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Bounceback-‘ability’
After his side climbed the table from 22nd to 6th in 2004, then-Crystal Palace manager Iain Dowie famously coined the term ‘bouncebackability’ to praise his side’s impressive rebound. The term has stuck – it even entered the Oxford English Dictionary the following year – and is now attached to any team who comes back from […]
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The squad behind the squad
The focus at this time of year is often on investing in players who can help us win in the short-term. However, it is investment in non-playing staff that ultimately creates the processes and culture that drive sustainable success.
Investing in non-playing staff is rarely straightforward. Firstly, there’s the pressure to win the next game […]
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The rise and fall of Chile
Between 2013 and 2016, Chile were one of the most watchable and successful teams in world football. From qualifying for the 2014 World Cup with 5 wins in their last 6 matches, to being the width of the crossbar away from knocking out Brazil in the tournament proper, to consecutive Copa América triumphs, Chile were […]
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What’s the worst that can happen?
Risk is one of the many excuses for failing to grant opportunities to young players in the first team. With ever increasing stakes, coaches often prefer the perceived reliability of experience at the expense of blocking the talent pathway. With average tenure hovering a little over 12 months, coaches are naturally inclined to focus on […]
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An unwanted record
Earlier this week we launched Acquisition, our new product that helps football clubs mitigate risk and maximise success in the transfer market. Acquisition was born out of us seeing the level of inefficiency in player trading and wanting to help clubs make smarter decisions with their money.
For a good example of how money is often […]
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Breaking the cycle of reactivity
Given that the average managerial tenure in the English Football League is just 1.3 years, we should be constantly monitoring the availability and suitability of potential future managers or head coaches.
Even if a club has no immediate intention of changing their manager, coaching turnover is high across football and it pays to be ready for […]
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The scarcity trap
Oliver Burkeman is Busy, the eponymous journalist’s recent Radio Four miniseries on the subject of busyness, has provided a number of insights into how difficult it can be to manage our time amidst the distractions of modern life.
In one of the episodes, Eldar Shafir, Professor of Psychology at the University of Princeton, talks about a […]
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The manager surveillance system
It was the CEO at Capital One, Richard Fairbank, who said: "at most companies, people spend 2% of their time recruiting and 75% managing their recruiting mistakes".And the chances are that... -
The football vs business view
“Football clubs need to be run like businesses” is one of the sport’s current buzz phrases. While it is true that changing regulation and attitudes mean that there is an increased focus on adopting more corporate practices, football remains totally unlike many other industries. -
Money won’t buy a legacy
As the football world turns its attention away from the domestic game for a week, it’s worth looking to see if clubs can learn any lessons from international bodies and teams.
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