Ed Woodward 2019 - Until all Arctic ice melts edition

oz insomniac said:
Such a strange comment, we can’t criticise what the Glazers and Woody are doing to the club because some one in the future could be worse?

If they actually acted as interested owners and employed someone to actually improve the football side, then there would be no discussion or criticism. Like most , we want current action to reflect improvement, should the ownership change then that changes the argument. To continually say leave them alone as someone else could be worse is nonsensical.

The facts are simple, Woody is the figurehead of the club and authorises transfers and spend (possibly at the behest of Joel Glazer) , and this summer was crucial given the appointment of the coach and the apparent general acknowledgment that signings were needed in several areas, and that similarly players need to be moved on. What has happened is a mirror image of most of Woodys summers, a break where he is on vacation, then some low ball offers, then a realisation that he is failing a fairly simple task. How does this happen, TalkingSport is an overnight programme relayed here in Oz, they pointed to the clubs dismal transfer performance dragging the club down to the level of Everton and West Ham and how unsuited Woody appears to be to lead the football club.

Seriously, how is he defended, yes it's a difficult job but he gets paid £4 million pa to do,it, that's the bottom line.
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Agree with a lot of your post particularly the part in bold. We could actually get new owners in who care about the football side of the club as they do as much the commercial side, I wish the Glazer's had sold to Jim Ratcliffe when he made potential enquiries into buying the club, he is worth $11.8B and is a Manchester United fan and I'm convinced he would have done a better job than the Glazer's but he felt the Glazer's valued the club unrealistically.

I have said several times that I believe this summer was one of our most important in recent history so we don't fall further behind the other clubs. I realise this rebuild is going to take a while not just one summer but I think we needed to get in the quite a few players to kick this rebuild off properly, so that Woody would give Ole a better platform to be successful from which he clearly hasn't done so far. We have 2 weeks for Woody to do something special, which I don't think he is capable of doing.
 
The issue, from an outsider’s perspective, with Ed’s commercial organisation (including whoever leads negotiations, such as Matt Judge) is that all footballing decisions seem to be made with purely financial objectives in mind, superseding the sporting requirement and context.

Last summer’s window, it seemed the situation was ripe to complete the rebuild and provide Jose with ammunition to mount a serious title challenge after finishing 2nd. However, we decided to hold back and instead briefed the press with the ‘no value’ argument.

This year, its painfully obvious we need to reinforce the CB and CM positions. Sure, the sellers are demanding what would be considered an over the top price in a normal market. However, this is a sellers market, especially with the PL clubs who are under no financial pressure to sell. We should have set an internal timeline to play hardball and negotiate a lower fee, and then either moved to alternate targets or should pay up and get the players. Even if we get the players in now, we have disrupted the preparation for the season and put our footballing results at risk.
 
Rhyme Animal said:
More than that though...

His most embarrassing one, yet, by far.

I'm starting to think that the Glazers are looking to sell.
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This is the conclusion i have come to. What other possible reason could he have? We are rolling in money and we have barely spent a penny in two years.
 
One RB and one youngster who will be a squad player this season. This is Ed's answer to a club that finished 30+points behind last season, and a club that was humiliated during the last 2 months of the season.
 
Why don't people wait until the end of the window before we rate it?
 
Raw said:
I just remembered that we were supposed to be signing a technical director/DoF :lol:
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What do we need a DOF for: Ed is fricking omnipresent, and represents all things to all men (particularly now his teflon hair plugs have grown in!). Why mess with perfection; the guy is simply unstoppable.
 
red4ever 79 said:
One RB and one youngster who will be a squad player this season. This is Ed's answer to a club that finished 30+points behind last season, and a club that was humiliated during the last 2 months of the season.
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Yep and not just 30 plus points behind, 30 behind Man City and Liverpool. While we had to watch City win the domestic treble & Liverpool win the CL.

Fair to say Ole hasn't been backed in the market. What more is going to change in the next 12 days or so? Midfield and centre back were vital. We're weaker in midfield and the same at CB.

So while we linger around 4th to 6th place, we'll again have to watch City or Liverpool win the league and compete as one of the favourites for the CL.
 
