Does anyone else feel it’s their duty to scout for United?

[Sheff de party]

Whenever I’m on holiday, I always take in a foreign match if I can. I’ve made it to games in Germany, Croatia, Czech Rep, Spain, Portugal, USA, Australia and Malaysia, usually preferring to go to lower league stuff.

I always make a point of making mental notes about each player in case I can discover a hidden star for the Blades, not quite realising that I don’t have CW’s mobile number or the reputation to be taken seriously. I just see it as my responsibility as a fan.

Does anyone else, or are people capable of just sitting back and enjoying being on their jollies without dreaming of uncovering the Sri Lankan Brian Deane?

 

[mattbianco1]

Most people scout on Football Manager and Fifa.

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

Nah I can sit back and enjoy the games. I never fully understand some of the 'Play Suggestion' in the rumour mill, where some posters will go into great detail telling us all why we should sign a partcular player and how the club would be missing out if we didn't (and said posters then get really wound up when we don't sign them).

 

[Blade for Sale]

The number of 18-25 year old women I have scouted on holiday without one being picked up is ridiculous. These are lithe, athletic, healthy specimens with liberal, can-do attitudes. One can but maintain one's discipline despite the constant rebuttals emanating from Bramall Lane (and the odd cease and desist letter).

 

[St Annington]

Whenever I’m on holiday, I always take in a foreign match if I can. I’ve made it to games in Germany, Croatia, Czech Rep, Spain, Portugal, USA, Australia and Malaysia, usually preferring to go to lower league stuff.

I always make a point of making mental notes about each player in case I can discover a hidden star for the Blades, not quite realising that I don’t have CW’s mobile number or the reputation to be taken seriously. I just see it as my responsibility as a fan.

Does anyone else, or are people capable of just sitting back and enjoying being on their jollies without dreaming of uncovering the Sri Lankan Brian Deane?

I'm afraid your taste is far too exotic for 'British is Best' Blades. I meanwhile am earning a hansom commission from scouting on the east coast mainly taking in Gregg's, Ladbrokes, Butlin's and Wetherspoons.

 

[Silent Blade]

Nah I can sit back and enjoy the games. I never fully understand some of the 'Play Suggestion' in the rumour mill, where some posters will go into great detail telling us all why we should sign a partcular player and how the club would be missing out if we didn't (and said posters then get really wound up when we don't sign them).

Fully agree, I am sick of reading posts by fans who think they know better than Wilder/Knill/Mitchell

 

[Silent Blade]

Whenever I’m on holiday, I always take in a foreign match if I can. I’ve made it to games in Germany, Croatia, Czech Rep, Spain, Portugal, USA, Australia and Malaysia, usually preferring to go to lower league stuff.

I always make a point of making mental notes about each player in case I can discover a hidden star for the Blades, not quite realising that I don’t have CW’s mobile number or the reputation to be taken seriously. I just see it as my responsibility as a fan.

Does anyone else, or are people capable of just sitting back and enjoying being on their jollies without dreaming of uncovering the Sri Lankan Brian Deane?

NO!

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

I attend a lot of age group football. SUFC & also International Tournaments abroad. I often tweet & blog about games I attend. I believe I know a lot more about India Pale Ale Hop profiles & malt bases than I do overlapping wing halves. But, I've been surprised by how much the "football industry" thrives on information, any information.

I am occasionally contacted by people who would like information on games & players. Top of the fucking list are betting scammers. They know I get details of SUFC U23 teams ahead of "the public". So, if a regular first teamer is dropping down or coming back from injury or for some other reason Utd have a stronger than normal team out, the scammers think Utd U23 will be good value on the betting exchanges. I was amazed at the amount of betting money traded on U23 games. Some of the people who pump me for info are in Asia (while I'm in Stocksbridge FFS). A lot of them masquerade on Social Media as "YouthSoccerFan" or similar bollocks.

Player Agents also occasionally contact me. It's mad, until you think about it. One Agent levelled with me. As an eg, if a 16 year kid, Joe Blogs, scores for SUFC U18s at half eleven on a Saturday morning in February on a field outside Bury & I tweet it "Blogsy has hit a belter with his left foot to put us one up". The Agent had been sniffing around Joe for a few weeks. He immediately phoned Joe's Dad up & said "your Joe has just scored a belter at Bury". Joe's Dad said "how the Fuck do you know that?". The Agent said "mate, we're a serious outfit, we have eyes everywhere". Reputation enhanced, Joe signed with the Agent the week after. Mad. But any info is power.

Now, that is all off the topic, as it's not about scouting players for clubs. But, I'm sharing because I've been amazed by how many people (and yes, sometimes clubs) are interested in ANY info. Social Media & Blogs allow them to harvest info useful to them.

 

[Chali 2na]

I attend a lot of age group football. SUFC & also International Tournaments abroad. I often tweet & blog about games I attend. I believe I know a lot more about India Pale Ale Hop profiles & malt bases than I do overlapping wing halves. But, I've been surprised by how much the "football industry" thrives on information, any information.

