Breaking Lines

Data pervades football today - everyone knows everything! Stats, stats and more stats and we're even inventing new stats to make the old stats even richer in detail and specificity. But at what point does the need for information overrun our need for entertainment and enjoyment of the game. For media providers like Sky and BBC it is used to inform and explain the game.

Whether in post-match or in-game analysis, data and stats are used to add more colour to the game and perhaps better represent and describe what is ahppening. But on another level is it taking away some of the art of being a player, a coach or the game itself! With coaches manipulating the way the game is played in order to produce more 'attractive' stats, has football lost its way with data?

Join Gary Rowett and Dave Carolan as they bring you through some insights on Data. in Football!

#football #soccer #futebol #epl #efl #manager #headcoach #performance #sportsscience #fitness #tactics #derby #winners #losers #data #dataanalytics #stats

** Please Note that the loan from WPL Mentioned was 'Interest-Free and not Free  as mentioned**

In this chat, Harvey Bussell, Head of Recruitment at Manchester United Women, shares some interesting insights into the world of women's football. He dives into the ups and downs of the recent summer transfer window, the exciting growth of the women's game, and how data is playing a key role in recruitment strategies. Harvey also talks about his shift from men's to women's football, highlighting the differences in infrastructure and the ever-competitive landscape of the Women's Super League (WSL). He stresses the importance of stability in management and how crucial it is to truly understand the unique dynamics of women's football as it keeps evolving.

Be sure to like, subscribe and recommend Breaking Lines Podcast! 

In this episode, Gary and Dave discuss the first meeting with players as a manager and how to manage the team behind the team. They also share their favorite games they've managed.

Continuing, Dave and Gary discuss various topics related to football, including the excitement of late goals, the use of data and analytics in coaching, the evolution of pitches and  players support services, and the correlation between performance metrics and points won - is it always the manager philosophy or is it a correlation with them having the best players?

They highlight the importance of understanding the specific needs and strengths of a team and adapting the style of play accordingly. The conversation provides insights into the changing landscape of football and the role of data in decision-making.

football #soccer #futebol #epl #efl #manager #headcoach #performance #sportsscience #fitness #tactics #derby #winners #losers #mufc #podcast #questions #insights #behindthescenes

Love them or hate them, International Breaks in Professional Football at the Elite level can be a blessing and a hex in equal measure! When youre on a good run they can break momentum - on a poor run, they can provide restbite. But changing whats happening in your squad is not easy, especially if half of your squad is scatterred to the 4 corners of the globe.

While the players on International Duty have to cram in 2 games, thousands of miles, potentially questionnable training and sub-optimal preparation, the ones at the training ground have too small numbers to do anything particularly constructive and you end up arranging a firendly game just to top up players match exposure minutes!

But it is one of the few touchpoints in the season when the players and staff at clubs can take a break - maybe only 2 or 3 days - and feel like a normal person in a normal job. Perhaps a mini-break, a city hop or some other sort holiday!

Then its back to the grind of the league season; well it is if your players return fit and fresh (they normally dont!) or you've lost your job as the head coach! 

Join us as we discuss International Breaks! 

If you've seen Love Island, the summer transfer window is LI on MAX; Club perusing players, players pursuing clubs, agents making matches; some people have fallen out and others are besotted by someone they cant have - or cant afford!!

The Summer transfer window is where clubs place so much energy - months of work are distilled into the last few days when its vital to get all of the big pieces for your squad into place for the season ahead. If the January window is about fixing leaks or add a cherry on top of the cake, summer is about building for the future. 

Gary and Dave take you through how clubs spend many months preparing for this window to ensure they have the right ingredients. Some player will have left at the end of their contraxts, others surplus to requirements. Young premier League starlets are taking their first exploratory flights away from the nest. And the last throws of the journeyman to secure one last gig at the best club they can mean theres deals to be done.

Act to quick and you might miss a bargain, too slow and youre scrambling for quality and you could have an unbalanced squad. Welcome to the end of the Summer Transfer Window!

One of tthe most instantly recognisable figures in football Bryan Gunn has done it all - player, coach, manager, agent and semi-pro golfer with the personality to charm the birds from the trees! From formativie days at  @aberdeenfc  in the hugely successful side on the 80s which one dual European Trophies, learning under the immense talents of Scottish football like Gordon Strachan, Alex McLeish, Willy Miller and Jim Leighton to name but a few.

