The NEW Transfer Philosophy at Liverpool?
Roy Hodgson isn’t exactly a popular figure on Merseyside and this is justifiably so according to a multitude of Liverpool fans. They find themselves with an uninspiring football style that witnesses players looking dejected and the belief that transfers will rectify this predicament with the backing of the new ownership in the New England Sport Ventures. But if Liverpool fans have observed the NESV at work in baseball then there is a slightly more shrewd policy implemented to gain success against money wielding clubs. What I’d like to assess is whether Hodgson is the correct man for this policy?
The Red Sox, with a financial structure that limited their capability to compete with the big spenders had to find another mode to attain success. This came in the guise of using statistical models which allowed unbiased, clear and precise determinations made on players purely based on their efficiency. With this model they could acquire value in the market by unearthing talent that had been missed due to certain circumstances and profit from the short-sightedness of their rivals. This punctilious approach will now be enacted at Liverpool to try and curb the financial outlay on transfers whilst remaining competitive.
The difference between impersonal statistics and the appreciation of the human condition presents itself here. With the statistics being stared at with cold, calm and calculating eyes by the NESV, it has evidence behind it for the faith given it, but this is in baseball and not football. Football involves far more technical and physical ability in a general sense as opposed to the specificities of pitching and batting which can be monitored fairly consistently. With these statistics there is no room for the appreciation or empathising of the human temperament, numbers don’t forgive failure they merely accentuate it.
If a player performs poorly, the stats won’t lie and will highlight it, but they won’t necessarily explain why a player hasn’t performed well. The majority of players will have a foundational base of skill sets, but it is the psychological constitution of a player that establishes whether or not they can cope with pressure, expectation, failure, excessive rewards and the other aspects you have to manage in order to be successful. Statistics wouldn’t absolve failure in view of these excuses and a forgiving hand may only be extended if conscious of the entire picture.
Regardless of my thoughts on the mathematical formulas that could come to determine the transfer policy at Liverpool, is Hodgson the right man to see it through? He has found quality in unearthing players such as Brede Hangeland and revitalised the careers of players that had seemingly run along a plateau for some time in the likes of Danny Murphy, Bobby Zamora, Paul Konchesky and Zoltan Gera. This presents the value in the market that NESV are striving for, but would those same statistics have given the aforementioned players the chance to progress and realise their potential under suitable guidance from Hodgson? It would appear that they wouldn’t because with these types of player you take a risk, which is why value is gained when you accomplish the potential you saw in them.
Statistical formulas such as Pro Zone are supposed to remove as much risk as possible and eliminate human error, for we are a fallible lot, but without risk we lose the initiative and route to success. But then is this system taking a risk in itself? I think Hodgson would appreciate the assistance of such a system, but in a game that is so complex and emotionally invested as football the intuitive elements shouldn’t take a back seat to the stats. Hodgson after all would pick the team, train them, impose his style of play (does baseball have such a diverse difference in approaches as football?) and be responsible for the results. He is the right man given time, but so are you on Football Manager with the statistics at hand.
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Well all I can say is gobbeldy goopie de goopir blah vlah de goopier for der goopie da goopie.
It is all a load of goppie de goop to me ! When is the hypnotist going to arrive?
Before or after the men in white coats?
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I think that is a fair enough to determine a player based on statistics. We all know that statistics dun lie. Hopefully we will be able to see world class players in Liverpool shirt.. this will definitely be a big boost to the fans and the team.
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You are aware that tyhe Red Sox consistently pay the second largest wagebill in MLB right?
Granted, they do take a different approach through the use of sabermetrics, but they are hardly rooting through the bargain basement for players.
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I totally agree with NESV in their statistics idea. Liverpool have paid out ridiculous transfer fees and wages during Benitez reign. How could anyone justify 40 thousand a week for Insua and 70 thousand a week for Maxi as an example.
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All well and good analysing players, but i wonder whether the statistical models would have given the green light to the signings of Catona, Ginola, Zola, Henry, Torres…players who were not exactly setting their former leagues alight, but blew apart the premiership once they got here. The style of football is so different across the continent and certain players are ‘statistically’ better playing to a certain style. Just a thought…
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Buddy, do you even have the first clue about baseball and sabermetrics? It’s essentially about maximizing your money and not being fooled by things which don’t help you win games. No matter what you’ve heard, t’s not about about being a robot/slave to statistics. Sure the sports (and their application of statistics) are different but the ownership of LFC could use for reason/common sense and with these guys and their history it looks more and more certain.
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too old
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