THE ART OF SPYING (I)

One of the most challenging tasks in football is the scouting. There are basically two types. One is to watch the opposing teams to know what they do and being able to counter it the day we play against them. The second, is about players. I will talk about  the first, and I'll leave the second for an upcoming entry.

Today there are many applications that allow us to analyze a game and do a quick summary taking those plays that interest us. Even include word processing that allow a good presentation of the game in question, and that players know what they are going to "find" in this game.

This, however, has two problems. The first is that such programs are often expensive and not all the clubs can afford them. The second is that in lower categories and minor league games may not be recorded and, therefore, this is where involved, very directly, the work of the scout.

What are the steps to follow? What should we show our coach? What I'll put now is just a model.

1) Data of match: Teams, day, hour, competition (League, Cup, European Competition, etc.), weather conditions (temperature, rain or shine, wind, etc.) and pitch (short grass, high, artificial. Wet, dry, muddy). Spectator attendance and types thereof (Silent, babbling, respectful, aggressive, etc.).

2) Lineups and substitutions. Minutes and reasons (injury, fatigue, tactical substitution)

3) Systems (formations) used, with variants (because injuries, expulsions, substitutions, substitutions of opponents, etc., and when they have been applied)

4) Analysis of the team when attacking. Combinative, direct. Building up from the back. With long kick from goalkeeper or a defender. Short or long combinations. Use of the wingers or full-backs. Striker static or mobile. Crosses. Their types. Second plays. Movements to create spaces. Key players in the building of the play. Positioning of the team at the end of play.

5) Analysis of the team when defensive transition. Type of transition. With attempt to recover the ball once it is lost or not. If the attempt, which players and how it is done, and how the rest of the team retrieve. If not done, how is the retrieve of the team after the loss.

6) Analysis of the team when defending. Zonal, individual, mixed, combined. Gap between lines. Which players follow to who. Who never follows. How they close the pitch. How they pressure the ball holder. In which (flanks, center) areas?. Support.

7) Analysis of the team when offensive transition. Going out safety. Going out long. By the flanks. By the middle. How many players. What they do those who do not participate.

8) Analysis of lines and players: Goalkeeper. Defenders. Midfielders. Forwards. Reserves. Strengths and weaknesses. High balls. Ground balls. Short or long spaces.

9) Set-pieces. Kickoff, throw-ins. Near own goal. Near opposing goal. Fouls. Own half. Opponents half. Side fouls. Centered fouls. Corners. Number of players participating in the plays. Defensive surveillance.

10) Other points of interest.

Obviously, this must be accompanied by the necessary graphics where all these circumstances can be seen. As we said, many of these matches do not have video of it, so the coach should have as much information as possible from the scout view. Moreover, this report should be long enough to give the most information, but concentrate enough to not do heavy reading. Remember that this information is transmitted to the players, and if the coach can not assimilate all that is said, hardly able to communicate to the players and prepare for training the necessary actions.

You should also think that not all coaches are equal and not all want the same amount or the same type of information. Some want to know more about how they defend than how they attack. Others want a lot of information about set-pieces, etc. It is very important, when making a report of this kind, to know what the coach wants and at the same time, what we can consider the most important.

Like almost everything in the world of football, scouting and analysis of the opponents has become another one specialty. And, it is very normal that many coaches have in their staff someone responsible for this work. The more we know of the opponents, better for us.

John Le Carré made an art about espionage in his books. These "spies" of today continue to give information that is used for winning and losing wars ... in football, fortunately, though "Football is not a matter of life or death. It's much more important than that."

Jordi Pascual

You can follow me on Twitter: @JordiPascualP