantment of the first team. Can one man change that dynamic? Henriksen did more with less at AC Horsens in his time charge than any manager in recent memory in the Superligaen. FCM has the players. Do they have the right man to lead them back to the top?

FC Copenhagen

Manager: Jess Thorup

3 Key Performers

Kamil Grabara - Goalkeeper

Victor Kristiansen - Left Back

Jonas Wind - Forward

Players to Watch

Mohammed Daramy - Forward

Kevin Diks - Right Back

Pep Biel - Midfield

Key Question

When all the dust settles will they be champions?

FCK has spent heavily to reinforce the first team this transfer window. They still have the oldest roster in the Superligaen (average age 26.0). Thorup had an uneven start to his tenure midway through the last campaign. The squad did finish with a handful of promising displays in the championship round. The results will need to come consistently and early or there will be a lot of pressure on the squad.

Aarhus AGF

Manager: David Nielsen

3 Key Performers:

Patrick Mortensen - Forward

Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson - Winger

Gift Links - Winger

Players to watch:

William Eskilinen - Goalkeeper

Zachary Duncan - Midfield

Alexander Munksgaard - Right Back

Key Question

Can they manufacture goals outside of Patrick Mortensen?

Manager David Nielsen is an ascendant manager who has energized a club and a supporter base with his enthusiasm and bluntness. The sum is definitely worth more than the individual parts of the first team squad as they have overachieved the last few seasons. This side relies heavily on the goals of the perennially underrated Patrick Mortensen. Wingers Gift Links (best name in Scandinavia) and Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson are two of the most promising profiles in the league. Can they add more goals to their output? New purchase Dawid Kurminowski may just prove to be a capable deputy. Only time will tell.

FC Nordsjaelland

Manager : Flemming Pedersen

3 Key Performers:

Magnus Kofod Andersen - Midfield

Ibrahim Sadiq - Winger

Peter Vindahl - Goalkeeper

Players to Watch:

Andreas Schjelderup - Winger

Tochi Chukwuani - Midfield

Abu Francis - Midfield

Key Question

Can they make it to the Championship round if they sell Kamaldeen Sulemana?

Pedersen had his group surging at the end of the campaign as the newest profile of their perpetual movement, Andreas Schjeldrup, stole the show. FCN has had enviable success showcasing attacking talents but team results have suffered. I would connect the imbalance to the departure of profiles such as  Abdul Mumin and Mikkel Rygaard. Solid, defensive minded role players who give an attack-centric squad a backbone. Sulemana's goals were vital last season. If his transfer to one of the bigger clubs inevitably goes through, who will fill the void?

Randers FC

Manager: Thomas Thomasberg

3 Key Performers:

Alhaji Kamara - Forward

Marvin Egho - Forward

Simon Graves - Centerback

Players to Watch

Tosin Kehinde - Winger

Tobias Klysner - Winger

Frederik Lauenborg - Midfield

Key Question

Push up the table or just enjoy the ride?

Randers is what I like to call an an elite mid-table side. They've seemingly mastered the ability to not be in a relegation race but not potent enough to push higher up the table. That label might end up being a curse. Randers has a strong nucleus of young profiles that other clubs in the division or abroad may snatch up before they reach their peak. It would be a mild surprise if this current squad made the championship round again.

Aalborg BK

Manager: Marti Cifuentes

3 Key Performers:

Iver Fossum - Midfield

Mathias Ross - Centreback

Pedro Ferreira - Midfield

Players to Watch:

Tim Prica - Forward

Louka Prip - Winger

Magnus Christensen - Midfield

Players to Watch:

Key Question

Is Cifuentes the solution?

Marti Cifuentes has enjoyed success in Scandinavia as a manager. AAB may be his toughest test to date. This squad should should be fighting in the Championship round. Not the Relegation round like they did this past season. Cifuentes must find a way to harness the potential of the squad whilst getting top shelf results. The addition of Prip from relegated AC Horsens should be a shot in the arm for an attack that was mostly lame last campaign. Positive results would need to come fairly quickly for Cifuentes to get more time to implement his vision.

SonderjyskE

Manager: Michael Boris

3 Key Players:

Haji Wright - Forward

Viktor Ekani - Midfield

Emil Fredriksen - Midfield

Players To Watch:

Julius Eskesen - Winger

Rasmus Vinderslev - Midfield

Emil Holm - Right Back

Key Question: 

Can the club rebound from the rocky departure of Glenn Riddersholm?

