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Damien Comolli's playing the numbers game

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King Binny

King Binny

Part of the Furniture
Honorary Member
From NOTW today:

LIVERPOOL will launch their £50million summer spending spree based on an in-depth study of stats.

Director of football Damien Comolli has offered an intriguing insight into how he will oversee the club's massive outlay.

Anfield owners John Henry and Tom Werner promised to invest £30m as part of their takeover bid in September.

But they will go much further than any Kop regime has ever done to rebuild the team, providing another £20m on top of any cash raised through player sales.

Frenchman Comolli says each player Liverpool recruit will be the subject of the thorough statistical analysis he developed working alongside Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.

Comolli said: "I am indebted to Arsene for that. One day, when I was at Arsenal, he brought to my attention that Manchester United were the team with the best percentage of successful passes in their opponents' half and that Roy Keane was the player who won most tackles in the Premiership.

"He added, 'You understand now why they are always top?' I have been interested in stats from that day."

Comolli and Dalglish are devising a list of targets, including Aston Villa pair Stewart Downing and Ashley Young, Bolton's Gary Cahill and Everton ace Leighton Baines - although Manchester City are chasing the latter.

Comolli has also hinted at a bid for French midfielder Blaise Matuidi, a player he worked with at St Etienne, saying he ticks all the statistical boxes.

He said: "In France, all the figures prove that the player who wins most possession at the feet of his opponents is Blaise Matuidi.

"That is an extraordinary strong point. When the team plays high, it means goal chances."

Comolli reckons the numbers game influenced the purchase of Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez as well as the sale of Fernando Torres in January.

Comolli explained: "When you find yourself handling three of the biggest transfers in English football history in the last days of the market, precise figures allow you not to go in blind.

"You have to act quickly. For Luis, I asked scouts to make inquiries in Holland. I looked at his stats over the last three years - especially the number of matches played.

"We are going in the direction of players who don't get injured. We are going to take more and more account of the health of a player in the future. It costs so much having players who don't play.

"With Luis, we took account of the number of decisive passes, his performances against the big teams, against the little ones, in Europe, the difference between his goals scored away and at home."

Comolli says he even uses a player's stats to refuse a pay rise - or sell him.

He added: "You have to be cunning to sell him on to a club who thinks he is still at the same level of performance."

But stats had nothing to do with his signing of PFA Footballer of the Year Gareth Bale. Comolli took him from Southampton to Spurs.

Yet he admitted: "That was a lot of observation and a feeling. But, once he arrived, we began to work his stats and got confirmation we had a diamond.

"You can say I am arrogant but, in his case, I knew it was true."

Liverpool's owners FSG will expect immediate results for their investment but Dalglish has been told the job is his for the next few years.
Click to expand...

KINGSTAT2_302x298_250086a.jpg
 
Dalglish has been told 'the job is his for the next few years'.


2 year deal it is then..
 
[quote author=Binny link=topic=45090.msg1321108#msg1321108 date=1303667832]
From NOTW today:

Comolli says he even uses a player's stats to refuse a pay rise - or sell him.

He added: "You have to be cunning to sell him on to a club who thinks he is still at the same level of performance."

.
Click to expand...

[/quote]

I wonder which player he is referring to here... hmmmm?
 
[quote author=FPI Project link=topic=45090.msg1321117#msg1321117 date=1303668367]
Dalglish has been told 'the job is his for the next few years'.


2 year deal it is then..

[/quote]

On MOTD , Lineker asked Alan Hansen for the inside scoop on Kenny's situation ...he made some joke that he only knew what he read in the papers and that Kenny was getting either a 2 or 3 year deal but the sarcastic way he was saying it sounded like it was the real case and a certainty .
 
[quote author=RedZeppelin link=topic=45090.msg1321130#msg1321130 date=1303669662]
[quote author=FPI Project link=topic=45090.msg1321117#msg1321117 date=1303668367]
Dalglish has been told 'the job is his for the next few years'.


