Chris Badlan (7 Viewers)

[Pusb1]

With many of our transfer targets this year being players from overseas, i feel this is a big year for our head of recruitment.

I know for a fact many of last year's domestic transfers were initiated by either Viviesh's knowledge on players whom he had either worked with our against whilst at Chelsea. Others from our league i also know Robins has known and been after for a while (Fadz, Godden etc.)

Chris Badlans role was previously head of European Scouting at Norwich, where i anticipate he has built up a huge personal database on overseas players and reading his piece on Kastaneer at the time shows how much influence he has in transfers, and puts together clips to persuade Robins to buy certain players.

'He shouldn't be in L1' - Lowdown on new Sky Blue signing
"Effectively, he shouldn’t really be playing in League One, he should be playing higher.

"He’s one where I know his agent really well and rang him up expecting him to tell me ‘no, we’re not interested because we’re going a lot higher.’

“But it was one of those phone calls where if you don’t buy a ticket, you don’t win the lottery. So it just materialised.

“I spoke to Mark Robins about him. He’s a player we have known for a long time and I just thought I’d call the agent to see if it was realistic before pushing it any further and we found out that, potentially, it could happen.

Gervane Kastaneer has signed for Coventry City from Dutch side NAC Breda
“So we sat down with the manager and watched lots of things on him and the manager explained the type of player he wanted and Gervane ticked all of those boxes and more, really.

“So the manager said, ‘yes, that’s the type of player we want to bring to the club to elevate it to the next level,’ so we then pushed it forward to try to get the deal done quickly."





Of course not all transfers are a success, and we ultimately had a successful season last season. However with the jury still out on Jobello and Kastaneer, i feel Hamer and DaCosta are likely Badlan's recruitment and sourcing. It is imperative that these players are a success in order to see us improve next season.

It really shows how key Badlan's recruitment needs to be this year.

 

---

[jim20]

You are right, the recruitment is going to be key this season.
I’m hoping Jobello and Kastaneer will come good this season.

 

[covcity4life]

You are right, the recruitment is going to be key this season.
I’m hoping Jobello and Kastaneer will come good this season.

But if we keep same formation not really a position for them

Could go bsck to 4 at back I guess but i would like to see us keep same formation for the upcoming season

 

[junglej13]

You need pace on the attack in the Championship. Think this is where our recruitment needs to focus on this summer.

 

[Terry Gibson's perm]

He looked a lot bigger in his kit

 

[Sick Boy]

You are right, the recruitment is going to be key this season.
I’m hoping Jobello and Kastaneer will come good this season.

Jobello will come good?
He had already come good prior to getting himself injured and initially the team suffered when he did get injured - it’s not really fair to have him in the same bracket as Kastaneer.

 

[shmmeee]

I feel people are desperate to have a go at Badlan all because Kastaneer hasn’t worked out and are lumping Jobello in unfairly to try and bolster their point.

 

[mr_monkey]

I feel people are desperate to have a go at Badlan all because Kastaneer hasn’t worked out and are lumping Jobello in unfairly to try and bolster their point.

I don't understand it at all, before his injury jobello was looking really good and I think if we keep to the same formation he'll be as a cam. It's also fair to assume that O'Hare and Walsh were his signings too which didn't turn out too bad at all

 

[Nick]

I think this is rose's agent

 

[SleepyGinger]

I’d like to see kastaneer come back in much better shape and show that he at least wants to fight for a place in the team, can’t see it mind

 

[steve cooper]

Kastaneer is at a critical point in his career now, surely. What's he going to do,
sit back and see out his contract? - then what?
or settle for playing in a lower league team in this or any other country?
or sort himself out, start listening to the coaching advice, and get to a proper fitness level.
He definitely has ability beyond L1 level, and could yet play a part next season, even if it is only to get him in the shop window.

 

[Fergusons_Beard]

Fuck me-Chris Badlan is not the recruitment team. Stuart Benthom crucial membe too.

We’ve got one of the best for a club of our size and budget in the football league.

If you listen to any podcast or twitter account linked to recruitment or football analysis they always praising our team for its methods and analysis.

The beauty of City’s recruitment team is that it’s no longer just reliant on scouts confirmation bias. If you think Dabo was bought just because Viveash said so or anybody’s-you are deluded. Whole process takes ages-analysis of stats, reviewing films and identifying targets.

The transfer market is always hit and miss because there are so many variables. Of course we’ll get players that are successful and those that are not. That’s football.

Suffice to say we should be applauding our Recruitment dept for being fucking amazing.

