Jake

Pegasus among unicorns Monday Night SCOUTED presents the most extreme forward profile in Europe

Unicorn is thrown around far too often these days. It’s become proxy for ‘big guy that can dribble’ and we all know there are loads of them now. But Álvaro Rodríguez is a different mythical horse all together. I have proof he’s Pegasus.

🌃 Latest for @scoutedftbl.com:

Riccardo Calafiori, aura redefined Milkshakes and meteors maketh the man.

I tried to translate @tomoc.bsky.social's storytelling and @moesquare.bsky.social's analysis into a single stat:

Riccardo Calafiori is the only player across Europe’s Big Five Leagues this season that averages 10+ touches in each third, 2.5+ touches in each box, 2+ shots and 2+ clearances per 90.

Heading to my first Hudl Performance Insights Conference for @scoutedftbl.com today. Exciting stuff. Looking forward to learning a lot. But I am also going to be late. Thanks, weather.

From Data to Wisdom: Playing Football’s Information Game at the Right Level – Jan Van Haaren From Data to Wisdom: Playing Football’s Information Game at the Right Level.

My latest blog post "From Data to Wisdom: Playing Football’s Information Game at the Right Level" explores how football clubs can move from simply collecting data to making better, evidence-based decisions.

janvanhaaren.be/posts/from-d...

Breaking down Kees Smit A touch-by-touch analysis of the young Dutch midfielder's starmaking moment

Kees Smit, quickly becoming one of the most talked about prospects, was on the @llewdavies.bsky.social radar well before the U-19 EURO this summer - the tournament that introduced me to the Dutchman. Whether you're yet to come across him or not, this is a must-read. Excellent, as ever.

A guide to Archetypes A comprehensive primer for SCOUTED's player profiling project

Finally, I’ve put everything together to provide a primer on the @scoutedftbl.com Archetypes project so far. It’s not finished, it’s constantly evolving. But now there is a reference point for the Archetypes themselves and the methodology. Here you go:

Introducing Said El Mala A 317-minute breakdown of the German winger hell-bent on destruction

If a player gets the @llewdavies.bsky.social ‘Introducing’ treatment, take note.

Llew flagged Said El Mala during the U-19 EURO and I’ve piggy-backed off that ever since. This is one of the most destructive dribblers in Europe. It’s his first-ever top-flight season.

Think you’ve nailed it. Xabi because of those longer range passes probably moves into Pathfinder with the ability to platform. Mascherano is an example of his OOP role being more important. He was the Disruptor but platformed IP. Like Caicedo?

Falling down a Mike Penders rabbit hole Learn about the Belgian's Manuel Neuer impression and Milton Delgado's Platformer clinic

After noticing something different about Mike Penders' heat map against Lyon, @jakeentwistle.bsky.social investigated the reasons why it seemed odd.

It turns out the Belgian was doing a Manuel Neuer impression and he's the youngest goalkeeper on record to do it in a Big Five League.

Heart Gold and Soul Silver are also good as an updated version. But Gold doing all 16 gym badges is unreal.

This. But also, the answer is Gold.

So, @jakeentwistle.bsky.social wanted to revamp the stats section of the Monday Night SCOUTED newsletter and turn it into one in its own right. The Rabbit Hole is our new research-driven newsletter that will arrive in your inbox every Tuesday (if you like it, that is).

Winter arc We run in void.

On the same day I sit down to write my main piece of writing for the week, @tomoc.bsky.social is doing the same and producing this. This is writing. These are the foggin estandards. I’m extremely grateful he takes the time to use this mind to improve my work. open.substack.com/pub/redstory...

Antidotes for the monotony of modern football Monday Night SCOUTED prescribes the following: Morocco’s historic Under-20 World Cup winners and Europe's most direct young players

Does modern football seem monotonous? Well, Morocco's U20 World Cup winners will make you fall back in love with the sport.

If you're not up for rewatching that tournament, @jakeentwistle.bsky.social has tried to find the most direct young players in Europe as an alternative cure.

I think staying up to watch the final fogged my brain. I had some really clear intentions for this newsletter, especially the second section, but I don’t think I’ve quite delivered on that. But I’m absolutely all in on Morocco. You should be too.

Inside RB Leipzig Tom Curren heads inside one of the world's pre-eminent football factories.

That’s why, when he does finally put himself and his writing first, you should read it. You will thoroughly enjoy it and you will want to read more.

Here is the Substack piece: open.substack.com/pub/redstory...

Below is the RB Leipzig piece:

Tom carries everything business-related for SCOUTED. This means I get to do whatever I want, whenever I want before then chucking it at him to fix. That means he does not get to write as much himself even though that’s what he loves to do the most. I am so very grateful.

The response to @tomoc.bsky.social’s RB Leipzig story on SCOUTED and his own Substack post about Eze’s move to Arsenal tells you everything about him. Two incredible pieces of writing created by an incredible person with absolute dedication and unwavering love for a craft.

Is Hugo Ekitiké an Alexander Isak regen? Everyone, including us, keeps saying the Frenchman is a mini version of the Swede - let’s use data to figure out the truth

Is Hugo Ekitiké an Alexander Isak regen? I profiled three iterations of both players alongside a set of elite centre-forwards to find out how similar they are, for @scoutedftbl.com. Dive in.

That is far too kind for me to deal with, Billy.

The best decision of my adult life has been to commit full time. Not just on a work level, but it has transformed my personal life. Thank you so much to everyone that has made this past year possible. But to keep it going, we need even more support.

That’s a relief. At the same time, there is an art to saying and showing all of that in as succinct way as possible which I’m still getting to grips with.

I can’t help myself.

Three weeks of curating this newsletter now :-) hope people find it fun and useful. Would love more feedback!

Three explosive striker prospects and a new Scottish starlet The Shortlist, March 14th 2025

Explosive strikers scoring goals across Europe, a Scottish starlet that you need to know about, even more changes of international allegiance, and the delightful talents of Désiré Doué.

All that (and more) in The Shortlist, our bitzesize youth football review that drops every Friday.

I try v hard to shout out independent publications where possible, because they need all the help they can get.

@backheeled.com, @scoutedftbl.com, Not The Top 20, Ranks FC & Gegenpressing Newsletter all bring life to my inbox and pod feeds. Thanks guys.

It’s all just mental. I’m happy to sit back and resist it.

The #discourse around him is low-key the most outrageous

Too kind. 🔥

Mika Biereth Madness The mind-blowing stats behind the Monaco man's match-ball collection

Just another weekly dose of brilliance from @jakeentwistle.bsky.social.