BP1960

I'll be scouting you all for potential Ryder Cup places. @PeteG and @Dave_Og have already caught my eye.

Yet the North West and East Counties league have produced many players who have gone on to play at a higher level, even Chadderton had a couple. Nothing better than finding a non league gem for me. I see Altrincham have just signed one from the NWCL. I know their scout and bet the lad will come good.

I've seen him you haven't, so you can't possibly say you are confident he isn't better than what we have. He's a very well built, quick, powerful right back, excellent going forward and can defend. If others in the team can't defend why blame him alone? You also cannot judge a player because he's in a relegation team. I remember a player from a club who dropped into non league and later played in the top flight. The NL has part time teams and you are calling it far superior? As I've said before I recommend individuals whatever level or league position they are in. If they have the ability and desire combined that's what I look for. I will never recommend a player from even an higher level if he has no heart. He may or may not reach his potential, but IMO he's better than what we have which is always the criteria.

That's a bit of a stretch.

Not bad, but better if the Southport and Lincoln dates had been reversed and Warrington replaced by Curzon Ashton.

You've hit me for a six into the long grass with that one. But will our stats bomb experts approve of him returning to us, he actually ticks all the required boxes and played most games at a higher level last season? https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/rob-hunt/leistungsdaten/spieler/335591

It's getting that way in society though, humans are hardly needed by some companies any more. I was in Boots at Rochdale the other day and it was all self service tills, not one human check out, nor any security staff, and they wonder why shoplifting is at an an all time high. I have used stats in the old days to check players background, height, weight, positions and goal ratios, but always followed up - even when every box was ticked. It's folly IMO to sign old players who hadn't played much for the last 2 years just because his stats looked good back then, you need to see them play recently.

Stats can tell you only so much, they are a tool that can be used as indicators of past history, however, as far as footballers are concerned they can't tell you of the future potential of lower level players, which is what I look for. Take out the human element and you might as well leave it to A! alone - and we can see the dangerous path that is leading to in society. Maybe in the long term future robots will be actually playing the game (perhaps not so far out as we saw from some of Latics performances last season). I'll give you an example I saw Tony Naylor play Sunday League at the age of 23, no stats bombs in the world would have recommended him to an EFL club, yet he turned out to be a prolific goal scorer. When I watched him I and could see he would fill out his small frame and had technical ability better than many FL players. He only got into the EFL after scoring an hat trick for Droylsden against Crewe in a pre season friendly - who promptly signed him after the match. Send me the stats bombs and if they match what I see in ability and desire you will have star on your hands.

Enough of this smalls talk. Knickers to that, its only smalls talk.

Show me a database where it could highlight 3 players Iike I recommended from Sunday League teams who went on to have excellent careers in the EFL Championship.

Ex Latics right back Rob Hunt released by Leyton Orient.

Released by Leytion Orient, I think they've made a mistake. I've seen him play, very dynamic and has great potential, just the type of player we need.

I don't email them, I have club contacts who pass my recommendations on, one has sadly just left. Only ST took any interest and I know even though he agreed with me he was hamstrung by DU. The over reliance on ticking all the boxes on a computer was never going to work on its own. I'm 79yo now so not chasing up MM or Brabin. Even though I was on STs scouting list I doubt they they know I exist.

How will stats bombs discover a young prospect at lower level, he will hardly have any? Scouting isn't always about targets, I've often been sent watch players and found better in the same team and the opposition.

Scouting was priority at Alty, I knew one.