So Ed didn't tour on pre-season in order to finalise transfer dealings,to my knowledge no bid submitted for Longstaff yet and Maguire still to be revisited!
Maybe he has spent all of his time preparing to offload the deadwood that nobody seems interested in buying?
He low balls every potential signing and overvalues every player we want to get rid of.
 
captain666 said:
So Ed didn't tour on pre-season in order to finalise transfer dealings,to my knowledge no bid submitted for Longstaff yet and Maguire still to be revisited!
Maybe he has spent all of his time preparing to offload the deadwood that nobody seems interested in buying?
He low balls every potential signing and overvalues every player we want to get rid of.
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He's just pruning the trees so to speak, with the media. THat's all. Putting out the odd briefing to suggest he's doing work behind the scenes, then dampening the odd fire that's been stoking all summer (such as Fernandes) with 1 week left of the window. Basically, he's setting the scene for AWB and James being our only signings. THere'll be more briefings next week of things like "couldn't agree a fee" or "the club will not be held to ransom" and so forth. But these are stories that could have been released to the media 1month ago.

The difference is, if he'd done that - the fans would've been fuming all over social media because there was still plenty of time left for him to move to different targets. Leaving it til now, means he suggests he's been trying until the last minute and it's not his fault.

He's a glorified spin doctor, nothing more.
 
captain666 said:
So Ed didn't tour on pre-season in order to finalise transfer dealings,to my knowledge no bid submitted for Longstaff yet and Maguire still to be revisited!
Maybe he has spent all of his time preparing to offload the deadwood that nobody seems interested in buying?
He low balls every potential signing and overvalues every player we want to get rid of.
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Believing every rumour and article you read is a dangerous thing. All of this 'preparing bids' bullshit that we see everywhere are just clickbait so journalists can fill their quota and twitter users can grab followers. I mean, this is obvious right?
 
Eric's Seagull said:
Agree with a lot of your post particularly the part in bold. We could actually get new owners in who care about the football side of the club as they do as much the commercial side, I wish the Glazer's had sold to Jim Ratcliffe when he made potential enquiries into buying the club, he is worth $11.8B and is a Manchester United fan and I'm convinced he would have done a better job than the Glazer's but he felt the Glazer's valued the club unrealistically.

I have said several times that I believe this summer was one of our most important in recent history so we don't fall further behind the other clubs. I realise this rebuild is going to take a while not just one summer but I think we needed to get in the quite a few players to kick this rebuild off properly, so that Woody would give Ole a better platform to be successful from which he clearly hasn't done so far. We have 2 weeks for Woody to do something special, which I don't think he is capable of doing.
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The same Ratcliffe that allegedly made the same enquiries about buying Chelsea from Abramovich? That guy? Seems like a real Man United supporter that one.
And the Glazers are not going to accept anything less than 6-8bn if they do decide to sell.
And no one that is worth 12bn USD will invest almost their entire fortune in United without saddling the club with debt at the same time.
I am sorry, but this is one of those unicorns that people do like to believe in and will never ever happen.
Its just not realistic.
 
Alabaster Codify7 said:
He's just pruning the trees so to speak, with the media. THat's all. Putting out the odd briefing to suggest he's doing work behind the scenes, then dampening the odd fire that's been stoking all summer (such as Fernandes) with 1 week left of the window. Basically, he's setting the scene for AWB and James being our only signings. THere'll be more briefings next week of things like "couldn't agree a fee" or "the club will not be held to ransom" and so forth. But these are stories that could have been released to the media 1month ago.

The difference is, if he'd done that - the fans would've been fuming all over social media because there was still plenty of time left for him to move to different targets. Leaving it til now, means he suggests he's been trying until the last minute and it's not his fault.

He's a glorified spin doctor, nothing more.
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What makes you think we are not going after a number of different targets? United seem to have certainly tightened the ship lately in terms of leaks.

I'll stand by my prediction that United will sign a player this window that nobody has mentioned all summer.
 
red4ever 79 said:
One RB and one youngster who will be a squad player this season. This is Ed's answer to a club that finished 30+points behind last season, and a club that was humiliated during the last 2 months of the season.
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He doesn't give a shit.

Him being our CEO is the biggest humiliation for this club and nobody seems to care/do anything about it.
 
