The Ultimate Scouting Guide To Football Manager 2024!

Scouting Methods in Football Manager

Introduction to Scouting

• Scouting is crucial in Football Manager, and the speaker will share three methods applicable for various rebuild scenarios, including free agent-only rebuilds and those involving Wonderkids or Moneyball strategies.

• The first method introduced is a unique approach focused on scouting free agents, particularly for acquiring Wonderkids and utilizing Moneyball principles.

Free Agent Method Overview

• The speaker references their successful Derby rebuild, which took 10 seasons to achieve dominance by winning multiple trophies using only free agents.

• Key players mentioned include Harry Leonard and Amad Dio, highlighting how effective scouting can lead to significant player acquisitions.

Recruitment Focuses

• Four main recruitment focuses are outlined, emphasizing the importance of using filters instead of traditional scouting methods to identify great free agents.

• The first focus involves South American players whose contracts have expired. This strategy is particularly effective during July and August when many contracts end.

Setting Up Scouting Filters

• To find suitable players, set contract status to "expired" with a focus on two-and-a-half star current ability and potential ability for ages 15 to 27 from South America.

• Utilize scouts with extensive world knowledge; examples provided include James Fasley and Jose Laa who excel in identifying top talent from Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia.

Timing Considerations for Scouting

• It's important to adjust scouting timelines based on regional seasons; South American leagues often run from March to September affecting contract expirations.

Finding Free Agents in Football Management

Strategies for Scouting Players

• The speaker discusses the potential of scouting players from South America, highlighting that many talented youngsters and older players may not have contracts in Brazil.

• A method is introduced for finding free agents aged between 26 to 34 years, emphasizing the importance of looking beyond typical scouting parameters.

• The speaker suggests sorting players by world reputation and mentions a Chilean international as an example of a player with good reputation despite being lesser-known.

Identifying Potential Signings

• An example is given of Gaston Mia, a well-rounded midfielder released from Celtic at age 33, who could be valuable despite not appearing in standard scouting results.

• The process involves searching for younger players (ages 15 to 23) with expired contracts and filtering by international caps to find hidden gems.

Exploring International Talent Pools

• Jason Manley, an Irish international at age 23, is highlighted as a potential signing for lower league clubs due to his availability and skill set.

• The speaker emphasizes the value of exploring talent from nations like Mali and Algeria, which often produce promising young players.

Utilizing Trials Effectively

• Clubs can offer trials to assess players without financial commitment; this allows teams to evaluate their fit before making any decisions.

• Colin Morris is mentioned as another player who could be beneficial for League Two clubs; trial offers help gauge player quality without upfront costs.

Final Tips on Scouting and Transfers

• If initial searches yield few results, consider expanding criteria such as including international youth appearances to discover overlooked talents.

Football Scouting Strategies

Finding Talented Players

• The speaker discusses the effectiveness of reaching out for player suggestions, highlighting that this method can uncover talented players who might not be easily found through traditional scouting.

• Mentioned players include Christian Yanan Yansen from Altracht Frankfurt, a promising 19-year-old linked to Everton, and Jose Manuel Alonzo Vladimir Movich from West Ham, emphasizing the value of direct communication with football directors.

• Rodrigo from Flamengo is noted as an aggressive midfielder with good physical attributes; while he may lack technical skills, these can be developed over time.

Importance of Scouting Infrastructure

• The speaker stresses the necessity of having a robust scouting team, recommending at least six or seven scouts to effectively identify talent globally.

• Brighton's current scouting knowledge is evaluated; while they have strong coverage in Europe and North America, there is a notable gap in South American knowledge that needs addressing.

Enhancing Scouting Knowledge

• The need for additional scouts with expertise in South America is identified. Two potential recruits are Luis Gimz and Andrei Kotov, both possessing valuable regional knowledge.

• A strategic approach to scout recruitment focuses on selecting individuals based on their adaptability and existing knowledge about key regions like Brazil.

