[madsteve]

This is basically following the Billy Bean "Moneyball" model at the Oakland Athletics in Major League Baseball over here.  As more and more football games are videoed from multiple angles the quality and relevance of statistics is there for everyone to use if they want to.  For me this is also the way forward if we as a club are going to set some type of consistent style, formations, tactics etc up and down the club.  It is not the be all and end all for everything but it does give a good barometer when analysing performances or signing players and if this can add 20-30% effectiveness to our performances then it is worth doing.

It is a lot more than adding 20% to performances.

It sets the whole philosophy of the Club. It models tactics across all teams down to juniors. It is the starting point for player recruitment.

There will be sceptics but it is the future.

I thought it was Garlic Bread   

I nearly added "like garlic bread" but thought no-one would get it. I underestimated you.

---

What about the 3 teams that get relegated, are they going to do as shit as the 3 that came down last season, then theirs the teams that fail in the playoffs this season. I think the best we could hope for next season is maybe a playoff push if we 1) get the right players in, 2) the defense keeps up to its standard from this season, 3) some creative players to feed the attacking players and 4) we find someone, or preferably 2, who can put the ball in the back of the net on a regular basis.

You can have all the analysts you want, its still down to the players on the pitch to do the business & a flexible manager when it comes to tactics and formation.

Keane & McGugan are both on loan, so their is no guarantee they will both sign in the summer, though we should have a decent chance with McGugan.

There is the danger that the relegated sides are well organised, stronger & use their parachute payments effectively so our chances are small but we still have to look to improve each season.

The top priorities have to be to sort out our philosophy & then appoint a progressive coach that can work to maximise our potential.

The effect of Analysts shouldn't be understated. If they can add 15 points per season to your total (as Eddie Howe claims) then surely we should be doing this. That doesn't mean that that is the solution, just that it helps everything that is being done by the coaches. 

We should be trying to maximise our potential in every area of the club.