Q/A with Premiership Scout

Northants Pie; What do you believe are the main reasons for the grass roots game failing in the way it is?

I could go on for ages about the faults allied to grassroots football. In my view a lot of the problems arise with over-competitive parents running teams who take themselves too seriously. The great majority of them have never kicked a ball in their lives previously but try to compensate by living their dreams out in their kids. For example I recently saw a photograph of a local under 9's parks team where one of the parents described himself as "Technical Director".

Northants Pie; Will the EPPP have as big of a detrimental effect as first thought on the lower league teams and if so what should be done to equalise this effect?

EPPP is another factor where it would take me too long to give a chapter and verse summary, briefly it has given the so-called bigger clubs carte blanche to hoover up all the talent without paying significant degrees of compensation to smaller clubs like Notts, for example. However I understand that this is currently under review following many complaints from smaller clubs. My other big comment about EPPP is that it has produced armies of people filling out forms, drawing graphs on charts and producing other data which in my view is useless. Does it produce more goals or does it ensure that a side concede less. No definitely not.

Upthepies; What is your process like for finding suitable players for the club you work for? Do you travel much, focus on age ranges?

With my current club my brief is to concentrate on the 14 to 18 age range with a view to finding the late developers or lads who may not have been spotted previously. With my previous club as Chief Scout I covered all aspects of scouting duties, not only identifying players but compiling reports on forthcoming opposition, eg Formation, Shape, Pattern, Strengths, Weaknesses and what they do at set pieces. With my current club I try and concentrate on geographical areas where scouts from other clubs tend not to go. Previously I went to such diverse places such as Alloa Athletic, Raith Rovers and the southern end of the scale Eastbourne Borough, Gillingham and Bournemouth.

Liampie; who is the best player you have scouted and have you ever had one turned down who went onto bigger and better things?

Very difficult to answer your question without disclosing my current and previous club and the players concerned. One of my previous successes was recommending a player given a free transfer by a league 2 club who was then signed on my recommendation and went on to knock in 29 goals in his first season. Still waiting for another one like that!!

MagpieJue; What do you look for in a good player? Is it speed, stamina, how he holds his position over 90 minutes et?

Depends on what position the player performs in. However, my over-riding concern is a good first touch which is vital in any position. With attacking players it is also good movement on and off the ball, range of passing and the ability to do the simple things well. Bill Shankly once said that football is a simple game made complicated by ******* idiots. In defenders positional sense is vital, dealing with each situation on its merits and the ability to tackle without giving away silly freekicks. Pace is paramount in all outfield positions. Stamina helps of course............. no point watching a player who puts weight on during a game!!

Canadian; Why do Agent's have the tag line "Leeches"?

DangerousSausage; What are your experiences of agents?

Simply because the majority of them take money from players and clubs having only extended themselves by making a few phone calls and then demanding what are, in some cases, exorbitant fees. All players, if they are members of the Players' Union, the PFA, can get the latter to negotiate wages etc without the necessity to involve agents.

Canadian; Do you get along with Chairmen and board members?

As regards Chairman and Board members I wouldn't even know who they are with my current club. I did get on quite well with the Chairman of my previous club but did fall out with him quite strongly over what I considered unfair treatment of one of his managers.

Hissingdwarf; How far does the trust relationship with the manager go? Do you regularly suggest players and get regularly dismissed or do a majority of your suggestions get looked at seriously?

Hissingdwarf ; Do you follow a manager around, again building the trust relationship up, or are you a club man (or woman?) eg like assistants often leave when the manager gets the boot!

There has to be mutual trust between the Manager and his Chief Scout. the Manager is the final arbiter on whether a certain player should be signed. It is equally important taht a scout should say why a player should not be signed. Eg. Dubious habits away from the field as well as a lack ability on it. I was lucky to work with some decent people who valued my opinions. This didn't always lead to a certain player being signed of course because like I said previously the Manager has all sorts of things to consider such as budget, effect on current team members etc.

Many scouts do follow managers around. I didn't despite having the opportunity to do so once or twice.

Notts-Joe; What's differences have you have witnessed over years, anything you wished was still simple, less demanding or would like to bring back?

The main differences latterly are the advent of the computer and the large amount of extra paperwork it engenders. many good scouts have packed up in the last 2/3 years because of this. In cases with many clubs it has become a tick-box world. I recently got hold of a scouting report form from a very well known premiership club and I have never read so much garbage in all my life. Nowhere on the form did it pose the question "Can he play".

Far too many foreign players in the English game. The national side will never reach the heights whilst English lads are being denied the opportunities to shine due to the over influx of foreign players. In Scotland at least there is a conscious effort being made to remedy this.