Riddersholm left the club this summer after a string of lackluster defeats and murmuring from players. His tenure wasn't all dark. He engineered the SønderjyskE 2019-2020 Danish Cup victory and helped polish talents such as Alexander Bah and the emergent Haji Wright. Michael Boris starts anew with capable squad that may only need a new voice to shepherd them.

Odense

Manager: Andreas Alm

3 Key Players:

Moses Opondo - Midfield

Emmanuel Sabbi - Winger

Oliver Christensen - Goalkeeper

Players to Watch:

Max Fenger - Forward

Mads Frokjær - Midfield

Mikkel Hyllegaard - Forward

Key Question:

Who will score the goals?

Take everything I wrote on Randers and add it to this preview. The main difference between the two clubs in a sporting sense is the lack of a "proven" striker up front. Fenger has flashed at times and Sabbi is electric when on song but that hasn't been a consistent occurrence. Perhaps new manager Andreas Alm is orchestrates more consistency from his young attack force?

Vejle Boldklub

Manager: Carit Falch

3 Key Players:

Allan Sousa - Winger

Wahid Faghir - Forward

Tobias Mølgaard - Right Back

Players to Watch

Arbnor Mucolli - Winger

Saeid Ezatolahi - Midfield

Kevin Yamga - Winger

Key Question

Will Vejle regret buying out Falch's contract from Lyngby?

In short, no. Falch showed tactical nous and considerable man management to churn out results for Lyngby in the last campaign. Although they ended up being relegated his Lyngby side were a difficult matchup for the remaining teams in the relegation round. Vejle started strong but faded as the prior season went on. Look for Vejle to not only stay up but to be the surprise package of the season.

Viborg FF

Manager: Lars Friis

3 Key Players:

Lars Kramer - Centreback

Tobias Bech - Winger

Sebastian Grønning - Forward

Players to Watch:

Alassana Jatta - Forward

Younes Bakiz - Winger

Sofus Berger - Winger

Key Question:

Will they be strong enough over the course of the season to stay up?

Viborg won the promotion race on the trot and overall had a strong season. Survival in the Superligaen will depend on their defense and how many goals they concede.Viborg has promising talent in defense, midfield and attack. It will be an intriguing season for a club with a roster poised to grow and mature in the nation's top league.

Silkeborg

Manager: Kent Nielsen

3 Key Performers:

Rasmus Carstensen - Right Back

Anders Klynge - Midfield

Sebastian Jorgensen - Winger

Players to Watch:

Nicolai Vallys - Midfield

Mark Brink - Midfield

Nicklas Helenius - Forward

Key Question:

Can the Silkeborg defense be strong enough to balance out the offensive output?

Even with the departure of academy jewel Magnus Mattson to the Eredivisie Silkeborg has plenty of attacking talent waiting in the wings. The same question that was proposed to Viborg applies here. The defense has to be stout for them to stave off relegation. Both Viborg and Silkeborg are up against it as the Superligaen is as strong top to bottom as it may have ever been.

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Vasco Samouco

I like crazy ideas. I reached out to Vasco Samuoco back in February about having an email dialogue about a lot of the topics we bring up on Twitter and our email lists.

Vasco has a sharp mind and is a forward thinker of football based in Portugal. If you haven't already, follow him on Twitter and sign up for his newsletter.

Quick note: This conversation started back in February and only stopped right before the Euros started. We cover a lot of ground but a general theme is that the more world football changes the more it stays the same.

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Davide: I appreciate you being a good sport and welcoming this conversation! 

Let’s jump right in and talk about clubs, small clubs. What are 2 clubs outside of the top 5 leagues you like to follow and why?

Vasco: Hello, Davide! 

Well! It's not easy to pick just two, because there are great clubs, very well running, even outside of the top-5 leagues. I'll say AZ Alkmaar and Brentford, because of different reasons, but also because they have one thing in common: they think differently.  

What I like about AZ Alkmaar it's his youth system, how they think about talent, how they have different goals for different age groups and how they are able to feed the first team with young players. They don't have a lot of money and a big budget, but they always have good players, good teams, good results and also can get big profits because of this approach.  

On the other hand, Brentford don't have a youth system, so they do a great job using different methods. Yes, Brentford is well known because of 'big data', but as far as I know, Brentford was also the first club that abdicated of having a youth system and they did that because they realized that, by being in London, they can't have the best players like Chelsea, Arsenal or Tottenham. So they save that money to invest in other areas. Very smart and only possible when you think differently or logically.

