One interesting piece in the article where Dan Ashworth is interviewed in the Chronicle today is that he admitted the club uses a robot that draws the white lines on the training pitch in Benton.
We know Newcastle uses the latest technology for lots of things, but there’s only so far you can go without humans being involved.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the computer technology that’s now getting a lot of publicity but has been researched for years (decades) in computing science.
There’s a lot that AI can do to help sort through various things in a mundane way from a database and get the results quickly to the user.
But it still takes human beings to look at the results and decide what to do – based on those results – and that’s where the skill comes in.
People remember the sci-fi film of 1969 – “2001: A Space Odyssey” when HAL the computer (it’s IBM with the letter after each in H (I), A (B), and L (M) ) went out of control and almost took over the Spaceship near the end of the movie, until the computer was immobilized (phew – that was close).
AI is a concern today, but it’s been talked about for years in computing, and even decades, and like all technology you have to be careful how you use it – remember splitting the atom led unfortunately to the atomic bomb.
Now back to more civil and humane things in this article – here are some interesting comments from our Sporting Director Dan Ashworth as told to Chronicle Live today:
“I listened to Elon Musk’s conference the other day with interest – that none of us are going to have a job soon!”
“You’re right, we do have a robot painting the line out there. What we try and do on recruitment is marry up the objective – data – with the subjective – the opinion – to check and challenge what the answer may be.”
“So we aren’t just data-driven, although we are data-informed. “It is also having the industry knowledge and suitability.”
“A player suited for Newcastle United in the Premier League and for Eddie Howe might not be suited for Aston Villa and Unai Emery.”
” So that is where you bring the subjective part into it – is he or she a good player, which data can drive but not get away from the industry knowledge and scouting reports and experience.”
“So we use both – there are so many players out there and you can’t scout them all.”
“We bring them down to a manageable number and then check them with our eye, with our subject opinion, and then it will get challenged again as the player starts to come through the system.”
“I always think it is important that you have some industry knowledge assessing the data.”
“The example I use is I can go to the stock exchange and get the same data as an experienced trader, but that data could mean nothing to me and yet the experienced trader can make sense that data and make an educated decision on what stock to buy or sell.”
“We would be getting the same information but for me, it could mean absolutely nothing.”
“Certainly a large amount of reference checking from players they’ve played with or coaches, agencies, just try and get as much information as you can.”
“We do that for lots of different roles as well, not just players, you do your references in any field of work, whether it’s an academy coach or head of psychology.”
“You want to try and get as many reference points as you can about what sort of person you’re bringing into your organisation but you never truly know until that person starts working.”
Newcastle could put various characteristics (reference points) down for a man to replace Tonali in January for a topical example – if that’s the only thing the club wanted to do – bring him in on loan until the end of the season.
The various databases of (central midfield) players could then be searched to come up with say the top 5 players who play nearly exactly the same way as Tonali.
Note that the information has to be available in the databases, but at the end of the day, it’s experienced Sporting Directors like Dan Ashworth who will choose the best player suited to the club, from the players returned by the computer.
Ashworth shows a lot of common sense in those comments above, and what he has is experience in his field – that’s something you cannot beat.
So we seem to be in very good hands with Dan Ashworth leading the way on player recruitment, and we have already seen that over the last two years when we have made some stellar signings.
Certainly signing Dan Ashworth was one of those stellar signings.
252 comments so far
The Mighty Quinn
Nov 17, 2023 at 6:44 PM
Comment #121Can you still change your avatar on here?
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 17, 2023 at 6:46 PM
Comment #122TMQ,
I had to get Neil to do that canary I had.
magicmac54
Nov 17, 2023 at 6:48 PM
Comment #123Mund
Brilliant surprise to get home from work and see the email about being successful in the ballot, what match is it for young Mund? It will be after Christmas before I get over mate.
WLtoon
Nov 17, 2023 at 6:52 PM
Comment #124Anyone feel aggrieved about missing out on tickets via the bollot, well this fella is still waiting for his first success.
I am unluckier than Unlucky Alf from The Fast Show.
magicmac54
Nov 17, 2023 at 6:57 PM
Comment #125John J
Another great little striker who wasn’t on you’re list was David Ned Kelly mate.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 17, 2023 at 6:59 PM
Comment #126WLtoon,
It’s bloody frustrating isn’t it.
magicmac54
Nov 17, 2023 at 7:00 PM
Comment #127Thank God for channel 4, as I thought I was going to miss Coronation Street tonight 🙂 🙂 🙂
onmeedsun
Nov 17, 2023 at 7:07 PM
Comment #128I’d like to see Everton’s accounts. They say the £20m overspend is all interest payments on the new stadium build, and yet infrastructure spend is specifically excluded from ffp calculations. In my view so should any associated interest on that spend. It has nothing to do with football operations. So although I’d love to dump on Everton from on high, I just don’t understand the details. Has this point been brought up at all in the media? They seem to talk about it all day without actually getting to the nub of the issue. Perhaps they think we don’t have the attention span for it.
