Sheffield United expands data revolution from transfer market as Ruben Selles targets marginal advantages in promotion bid.
Sheffield United’s data-driven revolution has been well publicised in the transfer market, but the club’s new owners are also eager to utilise it to alter other aspects of the club. While the club has historically utilised data to guide its recruitment efforts, there has been a noticeable shift in strategy since the COH Sports group took over just before Christmas.
As previously documented, former poker player turned data analyst James Bord is now playing a significant role in United’s strategy to signing players, with three young players arriving from Bulgaria’s top flight in the span of about six months as long-term bets.
However, the old-fashioned eye for players and thumbing through contact books are also in action, with new manager Ruben Selles reuniting with former Reading defender Tyler Bindon, who signed on loan from Nottingham Forest last week.
Selles may be entering a more head coach-style environment than his predecessor, Chris Wilder, but the Spaniard has emphasised that he has the last word on the players who enter the facility.
Sheffield United is examining data benefits in other areas to provide “marginal gains” in their Premier League campaign.
“How we are working now, we create a recruitment process,” he remarked before heading to Girona for a pre-season training camp to enable him convey his methods to his new players. “We have the data portion, with the analysis of what we wanted, but we have the final say on the players who will come.
“But that’s just part of it. I believe that people are – I would not say confused – about the AI model. It is to be more efficient in what you do. If you want to send a letter or something, you may tell ChatGPT what you want, and it will generate a version for you to change. We are discussing the same topic.
“As a club, we have developed a vision of a specific sort of player for each position, including statistical needs that have been translated into football. So let’s go ahead and figure out who the top players are for that model, and then evaluate whether that statistical element meets the football vision, video, and analysis, and what type of person we’re bringing in.
“Then let’s make a decision.” We will have certain guys we can recognise from our side, and we will compare them to the personalities we want to introduce. It won’t be “check, check, check, go with the three, and it’s done.”
Interestingly, United are also trying to leverage data in other ways, with co-owner Helmy Eltoukhy’s medical experience potentially offering United an advantage as they look to improve on next season’s play-off final defeat and reclaim their Premier League spot.
“It’s never going to be 100 per cent but it’s a tool that’s going to support us,” Selles, the AI expert, said. “Not only in recruitment, but also in fatigue management and training load regulation. These factors exist to provide us with marginal gains.
“If we use it well, we can put our team in a better position, with more players available, more points, and a better ending situation. We believe in that. “But football is football, and we must never forget that.”
Leave a Reply