I’ll leave you with a quote from Badlan which really shows where we going & why you need to educate yourselves in football analysis & modern scouting.

‘We are trying to create a Recruitment Department with a European style process, and be different to most other clubs in our league and also above - the German model is excellent in how they are organised and get their work done so early with a diligent process.

It’s a long-term approach that has had proven successful at other Clubs I’ve worked at but it takes time for this to happen. We were almost starting from scratch in certain areas so we have to work slowly but efficiently - I’m a big believer in being a master of certain areas rather than a ‘jack of all trades, master of none’.’


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[SleepyGinger]

Just got to look at some of the players Brentford have pulled from leagues like the french second division using similar recruitment techniques to ours to show we know what we are doing

 

[larry_david]

You need pace on the attack in the Championship. Think this is where our recruitment needs to focus on this summer.

I mentioned this a few weeks ago and got shot down by someone because our style doesn't 'suit pace'

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

Pic of michael rose lol

 

[covcity4life]

I think this is rose's agent

Shouldn't he know his clients name?

 

[Evo1883]

I wonder if, and its a big if but can happen in football... Kastaneer could be converted into a striker... Has some of the assets, pace and power... Holding the line and running off the last man and positioning can be coached... I don't see that in jobello I see that in Kastaneer... Just me? Probably

He doesn't come across as a typical winger

 

[covcity4life]

Shouldn't he know his clients name?

Ignore me. Mixed him up with Andy rose

Wonder what he's up to these days?

 

[Winny the Bish]

So many clubs in the Football League, Championship included, sign players based on who their agents are and THAT'S IT. Some clubs don't even have scouts anymore. I am so happy we've actually invested in the recruitment team and simply don't wait for an agent to phone up MR saying he's got a player for him.

 

[Magwitch]

I wonder if, and its a big if but can happen in football... Kastaneer could be converted into a striker... Has some of the assets, pace and power... Holding the line and running off the last man and positioning can be coached... I don't see that in jobello I see that in Kastaneer... Just me? Probably

He doesn't come across as a typical winger

From what little bits I have seen of Kastaneer I think there’s definitely a good player in there, obviously there was a fitness problem and perhaps attitude could be a real bonus if he came off.

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

Fuck me-Chris Badlan is not the recruitment team. Stuart Benthom crucial membe too.

We’ve got one of the best for a club of our size and budget in the football league.

If you listen to any podcast or twitter account linked to recruitment or football analysis they always praising our team for its methods and analysis.

The beauty of City’s recruitment team is that it’s no longer just reliant on scouts confirmation bias. If you think Dabo was bought just because Viveash said so or anybody’s-you are deluded. Whole process takes ages-analysis of stats, reviewing films and identifying targets.

The transfer market is always hit and miss because there are so many variables. Of course we’ll get players that are successful and those that are not. That’s football.

Suffice to say we should be applauding our Recruitment dept for being fucking amazing.

I’ll leave you with a quote from Badlan which really shows where we going & why you need to educate yourselves in football analysis & modern scouting.

‘We are trying to create a Recruitment Department with a European style process, and be different to most other clubs in our league and also above - the German model is excellent in how they are organised and get their work done so early with a diligent process.

It’s a long-term approach that has had proven successful at other Clubs I’ve worked at but it takes time for this to happen. We were almost starting from scratch in certain areas so we have to work slowly but efficiently - I’m a big believer in being a master of certain areas rather than a ‘jack of all trades, master of none’.’

I've no doubt they put a lot of time and effort into scouting and we've done pretty well recently, but you do sometimes have to question it if they do. We do also seem to get quite a lot of players from the same sources in terms of agents, Viveash's Chelsea contacts etc. Now it could be that those contacts just help get a deal over the line when a player may go elsewhere, but it does seem amazing how the best options available to us seem to come from a small handful of sources.

Look at Kastaneer. He looks a specimen an a highlight reel makes him look a player. But when we signed him the message we got from the fans was he didn't work hard. If we've spent months tracking him how come this lack of effort wasn't picked up by the scouts watching him? If fans can see it you'd think scouts could.

It could be it was highlighted and MR backed himself to get more out of him, just as people have in the past with Balotelli and Ravel Morrison. Had it been a punt on a free transfer it might be worth the risk but to pay a fee is another kettle of fish.

Same with Bosma - what the hell was that all about? Turned up and was almost immediately turfed out. Paid a fee for him too.

.

