Episode 47

full
Published on:

28th Feb 2026

Ep47: Formations & Role Archetypes — What Your Identity Demands From Each Line.

Join the Free Kickstart Challenge

Summary

In this episode of the AI in Football podcast, hosts Tom Butterfield and David Bromley delve into the critical aspects of recruitment in football, focusing on the significance of formations and role archetypes.

They discuss how understanding these concepts can enhance recruitment decisions, ensuring that players fit the specific demands of a team's game model. The conversation emphasizes the importance of defining roles clearly and how this clarity can lead to more effective scouting and player selection.

The episode also highlights the role of key performance indicators (KPIs) in evaluating player fit and the potential of AI in standardizing archetype definitions.

Takeaways

  1. Formations serve as vehicles for team strategies.
  2. Role archetypes define specific player responsibilities.
  3. Recruitment should focus on job roles, not just player shapes.
  4. Understanding archetypes helps avoid recruitment mistakes.
  5. KPIs should reflect the demands of the game model.
  6. Different formations require different player deliverables.
  7. The same position can have vastly different archetypes.
  8. AI can assist in standardising player archetype definitions.
  9. Clear definitions lead to calmer recruitment meetings.
  10. Identifying archetypes is essential before making recruitment decisions.

Useful Links

Join the Free Kickstart Challenge

Support The Show - Buy David and Tom a bag of peanut M&M's.

Instagram

Youtube Channel

Support A.I. In Football

A huge thank you to our supporters, it means a lot that you support our podcast.

If you like the podcast and want to support it, too, you can leave us a tip using the button below. We really appreciate it and it only takes a moment!
Support A.I. In Football
A
We haven’t had any Tips yet :( Maybe you could be the first!

Listen for free

Show artwork for A.I. In Football

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.
Support This Show

About your hosts

Thomas Butterfield

Profile picture for Thomas Butterfield
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

Profile picture for David Bromley
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.