Episode 17

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Published on:

13th Jun 2025

Ep17: The Thinking Behind the Shortlist — How to Justify Player Picks Like a Pro!

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Summary

In this episode of the Football Insights Academy podcast, hosts Tom Butterfield and David Bromley discuss various aspects of football recruitment, including the challenges faced by players in international matches, the constraints that scouts encounter, and the importance of evaluating players from multiple perspectives.

They emphasise the need for a systematic approach to player evaluation and the necessity of understanding the different concerns of stakeholders within a football club. In this episode, David Bromley and Tom Butterfield delve into the intricacies of player recruitment in football. They discuss the importance of understanding role fit, behavioral evidence, and strategic fit when evaluating players.

The conversation emphasizes the need for a structured approach to recruitment, including anticipating challenges and preparing for future windows. The hosts also highlight the significance of aligning player selections with the club's philosophy and the necessity of ongoing analysis and adaptation in the recruitment process.

Takeaways

  • The mental pressure on players can affect their performance.
  • Constraints in recruitment include budget, playing style, and player age.
  • Evaluating players requires both technical analysis and live scouting.
  • Different stakeholders in a club have varying perspectives on player recruitment.
  • It's crucial to prepare for questions from decision-makers in recruitment discussions.
  • Player evaluations should be treated as case studies, not just lists.
  • Understanding the context of a player's performance is essential.
  • Consistency in evaluation criteria is key to effective recruitment.
  • The recruitment process involves balancing financial and performance considerations.
  • Every player signed represents an opportunity cost for the club. The role fit is crucial in player recruitment.
  • Behavioural evidence complements numerical data in evaluations.
  • Strategic fit aligns player choices with club philosophy.
  • Anticipating questions can strengthen recruitment arguments.
  • Preparation for recruitment challenges is essential.
  • Building a shadow team helps in long-term planning.
  • Self-imposed restrictions can clarify recruitment goals.
  • Understanding player behavior is as important as metrics.
  • Recruitment is a continuous process of improvement.
  • Effective communication with stakeholders is key in recruitment.

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About the Podcast

A.I. In Football
Recruitment Decisions, Done Properly.
AI in Football: Recruitment Decisions, Done Properly is a practical podcast about how football clubs make better recruitment decisions in an AI world — without the hype.

We don’t chase novelty tools. We focus on the thinking and structure that makes any tool useful: clear role briefs, behaviours over labels, constraints and trade-offs, repeatable shortlisting, and decision review that actually improves the process.

Each episode gives you something you can use:

- Role Definition Templates (behaviour-based, not position labels)

- Question sets that lead to better shortlists

- Meeting Structures that stop recruitment becoming a persuasion contest

- Simple Ways to Stress-Test Decisions (“what would make this wrong?”)

- How AI Fits Safely: drafting, checking, standardising outputs — never replacing judgement

If you work in recruitment, scouting, analysis, coaching, or you’re aiming to, this show is for you. Clarity First. Tools Second.
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About your hosts

Thomas Butterfield

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I'm a very approachable obsessive learner who is always interested in the stories of others, and how that information and experience can be used to help others move the needle of their life in a positive direction.

As a result of the work I do adults and younger people understand the importance of being an active participant in their own health.

The result of this is we at Elevate Health Chiropractic and Wellbeing are putting better educated individuals into the community who are making better health decisions for themselves and those they care for the most.
They move better, they eat better, they think better.

They Feel Better.

We are always looking to work with and help individuals and organisations who value their own health, that of their family, or their staff high enough to take that next step with Elevate Health, Chiropractic and Wellbeing.

David Bromley

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For the last fifteen years I have applied my analytical, systems-evaluation and financial background to the football industry.

As a long-term student of the game I hold coaching badges from the English Football Association and am a certified member of the Professional Football Scouts Association.

I hold distinctions in the Prozone (STATS) Professional Performance Analysis/ Performance Data & Recruitment Certificates Levels 1,2 & 3 in addition to being an F.A. Registered Intermediary.

My experience in football has enabled me to view player recruitment from the 'sharp end' and allows me to tailor my service to meet clients' best interests.