Like AZ Alkmaar, Brentford don't have a lot of money or a big budget, but they always can find good players. They are always trying new ways of being smart and competitive, finding gaps in the game and in the industry.   If you are smaller and if you don't have a lot of money, you can't do the same things the others do. You have to do something different, like AZ and Brentford.    

My question for you is the same. But you can't say AZ or Brentford : )

Davide: Ah well two good choices!  

I’m going to pick two clubs in Denmark: Brondby IF and Silkeborg IF.   Brondby historically is a massive club in Denmark. They have 10 domestic championships in their trophy case. The last few seasons have been somewhat lean however. That won’t last. They are currently top of the table in the Superligaen. 

Their recruitment, led by Carsten V. Jensen their sporting director, is simple but elegant. Get young Scandinavian talent and develop them. Keep an eye out for Jesper Lindstrom and Morten Frendrup to single out two young profiles. As a club they are positioned to fight at the top of the league going forward. They have funds yet they seemingly are replenishing their ranks with undervalued players that appreciate in value.   

Silkeborg is currently playing in the second tier in Danish football. They are a club that develops players. Frederik Alves. Robert Skov. Kasper Dolberg. You could say they’ve mastered the art of sell-on fees for promising players. Two players to keep an eye on: Magnus Mattsson and Anders Hagelskjaer. Mattsson is shredding defenses and Hagelskjaer is a sturdy, left footed CB with potential. Silkeborg leverages their academy to supply the first team but to also turn a profit.   

Next question: How important is a club’s identity or style of play, especially for smaller clubs?

Vasco: For me, identity is everything. And have a recognized style of play is very, very important.   A football club must be more than winning football games, that's why identity is the most important thing. Identity is what you think, what you do, what you defend, what you stand for, what you represent. And all of that is what creates bonds with supporters, companies and people who see the club as a model to follow because of his values.    

I believe clubs need to have something that makes them different, that differentiate them. Having an attractive style of play is a way of valuing the club, valuing players and coaches. It guarantees financial income and media attention, even internationally. Also, helps the club make better decisions in terms of recruitment, not only of players that fit in that style but also of coaches that share the same vision. And if you keep that style of play you get more stability in the long-term, so you will be able to get more good results consistently. Having an attractive style play helps the clubs to be stronger in every area, in and off the pitch.  

My question is: What advantages do small clubs have over large ones?

Davide: Great question. I believe there are many advantages that small clubs have at their disposal. Like everything, it’s a matter of context.   

The pink elephant in the room is and always will be money. It is vital. That being said, small clubs must make better use of the money that flows through the club. Jordan Gardner, owner and chairman of FC Helsingor, has talked about this at length. Any club, regardless of size, has to be solvent to have a long term future.   

I tend to view smaller clubs as startups or boot-strapped companies. Survival is the bottom line. They can’t expect parachute payments or investors to swoop in and inject money into the club.   Therefore speed of implementation is an asset. Ever wonder why so many West African players play in Scandinavia? The climate and cultural differences can be massive. Why not find a club in France where there are many clubs and communities that are seemingly more compatible? There are only so many French clubs - plus those clubs don’t all have a European platform o showcase players.    

Scandinavian clubs can showcase players and give them direct access to the top 5 European leagues. Smaller clubs have an understanding that is crucial in recruitment: they know that the best thing for the club is the clearest pathway for emerging talent. Let’s face it. The best talents in the world aren’t at smaller clubs - they’re at the big clubs. The other 99% have to work their way up the ladder of levels of talent.   Players are bought for one reason. They can be sold for a hundred different reasons. Smaller clubs are generally more efficient in player recruitment. That is a victory in and of itself.   

Question for you: What is more intriguing to you: a club enjoying sustained success or a club repeatedly defying relegation?

Vasco: I think "repeatedly defying relegation" can be "sustained success" too, if that is the goal of the club. Lots of people think that success is only about winning trophies and being champions, but success is about achieving goals and avoid relegation is a very important goal for many teams. So, if they do it they are successful. On the other hand, a club only is truly successful if they get good results in a consistent way for many years. Having good results in one season doesn't mean you have success, but having good results in five or six seasons means something. Avoid relegation can be as hard as be champion and we have to consider that those clubs have "sustained success" too.    

Question for you: What are the big mistakes that clubs make and that prevent them from succeeding?

Davide: I think most clubs have one problem. They don’t know who they are or haven’t defined what type of club they want to be. Bayern (club motto: Mia San Mia= We are who we are) is chased in Germany by clubs who aspire to be challengers but are at best opportunists. 

