This was in our old blog, before it was trashed by a virtual virus, but wanted to re post it.
After talking about the rise of Memphis Depay with my Man Utd supporting other half at the weekend, and then seeing him put away a beaut of a free kick I thought I would take the chance to blog about the reasoning behind why some players make it at certain clubs and why some don’t!
Memphis went from super prodigy at PSV to acting the fool at Manchester United. Alexis Sanchez has followed him and with the form of other players dipping at United there certainly seems to be a problem with the culture at the club. Certainly it looks like it is a pretty hard place to settle.
The easiest explanation would be that the expectation and weight of pressure is too heavy for some players to take. That of course can be true, but this has been the case in football, across the globe for generations. Debuchy went from top dog at Newcastle, to failure at Arsenal, back to team of the year in France! Paulinho may have gone the other way, from struggling at Spurs to absolutely bossing it at Barca!
The Culture
A Brazilian brought up in the favelas moving to a little village in the middle of Germany! How will he fit into the local community? How will the Chilean with a deep understanding of the ‘mañana’ nature get into a strict time keeping regime. As well are scouting players in matches, clubs must do their due diligence into the players background and his potential to adapt to the culture. Be that the culture of the club, the staff, the facilities, or be it the place where he will live and ‘socialise’.
Style of Play
Be in the style of play or the formation. It can be an own goal to pick players who don’t fit the style. Having Chicarito (5′ 7″ Mexican) as a replacement for Andy Carroll (6′ 4″ Geordie) hardly seems like the right call? But clubs do it!
In Holland the historical style has been 4-3-3 and so players were recruited to fit their shape and style of play. You could see that a club could buy a player for ‘something’ different but if the training and style is centred around a way of playing, is this going to help your new signing fit in?
Off Field shenanigans
Team managers have been an important part of continental football for decades. Player Liaison Officer is the preferred title for the Premier League teams. People scoff at the lifestyle of a football player but in reality moving house is no easier for them, sure they can afford ‘help’, but often a player could be moving country in 6 months, this is not easy for them or their families. To have the best chance of success you need players to be happy off the field. A good ‘team manager’ or ‘Player Liaison Officer’ is part of the puzzle to success for any team now.
The Gaffa
Arguably the most important factor in your new player making it is his relationship with his new boss!! Will there be a clash of personalities and will they be able to communicate with each other. Does the player want to learn the language, does he want to get to know his boss, and does the manager want the same. Some players want space, some need an arm around them, you can see in football players playing seemingly beyond their level and a lot of this is down to their relationship and understanding of their manager.
The age old pub debate of will he or won’t he settle rolls on. Clever recruitment and a good player management strategy is the key to make sure you have more hits than misses.