Episode 59: Cardiff City's Attention To Detail; w/ Josh Morris

Episode 59: Cardiff City's Attention To Detail; w/ Josh Morris

Welcome to the 59th episode of the In The 11 Podcast! Today, Brendan Griffiths is joined by Josh Morris as he shares what it’s like to be an analyst and why they’re important to football teams. In this episode, he shares how he got into the business and what drove him to pursue the career. He also shares what he’s noticed in a player’s mindset, from those who have already played in premier leagues and those that play in lower divisions, and makes it a point to talk about how it’s very important to keep changing a player’s mindset into growing further and avoid being complacent. Being an analyst, he also has his share of observations in a player’s psyche which is something that comes naturally with the kind of focus he has for the game. So much information to unpack in this episode so be sure to stay tuned!

A day in the life of an analyst:

The main job description entails that Josh studies the games of opposing teams on Cardiff’s schedule, the nuances of taking note of the oppositions play, relaying that to players without overloading them, and properly executing them on the field or it will all be for nothing. Josh is sure to take note of the strengths and weaknesses of another team but to be able to relay that to the Cardiff dressing room is another matter altogether. They plan out their training routines accordingly to prepare for the opposing team. Communication with the team managers is more than crucial but also he shares how sometimes, it’s important for analysts to set aside their pride for the training regime that the manager decides on with respect to the hierarchy of the team.

The growth mindset:

He shares a story that was often told by Sir Alex Ferguson to the Manchester United players, the story about three builders with very different views about the job they do. One is focused on the pay, one is focused on the work, and the last being focused on showing his grandchildren the grandest cathedral he helped build. Of which the growth mindset is displayed in the person that looks forward to being part of something great, something bigger than making money or just looking for something to do, which Josh uses as an analogy to the growth mindset and effectively displays how a person’s motivation is basically a display of what they are able to give for the team.

About Josh Morris:

a BSc (Hons) Football Coaching and Performance graduate, is an Assistant Performance Analyst with Cardiff City Football Club's 1st Team. Shortly after graduating, Josh was employed full-time at Cardiff City, assisting Head Analyst Graham Younger with the everyday duties involved with the in-depth analytics of a professional football club.

Josh undertook an analysis role for the USW Football 1st Team as part of his third-year placement on the course. He also used the knowledge gained from the Video Analysis module on the course to gain work experience in analysis roles with the Welsh Football Trust and Cardiff City Academy. It was this work experience that led to his current full-time role.

Outline of the Episode:

• [00:02:21] Cardiff football club and Josh’s role as an analyst
• [00:05:45] Josh’s journey to becoming an analyst
• [00:12:10] How Coach Owen became a part of South Kent
• [00:20:54] Different teams, different demands
• [00:27:19] Changes in the analysis system over time
• [00:38:02] How analysts ensure execution
• [00:49:08] The changes in the players from an analyst’s...