2 year deal it is then..

[/quote]

On MOTD , Lineker asked Alan Hansen for the inside scoop on Kenny's situation ...he made some joke that he only knew what he read in the papers and that Kenny was getting either a 2 or 3 year deal but the sarcastic way he was saying it sounded like it was the real case and a certainty .
[/quote] I'm reckoning its a 3.. surelly they'll release this before the end of the season though..
 
I guess some old fashioned fans read about signing players based on stats and get a bit worried but I think it's being blown up and sensationalised . I mean you'd imagine whoever you are scouting , you'd want to check their stats out , they do give a good picture of certain things .

At the same time though , lots of stats can be fucking useless so hopefully this Camolli chap has the right balance and knows which ones are of use and which not.
 
[quote author=FPI Project link=topic=45090.msg1321133#msg1321133 date=1303669896]
[quote author=RedZeppelin link=topic=45090.msg1321130#msg1321130 date=1303669662]
[quote author=FPI Project link=topic=45090.msg1321117#msg1321117 date=1303668367]
Dalglish has been told 'the job is his for the next few years'.


2 year deal it is then..

[/quote]

On MOTD , Lineker asked Alan Hansen for the inside scoop on Kenny's situation ...he made some joke that he only knew what he read in the papers and that Kenny was getting either a 2 or 3 year deal but the sarcastic way he was saying it sounded like it was the real case and a certainty .
[/quote] I'm reckoning its a 3.. surelly they'll release this before the end of the season though..
[/quote]


2 or 3 wouldn't bother me , don't get me wrong I believe in stability but i don't understand this thing where you have to hand out 5 year deals to prove you're behind a manager and their project . Why can't they take a 2 year contract , prove themselves and then easily sign an extension with no fuss. It's done like this all over Europe and it works for lots of them .

Yeah I'm not sure why they haven't confirmed him yet if that is their plan . They'll need balls of steal to go another route now and whoever comes in will have to hit the ground running straight away or the backlash will be massive .
 
I don't want you people discussing this man any more. I am entirely jealous of him and reckon loads of us could do his job with not much hassle. OK, he won the life game by being a bit savvy with his options but I'll hear no more about it.
 
Watching Lorient vs Lille now, and Hazard and Gervinho have both been pretty good.
Tbh I wouldnt be against us getting Gervinho if Hazard gets to expencive or moves elsewhere.
He's got everything in his locker to be a great winger for us.
 
[quote author=Hansern link=topic=45090.msg1321155#msg1321155 date=1303674072]
Watching Lorient vs Lille now, and Hazard and Gervinho have both been pretty good.
Tbh I wouldnt be against us getting Gervinho if Hazard gets to expencive or moves elsewhere.
He's got everything in his locker to be a great winger for us.
[/quote]

I'd only accept us signing Gervinho if he shaves his head.
 
[quote author=Hansern link=topic=45090.msg1321155#msg1321155 date=1303674072]
Watching Lorient vs Lille now, and Hazard and Gervinho have both been pretty good.
Tbh I wouldnt be against us getting Gervinho if Hazard gets to expencive or moves elsewhere.
He's got everything in his locker to be a great winger for us.
[/quote]We've been linked with Gervinho before haven't we?
 
[quote author=Modo link=topic=45090.msg1321157#msg1321157 date=1303674475]
[quote author=Hansern link=topic=45090.msg1321155#msg1321155 date=1303674072]
Watching Lorient vs Lille now, and Hazard and Gervinho have both been pretty good.
Tbh I wouldnt be against us getting Gervinho if Hazard gets to expencive or moves elsewhere.
He's got everything in his locker to be a great winger for us.
[/quote]

I'd only accept us signing Gervinho if he shaves his head.
[/quote]

the 'sensible hair policy' ship sailed when we signed 'the crow', look at the state of carroll's hair for pete's sake.
 
