Scouting for Success #18 - Performance indicators of squad management
To help our decision-making
Welcome back to the Scouting for Success newsletter! This is the first issue of the series on Squad Management. In this series, we will explore the key aspects of building a successful soccer team by strategically planning the squad composition, performance, investment, and succession.
We will discover the landscape of league and cup performance, dissect the intricate layers of a team's performance quality, evaluate the pivotal influence of a manager, and explore the critical contribution of the team behind the team.
League Performance
The club's primary objective should be to maximize their league performance. The league position is a crucial factor that determines the club's success since it has a significant impact on the revenue generated and can lead to qualification for UEFA competitions. The club should aim to finish as high up in the league table as possible, while keeping in mind the financial constraints that they operate within. This means that the club should strive for consistent performances throughout the season rather than focusing on individual matches. The team should also aim to build a solid defense and an attacking style of play that can help them score goals and win matches.
Focus on developing a strong squad with a balanced mix of experienced players and promising young talents. This will help to ensure consistent performance over the course of a season.
Pay attention to tactical flexibility and adaptability. Teams that can adjust their style of play to suit different opponents and situations tend to perform better in the long run.
Place a strong emphasis on fitness and conditioning. Players who are in good physical shape are more likely to be able to perform at a high level consistently throughout the season.
Develop a cohesive team culture that emphasizes hard work, teamwork, and a winning mentality. A positive team culture can help to keep players motivated and focused on achieving success.
Set realistic goals and expectations for the season. This will help to keep everyone focused and motivated and will help to ensure that the team is moving in the right direction.
The league competition is a marathon, not a sprint, and every match matters. The league is where a team's consistency and resilience get tested, making it a critical element for squad management.
Cup Performance
While league performance is crucial, the club should also aim for success in domestic cups. Cup success can bring potential European qualification, but it is less predictable and financially valuable than league success. Therefore, the club should pursue cup success only if it does not compromise their divisional status or progression in European competitions. The team should aim to play with a high intensity and desire to win in cup matches, while also taking the opportunity to give playing time to squad players and young prospects.
Prioritize the league over cup competitions, but don't neglect them entirely. Winning a cup competition can be a major achievement and can help to build momentum and confidence.
Use cup competitions as an opportunity to rotate the squad and give playing time to younger or less experienced players. This can help to develop depth in the squad and prepare players for more important matches.
Analyze the opposition carefully and prepare a specific game plan for each match. In cup competitions, individual matches can be more unpredictable, so it's important to be well-prepared and adaptable.
Use cup competitions to experiment with new tactics, formations, and player roles. This can help to keep the team fresh and can also help to develop the team's overall playing style.
Emphasize mental toughness and resilience in cup competitions. Teams that can perform under pressure and bounce back from setbacks tend to perform better in these competitions.
Cup competitions are a different ball game altogether. The knockout format adds a unique flavor of unpredictability and excitement. This year our team had a poor run in the league but managed a fantastic Cup run, coming out as the winner. This required strategic management, focusing on the intensity of our play, exploiting our opponent's weaknesses, and timely squad rotation. The team may not have had the best season, but this cup triumph brought joy and pride to the supporters.
Underlying Quality
Measures of underlying quality should be developed and considered in evaluating team performance on an ongoing basis. Modern analytics can provide better predictors of future team performance than have previously existed. The club should analyze the team's performances using data and analysis tools that can help identify areas of improvement. The team should also focus on building a strong youth academy and developing young talent that can contribute to the team's long-term success.
Use advanced statistical analysis and scouting techniques to identify players who are undervalued or have hidden potential. This can help to identify players who can improve the team's underlying quality without breaking the bank.
Use data analysis to identify the key areas where the team needs to improve. This can help to focus recruitment efforts and ensure that the team is making targeted improvements.
Pay attention to non-statistical factors like attitude, work ethic, and personality when scouting players. These factors can have a big impact on the team's overall quality and can help to build a strong team culture.
Use a well-defined playing style and system that is suited to the team's strengths and weaknesses. This can help to ensure that players are able to perform at their best and that the team's underlying quality is maximized.
Emphasize player development and coaching. Improving the quality of the team's players can have a big impact on overall performance, and can also help to build a strong foundation for the future.
The real substance of a team lies in the quality of their performances, beyond the win-loss statistics.
Managerial Impact
The performance of a manager is difficult to quantify, but it can be meaningfully assessed within the context of performance and financial data. Measures of managerial impact should be developed and considered in evaluating team performance at any point in time. These measures should combine actual and underlying team performance, player expenditure, and player signings for clubs of similar standing. The club should assess the manager's performance relative to the quality and timeliness of reports and evaluations, not just in relation to players signed, but also in relation to players who go on to sign for clubs of a similar standing.
Foster good relationships with players, staff, and other stakeholders. A positive working environment can help to keep everyone motivated and focused on achieving success.
Use data analysis and tactical expertise to identify areas where the team can improve. This can help to make targeted improvements and ensure that the team is moving in the right direction.
Be adaptable and flexible in response to changing circumstances. Good managers are able to adjust their tactics and approach based on the situation at hand.
Set clear goals and expectations for the team, and communicate them effectively to all stakeholders. This can help to keep everyone focused and motivated, and can help to ensure that everyone is working towards the same objectives.
Foster a strong team culture that emphasizes hard work, respect, and a winning mentality. A positive team culture can help to keep everyone motivated and focused on achieving success.
The manager's influence is indispensable. A clear vision, communication skills, and tactical nous are some of the aspects a good manager brings.
The team behind the team
The recruitment staff plays a vital role in identifying and bringing in the right players to improve the team's performance. The recruitment staff should have a deep understanding of the team's playing style and the types of players that are required to improve the team's performance. They should also keep track of player evaluations and recommendations from the past to inform and improve future performance. The recruitment staff should work closely with the manager to identify players that fit the team's style of play and can contribute to the team's long-term success. The recruitment staff should also focus on building a strong youth academy and developing young talent that can contribute to the team's long-term success.
Hire a Diverse Team: Diversity is important in all areas of an organization, including the recruitment staff. A diverse team can bring different perspectives, experiences, and networks, which can help identify talent that might have been overlooked by a more homogeneous team.
Develop a Scouting Network: Recruitment staff should have a robust scouting network to identify talent across different leagues, countries, and age groups. The network should be supported by the latest scouting technology and data analytics tools, which can help identify players who might not be on everyone's radar.
Invest in Training and Development: Recruitment staff should be given regular training and development opportunities to keep their skills and knowledge up-to-date. This could include attending scouting conferences, networking events, and training sessions on the latest scouting and recruitment tools.
Foster Good Relationships: Recruitment staff should develop and maintain good relationships with agents, clubs, and players. This can help build trust and rapport, which can be invaluable when it comes to securing the best talent for the club.
Continuously Evaluate Performance: Recruitment staff should be evaluated on an ongoing basis, based on metrics such as the quality of players identified, the success rate of player signings, and the value for money of each signing. This can help identify areas for improvement and optimize the recruitment process over time.
Squad management extends beyond the 11 players on the field; it's also about the coaches, medical team, scouting team, and the analyst department.
Overall, the club should focus on maximizing league performance while being mindful of financial constraints and using data and analysis to evaluate and improve performance.