Thisistheone said:
Yep and not just 30 plus points behind, 30 behind Man City and Liverpool. While we had to watch City win the domestic treble & Liverpool win the CL.

Fair to say Ole hasn't been backed in the market. What more is going to change in the next 12 days or so? Midfield and centre back were vital. We're weaker in midfield and the same at CB.

So while we linger around 4th to 6th place, we'll again have to watch City or Liverpool win the league and compete as one of the favourites for the CL.
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Potentially could be weaker up top as well if Lukaku goes. I still think there is something going to happen there as he has sat out the whole tour with an 'injury' cough cough
 
Bilbo said:
What makes you think we are not going after a number of different targets? United seem to have certainly tightened the ship lately in terms of leaks.

I'll stand by my prediction that United will sign a player this window that nobody has mentioned all summer.
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Yeah. Just like last summer, we are going to sign a player that hasn't been mentioned anywhere - 'nobody'
 
Alabaster Codify7 said:
He's just pruning the trees so to speak, with the media. THat's all. Putting out the odd briefing to suggest he's doing work behind the scenes, then dampening the odd fire that's been stoking all summer (such as Fernandes) with 1 week left of the window. Basically, he's setting the scene for AWB and James being our only signings. THere'll be more briefings next week of things like "couldn't agree a fee" or "the club will not be held to ransom" and so forth. But these are stories that could have been released to the media 1month ago.

The difference is, if he'd done that - the fans would've been fuming all over social media because there was still plenty of time left for him to move to different targets. Leaving it til now, means he suggests he's been trying until the last minute and it's not his fault.

He's a glorified spin doctor, nothing more.
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When you look at our Continental/EPL competitors manouevres it makes you weep!Ole had his targets and has massively changed our style of play pre-season.
We seem to wait for the window to open before even thinking of making offers whereas others are already close to finalising deals.
If the gnome leaves it much longer opposing clubs will not have time to negotiate replacements,total shambles from a Club of our stature.
 
Bilbo said:
What makes you think we are not going after a number of different targets? United seem to have certainly tightened the ship lately in terms of leaks.

I'll stand by my prediction that United will sign a player this window that nobody has mentioned all summer.
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Yeah, its a big difference from Sir Alex´s time when he obviously had his preferred journos that you could more or less count on being correct if they published something. Since Gill and Sir Alex left it has been completely different.
Which is probably a big reason for the frustration on forums like the Caf, because people have no fecking clue about what is going on behind the scenes and has to get their info from ABU-media and tabloids.
 
Bilbo said:
Why don't people wait until the end of the window before we rate it?
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Already late. He had 6 months of works since United sacked Jose. Ideally, we should have had 3-4 first team signings before preseason had started

Here we are, just two weeks until first match of the season and he signed one first team player. Rebuild my arsehole
 
Johan07 said:
Yeah, its a big difference from Sir Alex´s time when he obviously had his preferred journos that you could more or less count on being correct if they published something. Since Gill and Sir Alex left it has been completely different.
Which is probably a big reason for the frustration on forums like the Caf, because people have no fecking clue about what is going on behind the scenes and has to get their info from ABU-media and tabloids.
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I yearn for the days of the good old fashioned out of the blue transfer. Its not that it isn't fun sometimes to read an article about a target. What I struggle with these days is that people actually form real opinions and beliefs on things based on what they read. It just makes everyone miserable. Angry even.
 
Johan07 said:
The same Ratcliffe that allegedly made the same enquiries about buying Chelsea from Abramovich? That guy? Seems like a real Man United supporter that one.
And the Glazers are not going to accept anything less than 6-8bn if they do decide to sell.
And no one that is worth 12bn USD will invest almost their entire fortune in United without saddling the club with debt at the same time.
I am sorry, but this is one of those unicorns that people do like to believe in and will never ever happen.
Its just not realistic.
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Jum Ratcliffe grew up in Failsworth, Greater Manchester and was a boyhood Manchester United fan.
 
Bilbo said:
Just be patient and stop reading rumours. You'll feel much better. Pre-season has been very encouraging.
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Performances in preseason means feck all to me. Although I like what I see but I also don't trust these spineless feckers. Signs are encouraging but I know these players are going wilt away when the going gets tough. They have had numerous chances. Failed in all of them.

