CARR’S TOP FIVE SCOUTING SECRETS

WATCH as many matches as possible — and not on TV. If you’re watching the right back and he goes into the attacking third and the move breaks down, on TV you can’t tell if he’s sprinting back or having a stroll!

GET a feel from supporters in the crowd about who they like. I’ve always said, people who watch a team regularly know more than scouts do.

KNOW your market. If you look at international Under 21 sides, the best players are already snapped up. What I looked for were players who had kicked on at 23, 24 and gone under the radar.

PLAY the owners. They often ask for a list of targets in a 4-4-2 with a few options in each position. George Graham always said to me, “Just put one name down. If you give them the choice they’ll go for the cheapest!”

GET in there first. There was a game in Belgium once where there was only one team-sheet. I deliberately wrote the wrong numbers on it to throw the other scouts off the scent!

TOP FIVE TRANSFERS

YOHAN CABAYE (£4.8m) HATEM BEN ARFA (£5.4m) CHEICK TIOTE (£3.5m) MOUSSA SISSOKO (£1.8m) GEORGINIO WIJNALDUM (£15m)