Pilgrims Podcast Thread

[Green Flash]

I think Morgan Whittaker may have had more or more severe problems than we realised, interesting that Simon says the club have been able to help him through "serious" issues and that he would have been uncomfortable sending him to Lazio. I too get the impression Morgs may want to stay in his "happy place" next season.

 

[Dorset Green]

I'm always find reading or listening to Simon Hallett fascinating. I've no idea what his interests or beliefs are apart from Argyle, but when he talks about his approach, belief in data and decision-making, I'm a disciple.

 

[Andy B.]

Sunderland are a basket case club. 12 games.....

The person who gave Beale a 2.5 year contract should be sacked .

 

[IJN]

Thanks for listening👍

Context is key here, as he followed up that point by saying -

" I think people spend far too much time on very close decisions, and not enough time on the process of getting down to the final three ( candidates )". Point being, he felt the process was that good and thorough, that any three of interviewed candidates could have succeeded.

He also later goes on too give three clear points where Foster stood out in the interview process.

Could do a pod with Simon on decision making alone, fascinating stuff.

Yep he's a thinker, that's for sure. Thanks for the two podcasts I enjoyed both immensely.

 

[boletus edulis]

I'm always find reading or listening to Simon Hallett fascinating. I've no idea what his interests or beliefs are apart from Argyle, but when he talks about his approach, belief in data and decision-making, I'm a disciple.

I suspect that one of the books that has influenced Simon would be Nobel prize winner Daniel Kahnman’s Thinking, Fast and Slow. Worth a read.

 

[Andy70]

I suspect that one of the books that has influenced Simon would be Nobel prize winner Daniel Kahnman’s Thinking, Fast and Slow. Worth a read.

That's a great book - another one in that vein is Nassim Taleb's Fooled by Randomness

 

[Koala Green]

Sunderland are a basket case club. 12 games.....

The person who gave Beale a 2.5 year contract should be sacked .

Totally agree. Simon makes a point in the podcast that we don’t need to be perfect at decision making, just better than others.

Sunderland is a case in point, we have received around 1.5m quid in compensation payments for our manager and staff. Sunderland, on the other hand, have probably paid out at least 2 million plus to get rid of their two managers this season. Therefore we have closed the budget gap on Sunderland this season by 3.5m pounds!

And that’s not even us being particularly clever, just not being idiotic like Sunderland!

 

[Green Flash]

Totally agree. Simon makes a point in the podcast that we don’t need to be perfect at decision making, just better than others.

Sunderland is a case in point, we have received around 1.5m quid in compensation payments for our manager and staff. Sunderland, on the other hand, have probably paid out at least 2 million plus to get rid of their two managers this season. Therefore we have closed the budget gap on Sunderland this season by 3.5m pounds!

And that’s not even us being particularly clever, just not being idiotic like Sunderland!

I think what really distinguishes Simon is understanding randomness and the difference between meaningful trends and short term events. The hiring and firing frenzy in the championship is the result of owners not understanding this.

 

[Graham Clark]

I see QPR have lost £20m again in a season - this time without paying any transfer fees. I wonder what decision making process the owners made in achieving that financial indignity.

When the 5-year plan heralded a focus on data based decision making, the recruitment of quality and not spending what we couldn't afford there some initial doubters. As Simon pointed out when that Plan was unveiled we were a League 2 club. Since then, and the magnitude of this acheivement has gone unnoticed, he said Argyle have won more games than any other EFL in the last five years. He and Andrew Parkinson have also said that the EFL's FFP rules are beginning to bite witnessed by spending in the January window being suppressed.

Owners gambling on reaching the Premiership riches is beginning to take its toll. We have just got to retain our Championship status this season and the financial inequity of the Championship, excluding those who benefit from parachute payments who don't go straight back up, will result in more of a levelling up. We are on the right course, with the potential to enhance turnover with astute player acquisitions and the resultant increase in value. The next 5-year plan is perfectly achievable on that basis. Let's enjoy the ride from the platform that has been so spendidly been built.

 

[Jon with no H]

Totally agree. Simon makes a point in the podcast that we don’t need to be perfect at decision making, just better than others.

Sunderland is a case in point, we have received around 1.5m quid in compensation payments for our manager and staff. Sunderland, on the other hand, have probably paid out at least 2 million plus to get rid of their two managers this season. Therefore we have closed the budget gap on Sunderland this season by 3.5m pounds!

And that’s not even us being particularly clever, just not being idiotic like Sunderland!

I've seen a few book recommendations in this thread, so just to add another on this specific issue, Filters Against Folly by Garrett Hardin.

In case anyone wonders, it's about avoiding a lack of good sense, not the defensive midfielder.

 

[Lobster]

The thing that impressed me that hasn’t been mentioned is Simon’s explanation of the “player trading pool”, in particular appreciating the difference between value and price.

You hear it all the time. “How much is player X worth? He’s worth whatever anyone is willing to pay for him.” Utter bollocks. One is the value one is the price. They aren’t the same.

We are taking an intelligent approach here that most clubs clearly are not, and hopefully we can “exploit the inefficiencies” in the system and continue to bring in players whose value outweighs their price.

 

[Goody]

I'm always find reading or listening to Simon Hallett fascinating. I've no idea what his interests or beliefs are apart from Argyle, but when he talks about his approach, belief in data and decision-making, I'm a disciple.

It's reassuring when listening to SH as it is clear he's a fan living the dream of owning his club. However, he understands his business skills and his football limitations. He' s applying a simplicity to the club with a clear framework from his business skills, using data to support decision making but trusting the football experts ND, IF etc to do their role within that framework. It would not be a surprise in the future for other clubs to try to follow a similar blueprint.

 

[Green Flash]

It's reassuring when listening to SH as it is clear he's a fan living the dream of owning his club. However, he understands his business skills and his football limitations. He' s applying a simplicity to the club with a clear framework from his business skills, using data to support decision making but trusting the football experts ND, IF etc to do their role within that framework. It would not be a surprise in the future for other clubs to try to follow a similar blueprint.

I tend to be cynical when I hear people like chairmen of football clubs speak, but in the case of Simon it is impossible. He is so clear, so open and so honest. Really the odds of us getting an owner like him must be absolutely tiny and it will not happen again. These are the golden days.

 

[Laido]

Very refreshing these Podcasts..I listened yesterday and had a sense of ease (no worries) that the club is being run by; not only a fan, but a great Chairman who has the very best interests of the club to hand. No panic buying/selling, a calmness when probably most of us fans are in meltdown when managers/players leave!
We just get on with it and upgrade on our previous acquisitions (Azaz excepted, he was a class act).
Looking after our players, the happy medium that is in place for ALL players. The togetherness and support they have for each other can only bode well for the future.
Thanks for the great work Simon etc and thanks Pilgrims Podcast for some great insights!

 

[Lesley Somerville]

True but Hallett said it wouldn’t have felt right to force a sale to Lazio and make MW go there.

I don’t suspect the thinking would be quite the same if a PL club came into the equation.

He literally said that every player is for sale if the price is right