Training Ground Guru Podcast

Training Ground Guru
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Training Ground Guru Podcast

Welcome to the Training Ground Guru Podcast. In every episode we bring you insights from the teams behind the teams in professional football. Thank you for listening.

  1. 11 JUNE

    Luke Bornn: Toulouse, Teamworks & making a difference with data

    Our guest on Episode #69 of the TGG Podcast, in association with Teamworks, is Luke Bornn.  Luke has been one of the leading figures in sports analytics for more than a decade. After working as an Assistant Professor at Harvard University, he became Head of Analytics at Roma and then with the Sacramento Kings. In 2020 he co-founded Zelus Analytics, a sports intelligence platform providing data-driven insights to top teams, including Toulouse & AZ Alkmaar. In 2024, Zelus was acquired by Teamworks and became Teamworks Intelligence. Luke spoke about what he's been doing since we last spoke on the pod in 2021, about his groundbreaking work with Toulouse and about the future of sports analytics. We hope you enjoy listening to this episode and if you do, please give us a follow via your preferred podcast provider. SHOW NOTES => 02:21: What's been happening since you were last on the pod (in July 2021?) 04:36: What was your day-to-day involvement with Toulouse FC? What was the influence of data? Focusing on what matters. 11:31: Why data can help you to make better decisions. Why it's difficult to make long-term assessments in football. 15:31: Why English football overstates the importance of the Head Coach and why it's difficult to identify the coaches who genuinely make a difference. 18:55: Why Toulouse chose NOT to have a defined style of play. Benefits of 'zagging when others are zigging.' 24:50: Involvement with AZ Alkmaar. Why they are the best-run club in Europe over the course of the last decade. How they 'placed strategic bets' and won. 'Making the main thing the main thing.' How 10 to 15 decisions a season drive 95% of the value. 31:06: Role of Billy Beane, star of Moneyball and investor in Zelus Analytics. 31:52: Sale of Zelus to Teamworks and how they can add value for clubs. 36:25: Why clubs need to decide what they want from analytics. Should ultimately be about making better decisions. Importance of being aligned and why performance and analytics shouldn't be separate departments. 'If you're not improving decisions, you're not doing anything.'  40:04: Teamworks Intelligence and what it can bring to clubs/ federations. 42:30: Future of analytics - and for Luke personally.

    49 min

  2. 29 MAY

    The past, present and future of tracking data

    Tracking data has transformed the way clubs analyse the game. This cornucopia of information is shaped and analysed by data scientists to create valuable insights for coaches, managers, Heads of Recruitment, Sporting Directors and more. But how much do you know about tracking data? Ie what it is, how it's collected, how it's analysed (and by whom), and how different departments and personnel use it? This episode of the TGG Podcast sets out to answer those questions and more.  Our guests are: Michael D'Auria: The Executive Vice President of Partnerships, Sports and Technology for Genius Sports, the official tracking data provider for the Premier League. Michael has been at the cutting edge of tracking data provision for more than a decade, having previously been Chief Commercial Officer for Second Spectrum. Dominic Jordan: Chief Data Officer for Twelve Football and the former Director of Data at Manchester United. Dominic 'builds great teams to help great companies become leaner, greener and better equipped to succeed in a data-rich world.' SHOW NOTES => MICHAEL D’AURIA 02:03: Michael defines tracking data. 06:00: Relaying the data to teams and users after matches. 07:17: How tracking data revolutionised data science. 08:20: The origins of tracking data. 08:50: The first time football started to use it. 09:23: Capturing the data at Premier League & Championship matches. 11:56: Positioning tracking cameras inside a stadium. 12:40: Methods of passing data to coaching staff during a match. 14:05: A club data scientist’s job on a matchday. 14:45: The software used to present the live data. 16:00: What managers and coaches see on their tablets during a game. 18:53: Liverpool’s use of data over the years. 19:48: Tracking data’s ways of assessing a player. 22:34: Hopes for sharing data between worldwide leagues. 24:10: Mesh tracking explained. 30:05: Liverpool’s views on early tracking data. 31:24: The future of data science staff at football clubs. 32:32: Does use of data lead to success? DOMINIC JORDAN 37:13: The difference between event data and tracking data. 38:58: Rise in the number of data staff at clubs. 42:04: Different kinds of tracking. 44:55: How clubs use tracking data. 49:02: Getting tracking data to clubs during a match. 51:07: Tracking data workflows. 56:49: Managers’ views on the use of data.