 

[skyblueelephant76]

I've no doubt they put a lot of time and effort into scouting and we've done pretty well recently, but you do sometimes have to question it if they do. We do also seem to get quite a lot of players from the same sources in terms of agents, Viveash's Chelsea contacts etc. Now it could be that those contacts just help get a deal over the line when a player may go elsewhere, but it does seem amazing how the best options available to us seem to come from a small handful of sources.

Look at Kastaneer. He looks a specimen an a highlight reel makes him look a player. But when we signed him the message we got from the fans was he didn't work hard. If we've spent months tracking him how come this lack of effort wasn't picked up by the scouts watching him? If fans can see it you'd think scouts could.

It could be it was highlighted and MR backed himself to get more out of him, just as people have in the past with Balotelli and Ravel Morrison. Had it been a punt on a free transfer it might be worth the risk but to pay a fee is another kettle of fish.

Same with Bosma - what the hell was that all about? Turned up and was almost immediately turfed out. Paid a fee for him too.

.

Bosma was scouted by Widdrington

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Just got to look at some of the players Brentford have pulled from leagues like the french second division using similar recruitment techniques to ours to show we know what we are doing

That's our equaliser in the transfer market. We have one of the lowest budgets in the league, which isn't helped by not knowing where we're playing our home games next season whilst we're in the midst of a global pandemic.

We are not going to go toe-to-toe with Championship teams for same players. Therefore, we have to be smarter and more efficient in our methods, and so far, Badlan and Widdrington (in L2) have come in and tried to pick out cheap players who will become first team players. So far, you have McCallum, Hyam, Rose as key players bought in that mould.

 

[speedie87]

Bosma things smacks of signing a player to keep an agent sweet

 

[Fergusons_Beard]

Bosma things smacks of signing a player to keep an agent sweet

Ffs.

He was a 6ft 2 inch midfielder with good technical ability & he was 22.

No brainer to take a punt on him & wouldn’t have cost much.

We’ve brought in lots of similar players to try and bolster academy/U23’s.

But that’s football-just hasn’t worked out for Bosma.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Fergusons_Beard]

I've no doubt they put a lot of time and effort into scouting and we've done pretty well recently, but you do sometimes have to question it if they do. We do also seem to get quite a lot of players from the same sources in terms of agents, Viveash's Chelsea contacts etc. Now it could be that those contacts just help get a deal over the line when a player may go elsewhere, but it does seem amazing how the best options available to us seem to come from a small handful of sources.

Look at Kastaneer. He looks a specimen an a highlight reel makes him look a player. But when we signed him the message we got from the fans was he didn't work hard. If we've spent months tracking him how come this lack of effort wasn't picked up by the scouts watching him? If fans can see it you'd think scouts could.

It could be it was highlighted and MR backed himself to get more out of him, just as people have in the past with Balotelli and Ravel Morrison. Had it been a punt on a free transfer it might be worth the risk but to pay a fee is another kettle of fish.

Same with Bosma - what the hell was that all about? Turned up and was almost immediately turfed out. Paid a fee for him too.

.

Just coincidence that we have Viveash and we brought in a couple of ex Chelsea.

Chelsea’s academy choc full of very good technically gifted youngsters. CFC have got more u23 loans than any other club in the country. Most don’t make it to Premiership level or are surplus to requirements at Chelsea.

They are still very good footballers though and that’s the reason they are very sought after at championship (& below) level. Whether loan or Permanent transfer.

Having Viveash does give us an obvious advantage as he will know of ex Chelsea academy players but he’s not the reason we have them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Deleted member 11652]

Looks like Badlan will have more influence this year given all the links to players from abroad. Hope he gets it right but we rarely do when shopping in these markets.

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

Ffs.

He was a 6ft 2 inch midfielder with good technical ability & he was 22.

No brainer to take a punt on him & wouldn’t have cost much.

We’ve brought in lots of similar players to try and bolster academy/U23’s.

But that’s football-just hasn’t worked out for Bosma.

22 these days is on the verge of pushing for first team or being released at the level we were at. Didn't sound like MR thought he had good technical ability and pretty much binned him of before the end of pre-season and decided he wasn't go enough. So what if he's 6'2''.
Wouldn't have cost much but we're still practically broke and cashflow negative every year, and he cost a fee. It was either a massive scouting failure or there was some other reason for that transfer.

 

[better days]

From what little bits I have seen of Kastaneer I think there’s definitely a good player in there, obviously there was a fitness problem and perhaps attitude could be a real bonus if he came off.