WLtoon
Nov 17, 2023 at 7:11 PM
Comment #129Raj,
I`ll give it until Xmas then i`ll call it a day, after the hols i will be back to graft so ile have even less chance of making a game.
I knew this would happen though and i am not really complaining, it`s a mark of a team doing well i am afraid.
Give me this scenario over having 10k free tickets available every game any day of the week.
The Mighty Quinn
Nov 17, 2023 at 7:13 PM
Comment #130Cheers for reply Raj. I’ll leave it then, don’t want to be bothering the Harrison’s with petty requests.
onmeedsun
Nov 17, 2023 at 7:16 PM
Comment #131I think we are running close to our FFP limit so don’t expect new signings in Jan. Possibly a few loans. Perhaps 4 signings in the summer but I also expect a few sales to boost profits. I suspect Villa are in the same position as us as they’ve spend a lot in the past few years, and the £100m profit on Grealish might fall out of their FFP calculations soon. Being able to sell an academy player for £50/£100m can make a huge difference to spending plans for the next 3 years. At least our fans will have to accept the FFP realities now.
ToonDarnSarf
Nov 17, 2023 at 7:17 PM
Comment #132Raj – I’ll let you know if I hear of any tickets. I usually do. Send me the dates you’re looking at.
Mund
Nov 17, 2023 at 7:19 PM
Comment #133Quinn
https://www.nufcblog.com/my-account/edit-profile/
The Taco Taker
Nov 17, 2023 at 7:23 PM
Comment #134Onmeedsun,
According to BBC that was not their case….
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67448714
They seemed to be basically betting on finishing about 10 places above where they did. The PL prize money would have covered the missing £20m.
Over time I have seen lots of other reasons (and different numbers regarding their loses)
The key takeaway is they are run badly. Simple as that really.
I would say that the wording to the commissions finding also leaves them very open to legal challenge from the clubs relegated in that time. This could be a huge nightmare for Everton.
The Taco Taker
Nov 17, 2023 at 7:27 PM
Comment #135From BBC
What was Everton’s defence – six ‘mitigating’ factors
Everton advanced six mitigating factors in their defence. Among them, the club maintains they were entitled to credit for not pursuing a financial claim against ‘Player X’ – a decision they say was taken out of concern for the player’s psychological wellbeing after he had been arrested.
The commission dismissed this argument as an event that can “occur in the management of football clubs”, adding Everton’s £10m valuation of the player was “speculative”.
Further mitigating factors submitted by Everton surrounded the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
The Toffees said they had planned player sales exceeding £80m in the pandemic-impacted 2020 summer transfer window but the commission sided with the Premier League’s assertion that Everton’s inability to raise that money was “largely attributable” to market forces – namely the prices Everton were asking for.
Further, it stated the club should be expected to “plan for untoward eventualities”, while it was also considered that Everton had benefitted from the Premier League’s Covid-related concessions totalling £70.2m.
Similarly, the commission found that both the loss of a naming rights agreement with Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov’s company USM Services Limited and a rise in stadium-related costs following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could be considered “the type of event that businesses experience”.
The commission also dismissed Everton’s claim that interest incurred in relation to the stadium development could have been capitalised after planning permission had been obtained as being “based on a false premise”, adding Everton had been “less than frank” over the issue.
Everton also asked for their cooperation during the process to be considered in the ruling. In response, the commission said it did not find any aspect of the club’s dealings to be of an “exceptional nature”.
But the club’s argument that the improving losses trend, as shown in the PSR calculation, was viewed more favourably and had gone a “limited way to diminish Everton’s culpability”, the commission said.
onmeedsun
Nov 17, 2023 at 7:29 PM
Comment #136Why does the commission say that Everton didn’t gain any sporting advantage from their overspend? Of course they did if they were paying for wages they couldn’t afford, or have excessive amortisation costs from too many over priced transfers.
The Taco Taker
Nov 17, 2023 at 7:34 PM
Comment #137Onmeedsun,
Agree we won’t have much cash in Jan, I think we should be able to spend a fair bit in Summer though (but need to remain careful on wages in particular)
By summer the Adidas deal kicks in which is significant. The CL money so far is not to be sniffed at either.
Also, certain costs from the takeover year (eg sacking Bruce and his staff) should roll off our books.
Then we have numerous players out of contract in the summer too. We might renew a couple but we wont with several.
onmeedsun
Nov 17, 2023 at 7:39 PM
Comment #138I am 100% confident that Everton knew they couldn’t comply with FFP a few years ago, and that’s why they went to the PL to ‘ask for help’. Everton’s decision making since the Russian money came their way has been shocking. Of course their fans thought it was great when they were spending £30m on bang average players and bringing in star managers. A salutary lesson for us.
