Brendan Rodgers has stressed the arrival of Paul Tisdale at Celtic won’t change his take on how he engages with data analytics at the club.
Tisdale was appointed head of football operations at Parkhead in midweek and has been brought in to “oversee the development and management of effective football operations which will support high-level football performance, including the identification and development of talent.”
Labelled a ‘football doctor’, Tisdale will also bring his expertise in data analytics to the club as as way of informing decisions around player recruitment, scouting and academy development.
Hearts have also taken the plunge into using analytics more potently and was a factor in the decision to appoint Neil Critchley as their new manager.
It appears to be the way forward for clubs in the modern age with Premier League outfit Brighton & Hove Albion leading the way in regards to maximising its potential to make excellent recruitment decisions.
Rodgers was asked what his take was on using data analytics for recruitment purposes and he stressed that while Tisdale’s appointment is a positive, he wants only to be informed and not ‘driven by’ data.
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Rodgers on using data analytics at Celtic
He told the press ahead of his side’s Premiership clash with Aberdeen on Saturday: “It just depends on what your take on it is.
“For me, it’s very much that I’m informed by data, but I wouldn’t be driven by it. We can get lots of information, lots of data on certain things now.
“Paul (Tisdale) has said it was purely more on the actual performance of a player who would fit into our model and whether that player fits closely.
“He can bring the football analytical stuff to that, as well as overseeing that recruitment process. It’s definitely a big part of football now, but it’s how you use it which is important.
“We know where we’re at, in terms of what we want to do in the next window. We’ve done a lot of great work during the summer in improving the squad.
“The preparation is well under way to see what we can do for January to improve.”
Rodgers ‘delighted’ with Tisdale appointment
The Northern Irishman went into more detail about Tisdale’s qualities amid a glowing appraisal of the former Exeter City manager.
Rodgers said: “I think I mentioned before, that I felt that from an operational and strategic perspective, we needed someone else to come in and support that side of things. So I’m absolutely delighted that he’s in.
“Paul was a talented guy and he joined the talented people that we have here at the club and that’s what we want to strive to bring in, people who can help us make a difference and people who are compatible with the philosophy and how we work.
“So he’s also had managerial experience, which I’m pleased with as well and that was also a factor. He understands football. He understands the game. He’s managed for a long time also.
“So he knows what it takes on the field and he obviously knows that balance between how you need to work with your board. So I’m absolutely delighted he’s here and I’m sure that he’ll make a really good impact for us.”
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