Training Ground Guru Podcast

For this episode, Simon Austin went to St George’s Park to meet Dave Reddin, Head of Team Strategy and Performance at the Football Association. Last month, Reddin announced he would be stepping down from the role in December, after almost six years at the FA. Simon asked him about his eventful, and sometimes controversial, reign.

Welcome to the Training Ground Guru Podcast, in association with Hudl. For this episode, we’re at the TGG Youth Development Conference in Manchester.

In this episode you’ll hear from three of our main speakers: Huddersfield Town Academy Manager Leigh Bromby, Hudl senior strategist John McGuigan, and Director of Coach Education for the Belgian FA Kris Van Der Haegen.

Welcome to the new Training Ground Guru podcast, brought to you in association with Hudl. This monthly show is going to take you behind the scenes in professional football.

For our first episode, Simon Austin went to meet former Birmingham, Derby and Stoke manager Gary Rowett at the Belfry Resort in Warwickshire. Joining them were Rowett’s former Head of Performance, Dave Carolan, and his Head of Analysis, Joe Carnall.

They gave an insight into their roles, how they work together as a team and reflected on their time in football.

Our guest on Episode #51 of the TGG Podcast, in association with Hudl, is Conor Nestor.

Conor is the new coach of Hyderabad in the Indian Super League. He arrives from Svay Rieng in Cambodia, who he led to the 2019 league title.

The Irishman told us about his fascinating career journey and about how he has used analysis to gain an advantage.

Our guest on Episode #56 of the TGG Podcast, in association with Hudl, is Mark Leyland.

Mark is one of the foremost analysts in this country and has become much more than that. He started his career in the Academy at Everton and went on to work for Burnley, Liverpool and Newcastle.

Mark is one of the few backroom staff to be name-checked by managers. Eddie Howe described him as 'integral' and said 'we love him to bits,' while Jurgen Klopp said he had played 'a big part' in Liverpool's success.

Mark was a Post-Match Analyst for Liverpool, evolved into a Coach-Analyst at Newcastle and is now Head of Coaching Methodology for City Football Group.

Simon Austin spoke to Mark in front of a live audience at Hudl's UK Football Conference at Loughborough University.

SHOW NOTES=>

02:14: Starting to work in football. Analysing games on VHS with Dave Raven. Intern with Everton. Early lessons.

09:45: Delivering feedback in a constructive way. Importance of relationships. Working with young players.

11:53: Elite players employing their own analysts.

13:17: First team football with Burnley. Working with Eddie Howe and then Sean Dyche. Help of Harrison Kingston.

18:08: Working at Liverpool. Evolution of the analyst role. Elite development group and focus on individual development.

20:46: Divock Origi embracing analysis. Has his own analyst and Wyscout account.

22:05: Working in tandem with the data science department at Liverpool. Players more used to working with data now.

25:41: Working closely with the coaches at Liverpool/ spending more time on the training pitch.

28:54: Even including the ball boys in analysis at Liverpool, leading to famous winner against Barcelona in the Champions League semis.

30:31: Joining Newcastle/ how the Coach-Analyst title came about. Will it become more prevalent in future?

37:16: Switch to City Football Group/ how it came about/ pressures of being in a first-team environment and difficulty of getting a work-life balance in football.

42:09: What does Head of Coaching Methodology involve?

44:38: Personal ambitions for the future?