The Taco Taker
Nov 17, 2023 at 7:43 PM
Comment #139Exactly Onmeedsun
north east lincs toon
Nov 17, 2023 at 7:44 PM
Comment #140Hopefully Southgate brings trippier of early
onmeedsun
Nov 17, 2023 at 7:45 PM
Comment #141Taco
I hope so re the summer. We’ve been spending £150m a season on players since the takeover. As that seems to be baked in now as our budget that will add £150m a season to our losses, and on top of the associated wage costs will need to be covered by an increase in annual revenues. All these new deals help but I think we still have some way to go to cover all these incremental costs. It’s why it’s vital we can develop our academy talents like Anderson and Miley, and pick up new talent like Minteh and Kuol whilst they are cheap. I would love to get my hands on our FFP spreadsheet!
The Taco Taker
Nov 17, 2023 at 7:45 PM
Comment #142FFS,
Trips starting – the last thing he needs is more games. If he plays next week as well I am going to be very annoyed!
The Taco Taker
Nov 17, 2023 at 7:59 PM
Comment #143Onmeedsun,
I would love to see the books too.
In 21/22 our revenue was £180m. I confidently predict that in 22/23 it will be at least £240m.
This season I think it will be in or around £280-£300m (depending on how we do this season)
Next season, the Adidas deal kicks in.
As we know the main things are SELA and Adidas (and to a lesser extent the Noon sleeve deal) as that is stable and predictable revenue increase when compared to 21/22.
Essex Geordie Bill
Nov 17, 2023 at 8:05 PM
Comment #144Jail
Aye a voluntary slide on a tray would probably have less panful than having my feet slip on the stair carpet.
As regards tin trays I did use to slide down the Dunston slag heap on them! 🙂
As a kid of course.
Davas
Nov 17, 2023 at 8:34 PM
Comment #1452 shots non on target but winning 1-0
Essex Geordie Bill
Nov 17, 2023 at 8:37 PM
Comment #146Malta are defending well, they are not the push over they used to be.
They will most likely tire in the 2nd half though and England will score a few.
Pottsclock
Nov 17, 2023 at 8:41 PM
Comment #147I hope Malta equalise. Ever better…win.
Gallagher offers nothing going forward and his touch of awful. Rashford waits for the opposition defenders to get in position, and then usually loses the ball. Kane DID dive, but by the letter of the law it probably was a pen but he shouldn’t have to do that against Malta !!
The defence and midfield just want to go backwards…against Malta !!!
How Southgate can’t see that there are better choices in some of the positions.
Terrible performance.
The Mighty Quinn
Nov 17, 2023 at 8:57 PM
Comment #148Cheers Mund.
Much obliged
Good news on your ticket.
Chuffed for you mate.
Mund
Nov 17, 2023 at 9:11 PM
Comment #149Quinn
Funny mate as I nearly changed to that myself, earlier on when I seen it on Twitter 😆 quality
The Mighty Quinn
Nov 17, 2023 at 9:15 PM
Comment #150According to
@TEAMtalk
, Jacob Murphy is set to sign a new 5 year deal at #NUFC, taking his contract (with pay rise) to 2028.
What a turnaround this lad has had under Howe.
If true, he deserves it.
The Mighty Quinn
Nov 17, 2023 at 9:17 PM
Comment #151It is quality Mund. There was a cartoon one out a couple of weeks ago, nearly did that one. Bit out of date now though.
jane
Nov 17, 2023 at 9:20 PM
Comment #152England doing well
Raj From Bangladesh
Nov 17, 2023 at 9:22 PM
Comment #153Why would you want your country to lose?
Raj From Bangladesh
Nov 17, 2023 at 9:23 PM
Comment #154Will Italy royally cock up?
jane
Nov 17, 2023 at 9:25 PM
Comment #155what’s your country?
lochinvar
Nov 17, 2023 at 9:30 PM
Comment #156Dr. Ed
I never knew that .
HAL preceded IBM
Does that mean that before HAL there was GZK ? Doesn’t have the same ring to it somehow.
We should play the theme tune from Space Odessey at SJP, that would have an impact.
Poor old Everton they play the Theme tune from a 60’s telly Police series. Seems apt as they’ve been stealing a living for years.10 point fine. Have they had their License endorsed ? Come on Luton
Raj From Bangladesh
Nov 17, 2023 at 9:42 PM
Comment #157Why AI Jane, are you planning on nuking it?
Raj From Bangladesh
Nov 17, 2023 at 9:43 PM
Comment #158Zaniolo is shit
Essex Geordie Bill
Nov 17, 2023 at 9:51 PM
Comment #159England did all they had to do but it was funny when there was 6 minutes of extra time announced and a big sigh went up, i most of the spectators just wanted
jane
Nov 17, 2023 at 9:52 PM
Comment #160i didn’t think you are from here.