Echo News Southend United boss Kevin Maher on his search for new signings

[Booma]

Stats suggest we have the 14th best group of players in the 5th Level of football in the country.

the data doesn’t lie

 

[rlb999]

so what are we going to do with Zach Jeacock, send him back in January?

I'd imagine Lincoln will recall him if we don't - they were very clear that they wanted him playing and it doesn't look like that's going to happen with us.

 

[Booma]

You wont find amazing goal keepers at this level, theyre normally the first to get pinched. Every goal keeper in this league will make a fair amount of mistakes, think were lucky to have Colin and Jeacock, doesnt help our defence as a whole has been awful this season.

It’s a valid point, a better defence reduces the reliance on a keeper. Unfortunately when a keeper makes a mistake it normally ends up in a goal.

 

[BoyWonder2]

I don’t believe all our signings will be “data driven” as such.

It’s another tool in the toolbox to assist. The data will be related to on the pitch stuff, so the usual goals, assists, clean sheets, how they perform against their XG etc as well as stuff like pre-assists, intensity runs, distance covered, crosses, successful crosses, passes etc etc.

It’s another tool to bring players to the table. There is still a place for John Still to watch a game and come away and say wow what a player, we scout him further, and then decide to go for him.

As far as I understand, we are using this in conjunction with the old school approach, and I believe Kev will have the final say. I might be wrong, but that’s what I’m led to believe.

So, for example, we need a Harry Cardwell replacement. John Still will put forward a case for what he has been out and scene, the data team will put forward a case (I believe people will still go out to watch these “data players”) for their guys, but the ultimate decision will be down to Kev, assuming he fits into budget etc etc.

That’s always been the case that Kev has had the final say. He knocked back some of Stan’s suggestions before, he has knocked back some of John Still’s suggestions and others that have been put forward by agents and so forth.

Be interesting to see how this all develops. Brighton are an excellent example, along with Brentford, with this “moneyball” type recruitment.

BTW, if you’ve not read the book or seen the film “Moneyball” I recommend it.

 

[Holy Joe]

Imho the data approach works well if you have data that others do not have or utilise data in a way that no one else does.

Could it be that the new guy wants to create data for the leagues below us where id imagine some of the data BW quotes are likely unavailable. Or is detailed data available on players 2 or 3 leagues below us?

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I’d be more interested in the use of technology for scouting than data driven decisions. Will the new guy build a database so that every player watched is logged and all his stats, game tape is available at the touch of a button?

There will be commercial versions of this available but having your own in-house version would enable you to have access to information that wasn’t available to the rest of the market.

 

[Holy Joe]

I’d be more interested in the use of technology for scouting than data driven decisions. Will the new guy build a database so that every player watched is logged and all his stats, game tape is available at the touch of a button?

There will be commercial versions of this available but having your own in-house version would enable you to have access to information that wasn’t available to the rest of the market.

I guess that was what I was trying to get at in my post above - are there commercial versions of software/data to analyse players in leagues 2 or 3+ below NL level? I'd imagine NL and NLS and NLN are covered, but much below that?

Could the interest from the new guy be to create that and eventually monetise it ?

 

[cerbera45]

It would appear that Defenders are much easier to sign than Forwards.

 

[Andy_S]

It wouldn’t shock me if we were keeping an eye on George Alexander at Eastbourne.

 

[WestyReturns]

I guess that was what I was trying to get at in my post above - are there commercial versions of software/data to analyse players in leagues 2 or 3+ below NL level? I'd imagine NL and NLS and NLN are covered, but much below that?

Could the interest from the new guy be to create that and eventually monetise it ?

It will depend if it's financially viable. When players can be bought for £20k and earn under £100k a year etc I would guess not. How many non league clubs have spare money to invest on this and see value? Customer base would be very small. I am sure they'll be analysis planned on this before it would be done. It's a completely different scenario as you go up the leagues of course where tons of analysis is already being done.

 

[thenobster]

No, oh pardon me for asking/questioning your reasoning.

You’re forgiven

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

It wouldn’t shock me if we were keeping an eye on George Alexander at Eastbourne.

Gary Alexander’s son?

I’d expect we keep an eye on hundreds of players. Is he a realistic target?

 

[WillMay333]

It’s a valid point, a better defence reduces the reliance on a keeper. Unfortunately when a keeper makes a mistake it normally ends up in a goal.

Of course, thats just the game though at any level. Think our goalkeepers have recieved so much stick lately, and its as you say because their mistakes often lead to goals.

 

[blues exile]

It wouldn’t shock me if we were keeping an eye on George Alexander at Eastbourne.

I mentioned him a while back. Scoring regularly for Eastbourne and had a spell at Bromley so knows this league. Millwall academy from an early age, his father was a Milwall player too

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

It wouldn’t shock me if we were keeping an eye on George Alexander at Eastbourne.

Maybe. They did watch him at Chelmsford.

 

[Scamps]

Effiong just been released by Braintree was brilliant for Dagenham in this league and is big and strong something we lack up top.

 

[Danshrimp1]

Effiong just been released by Braintree was brilliant for Dagenham in this league and is big and strong something we lack up top.

Signed for Woking yesterday

 

[kentblues]

Just watching the Man U game. For those who moan about Collin, if he had let in what Onana just let there, there would be melt down. Amazes me Prem clubs pay many millions for keepers who couldn’t hold a candle to some of the better lower league keepers.

 

[kentblues]

And another.
Quick get Collin signed on longer contract and offer him to Man U for £50m - they might take it..

 

[Chrisb]

It would appear that Defenders are much easier to sign than Forwards.

Always the case I would think, at all levels.