In fact, metrics have already begun to be used in the Premier League. Managers such as Jose Mourinho, Arsene Wenger and Aidy Boothroyd have all used metrics in some shape or form while Tottenham made a dramatic shift to the system crucially after the appointment of Comolli. Beane himself has also been involved in the sport, for as well as being friendly with Comolli, he has discussed and worked with Professor Bill Gerrard of Leeds University to develop the STARS player rating system for football.
The crucial use of metrics is to recruit very talented players who are undervalued by their clubs. This can most often be used in football when recruiting young players. This is a pillar of John W Henry’s philosophy for Liverpool just as it was at the Boston Red Sox. He wants a winning strategy as well the club being a profitable business. Just like the Boston Red Sox, NESV want to invest in the right players rather than just expensive ones at market value. This is where Comolli’s expertise at Arsenal comes in. On hiring Comolli, Henry said this:
“Today’s announcement is just the first step in creating a leadership group and structure designed to develop, enhance and implement our long-term philosophy of scouting, recruitment, player development and all of the other aspects necessary to build and sustain a club able to consistently compete at the highest level in European football.”
Henry wants to replicate Arsenal’s excellent recruitment process, for as Arsenal’s Chief European Scout between 1996 and 2003, Comolli picked up players such as Thierry Henry, Emmanuel Eboue, Kolo Toure and Gael Clichy. These were all players Comolli deemed to be exciting young players who were not deemed to be as valuable to their clubs. Comolli then moved on to Tottenham where he recruited Gareth Bale, Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Dimitar Berbatov although there were some duds along the way too.
On top of utilising Arsenal’s on field strategy of buying good young players and developing them, Henry has also looked at Arsenal as a sustainable off field business model. Rather than ploughing money in to recruit star players, they have invested in a new stadium and relied on young talent. Henry visited Arsenal on a number of occasions before taking over Liverpool and looked at their techniques. Although Arsenal haven’t won anything for nearly six years, Henry believes that with UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations soon coming into effect, a well run football club with a sustainable business model is the only way forward. Henry and NESV have certainly done their homework.
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STELLA WDM RESULTS
good article
but while I do think we need a sustainable financial model I do think we need 1 splash of around £50m to challenge over the next 3-5years while we develop some top youths and we need a winger or two, a holding midfielder, a striker, a left back and maybe a centre half , in January I would like to see Poulsen,Babel and Eccleston be replaced by Lassana Diarra, Ashley Young and Oscar Cordozo these are the first priorities to try get back in the Champions League then we can worry about a left back and other problems in the summer
Just seen the BBC interview with John Henry. A few points I gathered.
1) Comes across as a no-nonsense, authoritative figure. Has class which the previous owners surely lacked. You can imagine players and managers alike would respect him.
2) Definately agree that he sees the Arsenal model as the one to replicate. It will make us sustainable as a club and with the UEFA rules coming into effect will level the playing field abit more.
However:
3) When asked about big money transfers he kept side-stepping the issue. Made excuses about age of players and would not answer on the hypothetical scenario of a world class talent who was young. So it seems LFC will not be buying ANY £30 million player and you can forget the £50 million bracket.
4) Quite hazy on the Hodgson issue. Kept saying he did not know enough to assess his talents. This I am sure will make quite a few fans happy unsurprisingly.
5) Stadium issue. Again was hazy and claimed it would probably take 2 years for anything to happen regardless or refurbishment or constructing of a whole new one in Stanley Park.
6)Issue regarding future debt being piled onto the club was the most worrying. Just like with some of the earlier issues he kept dodging the question. Said that he did not know enough at this stage to make a definitive answer. Well the people he took over from were pressured to leave because of this very problem. It was THE most significant problem which could have seen us go under. His consortium has spent over £200 million, which is significant in any ones books, and he replied that he did not know enough to say whether debt from a possible new stadium will be put onto the club or the stadium itself. That seems either naieve or not exactly true.