    1 hr

  3. 17 APR

    Andrew Nestor: Leading West Brom's new era

    Our guest on Episode #67 of the TGG Podcast, in association with Genius Sports, is Andrew Nestor. Andrew is the Sporting Director of West Brom, working under new owner Shilen Patel. When the duo arrived in February 2024, the club's finances were in a "perilous" position. Since then, they have focused on rejuvenating the squad, while being mindful of profit and sustainability rules.  Speaking the morning after West Brom's last-gasp 2-1 defeat at Bristol City, Nestor told us about his role as Sporting Director, his strategy at the Championship club and how he cut his teeth in football as owner, CEO and General Manager of the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the US. SHOW NOTES => 03:35: Andrew's thoughts on Baggies manager Tony Mowbray and the squad. 04:35: How he has found his role so far. 06:02: First impressions of West Brom on arriving at the club. 07:23: The Baggies were known as being innovative before Andrew's arrival - was that the situation he found? 08:16: How he worked on changing the squad, which was the oldest, based on minutes played, and fifth highest-paid in Championship. 10:00: The part the club's Academy plays in Andrew's strategy and extending the stays of younger players. 11:40: His thoughts on West Brom's style of play and how to adapt it. 15:16: Bringing in a data team to support the club's scouting process. 18:40: Planning for life in either the Championship or the Premier League at the same time. 19:25: Why Tony Mowbray was appointed as head coach. 23:57: Keeping a long-term vision for the club despite external pressure. 25:08: Carlos Corberan's departure. 26:52: Andrew's first off-the-field job in football with the Tampa Bay Rowdies. 29:05: His career outside the game before that. 29:41: Success at Tampa Bay and working with Paul Mariner and Paul Dalglish. 31:39: Meeting WBA chairman Shilen Patel for the first time. 32:23: Leaving Tampa Bay to go to Bologna. 34:44: How Andrew and Shilen ended up joining West Brom. 35:42: Shilen's involvement with the club. 36:32: Andrew's first experience of being a Sporting Director. 37:33: His wide remit at The Hawthorns. 39:06: Working closely with Ian Pearce. 39:54: The club's financial situation, largely affected by the loss of parachute payments. 41:52: What are the Baggies' short and medium-term prospects? 43:56: Reflections on the January transfer window. 46:07: Where Andrew bases himself.

    47 min

  4. 26 MAR

    Vitor Matos: Elite developer

    It's great to be back for Season 6 of the TGG Podcast - and with a new sponsor, Genius Sports. Our first guest of the new season is Vitor Matos, the former Head of Elite Development at Liverpool. During five seasons at Anfield, Vitor helped to nurture a new generation of talent and deliver a number of trophies. Since leaving Liverpool at the end of last season, he has been Assistant to Pep Lijnders at Red Bull Salzburg. In this episode, Vitor told us what it was like to work alongside Jurgen Klopp, the key components of development, how Curtis Jones can lead the new generation at Liverpool and how Arne Slot has made subtle changes this season.  SHOW NOTES => 02:10: What he's been doing since leaving Red Bull Salzburg in December 2024. Reflections on that period now. 04:36: Jurgen Klopp coming in as Head of Global Soccer for Red Bull but periods didn't overlap. Parallels between Red Bull clubs and Liverpool. 06:33: How he started in coaching. Mourinho as an inspiration.  08:02: Meeting Pep Lijnders for the first time. 09:40: Influence of Professor Vitor Frade/ studying under him at University of Porto. 11:56: Why is Portuguese coaching so strong? Why is there a paucity of top English coaches?  16:49: How the move to Liverpool came about.  23:18: Manager and club committed to youth development and giving opportunities.  24:40: Development of Curtis Jones and Jarell Quansah. Considering whether to loan players out or not. 35:33: Who should we be looking out for in the next generation of young players at Liverpool? 36:29: What was it like working with Jurgen Klopp and what makes him so special? Could you have stayed on when he left? 39:23: Transition of Arne Slot into the club. Tactical changes. Transformation of Ryan Gravenberch. 45:25: Ambitions for the future. 48:24: Favourite training exercises.

