155: Mapping the future of midfield

Read Volume IIVolume II is here! For the new magazine, I wanted to talk to scouts and analysts about how they're thinking about football's enduring centre: the midfield. So I enlisted The Athletic's Jon Mackenzie and SCOUTED's Jake Entwistle for an academic discussion about the midfield's tactical developments, and how they're changing the kinds of players we're seeing break through today. Thanks for listening - I hope you love Volume II if you pick it up!- Tom

The SCOUTED Podcast is back. To kick things off we have a Director's Commentary on Jake Entwistle's brand-new Archetype, the Berserker, inspired by Morgan Rogers. Tom & Jake discuss how Archetypes are made, their role in modern football, and go deep on Rogers' career, all while staving off threat from a rogue washing machine and a cat desperate for attention.  Grab Volume I. for £2 and read the story: https://scoutedftbl.com/podcast

Joe is joined by SCOUTED's own Jake Entwistle to preview this year's U21 European Championships in Slovakia. Will England retain their 2023 crown or will Germany's giants prove too powerful? How will an out-of-form Italy cope without Francesco Pio Esposito? And what about the several teams missing primary centre-forwards? Listen, share and subscribe now.

Analyst Jake Entwistle joins Joe again to discuss the latest feature in the 'SCOUTED Archetypes' series: Full-Backs. Flyers, Pathfinders and Imposters, an explainer of each Archetype, contemporary examples, tactical application, where to find different Archetypes and so on. Listen, share and subscribe now.

What is a 'Power Forward', where can we find them, and which players are some good examples? All will be revealed in this latest edition of the SCOUTED Podcast. Listen, share and subscribe now.

Joe is joined by Sarah Rudd, former Vice President of Analytics at Arsenal and current CEO of Football Consultancy firm src | ftbl. In this episode, Sarah shares excellent anecdotes about 'Moneyball'-esque beginnings, presenting findings to Arsène Wenger, using Santi Cazorla as a benchmark and the origins of rest defence, whilst also discussing where sports analytics can still grow. Listen, share and subscribe now.

Joe is joined by Twelve Football's Chief Data Officer, Dominic Jordan, previously of Manchester United where he was Director of Data. Tune in for a fascinating discussion about the use of data in football (see: Brighton and Brentford), a brief insight into Dominic's time at Old Trafford, advanced analytics and how Twelve are utilising AI to bring 'good data' to clubs.

Joe is joined by newly-appointed Chicago Fire sporting director Gregg Broughton for a discussion about his career in academy management with AFC Rushden & Diamonds, Luton Town, Norwich City and back-to-back Norwegian champions Bodø/Glimt as well as a spell as sporting director with Blackburn Rovers. Tune in for insight on targeting specific London boroughs, delivering success to North Norway for the first time, data buy-in, player trading models, underappreciated markets and players with 'the X Factor'. Listen, share and subscribe now.

Joe and Jake go through their top ten players in this year's edition of SCOUTED50 - a handcrafted list of the best young talent around the world, voted for by journalists, analysts, scouts and more, then ranked. Omorodion, Ben Seghir, Minteh, Cubarsi, Nwaneri and so many others. Listen, share and subscribe now.

One of SCOUTED's favourite youth competitions returns meaning there's plenty to delve through from Matchday One. Old favourites at Bayern München, Red Bull Salzburg do it again, record-breakers in Arsenal's ranks and much more. Tune in for unparalleled analysis on Europe's premier youth club football tournament from analyst Llew Davies and host Joe Donnohue.