11 Questions with Michael Greenall

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 Michael Greenall:

How did your first opportunity in football come about?

I wouldn’t say I’m involved in football if I’m honest, but it’s nice to be perceived like that. If anything, I’m just lucky to have the platform to be able give opinions on the sport that I love. In terms of getting opportunities to write for blogs like Toffee Analysis, it’s amazing what can happen when you just ask or query – online blogs are usually desperate for new writers, and if not, just try starting off your own blog, discussing the things that interest you the most. Whether it be tactical analysis pieces, player or manager scouting reports, or recruitment plans for specific clubs, even if you don’t think it’ll interest others, it’s good to write about what you know and what you love.

What attracted you to media/data/scouting? What’s more intriguing now names or numbers?

I’ve always been interested in the more technical or tactical way of looking at things when it comes to football, even when I was younger, as soon as I got home from the match, I’d be re-watching it within half an hour. My season ticket at Everton is in the Top Balcony at Goodison Park, and for those who’ve sat there before will know how high-up it is, you almost get a birds-eye view, so even as a kid I had a different perspective compared to others. It was a niche view, but I loved it and still do. I suppose it was that that started my ‘different way’ of looking at football, and the influx of data or football blogging would coincide with that too. It was different. Within football circles, using data for instance, is seen as something that can give you that edge over opponents, even for the average fan, it’s nice to have that wider-knowledge or insight that gives you a better understanding of what happens and why it happens.

What type of player fascinates you? What caught your eye?

Generally, my favourite type of player is easily the anchor-man midfielder, someone like Sergi Busquests or Fernandinho, or Gareth Barry even. Every great team, has a great holding midfielder, that type of lonesome #6 that see’s everything, sweeping up their teammates’ mistakes, preventing opposition attacks, often the heart of their own sides success. It may well be a boring pick, Gareth Barry certainly isn’t Lionel Messi or Eden Hazard for instance, but they’re integral to most good things.

What is the biggest misconception you’ve found in this space?

I think nowadays people often underestimate the influence or need for strong personalities and mentalities in football teams. It wasn’t long ago that Brendan Rodgers would be constantly criticised for praising his Liverpool’s “character”, but in most cases, he was right to even reference it. In terms of individual footballers, if you don’t have that right type of character, then you’ll never succeed. Sometimes when people discuss recruitment, they don’t actually judge or even contemplate the personality of the players they’re discussing, albeit it is hard to judge from a laptop – they may well be talented footballers in the environment they’re in, but would they be comfortable playing under increased pressure every week? Coming into a dressing room full of other strong characters? It’s only something small, but player quality and character goes hand in hand.

If you could start over what skill would you build on first?

I’m lucky to still be quite young, still studying at University, so I’m not sure there is anything drastic that I would change. When writing, maybe more consistency is needed in how often I do what I do, but I write about and discuss football for fun, I enjoy doing it, possibly having to force myself to ‘do more’, would signal that I’m not actually enjoying it anymore.

What is more important domain knowledge or curiosity?

I don’t really like sitting on the fence with things, but it’s impossible to not be balanced when it comes to these two, you cannot be successful with just great recruitment, nor just strong player development. Without good recruitment, you’ll never have the right squad to even get close to success, but, if I had to choose, the development of individual players arguably just edges it. Leicester are a fantastic example. Their recruitment strategy has been immense in recent years, both when in the Championship and now in the Premier League, constantly bringing in good value players and taking risks where most clubs wouldn’t. 

But as much as their recruitment strategy is great, it’s important to note that without their success and focus when it comes to player development, their recruitment wouldn’t be perceived as successful as it has been. The likes of Harry Maguire and Riyad Mahrez are deemed superb signings, but they are because they’ve developed them properly, they’ve bought low sold the pair for a near £150m, which can then be re-invested into the club again. And that player development will come into play again, the likes of James Maddison or Ricardo Pereira were good signings, but they’ve progressed massively within the past 18 months, and their development will signify the success of their transfers and will likely enable future recruitment triumphs.

What is your favorite sports moment? Why?

Being a young Evertonian, that’s a hard question to answer. I’ll be 20 in August and still haven’t seen my club lift a trophy. I suppose in reference to what feeling has come closest, the FA Cup Quarter Final vs Chelsea in 2015 was sensational, the atmosphere that night was honestly staggering, Goodison literally shook. The same for the 1st leg Capital One Cup Semi-Final against Man City in 2016, we eventually got knocked-out, but I remember coming out the ground thinking we were finally going to end that hunt for our first trophy since 1995. Obviously, I jinxed it.

What coach or player would you give a lifetime contract to? Why?

Probably quite cynical, but I was brought up with the notion to never grow an emotional attachment to footballers, so I don’t think giving lifetime contracts to one would ever cross my mind. Manager-wise, if I were some kind of General Manager or Director of Football for a club, I would do everything I could to acquire Pep Guardiola, and then I’d never be letting go, even if I was in charge of someone like Sligo Rovers. He would be a dream, still is, and likely always will be. The same could be said for Marcelo Bielsa.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to get into this space?

As before mentioned, just go for it. Find a niche and squeeze everything you can out of it, simply, you just never know who is reading and one article, even a mere tactical analysis detailing the strengths and weaknesses of Luton Town could be a real game-changer.

Who is your favorite athlete? Why?

Rafael Nadal is probably up there, as footballing-wise there’s not many I could think of. But Nadal, is the epitome of a grafter, he’s proof of what the combination of talent and hard-work can lead too. His success has been unbelievable, and he’s done it whilst having various injury problems too. He’s maybe a unique choice, but with what he’s achieved, and in the circumstances he’s done it, whilst also competing in one of the most competitive eras of tennis, it’s quite admirable.

What is your favorite quote or saying?

Alan Harper, who played under Howard Kendall in Everton’s greatest era once said “I made my debut at Goodison against Stoke and was standing in the tunnel waiting to go onto the pitch. Z cars started playing on the PA and I heard the crowd roar. If I could bottle a moment and save it forever, then that would be it”. For anyone who isn’t a Blue, the quote will hold no sense of importance, but even just thinking about it now, that thunderous beginning, when Z-Cars starts to kick-in, that feeling is genuinely incomparable. Goosebumps. Every time. Without Question.