CONFIRMED Ehije Ukaki signs from Botev Plovdiv - 3 year contract

[Eppyblade]

Why didn’t others buy Caicedo, Benhrama, Maupay, Van Heche, Mitoma etc

 

[s20Blade]

I wonder what is so special about our AI/“data driven” tool compared to other clubs’ such that we’ve identified these players as ones to buy and the others haven’t.

Others probably want to buy overpriced British players Like Cannon, McBurnie and Brewster.....

 

[DroitwichBlade]

Worked for Billy Beane!

 

[Yellarbellyblade]

Worked for Billy Beane!

Arguable. He never won the World Series doing it. He did however pretty much change how baseball looked at its use of data analytics so maybe that counts as a win

 

[jt64]

Arguable. He never won the World Series doing it. He did however pretty much change how baseball looked at its use of data analytics so maybe that counts as a win

It got a team on one of the smallest budgets in the league into the playoffs repeatedly. Actually winning, or reaching the WS once there, is an ultra-high variance proposition, the results of which are obviously where you want to get things going your way but are far less indicative of who has the best team than regular season records. Saying arguable would be similar to berating Charlton if they were to get in the playoffs this season and lose on penalties. Or, a few years from now, berating Sheffield United for qualifying for Europe then going out in the group stages.

 

[Yellarbellyblade]

It got a team on one of the smallest budgets in the league into the playoffs repeatedly. Actually winning, or reaching the WS once there, is an ultra-high variance proposition, the results of which are obviously where you want to get things going your way but are far less indicative of who has the best team than regular season records. Saying arguable would be similar to berating Charlton if they were to get in the playoffs this season and lose on penalties. Or, a few years from now, berating Sheffield United for qualifying for Europe then going out in the group stages.

Don’t think he ever won or got to the WS. Might be wrong on that.
Don’t get me wrong though if United could use analytics to achieve what he did we’d take that every day. I was just trying to say his impact was more about changing the way teams around the league approached player identification and recruitment. I guess the problem we have is that it’s not such a novel idea now so what we can hope to achieve in an innovative way is probably lessened

 

[Davalon]

According to Danny Hall Plovdiv have 'effectively become our feeder club' because we've signed two players from them.

 

[jt64]

According to Danny Hall Plovdiv have 'effectively become our feeder club' because we've signed two players from them.

Plovdiv, twinned with Coventry

 

[Lord Eddard Muir]

The Derby County of Bulgaria

 

[Tony_Kaufman]

On a related topic, I'd never given much thought to Plovdiv as a place, but looking at the pictures, it appears to be like a cross between Ancient Rome and "The Village" from the 1960's TV show, "The Prisoner"!

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Good country to visit, nice country, but the food can give you the s****s!

 

[Greystones Blade]

On a related topic, I'd never given much thought to Plovdiv as a place, but looking at the pictures, it appears to be like a cross between Ancient Rome and "The Village" from the 1960's TV show, "The Prisoner"!

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And built on 7 hills like Sheffield - should keep them fit walking up and down..

 

[Greasy Chap Butty]

Turns out Jordan, our player recruitment apprentice, has typed PL Div wrong into the supercomputer...

 

[ITALIANO BLADE]

whats point you wont play none of the 3 wingers you signed cant even tell us who boss is signing players for future we need experienced players in now who win

 

[AdamSufc1997]

Danny Hall posted that a journalist from bulgaria thinks this guy is a good signing but doesn't think the other will even play for us

 

[Nick Jansky]

Danny Hall posted that a journalist from bulgaria thinks this guy is a good signing but doesn't think the other will even play for us

Is he the Bulgarian Alan Biggs?

 

[Berkshire Blade]

The Bulgarian journalist claims he's a winger and right back. Wonder if this is who Nixon mentioned or we are getting two Bulgarian based right backs?!

 

[robbiez666]

Been impressed with his start here. Puts a shift in and looks dangerous. I hope we'll sed him in the squad.

 

[Thrice]

I wonder what is so special about our AI/“data driven” tool compared to other clubs’ such that we’ve identified these players as ones to buy and the others haven’t.

It's probably still a niche. I don't think many clubs at this level have fully embraced this model yet. Club officials can be stubborn and many of them are still old school.

 

[Tony_Kaufman]

He's still a bit raw but he has the potential to be dangerous. Over the last two games I've been impressed with both Ukaki and Caceres, who have both created some chances. I don't think either will start anytime soon, but there's definitely something to work with.

When was the last time we had a player as rapid as Ukaki (Burke excluded as a said player, not wannabe fashion model, influencer gimp)?

Kabba when he first arrived?

 

[Melbourne Blade]

I think Adrian Littlejohn is probably the fastest player we've ever had. Well, relative to the time he played for us. I seem to remember he won a sprinting competition on football focus or something similar?

 

[BrisBlade]

I think Adrian Littlejohn is probably the fastest player we've ever had. Well, relative to the time he played for us. I seem to remember he won a sprinting competition on football focus or something similar?

Kyle Walker was rapid. Allegedly the fastest player in the PL for ages.

 

[Millhousesblade1889]

I’m not convinced he’s ready, he’s definitely quick. He had the better of Burtons second choice left back & did better against Rotherham.

I’ve seen him 3 times now & my main issue with what I’ve seen is with the ball at his feet and the defender infront of him he never tries to take his man on; the times he’s got in behind is when he runs off his man & uses his pace.

The left backs he comes up against in the championship will be a big step up from what he’s seen so far.

 

[Ron_Justice]

Impressed so far. For someone with such a diminutive frame, he handled him much bigger defender with ease. Quick, makes things happen, direct. Pleasantly surprised.

Same is true of Jeff, but so far, he's not made as much of an impact, beyond a couple of nice defence splitting passes. Having said that, last night, he was one that was relentless in the press. Green shoots of something there for sure.

 

[ATL Recs]

It's probably still a niche. I don't think many clubs at this level have fully embraced this model yet. Club officials can be stubborn and many of them are still old school.

Every club in the Premiership uses it also all over Europe it’s us who are old school now playing catch up

 

[FleaPitBlade]

Hard to tell where they sit in the spectrum of "good enough for The Championship" from run outs against lesser teams but I will say this: so far, Ukaki and Caceras look a lot less like fish out of water than some of the shite that United World foisted on upon us.

 

[I should coco]

When was the last time we had a player as rapid as Ukaki (Burke excluded as a said player, not wannabe fashion model, influencer gimp)?

Kabba when he first arrived?

Jonathan Forte - a trier, but no end product

Dominic Poleon - couldn't be arsed most of the time

 

[Iffy Onuora's Shiny Head]

Hard to tell where they sit in the spectrum of "good enough for The Championship" from run outs against lesser teams but I will say this: so far, Ukaki and Caceras look a lot less like fish out of water than some of the shite that United World foisted on upon us.

Both better than Jasper Johns

 

[Ron_Justice]

Hard to tell where they sit in the spectrum of "good enough for The Championship" from run outs against lesser teams but I will say this: so far, Ukaki and Caceras look a lot less like fish out of water than some of the shite that United World foisted on upon us.

That's a great metric. Also, think of Bennie Treore. Easy comparison - similar positions - he looked lost with us, these two look like they're getting up to speed but not out of their depth.

 

[BalticBlade]

Let's not forget that the little lad is still only 20-years-old.

 

[Tarqs]

That's a great metric. Also, think of Bennie Treore. Easy comparison - similar positions - he looked lost with us, these two look like they're getting up to speed but not out of their depth.

Benie traore was also playing in the Premier league and looked nowhere near as bad as some remember. Certainly no worse than the rest of the shite, some of which are still playing with us today.