What is Borussia Dortmund truly about? What are they uncompromising on? No judgment or criticism but I don’t think it’s clear.   If you look further down the pyramid in Germany it’s obvious what FC St. Pauli is about or Holstein Kiel demands. Investment without conviction of vision is merely activity. Not achievement.   When you don’t know who you are as a club your managerial appointments suffer.   A club more people need to be aware of is Silkeborg in Denmark. They know who they are. Decisions made are in line with where they aspire to be long term.   

My question for you: What concept in football have you changed your mind on recently?

Vasco: There were two game changers for me recently.   

One has to do with money and how we still think that having a lot of money is essential to have success. I don't think so. I truly believe you can beat money with ideas, by thinking differently or investing well the money you have, even if you don't have much. It's not the money that matters, it's about what you do with the money you have.  

The other one is: "To win on the field you have to work well and be smart off the field". For example, I don't believe that you need the best players to have good results. Instead, I believe that you need the right people around the team, the right environment, the right context and the right culture, so that the players can perform well and express all the quality they have. We (football) don't think a lot about how the same player plays well in one club and bad in another, but that is a very important thing and shows the influence of what we don't see on the field. What happens on the field is a consequence of what happens off the field.  

The same question for you :)

Davide: I’ve changed my mind on multi club ownership.   I’m in no position to buy a club nor do I have any desire to be critical of any club owners. Red Bull, City Football Group, INEOS, et al have seemingly made it even more attractive to own a club. With good reason. I feel we as humans underestimate simplicity and we tend to overvalue complexity. 

Running one club well is hard.  

Ralf Rangnick is lauded for what he’s done in Salzburg and Leipzig. We forget about, or at least minimize, his impact at Hoffenheim. He laid a foundation almost two decades ago.   Monchi has done wonders at Sevilla. And he also struggled to implement his methodology at Roma. I’m biased I’ve come to love “smaller” clubs. Smaller bets. You can implement radical change at smaller clubs and the impact can be felt fairly quickly. Big clubs, multiple club models take time to settle in, if ever.   Smaller can be better. Sporting, economically and logistically.   

Next Question: what is the most interesting way you’ve seen a club balance developing youth and winning games/avoiding relegation?

Vasco: I completely agree with you. 

It's a difficult question. I could say AZ Alkmaar and Nordsjaelland, but, to speak about other clubs, I also like what Norwich has been doing in recent years, even though they weren't able to avoid relegation of the Premier League. But I think Norwich is doing a brilliant job in developing players, promoting them to the first team, being patient with them and still winning more matches than losing. They are the best team in one of the most difficult championships and they are going to be promote again to the Premier League and, hopefully, next year they will avoid relegation. I really like what they are doing, the way they think and do things.   

Question for you: Do you have any thoughts about MLS and American soccer? What do you think about what they are doing and their improvement in recent years? 

Davide: Honestly, I don’t watch much MLS or American soccer. A lot of interest and investment has been made in the game here and that will reap benefits in the coming decades.   It’s just hard for me to watch. 

We as a nation will produce some exciting players. I think our football/soccer culture is adrift. Until we adopt or graft an identity the results and progress will vary, wildly at times. The bottom line is that it takes time.  

Here’s a tough question for you: Would you rather have a player of Lionel Messi/Cristiano class for 10 seasons or a visionary like Johann Cruyff/Ralf Rangnick for 5 years? Why?

Vasco: It's not a really tough question for me :)  

I prefer, with no doubts, having a visionary like Cruyff or Rangnick. Ronaldo and Messi can give you a lot now, in the short term, but, on the other hand, as we are seeing in Barcelona or Juventus, they also transmit a sense of comodism and false confidence. People think that just because they have one or another they are going to win.   

I believe that the influence of someone like Cruyff is much more antifragile, transformative, constructive and powerful. Cruyff and Rangnick change clubs, teams, cultures, coaches and players, they create value that remains even after they leave. Ronaldo and Messi ensure trophies and titles while they play, but when they leave they do not leave anything that is advantageous for the future.   

Question for you: What you think about the academies? What disadvantages do you see? 

Davide: You’re stealing all my good questions =)  

Academies are important. Or at least they can be. I think it will always be a context driven stance. Brentford scrapped their academy. Should Luton Town or Norwich? I don’t think so.   Most players don’t go on to play professionally but I don’t think that is good or bad. The real question is how are you as a club in your given community leveraging your academy? Is it strictly a profit center or trophy hunting land grab? Or are you after molding young men and women for the big picture, more than football? 

