11 Questions with @Singlepivot

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 @Singlepivot:

How did your first opportunity in football come about?

My career was never meant to head towards football. Except for some summer campus, I never played football in any team. As a kid I went for tennis, as football wasn't even my main sport either. Living in Barcelona, I have obviously always been a big Barça fan, as I am proud to say that I grew up with the successes of a golden era. However, while football was starting to become a big passion, I never expected it to occupy most of my daily life.

Still, I believe that, if opportunities don't show up, it's you who must find them. In December 2017, I created my Instagram account, initially @tikitakastyle and currently @thesinglepivot, as a way to share my thoughts and, in particular, my favourite XIs. It was nothing more than that. But as the page started to grow, the opportunities followed. Barça Universal proposed me to be part of their writing team, and later to lead it, and that's where I started to realise that this could be a bit more serious than just a hobby. Instagram became a platform to discover some of my passions: football and writing.

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

Reading others possibly was what got me interested in analytics. Many people now ask me how to analyse a game, but there really is no magic formula. The only way is by gaining experience, watching many games, and reading other people's analyses. That's how my interest expanded.

In spite of studying engineering, I personally am not much of a numbers guy when it comes to analysis. I just use them to support an idea, rather than to draw conclusions on the quality or even style. For that I much rather watch the game, team and player with my own eyes. Technique and intelligence, which are two of the things I value the most, cannot be represented by figures.

What player or concept you fascinates you? What caught your eye?

A player and a concept that are very interrelated: Joshua Kimmich and the free man. It will surprise no one to see that Kimmich is one of my favourite players, but one of the reasons why is for his capacity to occupy the right spaces and make himself available, and also his vision and technique to detect and find the teammate that is unmarked. When talent and intelligence join together, you have a true joy to watch. 

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

Many misconceptions these days come with stats – thus why I use them little –, and one of these is that having a high passing accuracy means being a great passer. This couldn't be more wrong. Intentionality is key, cause the whole idea of passing the ball is putting the team and ball receiver in a more advantageous situation. It would be more important to see stats that illustrate things like 'how many lines has the pass broken?', 'has the ball reached a more productive or dangerous position?', or 'by how many defenders is the ball receiver pressed compared to the passer?'

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

Removing my shyness. In front of a blank sheet I have no problems in expressing myself, but my shyness to share my thoughts in real life is one of the things that's holding me back. And one of the reasons why I would be incapable of being a coach too.

What is more important player development or recruitment? Why?

I have always defended that the profile is much more important than the conditions a player has. While the raw material is key to reaching the elite, it's how this is shaped what makes the difference. If not, ask Pedro or Sergi Roberto why they have been starters at Barcelona for years. Despite recruitment can by no means be overlooked, I personally find development much more crucial.

What is your favorite sports moment? Why?

I'll have to say Spain's World Cup win in 2010. While I cannot vividly remember all the feelings pre and post Iniesta's goal, watching such scenes, for how emotional it was, will give me goosebumps forever.

What coach/player/team inspires you? Why?

It is undeniable that Pep Guardiola has an unbelievable innate talent, and thus it is more frequent to idolise him than to say that he has really inspired you. But many people overlook his passion to work and his insatiable hunger to learn. That's what has allowed him to improve and adapt himself – even more than making his players adapt to him – to the different contexts and cultures. So it must be Pep.

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

Have patience and be yourself. Get experience and remain curious, because only by seeing and trying different things you will improve. And, when expressing an opinion, never be afraid of what others may say. There will always be people who think the opposite to you, but what a boring place would the world be without diversity in opinions!

Who is your favorite athlete? Why?

To be honest, I feel a bit ashamed when I have to name some references, cause I have never been their best students. I wish I had the work rate, concentration, mentality or personality of my idols, and I find it foolish to say that they have guided my way when I haven't been able to replicate their efforts and ethic. But still, if I had to name one, for his humbleness and capacity to overcome setbacks, that would be Andrés Iniesta.

What is your favorite quote or saying?

"Discipline in football is not rigidity, it's elasticity".

It was impossible to choose just one quote, but I chose one that is a bit more uncommon, by ex-River player Carlos Peucelle, and which illustrates that football is not a fixed reality, but a mix of different situations and interactions that you must learn to adjust to.