Recruitment Focuses and Assignments

• The speaker outlines how to set up recruitment focuses by targeting specific countries known for producing talented players (e.g., Nigeria for Africa, Japan for Asia).

• Emphasizes the importance of adaptability in scouts; those with high adaptability ratings can quickly learn about new regions and improve scouting efficiency.

Addressing Recruitment Challenges

• A challenge arises when it’s discovered that many Brighton scouts only have knowledge limited to England. This necessitates a reevaluation of the scouting team.

• A detailed plan is created outlining where each scout will be assigned based on their strengths and existing knowledge areas to maximize coverage across different continents.

Setting Up New Assignments

• The process of creating new scouting assignments involves selecting appropriate scouts for specific regions. For example, Pablo Abz will focus on Europe alongside Chris Jones.

Scouting Strategies for Wonder Kids

Overview of Scouting Regions

• The speaker emphasizes the importance of scouting players aged 15 to 21, particularly in Europe, and ensuring the correct scout is assigned to ongoing priorities.

• Mentioned Andre Kotkov's assignment to South America, highlighting the need for tactical transfers and noting his current ability and potential.

Regional Differences in Player Discovery

• Players from Europe and South America are more renowned for being "Wonder Kids," making it easier to find high-potential talent compared to Africa, North America, or Asia.

• The speaker suggests setting scouting parameters (current ability: one star; potential ability: three stars) specifically for South America due to its abundance of talented players.

Scouting Setup by Region

• For North America, a different approach is recommended with five-star current ability and two-and-a-half-star potential due to fewer available talents.

• Maro Silva is assigned to scout Asia with similar parameters as North America but adjusted for regional player availability.

Adjusting Scouting Parameters

• Ram Cenas is set up for scouting in Oceania with lower expectations (two-star potential), reflecting the region's limited player pool.

• Timco Stig Tanson will scout Africa where there are many good players; however, current ability should be kept lower while allowing higher potential due to hidden talent.

Long-term Scouting Strategy

• The speaker notes that while finding players in Africa and Asia can be challenging initially, they may yield exceptional talents over time.

• After several seasons of scouting primarily in Europe and South America, expanding into Africa can uncover valuable low-cost or free Wonder Kids who lack contracts.

Initial Game Challenges

• At the start of a game save (2023), there are minimal options available for signings until after season one when player statistics become accessible.

How to Scout and Sign Young Players in Football Manager

Importance of Scouting Young Players

• The speaker emphasizes the significance of scouting young players, particularly those under 23 years old, as they tend to have higher value and potential compared to older players.

• Younger players are not only more valuable but also easier to sell for profit, making them a strategic choice in team building.

Creating a Shortlist

• After identifying potential signings, the speaker suggests creating a shortlist by removing players who exceed the budget (e.g., over 5 million when having only 2 million available).

• The process involves transferring player data into an Excel spreadsheet for better organization and analysis.

Data Management Techniques

• Proper setup of squad view is crucial for successful data import into Excel; using the correct view ensures all relevant information is captured accurately.

• The speaker discusses using percentiles tables to evaluate player performance metrics effectively.

Evaluating Team Needs

• Assessing current team members' future with the club helps identify positions that need strengthening, such as center backs and wingers.

• A focus on signing players with average ratings above seven is recommended to ensure quality additions to the squad.

Filtering and Analyzing Player Data

• The method includes filtering through imported player data in Excel by position (e.g., selecting all center backs).

• Sorting players by average rating allows quick identification of top candidates for scouting further.

Finalizing Scouting Targets

• Once potential targets are identified, full scout reports are requested on promising players like Peter Ryan Darson, who shows exceptional stats.

Finding and Scouting Players in FIFA

Identifying Center Backs

• The speaker discusses Andre Solom Johansson, a center back from Canada with a 7.06 average rating, emphasizing the importance of scouting players effectively.

• A player named Sandre is highlighted as a fantastic ball-playing center back worth scouting and adding to the shortlist for potential transfer.

• Janio N'armi from Cameroon is introduced as another strong candidate, showcasing great strength and heading ability; recommended for scouting.

