I think there's quite a few people qualified at the club who know what a attacking footballer for Manchester United should look like.
Man Utd set to appoint Director of Football (when hell freezes over)
- Thread starter RedMachine03
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I would say that yes they need to know exactly what type of player is needed, but also good language skills and intelligence, a good reputation and good negotiating skills.
Sounds like Marc Overmars..
Which is why the coaching staff are significantly more important. Our last three managers didn’t understand this at all.
Probably does. I never actually thought of that.
Our last three managers played a negative brand of football. And when we finally gave the reigns to someone who played a more adventurous style, the results are there for all to see.
We made the mistake of betraying our DNA, and it bit us in the arse.
In my opinion, the coaching staff, plus Nicky Butt, should be making the decisions on the players we need a not a DOF. I believe a DOF would only work if there was a high turnover of manager/coach in a club, something I cannot see in United's case. I think the club need a top class negotiator, who knows the murky world of agents, and business deals, and would be given the brief of signing the players required.
I already explained why I think its too late, though maybe I didnt do a very good job of it. I think its too late for this summer because transfers take a long time to arrange, especially identifying the right targets - which let's face it is the bit that Woodward needs most help with. My understanding is that while decisions might not be taken with finality in March, a lot of work will already have gone in at that point. If the DOF isnt here it means that work isnt happening yet, or it is happening, driven by Woodward.
If Poch came (heaven forbid) in June that wouldnt be ideal either but it wouldnt be "too late", it would just be a bit of a disadvantage, not an insurmountable one. But the manager's job and the DOF's job are different. What the DOF needs to do, he needs to be as familiar with our squad and our club as possible before he can start identifying what we need and then making moves.
Listen, I acknowledge I could be wrong here, Im not claiming to be any kind of expert on what DOF's do, but the way I see it, if the announcement was made today it would already be too late for the DOF to have the kind of influence this summer that he would have next summer, say, when he's had more time to assess the situation. And the announcement isnt coming today.
VDS for CEO. Have a qualified expert with extensive knowledge of football, Manchester United, and product marketing in charge of the whole operation.
I can't be the only one who isn't too bothered about it now? I was one of the advocates of getting one in when we appointed managers from outside who didn't get the United way and didn't want to adapt to our attacking philosophy, now with Ole at the wheel I feel more relaxed and don't feel this is a priority.
Agreed. With the one proviso that we don't know how good Ole is at the whole signing players part of the job, yet. Or, as has so often been said, his willingness to stand up to Woodward and fight for the investment the team needs. A DOF would help with those things.
Also, as great as things are now, at one point this ride will end and we'll find ourselves looking for another manager. We haven't had much in the way of continuity till now, so who's to say after this we won't go for another random, flavour of the month type?
But I'm certainly less concerned about it than I was.
I still think a DoF is required to maintain a proper footballing structure whereby a specialist in transfers can aid the manager. Ole might be so good with transfer targets that he can do it all himself.
He might also be shit. We don't know that yet and it's dangerous to assume.
If it all goes tits up and Ole gets sacked we're back at square one. There's a reason every major European club has one and it'd be foolish for us to not bother because we've had a couple months of good results. Everything about United since Ferguson left is short sighted and reactionary, from manager and player recruitment to fan reaction, and that's why we need someone in a DoF role to look at the long-term future of the club.
We've operated for decades without one, no reason to get one just to 'be like every other club'. A DoF would have made sense when we had Moyes, LVG and Mourinho. But with Ole at the helm, I feel like it's probably better to let him and his staff work with our scouting team to identify the targets that would fit us. We do not need to turn into a Chelsea and any sort of footballing structure talk sounds like Mourinho bullshit to me. He only knows how to work within one type of system.
You guys are most likely right. Ole is still a bit of an unknown commodity & definitely has had the rub of the luck so far. However, I feel he is likely to get a 3 year contract and I trust him to work with the scouts and get in United quality signings. He knows the quality and character of the player required at United and should push Woody to get them. He knows the fans expectations & I don't think will simply settle for a top 4 finish as some fear.
I felt more restless about getting one with the way things transpired after Sir Alex's retirement. I totally wanted one installed as soon as Jose was fired so that he can help Woody, who I don't hold in high esteem, get planning for the future. Now I would be happy with a head of recruitment who works with Ole in identifying players and getting deals done.
I know this can all come crashing down next season but I for now I am pretty relaxed. We should take our time to get the right man in, instead of rushing it.
Things tailing off will hopefully remind people of the importance of overhauling the football management structure and having a Director of Football provide long term planning that benefits the manager and the first team coaches. Ole ain’t a miracle worker and he, or whoever the new manager, ends up being needs to be equipped.
Pep is in with a real chance of winning a quadruple and has had all the success because he benefitted from the fruit of a sound, long-term planning at each of his three clubs. Ferguson had success at United once he overhauled the club and managed at a time when he could be in charge of planning for the longer term. It’s essential for continued success. If our managers are expendable, we need stability behind them.