I am occasionally contacted by people who would like information on games & players. Top of the fucking list are betting scammers. They know I get details of SUFC U23 teams ahead of "the public". So, if a regular first teamer is dropping down or coming back from injury or for some other reason Utd have a stronger than normal team out, the scammers think Utd U23 will be good value on the betting exchanges. I was amazed at the amount of betting money traded on U23 games. Some of the people who pump me for info are in Asia (while I'm in Stocksbridge FFS). A lot of them masquerade on Social Media as "YouthSoccerFan" or similar bollocks.

Player Agents also occasionally contact me. It's mad, until you think about it. One Agent levelled with me. As an eg, if a 16 year kid, Joe Blogs, scores for SUFC U18s at half eleven on a Saturday morning in February on a field outside Bury & I tweet it "Blogsy has hit a belter with his left foot to put us one up". The Agent had been sniffing around Joe for a few weeks. He immediately phoned Joe's Dad up & said "your Joe has just scored a belter at Bury". Joe's Dad said "how the Fuck do you know that?". The Agent said "mate, we're a serious outfit, we have eyes everywhere". Reputation enhanced, Joe signed with the Agent the week after. Mad. But any info is power.

Now, that is all off the topic, as it's not about scouting players for clubs. But, I'm sharing because I've been amazed by how many people (and yes, sometimes clubs) are interested in ANY info. Social Media & Blogs allow them to harvest info useful to them.

Makes me wonder how hard it is to become a proffesional scout...

 

[I should coco]

Now, that is all off the topic, as it's not about scouting players for clubs. But, I'm sharing because I've been amazed by how many people (and yes, sometimes clubs) are interested in ANY info. Social Media & Blogs allow them to harvest info useful to them.

So all the bollocks about 7.8% Russian Imperial Stouts with hints of creosote and notes of tar, are just bollocks to confuse the Asians and the agents*?

A cunning plan Ball_Sup (Phil) and hats off to you sir!


* Just realised that the 'Asians and the agents' would be a cracking name for a shite hipster guitar and bass combo inspired by Johnny Marr but with Beatles, Small Faces and Stone Roses influences. If anyone wants to buy the rights to the name, I'm here all day.

 

[I should coco]

Makes me wonder how hard it is to become a proffesional scout...

T'woud seem it is harder to spell one, than be one.....

 

[Bert]

Bert had a good friend who was a teacher in Bermuda, he was a Leeds fan. He taught a pupil who was very good at football so he wrote to Leeds United and requested a trial for the lad. He never got a reply.

The lad's name was Shaun Goater, who went on to score 217 league goals.

 

[Chali 2na]

T'woud seem it is harder to spell one, than be one.....

I'm not very good at spelling

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

Makes me wonder how hard it is to become a proffesional scout...

True story
I have a mate who is friends with an ex SWFC player who scouted opponents for SWFC.
He was hopeless at putting things "into words". So, my mate's wife (knows nothing about football) used to write the reports for him from the nonsense he was spouting. And he'd bang them into S6.

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

The highlight of my scouting career for SUFC was U23 pre season last year at Oxford City away. Travis Binnion made a point of saying Hello.
"Phil, I don't suppose you know what ground we're playing Larne on next week do you?"
I did. Denis Harvey Park. We're not Amateurs.
Information is power.

 

[Sean Thornton]

I'm afraid your taste is far too exotic for 'British is Best' Blades. I meanwhile am earning a hansom commission from scouting on the east coast mainly taking in Gregg's, Ladbrokes, Butlin's and Wetherspoons.

You're a taxi driver?

 

[Sean Thornton]

Fully agree, I am sick of reading posts by fans who think they know better than Wilder/Knill/Mitchell

You do know how forums work don't you SB?

 

[Silent Blade]

Player Agents also occasionally contact me. It's mad, until you think about it. One Agent levelled with me. As an eg, if a 16 year kid, Joe Blogs, scores for SUFC U18s at half eleven on a Saturday morning in February on a field outside Bury & I tweet it "Blogsy has hit a belter with his left foot to put us one up". The Agent had been sniffing around Joe for a few weeks. He immediately phoned Joe's Dad up & said "your Joe has just scored a belter at Bury". Joe's Dad said "how the Fuck do you know that?". The Agent said "mate, we're a serious outfit, we have eyes everywhere". Reputation enhanced, Joe signed with the Agent the week after. Mad. But any info is power.

.

Reminded me of when I came to watch training at Abbeydale Grange in the early 2000s. I spotted an unfamiliar face training with our players so I asked someone (near me) who the player is. He told me that the unfamiliar face is a Latvian on trial. He told me that he is a very good player and then he asked me if the manager is taking charge of the training. I said "No that is Kevin Blackwell the assistant manager". He then asked me if the manager is coming to watch. I replied "Don't know, maybe later?". I then started to think how he knew about the Latvian so I asked him how he knew about the Latvian. He replied "I am his agent!". I then immediately lost interest after being a little excited that "a very good player" is on trial with us.

 

[St Annington]

You're a taxi driver?

I spotted the typo but couldn't be arsed to change it. It's the end of term.

 

[nopigfansintown]

T'woud seem it is harder to spell one, than be one.....

'Twould indeed.