The pursuit of wisdom in any walk of life quickly reveals that what you think you know is not nearly enough to get you to where you want to go. As I'm starting out in my football scouting journey I challenged myself to reach out to those already working in various roles in football to answer a short list of questions. My goal wasn't to get answers but relevant perspectives on the game within the game.
Here is Aidan Reagh, performance analyst at @OhioWSoccer
How did your first opportunity in football come about?
My first opportunity technically came when I was 16, I was a team leader but suffered an ACL injury and my coaches wanted to keep me involved, so I became an assistant coach for the U14/U15 players on the training ground and kept basic statistics during the matches. My first higher level opportunity actually came through LinkedIn networking. I saw a post from the head of performance analysis at Bristol Rovers, Enda Barron, was looking for some help, so I thought the worst that could happen was I apply and either I get a role or he says no and nothing in my life changes. Fortunately, I got the role.
What attracted you to scouting/analytics? What’s more intriguing now names or numbers?
I would have to say my role when I was 16 was my first introduction in statistics and that is when I realized it would become my passion. That being said, I’m a firm believer that numbers and the eye test need to work together, not against each other. I think if a player looks good via eye test, you should check the numbers and see if it backs up. If numbers look good, watch some full matches of the player to make sure he plays the way his/her numbers suggest.
Who/what is the first player/concept you "found"? What caught your eye?
I certainly was not the first person to find her, but the most talented player I have ever seen is Hulda Arnarsdottir. She plays at Wake Forest University and has caps with Iceland’s youth national team, absolutely brilliant on the ball and does quite a bit off the ball that goes unnoticed. She is a truly special player and it would be great to one day work alongside her.
Who/what is the player/concept you "missed" on? What did you learn from it?
When I was 18 I was actually head coach of a U18 futsal team, I tried to be too rigid and restrictive in my tactics when futsal is all about freedom. While we were not a bad side, I think we could have gotten a few more results had I changed a few things. That definitely taught me that football, be it indoor, futsal, beach, or just standard football, is a sport that cannot be micromanaged, there is such a thing as doing too much.
If you could start over what skill would you build on first?
That is a very difficult question in the fact that I don’t think I would change much of anything, I am very happy with my journey so far and know I am lucky to be working in football on a daily basis, a lot of people dream of this but never get the chance. If I had to change anything, I guess it would have to be learning a coding language sooner, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with coding in excel, it gets the job done.
Do you see player development as more of an art or a science?
I would say both. “Naturally gifted” is a term we hear used for both footballers and painters or pianists, for example, so it is definitely an art to some extent. That being said, there is certainly a lot of science being used in player development.
What is your favorite sports moment? Why?
I think my favorite personal sports moment/moment I was involved in would be just growing up playing, I always had my parents there supporting me. Not everyone gets to enjoy that, I was fortunate. My favorite general sports moment would have to be Leicester City winning the Premier League, I am not a Leicester supporter, but that was truly special.
What coach/player/team inspires you? Why?
I have a number of inspirations, but my biggest influencers come from those I work with. At Bristol Rovers, I reported to Enda Barron and he is responsible for 70% of the things I do. He is an excellent mentor and I wouldn’t be half the analyst I am today if it weren’t for him. Here with Ohio University’s Women’s team, we have a strong emphasis on creating a family environment, we are in it together. Our head coach, Aaron Rodgers, is truly terrific and I have so much respect for him. Outside of people I have directly worked with, I have a massive respect for Brighton and Hove Albion’s staff. I think if there is anyone in the industry I run the risk of being starstruck by, it would be Paul Winstanley and Eoin Bradford. They are both absolutely brilliant in their work and I would be privileged to be able to have a conversation with them.
What advice would you give to someone wanting to get into scouting/analytics?
The two best ways to find an “in” is networking (LinkedIn is great) or writing. I got my start via LinkedIn. Rene Maric, Marco Rose’s assistant at Borussia Monchengladbach, got his start through writing tactical blog posts. Jay Socik (@Blades_analytic) got an opportunity with Peterborough United thanks to his public work, be it tweets or blog posts. Social media is a great tool, use it to build a brand for yourself. Also, a lot of teams now are wanting the Maric-type coach, so getting coaching badges can open some doors. It isn’t an easy industry to get into, it is a lot of hard work and long hours, but stay motivated and passionate, chances will come.
What is your favorite app/tool to use (for work or fun)?
Typically for work, I am comfortable using whatever app/tool we are contracted to use, but for my public work I use WyScout and Football Reference a lot. I find both easy to use and effective.
What other sport/hobby/discipline do you feel improves your work as an analyst/scout? Why?
I study sociology and communication. It is incredibly important to be able to be a strong communicator. You could come up with the Holy Grail of metrics, but if you cannot simplify it in a manner that people who are not analysts can understand, it is absolutely useless. My job as an analyst is to take a deeper look at performances and communicate my findings to coaches or players, we have to be fluid and diverse in how we communicate.
No comments:
Post a Comment