Pep is in with a real chance of winning a quadruple and has had all the success because he benefitted from the fruit of a sound, long-term planning at each of his three clubs. Ferguson had success at United once he overhauled the club and managed at a time when he could be in charge of planning for the longer term. It’s essential for continued success. If our managers are expendable, we need stability behind them.
It's nearly march end are we any closer to landing one to give him significant time to plan summer window?
For all we know, the work could already be under way by the DOF that has been chosen. If one has been.
And what do you think the job title of such an individual would be?
I assume we'll find out when Ole's future is announced.
Fast forward, it will be nearly summer 2022 und still nothing.
Structural changes at United are just too difficult it seems
Not having a DoF counts in our favour in some ways, I reckon. It offers the promise of allowing the manager more influence over the direction of the club, and to be more than just a head coach. We know that some managers have found the head coach role overly restrictive so the fact we're one of the few big clubs without those shackles is a competitive advantage.
The question is how many of the best managers now fit that profile. It seems pretty clear that someone like Guardiola prefers to invest all his energy in coaching and managing the team, so it would count against us not to have that structure in place.
The question is how many of the best managers now fit that profile. It seems pretty clear that someone like Guardiola prefers to invest all his energy in coaching and managing the team, so it would count against us not to have that structure in place.
That's just it. There are no more Fergies these days. That's why the DoF position is so important.
I also think it's asking a lot of any manager to handle all of that responsibility. A manager probably has time to come up with a couple of players he's looking for in any one position. And the simple fact is we're never gonna land every target we're after. So basically you're left with the whole list dynamic Jose mentioned where Ed does what Ed does in the end.
A proper DoF would have a profile of player he was looking for that fits the tactics of the club and a bloody list of players at each position to choose from. Take RW for instance. Say the list is Mbappe or Dembele were either to ever become available, then Sancho if not him then CHO if not him then Lozano or Thauvin maybe. In that scenario, even if you end up with your third or fourth choice at least it's workable both short and long term rather than, "Oh, we're not gonna be able to get Sancho so let's sign Bale." Or signing Sanchez just because he was available despite the fact that he was clearly on the decline and doesn't play in a position of need. Never mind the ridiculous wage package and the fact that pressing and work rate is/was a big part of his game and at the time our manager didn't want players pressing the ball.
Does anyone honestly think we'd be in the predicament we find ourselves in re wage budget and squad if we had a proper football man in the director's box?
LvG mentions a lack of a technical director in todays interview with BBC. It would be a relief if we got Mislintat this summer.
I have a funny feeling we won't. I mean this is the time where we would be announcing one, surely? The summer is literally around the corner and I'd hazard a guess most clubs have already made tentative enquiries about availability of players. Surely, you'd want our DoF to oversee that or else why the feck are we bothering..?
I'm not holding my breath.
I agree. Used to believe it would happen. Felt almost certain when Mislintat left Arsenal. But right now, I’m almost convinced it will not.
So is this happening or not?
I'm starting to feel that this idea has been debated longer than Brexit.
I'm starting to feel that this idea has been debated longer than Brexit.
Just coming into this thread to check if there are any rumours. I see there is feck all happening. Sincerely hope the club is not being stupid on this because we need someone.
Wouldn't hiring a DoF mean Woodward will have less control/power? Unfortunately guys like that with big egos wont voluntarily let go of all that power, if the Glazers were smart they'd take it away from him, sadly they're all too worried about their next dividends cheque.
It doesn't negate Woodward's power as the DOF will ultimately answer to the board which consists of Woodward and co.
Surely he must know that? He also must realise that we need to improve football wise to keep those sponsors coming in, which means getting in people who know what they're doing.
I'm hoping things are just being kept under wraps because it would be a mistake not to get someone in for this role.
Seeing fans has been happy since Ole back i think everyone knows that this wont happen. Same as the last time LVG got sacked the rumours pop up and dead right after six months into Jose's. Rinse and repeat this time.
We are run so shite it's not even funny. Praying the Glazer's reign ends soon.
Still hoping on Sven Mislintat appearing up as the Head of Recruitment. It’s our recruitment that’s been fecking bad and helped put us where we are in part. I’m hopeful that Sir Alex and Sir Bobby can be the ones for now who should tell Ed what style of play we should employ, and who the hot coaching properties are.
Hell, if Ole doesn’t make it as permanent manager, get him staying as a DoF figure or something. He’s got the demeanour of a man who can get stuff done and whatnot, especially when Sir Alex and Sir Bobby arent there anymore. He comes across as very studious and those are the ones who know what they’re doing a lot of the time.
Hell, if Ole doesn’t make it as permanent manager, get him staying as a DoF figure or something. He’s got the demeanour of a man who can get stuff done and whatnot, especially when Sir Alex and Sir Bobby arent there anymore. He comes across as very studious and those are the ones who know what they’re doing a lot of the time.
I've amended the thread title.
Why?
We need to define what this role is prior to appointing someone. Pointless otherwise.
It was written hiring expected before the appointment of next manager
Ole's brilliant form made it impossible for us to not rush into this decision.
It’s not happening
I don’t think it’s happening either. I’m not convinced Woodward wants to relinquish that control.
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