10 Reasons You Got McTominay so Wrong
And how reading this blog could have prevented that.
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
2.
You don't pay enough attention to what coaches and players say about other players.
Non-Trivial Scouting Cues
3.
You think that the game is won somewhere other than the 18 yard boxes.
Consolidating Aerials and The ‘Aerial Duel’ Stat in Football
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
5.
You ignore the obvious fact that coaches select players off their performances in training.
What Should We Expect from Head Coaches?
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
7.
You don't understand how difficult it is to score goals.
Liverpool, Goals from Opposition Corners, and Arne Slot
8.
You don't appreciate players who know how to score goals.
Precision Play: Features of a Great Sho(o)t(er)
9.
You allow yourself to be subsumed by the narratives in the media.
Player Development Curriculums Need Digital Sieves
10.
You watch sports like you watch TikTok.
Reflection as a Scouting Optimizer
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