Scouting Strategy

• The speaker advises limiting scouting periods to three months to assess player performance accurately before making decisions.

• June 3rd is identified as an optimal date for stopping simulations in rebuilds since league stats are finalized by then, allowing better scouting opportunities.

Searching for Right Wing Backs

• The process of finding right wing backs is described as more challenging due to the larger pool of players; sorting by average rating can help streamline this search.

• Alexander Yensen from Sweden emerges as a notable right wing back candidate, already scouted due to being under 23 years old.

Analyzing Player Statistics

• The speaker mentions using new analytic screens to evaluate player performance metrics like non-penalty goals and dribbles but notes some limitations in available data on crosses.

• Emphasis is placed on looking for assists and crossing statistics when evaluating right wing backs; specific players are recommended based on their crossing completion rates.

Final Recommendations

• Players with high crossing completion rates are prioritized; Esil Eder from LOM is mentioned as a versatile option who can play both right back or right center mid.

Player Scouting and Analysis

Identifying Potential Players

• The speaker discusses the importance of monitoring player ages while scouting, indicating a focus on younger talent. They mention selecting players based on their performance in specific leagues.

• A player named Lass Senson from Lincoln is highlighted as a standout option, despite potential high costs. The speaker expresses frustration with spelling names correctly during the scouting process.

• The need for strikers is acknowledged, although it’s not the primary focus. The speaker emphasizes selecting all potential striker candidates to evaluate options thoroughly.

Evaluating Player Performance Metrics

• The analysis shifts to evaluating strikers based on their expected goals (XG). A player who significantly outperforms his XG is identified as a key target.

• Non-penalty goals versus non-penalty XG are discussed, highlighting a player's impressive scoring ability that exceeds expectations, placing him in the top 90% for goals per 90 minutes.

Shortlisting Key Players

• IA Ki is mentioned as an expensive but promising option at 24 years old. His attributes suggest he could be a valuable addition to the team.

• Marcus Ingvarson is introduced as another candidate; he possesses strong finishing skills and physical attributes but may be slightly older than desired.

Finalizing Scout Reports

• After scouting several players, the speaker decides to simulate three weeks ahead to gather more comprehensive scout reports on targeted players.

• Upon reviewing scout reports, some players remain partially scouted. The speaker plans to extend scouting further without losing track of potential signings.

Strategic Planning for Future Signings

• Emphasis is placed on maintaining an extensive spreadsheet of all potential signings rather than filtering by immediate needs alone. This strategy ensures flexibility in case key players become unavailable.

• Maxim Dasuk and Jinho Nyamy are evaluated; Nyamy stands out due to his excellent stats but is deemed too expensive for current budget constraints.

Scouting and Signing Players: A Strategic Approach

Evaluating Player Options

• The speaker discusses a player, Peter Ryan Hudson, suggesting he should be the top scouting priority to gather full knowledge before signing.

• Emphasizes the importance of negotiating a low initial offer for players, starting at £500,000 while considering potential future installments based on performance.

• Highlights the need to assess actual player stats against expectations; if they don't meet criteria, it's best not to proceed with the signing.

Loan Opportunities and Financial Considerations

• Introduces another player on loan from Frankfurt, AR Amendia, as a viable option despite general reluctance towards loans in the Money Ball approach.

• Discusses financial aspects of loan agreements including wage negotiations and potential future fees that align with club budget constraints.

Right Wing Back Scouting

• Identifies Ryan Harson as a primary target for right wing back but also evaluates other options like Eddie Senson and Alexander Yensen.

• Analyzes Esil Ed's versatility and skill set as a promising candidate for right back due to his strong crossing ability and consistency at 21 years old.

Striker Evaluation

• Reviews various strikers including Marcus Ingon (too expensive), Oscar S Seron (highly regarded), Troy Parrett (£5.8 million), and Inu (£5.4 million).

• Mentions IB Kohi as an overlooked talent who has been transfer listed; highlights his impressive scoring record despite being a backup at Young Boys.

Risk Assessment in Player Signings