However, it was their manager - one of the greatest ever in the game - Alex Ferguson who made the biggest impression on Bryan. From Sir Alex's babysitter to International Goalkeeper, top6 Premier League Goalkeeper to amazing European nights with  @CanariesTV  Norwich City and the famous defeat of  @fcbayern  in the Olympic Stadium.

The journey continued as Bryan stayed in the game through commercial side of football back at Norwich after a brief spell away and his rise at the club crescendoed as he bacame 1st Team Manager in 2009. But even legends have tough times - injuries in his career and losing your job as a manger hit hard but Bryan's positivity kept him moving forward and now we has transitioned from agent to player liaision at one of the foremost football agencies in the world, Triple S.

A fascinating hour with Bryan with plenty of good stories! We are thanksful to 'BG' for joining us and hopw you enjoy the episode! LEave us a like and be sure to subscribe to the channel!

Episode 3 of Breaking Lines with... and we're joined by journalist John Percy to regale his journey in journalism, the changing landscape of football reporting, and the challenges of the industry.

He talks about the importance of building relationships and contacts, the pressure of breaking stories quickly, and the balance between providing information and maintaining relationships.

The conversation also touches on the scrutiny faced by managers, such as Gareth Southgate, and the excitement and trepidation surrounding the upcoming football season. The conversation also touches on the changing nature of football, the role of statistics in reporting, and the balance between entertainment and technicality in the game.

Finally, when probed about his alter-career, John expresses his passion for film and mentions that if he weren't a football journalist, he would love to cover the film industry; with his preferred genre being a revelation in itself!!!

A fascinating listen, we thank John for his time to chat with us and the many interesting and humorous topics that he spoke about! Enjoy the episode!

This episode we are joined by Matt Smith, striker extraordinaire! Feared by defenders, coaches and fans across the land, his unique journey is a triumph of opportunity, persistence, practice and knowing what you excel at - and doing it! 

Having recently completed his MBA and on the back of hanging up his boots after a prolific 25-goal season at his final club Salford, Matt has scored goals everywhere he's been; Leeds United, Millwall, Fulham, Bristol City, QPR and so on. But his roots are in the non-league having been spotted at University and investing in beer-money for nights out! But then things changed... 

And now as he embarks on the next stage of his career with SEQUEL, an investment platform for athletes to support early stage start-ups, he gives us some insights into how that all came about - as his academic life completes its full circle and he blends both careers - pro sports and buisness - into an exciting new venture! 

Join us as we have a great discussion with Matt on Breaking Lines with... 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

Keywords: Matt Smith, football, career, non-league, professional, Oldham, Leeds, Fulham, Millwall, COVID-19, training sessions, football, training philosophies, coaching methods, scoring goals, practice, playing time, honesty, respect, data, intuition, business world, Sequel

Breaking Lines with... Henry Winter! One of world football's greatest football journalistic minds joins us to discuss the side of football that breaks the news, illuminates the indviduals & paints the portraits of those who make football the world's favourite sport.

With his written word, this award-winning journalist give us so much insight into the nuances of the game and those in it. In short or long form he uses his skills not only to find a story, but often to tell the right story, not the popular or sensationalist one. A career built on a high level of trust on both sides.

In this fantastic first episode of Breaking Lines with... Henry gives us great insight into how his career is built on both working hard and being a good person, yet also being respectful of those in the game and holding them to account. He sheds light on some amazing encounters with fascinating players and coaches,  discussing some of the huge challenges they have faced and how they overcame them.

And in an ever changing environment and industry, how his ability to be a "digital decathlete" has kept him at the forefront of the genre for almost 40 years. A fascinating listen!

Pre-Season is here again and its not everyone's cup of tea! For some it's heave, for others it's hell on earth!

From the first day MOT for the players, to international tours, its a phoney war in preparation for the start of the season! Its the vegetables you had to eat with dinner for the players - you dont necessarily like it but you know you need it. For coaches its building a 5-6 week programme to maximise fitness, teach the playing philosophy, developing team cohesion and ensuring that the pre-season gives you the launchpad for a successful season start.

But get it wrong and theres a whole heap of trouble looming! In this episdoe Gary and Dave take you behind the scenes of how pro clubs will figure it all out. From planning the tour 6 months in advance to the players who just love the running - because it might be better than their footballing!