Yes mate. I think he only has a year left of his contract aswell.
Has plenty of assists and goals this season, can play on either flank and has great pace. Still only 23 aswell.

Shite hair though...
 
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=45090.msg1321161#msg1321161 date=1303674666]
[quote author=Modo link=topic=45090.msg1321157#msg1321157 date=1303674475]
[quote author=Hansern link=topic=45090.msg1321155#msg1321155 date=1303674072]
Watching Lorient vs Lille now, and Hazard and Gervinho have both been pretty good.
Tbh I wouldnt be against us getting Gervinho if Hazard gets to expencive or moves elsewhere.
He's got everything in his locker to be a great winger for us.
[/quote]

I'd only accept us signing Gervinho if he shaves his head.
[/quote]

the 'sensible hair policy' ship sailed when we signed 'the crow', look at the state of carroll's hair for pete's sake.
[/quote]

Did you see that shot of him in the stands yesterday? His hair wasn't tied back and it looked just like David Moores's did when he first became chairman. NOT a happy memory.
 
[quote author=Modo link=topic=45090.msg1321164#msg1321164 date=1303674908]
Are you really comparing Andy's pony tail with this?

images

[/quote]

fucking hell!! okay, point taken, he needs to sort out his hair.
 
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=45090.msg1321168#msg1321168 date=1303675249]
[quote author=Modo link=topic=45090.msg1321164#msg1321164 date=1303674908]
Are you really comparing Andy's pony tail with this?

images

[/quote]

fucking hell!! okay, point taken, he needs to sort out his hair.
[/quote]

Whats the deal with the headband? There's no hair covering his eyes.
It's like a big canyon between his ears.
It's like a miniature Moses parted his hair so his people wouldn't be nestled in it.
 
[quote author=KopKing link=topic=45090.msg1321174#msg1321174 date=1303676776]
So they are suggesting a £50m net spend? Hardly earth-shattering.
[/quote]

for 4 transfer windows in a row our net spend was near 0 so a jump of 50m is significant.
 
[quote author=KopKing link=topic=45090.msg1321174#msg1321174 date=1303676776]
So they are suggesting a £50m net spend? Hardly earth-shattering.
[/quote]

For real ?
 
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=45090.msg1321178#msg1321178 date=1303677142]
[quote author=KopKing link=topic=45090.msg1321174#msg1321174 date=1303676776]
So they are suggesting a £50m net spend? Hardly earth-shattering.
[/quote]

for 4 transfer windows in a row our net spend was near 0 so a jump of 50m is significant.
[/quote]

Granted but that's one maybe two world class players. We have no debt now so really is it that much of an investment? It's not much above our revenues. I suppose if you add it to sales it could go up to say £70m (?) but compared to City or Chelsea it's peanuts.
 
[quote author=KopKing link=topic=45090.msg1321181#msg1321181 date=1303677463]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=45090.msg1321178#msg1321178 date=1303677142]
[quote author=KopKing link=topic=45090.msg1321174#msg1321174 date=1303676776]
So they are suggesting a £50m net spend? Hardly earth-shattering.
[/quote]

for 4 transfer windows in a row our net spend was near 0 so a jump of 50m is significant.
[/quote]

Granted but that's one maybe two world class players. We have no debt now so really is it that much of an investment? It's not much above our revenues. I suppose if you add it to sales it could go up to say £70m (?) but compared to City or Chelsea it's peanuts.
[/quote]

What did you expect?
 
[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=45090.msg1321190#msg1321190 date=1303678483]
[quote author=KopKing link=topic=45090.msg1321181#msg1321181 date=1303677463]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=45090.msg1321178#msg1321178 date=1303677142]
[quote author=KopKing link=topic=45090.msg1321174#msg1321174 date=1303676776]
So they are suggesting a £50m net spend? Hardly earth-shattering.
[/quote]

for 4 transfer windows in a row our net spend was near 0 so a jump of 50m is significant.
[/quote]

Granted but that's one maybe two world class players. We have no debt now so really is it that much of an investment? It's not much above our revenues. I suppose if you add it to sales it could go up to say £70m (?) but compared to City or Chelsea it's peanuts.
[/quote]

What did you expect?
[/quote]

I have no expectations, I'm just not impressed.
 