FC Nordsjaelland and Right to Dream are doing this beautifully. HB Koge and FC Metz do a great job utilizing academies in West Africa for players but also funding those setups with revenue from sell-on fees. Context is paramount. Academies are important as well for molding coaches. And they are social hubs of the communities they share. Like all things they need to evaluated regularly and serve a purpose with intention.   

My question for you:  What’s more important for “smaller” football nations in Europe: domestic clubs doing well in continental competitions or the national team faring well at the Euros/World Cup?

Vasco: It's a very good question, but I never think a lot about it, I must say. 

Both situations can say a lot about a nation and perhaps both are connected, because it's difficult to have a good national team without good clubs and a good global environment. Iceland is a great example, I think. Their national team is doing really well lately, but before that they had to improve a lot the quality of their coaches, their clubs, and their infrastructures. Without that, and because you don't have much talent, you can't have good players and a good national team.   

Question: You talk a lot about Denmark and Danish clubs. In the last weeks we saw Denmark doing really well in Euro Under-21 and in the Qualifiers for the World Cup (six games, six victories). We also saw a lot of Danish players compete in major leagues, very talented young players having opportunities, clubs are improving a lot, on and off the pitch. So, which are the main secrets behind this recent success?  

Davide: Denmark is hyper-focused on player development. They have a podcast, newsletters and shows that high profile players and coaches regularly appear on that are focused on development and detailing their journey.   

It’s cultural. That’s the main ingredient. They expect to get better. The next Laudrup may appear before our eyes in the coming years but the ethos of the nation is one of honesty and humble ambition. The next wave of improvement will come when the coaches take that leap. You can model that growth by countries like Portugal, Germany, Italy.  

Question for you: Who should have more weight in football clubs: a nutritionist or a psychologist?

Vasco:  I believe that everything that helps players, coaches, persons and teams to have mental strength it's the most important thing. And it will be more and more important. Of course that what you eat and how you eat has an impact, but I think that knowing those things is easier than evolving the mind. Nutrition it's practical, but mental health it's much more complex. So, if I have to choose, I would prefer having a psychologist, or a Head of People or a Mental Coach. If I can, I want to have both.   

Question for you: What do you think about the Superleague? 

Davide: You couldn’t help yourself by asking about the Superleague =)!  

I’m American and leagues are important here. There is a fixation on a Super(fill in the blank) League in all sports here. World football is different. European football and all football is cultural. I’m surprised those that tried to piece this together did so in the “dark”. 

That in my opinion doomed it from the start.   Let’s be honest and have a long term view. Some version of this will happen and the smaller clubs will suffer to a degree. But would RSC Anderlecht or FC Midtjylland win the Champions League? Probably not.   

Survival is the key for small clubs. They will have to be run more like small businesses instead of branded tax shelters. Change is coming. There are ways for the FC Porto’s and the Udineses of European football to survive but it will be via operational savvy. Not broadcasting revenues via a Superleague.   

My question for you: You’ve written eloquently about transparency in football and the benefits of that. Do you think we will see transparency in the future with a SuperLeague, CL format, etc?

Vasco: I really doubt that, to be honest. With the amount of money involved, the tendency is even less transparency. The majority of the clubs are in big trouble financially speaking, with big debts, so their defense is hiding what they do with the money. I think that transparency will only occur by your own initiative or if the supporters demand it really hard. Things like Financial Fair Play can help, but we already saw that it's not enough.   

Question for you: Which are your favourite books about football? 

Davide: So I have two books that are fundamental to my understanding of football. 

Thankfully, they were two of the first books I read once I got more intrigued by football.   

1. Arsene Wenger The Autobiography by Xavier Riviore  So many gems in this book but my favourite takeaway was Wenger’s thought that the best way to make younger profiles better is to put them around better players. It speaks to an environment based on growth but also competition.   

2. Leading: Learning from My Life and My Years at Manchester United by Alex Ferguson and Michael Moritz  This is the book that made me curious about the two topics that have my full attention: leadership and recruitment. The book was co-written by the chairman of a hedge fund here in the states and I have to admit it’s one of the few books that I have ever read cover to cover in a few days.  

Obviously recruitment has changed somewhat to when the Wenger and Ferguson patrolled the touch lines yet I think they figured out principles that will be relevant in perpetuity.  

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