The Film and the Thought

I watched a fantastic film last week called ‘Draft Day’. Kevin Costner played Sonny Brown, the Cleveland Browns general manager. The whole plot revolves around a fictional 2014 NFL player draft, and while the ups and downs were entertaining, I was really drawn in by 2 sub plots. Firstly how Sonny dealt with being in the shadow of his popular father, who was coach of the team before he died, and secondly the process of player recruitment in the NFL. Now, I am under no illusion that this was a FILM and therefore not real life, but I was hooked. Sonny was constantly reminded and compared to his father, it was obvious that his dad was a legend and Sonny missed him but when given a real opportunity to shine, he stepped out from beneath his dad’s shadow and people saw that he was capable in his own right. Something totally clicked with me. Sonny was confident in his decision making. He knew that given the opportunity he would succeed. In the end that opportunity only presented itself when he took a leap of faith and used some clever negotiating to get the players he wanted. It’s no secret that I have a few regrets during my time as chief scout. But the main one is not forcing my opinion more. I wasted an opportunity given to me by the owner. I constantly look at my old emails and think ‘I wish I had had that argument’! The fact is the managers get paid to make the decisions but I know players! I should’ve been stronger and then even if the players hadn’t done what some are doing now (playing at a higher level), I could at least say, ‘it was my decision’.
The second part of the film that fascinated me was something I knew a little bit about. The NFL recruiting process. Basically most teams have a ‘general manager’ and a team of ‘scouts’. The General manager is trusted to get all of the players for the Head Coach to coach!! There is a little input from the Head Coach but it is basically the General Managers team! Now I’m not saying that the film was all factually correct but I looked into it and it seems that it’s not far off! The general manager sources players (with his scouting team), discusses wages, salary cap, budget, draft picks, negotiation and even flights! The Head Coach is then asked to coach the team. I personally like part of this concept and it seems that some Premier League clubs do also. One thing I think football in the uk has got wrong is the amount of responsibilities we give to managers. 9/10 times they are negotiating players wages, handling budgets and dealing with agents themselves! For a seasoned manager this is difficult but for a rookie manager this can be really daunting and all the coaching badges in the world couldn’t prepare you for it! I’d like to see more clubs taking financial responsibilities away from managers and this will free them up to coach (effectively becoming head coach)!! I mean let’s look at it objectively, most football club boards are made up of people who have years of experience in business!! Probably staff recruitment, negotiating massive deals and much more. I know football is ‘different’ but why can’t their obvious knowledge and business sense be used to make informed decisions on players salaries and contract terms, more often? Maybe more clubs wouldn’t be in such financial holes and a lot more sustainable……. Just a thought.

On the Sidelines

So the new season is here again. For me it starts when Notts County and Bradford City (my 2 previous clubs) play their first games! Not when the Premiership finally decides to kick off a week later. I won’t lie, It feels so strange to be heading into this one on the outside looking in. For as long as I can remember either my dad or I have been employed by a football club! This is the first season in probably the last 20+ where neither of us have been directly involved!! So there’s a feeling in my stomach that I haven’t had before. Its a mix of relief there’s no pressure and jealousy that I’m missing out on that same pressure! As I said in my previous entries to this blog, recently I felt I have fallen out of love with football. I just don’t feel as reliant on it for happiness as I used too. But 4 days ago I went to watch Lincoln City U18’s vs Newark Town (senior team). This doesn’t much sound like a glamour tie, and trust me it wasn’t. But I attended to watch 2 of Lincoln city’s youth players who are currently in digs (lodging) at my best friends house (Jordan a 6ft left footed confident striker and Leon a tough athletic right back). I was totally caught up in the game and even felt myself having a pop at Newark’s right back as he reacted angrily to a mistimed challenged from lincoln’s 16yr old energetic left back and grabbed the boy by the throat (there was no need for that dickhead) maybe that was my fatherly instincts coming out, as they always did when ever someone unfairly criticised any of my U21 players at Notts County!! Anyway for 90 minutes I was again consumed. I kicked every ball and felt every challenge. THIS is how a fan feels every week!! They are totally immersed in the game and see it so much more emotionally than I have for the past few years. You see, football is much more enjoyable if you are not defined by it!! Remove your own expectations of success or failure and you see the beautiful game again!! Who knows what this season will bring. There is always a ‘dark horse’ and a team that under performs but all I wish is that it is successful and injury free for all my friends involved! Good luck and smile…… Life goes on (even after a 90th minute defeat)