Can't remember any other cases where Robins changed his mind after giving up on a player
Kasta wasn't even getting a game for the U23s by the time the season was curtailed

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

22 these days is on the verge of pushing for first team or being released at the level we were at. Didn't sound like MR thought he had good technical ability and pretty much binned him of before the end of pre-season and decided he wasn't go enough. So what if he's 6'2''.
Wouldn't have cost much but we're still practically broke and cashflow negative every year, and he cost a fee. It was either a massive scouting failure or there was some other reason for that transfer.

When you say he was signed for a fee, do you know how much we paid? I can’t find a source which states we paid a fee. Assuming we did, he would’ve been signed on a very nominal fee. I doubt Lewes FC are even a professional outfit.

A few people fixate on Bosma, I don’t get why. It was a relatively risk-free transfer which didn’t pay off. We took a risk on McCallum, we sold him for potentially £3.5m.

There isn’t a single team that has a flawless record in transfer market, regardless of resources.

 

[AStonesThrow]

Can't remember any other cases where Robins changed his mind after giving up on a player
Kasta wasn't even getting a game for the U23s by the time the season was curtailed

Same with Hiwula, that day I took my lad up and he got the photos with the players, Hiwula was one of the group who came up to meet Brandon Mason after the game.
According to someone I know at the club, Robins is dead stubborn and once he makes a decision on a player, he sticks to it. Kastaneer will have to work his arse off to prove a point if he’s got any chance of getting back involved

 

[Magwitch]

Bosma things smacks of signing a player to keep an agent sweet

Bosma just didn’t come off, some multi million pound players fail to come off

Can't remember any other cases where Robins changed his mind after giving up on a player
Kasta wasn't even getting a game for the U23s by the time the season was curtailed

So ?

 

[Fergusons_Beard]

22 these days is on the verge of pushing for first team or being released at the level we were at. Didn't sound like MR thought he had good technical ability and pretty much binned him of before the end of pre-season and decided he wasn't go enough. So what if he's 6'2''.
Wouldn't have cost much but we're still practically broke and cashflow negative every year, and he cost a fee. It was either a massive scouting failure or there was some other reason for that transfer.

It’s already been pointed out that he’s a Widdrington scouted transfer-his man rather than Robins.

Under the new team we’ve scouted much better targets with much higher technical ability and the physical side not as important.

Without going into the minutiae of the recruitment process there’s a million things they look for in a player under ‘technical ability’.

I don’t really understand the point you are making unless it’s a veiled dig at SISU?

Bosma has his chance and wasn’t good enough for this level or the U23’s-as has been pointed out previously he would’ve have cost peanuts from non-league.

Still money but sufficiently small enough to pay off his final year at the club and release him.

Club has to take punts on players-some work out some don’t. However much work you do pre-deal.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Fergusons_Beard]

According to someone I know at the club, Robins is dead stubborn and once he makes a decision on a player, he sticks to it. Kastaneer will have to work his arse off to prove a point if he’s got any chance of getting back involved

If true-Isn’t that a good thing? A player should have to work their socks off to earn a place.

Jordy H had his chances, missed a load of sitters and flounced around when he wasn’t picked even though he was recovering from an injury.

He’s just not good enough for Championship football.

I would be very surprised if Robins is that stubborn that he ignores a player in form-you only have to look at the chances Jordy H got to agree with that.

One last thing-if Robins was that stubborn then why is it that all the new recruits are saying that this squad is the best squad for team spirit that they have every played with? Plus this season they seem to have a never say die attitude & believe they’d come back and win-even if they went behind. I haven’t seen a city side this determined since we got relegated from the Premiership.

If Robins attitude was effecting players this just wouldn’t happen.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[AStonesThrow]

If true-Isn’t that a good thing? A player should have to work their socks off to earn a place.

Jordy H had his chances, missed a load of sitters and flounced around when he wasn’t picked even though he was recovering from an injury.

He’s just not good enough for Championship football.

I would be very surprised if Robins is that stubborn that he ignores a player in form-you only have to look at the chances Jordy H got to agree with that.

One last thing-if Robins was that stubborn then why is it that all the new recruits are saying that this squad is the best squad for team spirit that they have every played with? Plus this season they seem to have a never say die attitude & believe they’d come back and win-even if they went behind. I haven’t seen a city side this determined since we got relegated from the Premiership.

If Robins attitude was effecting players this just wouldn’t happen.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Absolutely, that was my point. I completely agree it’s a good thing and it’s one of the reasons for our success.
It doesn’t affect the players in a bad way, I’d say it’d affect them in a good way tbh, make them realise the effort and commitment they need to show, especially with players like Hiwula being used as an example of what happens if they don’t. The whole squad seems so together and United, and I think a lot of that is largely down to their collective respect for Robins and his managerial ways