    51 min

  5. 08/12/2024

    Robbie Savage: Pundit to Manager

    Our guest on Episode #65 of the TGG Podcast is Robbie Savage.  As a player, Robbie made 346 Premier League appearances and captained four clubs. After retiring, he became a household name as a TV and radio pundit and appeared on Strictly in 2011. Now he's pursuing a different career, as a Manager, with Macclesfield in the Northern Premier League. Robbie told us why he'd turned to coaching, about his approach to leadership and about his lofty ambitions as a Manager. SHOW NOTES => 02:07: Wishing he'd gone into coaching earlier. How move from Director of Football came about. 06:44: Coaching badges? Starts A Licence next year and then hopefully Pro. Need your badges. Sees coaching as a vocation and ambition to reach the top. 10:58: Engaging with fans. Pitching in. Change in relationship with players when you become Manager. Treat them like he would treat his son.  13:40: Change in man management since he was a player. Becoming less visibly emotional. Calmer. Use of video analysis. Macclesfield expected to win every week.  18:43: Style of play. Preferred formation. Players win matches, not tactics.  24:40: Behaviour on the touchline? Setting the mood or calm and composed? Heart rate going high in technical area.  27:55: Change in style of play in non-league. Guardiola influence. Wants his team to get the ball forward quickly when possible. Not keen on playing out from the back.  32:36: Assistant wears a GoPro because of abuse from fans. Doesn't get paid at the moment. Could change when they go full-time.  38:15: Approach has changed on 606 phone-in. More understanding of Managers. Important to have consistency of messaging as a pundit or Manager. Has had offers as a Manager at bigger clubs.  44:15: Released at Manchester United. Make or break. Coached a team at Macclesfield made up of players who had been released and had great success. Callum West went to Burnley and now at Barnsley.  49:21: Do the Academies prepare players well enough? James Edmondson from Blackburn. Difference between Academy and senior football. Strength of the pyramid.  54:16: Different than he seemed as a player. Pantomime character. More than 350 Premier League games and captained four clubs. Keeps a book about all matches and what the Managers said.

    1h 2m

  6. 16/07/2024

    Paul Fernie: English Sporting Director making a mark in Germany

    Our guest on Episode #64 of the TGG Podcast is Paul Fernie. Paul is Sporting Director of SV Darmstadt in Germany. He grew up in Hull and worked in analysis roles in England before the opportunity came to join Wiesbaden. He progressed from Head of Recruitment to Sporting Director and led the club from promotion to Bundesliga 2. Paul told us how the Sporting Director role works in Germany, what it was like to work under Graham Potter and Paul Mitchell and why more English staff should give it a go abroad.

    40 min

  7. 12/06/2024

    Danny Röhl: Masterminding Sheffield Wednesday's Great Escape

    Our guest on Episode #63 of the TGG Podcast is Danny Röhl. Danny led Sheffield Wednesday to one of English football's great escapes last season. When he took over in October, the club were seven points adrift of safety with no wins in 10. By the end of the campaign they were three points clear of relegation. In this episode Danny told us how that remarkable metamorphosis was achieved and charted his meteoric rise as a coach, from RB Leipzig to Southampton, Bayern Munich, Germany and now Sheffield Wednesday, as a manager in his own right.  SHOW NOTES => 02:11: Currently in Leipzig. Family have stayed there while he worked in Sheffield. About to work for ITV as a pundit at the Euros. 05:04: Now looking ahead to next season. Had offers from other clubs but journey not finished at Sheffield Wednesday. Need to improve the club and the squad. 08:15: Reflections on his first season in charge. Wanted an increase in intensity, while being mindful of injuries. Was always positive and believed in the players - something he learnt from Hansi Flick. 13:15: How did he win the players over so quickly? Laid out a plan for how they could be successful: pressing, counterpressing and improving ball possession. Developing players off the pitch as well as on it. "A good coach can change a game; a great coach can change a life." 19:07: Having different personalities and qualities in coaching team. He sets the plan and strategy for the week, but they get ownership of their area. 21:34: Influence of RB Leipzig on his playing philosophy. How this developed during his career. "I am not a manager to cross my fingers and wait."  27:20: Has principles and habits, but decision-making is down to the players and he builds this into his training sessions. Risk and reward in the final third. 29:17: Why did you take the Sheffield Wednesday job? Potential. 32:03: Start of coaching career at RB Leipzig as a coach-analyst. Why this dual role is important. "You cannot be just a tactical engineer on the laptop." 38:51: 6-0 defeat by Ipswich in March - took the decision to be proactive and take risks.  40:16: Ambitions for the future.  42:12: Is the owner fully behind the project? "We dream of the Premier League."

    43 min

  8. 25/03/2024

    Natasha Patel: Innovating in New York and Southampton

    Our guest on Episode #62 of the TGG Podcast, in association with Hudl, is Natasha Patel. Natasha is Assistant Academy Director at Southampton and one of the most experienced women working in men's professional football.  From 2011 to 2019 she was Academy Analyst and then Head of Performance Analysis at Southampton, before leaving to become Head of Performance Analysis at New York Red Bulls for the next three-and-a-half years.

    53 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Training Ground Guru Podcast. In every episode we bring you insights from the teams behind the teams in professional football. Thank you for listening.

Information

  • Creator
    Training Ground Guru
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2025
  • Episodes
    72
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2019 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Training Ground Guru Podcast

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