I couldn’t disagree more. We’ve just had the post with the Gab Sutton article and I like hearing what other people think even if I don’t agree with them.
I was emailing a Hearts fan and he said that they were going down the data-led route too. Thus, if many clubs are acting in such a manner, will there be any real gain?
Also, to me, one of the questions in all of this is rather philosophical in that when do Wycombe Wanderers cease being Wycombe Wanderers?
That was kinda my point when I talked about ML distance and lack of comms to kipper. I don’t buy the “they didn’t have the spine to sack Matt” devils advocate game Kipper was playing - I 100% believe ML would have pulled the trigger on Matt months ago, if that’s what they really wanted to do. And even if he did lack the spine, the distance and lack of first hand expirence with MB as a player and manager would have made it an easy thing to do.
Ergo, my conclusion was they were content enough to keep him in place. Not there first choice. Certainly not there last.
He may not have been loved by his bosses like he obviously was by Rob and Pete, but if the going gets tough at Luton, I don’t think he’ll find the same love there for that long either.
Because as @Chris pointed out, we are fans of the club and it’s not our job.
So while I can 100% see the business side of the change and it all sees entirely logical to me, the real question/dilemma is “is this the same football club I have and want to continue to support”.
And that’s for each of us to decide. And whatever you decide, it’s the right answer because it’s your answer.
I totally get what you are saying, and partially i am with you. Its the not same club we decided to support when we first did. But when i signed up to becoming a Wycombe fan, that was for life, through think and thin, not when it suits me. That should never be a Dilemma.
I too would like to think that to be the case. But there's a difference between being a Wycombe Wanderers supporter that goes to every game they can, buys the Merch, participates in online discussions etc etc etc and a Wycombe Wanderers Supporter whose love for the game itself has been extinguished and you just don't have the same passion as you might have done before. And you start to no go to games, or listen to radio coverage at all. But you might, on occasion, look out for the score on a Saturday.
For some, that second part even comes with just getting older. Some peoples the passion increases with age. For some, that straw upon the donkeys broken back could be now. When our club has/is changing unrecognizably.
Edit: Camel. It was the camels back that was broken by a straw wasn't it?
Undoubtedly. But Data Narrows down the on pitch performance side to single-digit targets and the the Human intel part starts filling in the column on the Spreadsheet for the other parts. But those more subjective categories are bespoke to the individual club/manager.
Matt Bloomfield and Steve Evens may want the same player based on the Data. But MB might think hes a bell end and reject him, and Steve Evans is (probably) looking for a bell end and signs him.
To Steal a bit from Peter Crouches podcast, WHY is a bad footballer regarded as a Donkey when the things are pretty much unstoppable and will run up mountains with all the straw on their backs if beaten/encouraged enough?
To agree with @bookertease's post, I think a very emotive debate has been conducted on here with almost complete respect and passionate argument. And to agree also with @Chris further up on this page, it's good to hear what other people have to say about a topic (especially one like this), even if you disagree.
For me there is a lot to parse out with a change this seismic, and it is great to have this forum to do so.
Comments
Edwin Castro
I'm with @Otter87 time to end this. We know who thinks what and why by now.
I couldn’t disagree more. We’ve just had the post with the Gab Sutton article and I like hearing what other people think even if I don’t agree with them.
I was emailing a Hearts fan and he said that they were going down the data-led route too. Thus, if many clubs are acting in such a manner, will there be any real gain?
Also, to me, one of the questions in all of this is rather philosophical in that when do Wycombe Wanderers cease being Wycombe Wanderers?
Is Bloomfield the handle and Ainsworth the head?
That was kinda my point when I talked about ML distance and lack of comms to kipper. I don’t buy the “they didn’t have the spine to sack Matt” devils advocate game Kipper was playing - I 100% believe ML would have pulled the trigger on Matt months ago, if that’s what they really wanted to do. And even if he did lack the spine, the distance and lack of first hand expirence with MB as a player and manager would have made it an easy thing to do.
Ergo, my conclusion was they were content enough to keep him in place. Not there first choice. Certainly not there last.
He may not have been loved by his bosses like he obviously was by Rob and Pete, but if the going gets tough at Luton, I don’t think he’ll find the same love there for that long either.
Oh it 100% is the dilemma.
Because as @Chris pointed out, we are fans of the club and it’s not our job.
So while I can 100% see the business side of the change and it all sees entirely logical to me, the real question/dilemma is “is this the same football club I have and want to continue to support”.
And that’s for each of us to decide. And whatever you decide, it’s the right answer because it’s your answer.
We will always be Wycombe Wanderers unless the ground is moved away from South Bucks or we cease to exist in our current form.
I totally get what you are saying, and partially i am with you. Its the not same club we decided to support when we first did. But when i signed up to becoming a Wycombe fan, that was for life, through think and thin, not when it suits me. That should never be a Dilemma.
Every club uses data. Idk why it's been turned into some big, radical thing. It's not. What matters is using it well.
More comments from MB here https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c74mxdrvxd0o
I too would like to think that to be the case. But there's a difference between being a Wycombe Wanderers supporter that goes to every game they can, buys the Merch, participates in online discussions etc etc etc and a Wycombe Wanderers Supporter whose love for the game itself has been extinguished and you just don't have the same passion as you might have done before. And you start to no go to games, or listen to radio coverage at all. But you might, on occasion, look out for the score on a Saturday.
For some, that second part even comes with just getting older. Some peoples the passion increases with age. For some, that straw upon the donkeys broken back could be now. When our club has/is changing unrecognizably.
Edit: Camel. It was the camels back that was broken by a straw wasn't it?
I agree that every club uses data. However, it certainly seems to be the buzzword in football and at Wycombe Wanderers!
It's a big thing these days - in football and pretty much every other industry!
Data is a tool, it is a (vital) part of the puzzle.
but surely there are unquantifiable qualities that simply can't be measured by data, such as character, personality etc?
It seems to me that Matt Bloomfield and his team had the perfect mix of the two?
Undoubtedly. But Data Narrows down the on pitch performance side to single-digit targets and the the Human intel part starts filling in the column on the Spreadsheet for the other parts. But those more subjective categories are bespoke to the individual club/manager.
Matt Bloomfield and Steve Evens may want the same player based on the Data. But MB might think hes a bell end and reject him, and Steve Evans is (probably) looking for a bell end and signs him.
To Steal a bit from Peter Crouches podcast, WHY is a bad footballer regarded as a Donkey when the things are pretty much unstoppable and will run up mountains with all the straw on their backs if beaten/encouraged enough?
That's a fair argument, one i had may not have considered being at a relatively young age. I take your point
Luton offered me huge amounts of $upport and they are pa$$ionate like me about having value$ in the game.
Have you ever seen a camel up close? They are scary fuckers.
A metaphor for lomtadze or something.
And when our new manager rocks up he will say exactly the same thing. Shared vision, exciting times etc etc.
That's not a camel you idiot!!! That's a dromedary.
That's a load of straw though!!!
To agree with @bookertease's post, I think a very emotive debate has been conducted on here with almost complete respect and passionate argument. And to agree also with @Chris further up on this page, it's good to hear what other people have to say about a topic (especially one like this), even if you disagree.
For me there is a lot to parse out with a change this seismic, and it is great to have this forum to do so.