10 Reasons You Got McTominay so Wrong

I could start this essay with a links and screenshots of all the nasty things that have been written or said about McTominay in the past couple years, but that wouldn't be fun, would it?

Instead, we'll make this very simple.

My name if Joel A. Adejola, and I was rather confident that Napoli's Scott McTominay was going to rip up the Serie A, just as he had been dominating the boxes in last 18 months at Manchester United.

If the last part of this sentence made you wince, as in 'This writer crazy?' this simple list is for you. So, here are 10 reasons most people got McTominay so wrong and what you can learn from it.

1.

You don't know how to evaluate athleticism or, worse, don't consider it enough when making judgments on players.

How to Classify Running Capacity among Elite Players

And why those who can run and carry aggression into subsequent duels are in high-demand.

BallerzBantzJoel A. Adejola

2.

You don't pay enough attention to what coaches and players say about other players.

Non-Trivial Scouting Cues

I share some non-trivial scouting cues I’ve acquired over the past two years. Most, I learned from conversations and immersion. Few, I stumbled upon. Others, I inferred from adjacent domains – and have found them applicable here.

BallerzBantzJoel A. Adejola

3.

You think that the game is won somewhere other than the 18 yard boxes.

Consolidating Aerials and The ‘Aerial Duel’ Stat in Football

In football, the battle for aerial dominance extends beyond the ball’s arrival.

BallerzBantzJoel A. Adejola

4.

You believe that professional athletes fluke their way into getting 200+ appearances for one of the most notable clubs in the world.

Reverse-Engineering: How Players and Teams Poke Football’s Margins

Football evolves. How do we stay ahead?

BallerzBantzJoel A. Adejola

5.

You ignore the obvious fact that coaches select players off their performances in training.

What Should We Expect from Head Coaches?

We argue that a head coach’s decision to adopt an attacking style, despite their team’s inability to effectively compete using such tactics, might reflect poorly on their talent ID.

BallerzBantzJoel A. Adejola

6.

You underrate the value of a player who offers a distinct amount of features reliably.

Why Focusing on Strengths Leads to Better Scouting Outcomes

This essay argues that in both corporate recruitment and sports scouting, identifying and leveraging strengths is more important than flagging weaknesses.

BallerzBantzJoel A. Adejola

7.

You don't understand how difficult it is to score goals.

Liverpool, Goals from Opposition Corners, and Arne Slot

Liverpool recently scored yet another goal from an opposition corner. What can we learn? Can other teams emulate?

BallerzBantzJoel A. Adejola

8.

You don't appreciate players who know how to score goals.

Precision Play: Features of a Great Sho(o)t(er)

Some features of a great shot and great shooters

BallerzBantzJoel A. Adejola

9.

You allow yourself to be subsumed by the narratives in the media.

Player Development Curriculums Need Digital Sieves

The implications of digital proliferation on player development.

BallerzBantzJoel A. Adejola

10.

You watch sports like TikTok.

Reflection as a Scouting Optimizer

This essay adapts the Ignatian Pedagogy, a teaching philosophy developed by the Jesuits, to illustrate how scouts can use reflection to enhance their learning and improve their processes.

BallerzBantzJoel A. Adejola

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