Barrow

[Lesonthewest]

Two seasons ago they finished in the same position wa are currently, look at them now, average squad of 25 players, average age 27, average attendance of below 4000. Shows what can be done when ran properly, not all down to their manager surely.

[donnievic]

Not all down to spending a lot of money either

[ncRover]

They have a sporting director.

I’m not sure on his qualifications compared to Copps.

[wilts rover]

They have a sporting director.

I’m not sure on his qualifications compared to Copps.

He never played professional football & is an ex-agent, representing various players/managers for 20 years.

Wonder what the reaction would be if we appointed Willie McKay to that role!

[drfchound]

They have a sporting director.

I’m not sure on his qualifications compared to Copps.

He never played professional football & is an ex-agent, representing various players/managers for 20 years.

Wonder what the reaction would be if we appointed Willie McKay to that role!

It seems that he has acquired some very good contacts though wilts.

[ncRover]

I wouldn’t say “never played professional football” is really relevant to such a role.

[DonnyOsmond]

I wouldn’t say “never played professional football” is really relevant to such a role.

Probably a preference, less biases.

[Lesonthewest]

So we can come to a conclusion that they have a far better people behind the scenes that we currently have. With they having a smaller budget also.

[DonnyOsmond]

https://theathletic.com/5189847/2024/01/19/barrow-a-club-and-town-on-the-up-and-seeking-royal-approval/

Together, the pair have transformed the club’s fortunes, with last season’s ninth-place finish coming after an initial flirtation with the play-offs. Central to that has been astute recruitment, featuring a bespoke rating system dubbed the ‘Barrow Index’.

“We have to be smart in the market,” says Wood. “When I first came in, we were paying a lot of money for data but not really using it. We had to change.

“Lewis (Dunwoody, head of performance analysis) led that, developing a tool that highlights the traits players need to fit into how Pete’s teams play. All the information came from the analytics we were paying for.

“Joe (Harvey, recruitment analyst) then helped Lewis develop what we call the Barrow Index. It’s not the be-all and end-all, as we’re also out all the time watching games.

“We’ve seen players who looked right in our data system but then gone and watched them and thought, ‘No’. But, if we’re in a debate about a player and unsure, we do go to the Index to check his suitability.”

Wood is understandably reluctant to give too much away regarding this unique rating system, but he adds: “The Index is all different things, including an overall score, a league average and so on.

“We have to tweak it all the time. Mainly because players can be quite clever. They know the data is scrutinised. So, you’ll get a player who keeps passing three or four yards because clubs sign players who pass a lot and accurately. That’s why you have to see for yourself as well. The best of both worlds.”

[wilts rover]

They have a sporting director.

I’m not sure on his qualifications compared to Copps.

He never played professional football & is an ex-agent, representing various players/managers for 20 years.

Wonder what the reaction would be if we appointed Willie McKay to that role!

It seems that he has acquired some very good contacts though wilts.

No doubt so has Willie McKay. However the previous poster asked what his qualifications for the role were compared to Copps so I gave him an answer. How does your answer to me help with that?

[sedwardsdrfc]

We did try a former agent in the role remember Graham Younger. He signed a load of dross too.

In fairness the club has tried hiring the right roles. Maybe not the right people but it’s not like we’ve not t tried. Disappointing we gave up and gave the job to Copps

[drfchound]

They have a sporting director.

I’m not sure on his qualifications compared to Copps.

He never played professional football & is an ex-agent, representing various players/managers for 20 years.

Wonder what the reaction would be if we appointed Willie McKay to that role!

It seems that he has acquired some very good contacts though wilts.

No doubt so has Willie McKay. However the previous poster asked what his qualifications for the role were compared to Copps so I gave him an answer. How does your answer to me help with that?

I’m sure you understand wilts, but to help out I was suggesting that because he has been around football for 20 years he has possibly built up lots of useful acquaintances which could have helped him to be able to bring in the right players without breaking the bank.
Had we appointed Willie McKay to a similar role there would have been a mass protest by vsc posters.

[sedwardsdrfc]

As for the lads running Barrow the best value for money Terry would get would be to hire them. No point throwing a few million at it the way we are recruiting now. Better hiring people to make what we have go further.

These guys have shown they can do it so it not just blind faith like the Copps appointment

[Move DRFC]

The biggest mistake we ever made was making a seemingly really positive change to the structure by announcing we'd be hiring a Head of Football Operations, then just giving the job to Coppinger.

It was an excellent opportunity to get in someone smart, with fresh ideas, with a forward thinking data led recruitment strategy. Someone who knows exactly what it takes to maximise value from the budget.

Instead it was yet again jobs for the boys. We really only have ourselves to blame for this downfall.

[Lesonthewest]

First paragraph! Love him, but this was a huge mistake.

[GazLaz]

https://theathletic.com/5189847/2024/01/19/barrow-a-club-and-town-on-the-up-and-seeking-royal-approval/

Together, the pair have transformed the club’s fortunes, with last season’s ninth-place finish coming after an initial flirtation with the play-offs. Central to that has been astute recruitment, featuring a bespoke rating system dubbed the ‘Barrow Index’.

“We have to be smart in the market,” says Wood. “When I first came in, we were paying a lot of money for data but not really using it. We had to change.

“Lewis (Dunwoody, head of performance analysis) led that, developing a tool that highlights the traits players need to fit into how Pete’s teams play. All the information came from the analytics we were paying for.

“Joe (Harvey, recruitment analyst) then helped Lewis develop what we call the Barrow Index. It’s not the be-all and end-all, as we’re also out all the time watching games.

“We’ve seen players who looked right in our data system but then gone and watched them and thought, ‘No’. But, if we’re in a debate about a player and unsure, we do go to the Index to check his suitability.”

Wood is understandably reluctant to give too much away regarding this unique rating system, but he adds: “The Index is all different things, including an overall score, a league average and so on.

“We have to tweak it all the time. Mainly because players can be quite clever. They know the data is scrutinised. So, you’ll get a player who keeps passing three or four yards because clubs sign players who pass a lot and accurately. That’s why you have to see for yourself as well. The best of both worlds.”

Ahh the answer is data then… well data is never the answer, it’s how you use it that makes the difference. The clubs that understand it and use it most wisely generally overachieve the most.

Makes me shake my head looking at how Barrow are doing things then looking at the mess we are in. 

[Lesonthewest]

As for the lads running Barrow the best value for money Terry would get would be to hire them. No point throwing a few million at it the way we are recruiting now. Better hiring people to make what we have go further.

These guys have shown they can do it so it not just blind faith like the Copps appointment

This.

[pib]

Lewis Dunwoody has been snapped up by Huddersfield.