Just over four years ago, I wrote How I watch football matches for tactical analyses. Since then, I've done a significant amount of work for professional clubs, coaches, and players. Much of my approach has stayed the same, but as time evolves, so does knowledge, expertise and systems. So I thought now seemed like as good of a time as any to detail what's changed and evolved over the last four years. Here is how I watch football matches for my tactical analyses, and how you can too!
Scouting seems to be one of those professions that just about anyone thinks they can get into. And to an extent - with good reason! With a knowledge and passion for your sport of choice, it's not incredibly difficult to take the necessary courses and begin the path toward being a scout. But talent identification goes far beyond just the ability to watch matches and identify talent. Most of the time, it's not difficult to identify talent. What's difficult is to identify talent that will transfer over to a new environment, under new circumstances, repeatedly over time.