Dripsey3; Do you scout outside the UK? Do certain players miss out because clubs feel they can't deal with the physical nature of the English game and the number of games that are played here?

No I never have scouted outside of the UK. In all countries these days there is a demand for players to have good degrees of fitness so I wouldn't subscribe to the view that the majority of them find it difficult to adjust to the English game. There is now an emphasis on correct diets, resting periods etc. worldwide. Maybe some find it difficult to adjust to the climate....!! The frantic pace of the game nowadays does promote the question as to why so many games are played and then have to be supplemented by play-offs. Your legendary manager Jimmy Sirrel never agreed with play-offs and nor do I.

Liampie; What is the difference between scouting for a premiership team compared to one within the football leagues? do you have to do things differently, if so what is that?

Very difficult at first to reconcile the standards of players by a premiership club and those needed by League 1 & League 2 clubs. It is a matter of setting sights higher...eg detecting players whose football brains work quicker and thereby read situations better, whether attacking or defending.

Dana Shoup; From Lower League Scouts, I've heard its endless and hard on family and friends. At the Premiership Level, do you feel the same way, I'd feel like at that level, I'd enjoy it because maybe i'd have more help and finances to get around and about? Whats the life like?

Dana Shoup; Also as a person who feels like on and off the field, i'm a very quick read of a player and their style. How much time do you truly need to feel like you have scouted a player well? I'd assume coaches, board, and everyone has different things they are looking for on a player personally. What do you look for in a player? Attitude on and off the field? Quick Learner? Ability to turn from offense to defense quickly?

Obviously at lower levels money is not readily available to facilitate travel, overnight accommodation etc, but in fairness I must say that on the two occasions visits to Scotland meant overnight stays my previous club did not jib about paying the expenses for such..... subject of course to not booking in at the most expensive hotel etc. So far with my present club this sort of occasion hasn't arisen. As regards what I look for in a player see my earlier comments to Magpie Jue.

However it is a hard slog where finances and assistance are at a premium and it hasn't helped with the additional paperwork now generally required. For example doing up a report on the forthcoming opposition nearly always takes around 3-4 hours on a Sunday morning and needs hard concentration to ensure that nothing is missed.

As regards looking at a player I would normally do this 3 or 4 times in order to gain a true reflection. I always watch a player both home & away. There are occasions of course where time does not permit this, particularly where a rival club may also be showing an interest in the player concerned.

Blackville; What sort of age do you look at or most common age group?

At present I am generally concerned with looking at the 14 to 18 age groups in order to find the late developer or lads who may have been previously overlooked. I try and follow up all tips but one can only be in one place at once. Often I have found referees to be a good source of information.

Tonyhatley; Have you ever seen a kid kicking a ball in a park or on the street and notified a club of his potential?

I did once when I was managing at a non-league level. The lad concerned went on to score 34 goals in one season at a reasonable non-league level. However, such cases are corn in Egypt!!

Tonyhateley; Who is the most famous player you have recommended to a club?

Obviously I cant answer this due t reasons of confidentiality and protocol. But there have been two or three.

Super Ram; Do you pretend to be watching a different player to the one you are really interested in to put other scouts off the scent?

DangerousSausage; I sometimes read about all the scouts that turn up to watch a player, and imagine them all sat in a line with notebooks. Do scouts sit together and compare notes, or is it a more cloak and daggers business where you try to avoid being spotted?

To answer both of you.. Sometimes but most scouts are no fools. It is 5 to 4 on that an accumulation of scouts at a particular game means that they are all looking at the same player.

There is generally a good camaraderie amongst scouts and a willingness to share information. There is a general misconception that just because we work for different clubs we don't talk to one another!!

Adelaidepie; If you see two players that look like having equal ability and talent and potential do you have to take into account which country they come from? In this i mean if for example one is from America and one from New Zealand, wold you judge them differently or the same? I assume that sometimes this can / could be taking into account?

No, there is no discrimination in respect of what you ask. However, the chances of this occurring are completely unlikely

Adelaidpie; Is there a country which may have produced some good players in the past but not in large qualities, say Australia, but you feel they maybe on the verge of producing a few better talented players now or soon? This country maybe showing a little more potential for example say Australia. Australia has produced players like Craig Johnson and Harry Kewell but maybe haven't produced players at this level since.

Whilst Australia and New Zealand are making steady progress in respect of the world stage. The nation coming up on the rails is India which is making strenuous efforts to become a world football power. I would reckon that in a few years time they will be a nation which will need to be heeded.

Some businessmen are putting considerable amounts of money into club promotion and betterment.

Pride of Nottingham would like to thank all the community members who took to asking questions and the scout for taking the time to do this feature with us. Be sure to leave a comment below! You Pies!!