[quote author=KopKing link=topic=45090.msg1321181#msg1321181 date=1303677463]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=45090.msg1321178#msg1321178 date=1303677142]
[quote author=KopKing link=topic=45090.msg1321174#msg1321174 date=1303676776]
So they are suggesting a £50m net spend? Hardly earth-shattering.
[/quote]

for 4 transfer windows in a row our net spend was near 0 so a jump of 50m is significant.
[/quote]

Granted but that's one maybe two world class players. We have no debt now so really is it that much of an investment? It's not much above our revenues. I suppose if you add it to sales it could go up to say £70m (?) but compared to City or Chelsea it's peanuts.
[/quote]

well it doesn't surprise me. 2-3 quality first team players, the players who get pushed down the pecking order (for example skrtel) to add squad depth and then a greater emphasis on the youth to fill the gaps the mass clear out will leave. like you say though, I expect the net spend to be closer to 70m but not much more than 70m.

there is no CL money and I expect t make a loss on the majority of players we sell so there wont be that much money coming in from sales. didn't think we would ever go head to head with city and chelsea, afterall we are a business not a plaything.
 
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=45090.msg1321194#msg1321194 date=1303678912]
[quote author=KopKing link=topic=45090.msg1321181#msg1321181 date=1303677463]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=45090.msg1321178#msg1321178 date=1303677142]
[quote author=KopKing link=topic=45090.msg1321174#msg1321174 date=1303676776]
So they are suggesting a £50m net spend? Hardly earth-shattering.
[/quote]

for 4 transfer windows in a row our net spend was near 0 so a jump of 50m is significant.
[/quote]

Granted but that's one maybe two world class players. We have no debt now so really is it that much of an investment? It's not much above our revenues. I suppose if you add it to sales it could go up to say £70m (?) but compared to City or Chelsea it's peanuts.
[/quote]

well it doesn't surprise me. 2-3 quality first team players, the players who get pushed down the pecking order (for example skrtel) to add squad depth and then a greater emphasis on the youth to fill the gaps the mass clear out will leave. like you say though, I expect the net spend to be closer to 70m but not much more than 70m.

there is no CL money and I expect t make a loss on the majority of players we sell so there wont be that much money coming in from sales. didn't think we would ever go head to head with city and chelsea, afterall we are a business not a plaything.
[/quote]

I suppose I see how much Chelsea spent to get where they are and to a lesser extent Man City and when you compare it to them it's not impressive. However it's about what you spend your money on and if we can do deals equivalent to the 2m net spent on Carroll/Suarez, we can leverage the spending accordingly and get a lot more bang for our buck.
 
Yes, but Chelsea and Man City spend like an Irish person during a period of inflated economic growth. We're not that sort.
 
This Comolli knows all the fucking angles man.
I mean would you or I REALLY have thought to sign statistically the best players to improve results?
We'd be haphazardly signing statistically weak players everyone had heard of. Yer man Damien is all about statistically strong unknowns like Young, Cahill etc. I dont know where he hears about these players.
 
[quote author=KopKing link=topic=45090.msg1321174#msg1321174 date=1303676776]
So they are suggesting a £50m net spend? Hardly earth-shattering.
[/quote]

Is that a joke?
 
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=45090.msg1321262#msg1321262 date=1303691627]
[quote author=KopKing link=topic=45090.msg1321174#msg1321174 date=1303676776]
So they are suggesting a £50m net spend? Hardly earth-shattering.
[/quote]

Is that a joke?
[/quote]

hahaha, up to this point I hadn't considered responding cause I thought it was a joke, but seriously, this is a joke right?
 
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