Johan07 said:
Fred was quite a surprising signing wouldnt you say?
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I was talking about the time after Fred and Dalot.
 
fallengt said:
Already late. He had 6 months of works since United sacked Jose. Ideally, we should have had 3-4 first team signings before preseason had started

Here we are, just two weeks until first match of the season and he signed one first team player. Rebuild my arsehole
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That would have been lovely, but unrealistic. Why would any club want to sell a player so early in the window?

It happens every year. Right now there are hundreds or thousands of agents running around trying to generate auctions for players. The last week or 10 days is when everything happens.
 
Can someone explain spending £75m in each of the 2 transfer windows ? In a rebuild phase? How is this man still in the job?
All he is doing is lowering fan expectation year on year.
 
Bilbo said:
That would have been lovely, but unrealistic. Why would any club want to sell a player so early in the window?
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So they can replace them. Juve, Bayern, City, Madrid, Barca have all got their key targets. Bayern need one more winger but they got a while before their window closes.
 
ayushreddevil9 said:
Performances in preseason means feck all to me. Although I like what I see but I also don't trust these spineless feckers. Signs are encouraging but I know these players are going wilt away when the going gets tough. They have had numerous chances. Failed in all of them.
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That post is just depressing to me. Its only football mate.

I'm feeling optimistic about the new season. Cant wait for the Chelsea game. Its a nice place to be mentally.
 
Bilbo said:
That post is just depressing to me. Its only football mate.

I'm feeling optimistic about the new season. Cant wait for the Chelsea game. Its a nice place to be mentally.
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Happy for you. It's really nice to see the optimism. Doesn't work for me. I would love to be proved wrong but I have been saying this since Fergie retired.
 
romufc said:
So they can replace them. Juve, Bayern, City, Madrid, Barca have all got their key targets. Bayern need one more winger but they got a while before their window closes.
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Arguably so have we. We desperately needed a right back more than anything and it looks like we've nailed it. Far more important than signing a 7th centre back.

Right wing is our other real issue, but if we decide to give Greenwood and/or Gomes a chance to claim it then I'll be overjoyed. Giving youngsters a chance is something we do better than almost every club in world football.
 
ayushreddevil9 said:
Happy for you. It's really nice to see the optimism. Doesn't work for me. I would love to be proved wrong but I have been saying this since Fergie retired.
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Do you not feel that there is a freshness around the club right now? We've replaced a miserable old git with a fresh young coaching team that look like they want to play the same way most of us do. Give it some time and be patient.
 
Eric's Seagull said:
Don't know why but my guess is he was quoted a ludicrous sum for us.
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Well, even if we speculate in him even being interested in any of the clubs to begin with (which is a leap to begin with, mind you): thats the exact point.
The Glazers are not going to sell United for anything less than 6bn IMO.
That realistically leaves the Saudis or an LBO saddling United with 2-3bn of new debt.
This is exactly why I am having such a hard time with people wanting rid of the Glazers without being able to present a real alternative.
 
Bilbo said:
Arguably so have we. We desperately needed a right back more than anything and it looks like we've nailed it. Far more important than signing a 7th centre back.

Right wing is our other real issue, but if we decide to give Greenwood and/or Gomes a chance to claim it then I'll be overjoyed. Giving youngsters a chance is something we do better than almost every club in world football.
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Signing a RB when we need 4/5 players you saying we have done our transfers? you have alot of faith in this team.
 
Bilbo said:
That would have been lovely, but unrealistic. Why would any club want to sell a player so early in the window?

It happens every year. Right now there are hundreds or thousands of agents running around trying to generate auctions for players. The last week or 10 days is when everything happens.
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Because Woodward's strategy is stupid. So we need new CB and we've been linked with Harry Maguire for the whole summer. What're the alt options? The answer is Woodward doesn't have one. Even "Option A or bust" is the case, he should be more commit to it. Liverpool was tapping up with VVD long before they signed him.

I'm not saying it's a walk in the park job but he had enough prep time for it. Jose was sacked in December, it's been 7 months, all that time for AWB?
 
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