Man Utd set to appoint Director of Football (when hell freezes over)

[Rolandofgilead]

So, here’s the thing.

I STILL don’t understand the point of a DOF. It seems the modern game is passing me by. Which, is a bit odd really as I watch far more than the average football fan across many, many different countries and competitions. My reading of the game is still as good as it ever was and as such, it doesn’t feel like I’m losing touch.

And yet, I still question the need for a DOF. When I asked previously why we need one I was told that as long term managers were a thing of the past there was now a need for a football man to oversee the transfers and playing style, which makes a certain degree of sense but also makes very little sense at all.

We appointed Ole, who understands the fabric and makeup of the club and this is the kicker, is young enough to lead this club for 20+ years. I’m not saying he should at the moment, just saying he could. So, who then picks the playing style? Does it change from game to game? Would it be the same at Anfield as at home against Plymouth in the FA Cup? Who picks the players to sign? Intelligent posters on here wanted to sign HULK once ffs. If we lose games who gets the sack? If two or three managers fail under the DOF, does the DOF still stay?

I just don’t get the point. Seems like a pointless role for the football manager generation.

 

[Skills]

So, here’s the thing.

I STILL don’t understand the point of a DOF. It seems the modern game is passing me by. Which, is a bit odd really as I watch far more than the average football fan across many, many different countries and competitions. My reading of the game is still as good as it ever was and as such, it doesn’t feel like I’m losing touch.

And yet, I still question the need for a DOF. When I asked previously why we need one I was told that as long term managers were a thing of the past there was now a need for a football man to oversee the transfers and playing style, which makes a certain degree of sense but also makes very little sense at all.

We appointed Ole, who understands the fabric and makeup of the club and this is the kicker, is young enough to lead this club for 20+ years. I’m not saying he should at the moment, just saying he could. So, who then picks the playing style? Does it change from game to game? Would it be the same at Anfield as at home against Plymouth in the FA Cup? Who picks the players to sign? Intelligent posters on here wanted to sign HULK once ffs. If we lose games who gets the sack? If two or three managers fail under the DOF, does the DOF still stay?

I just don’t get the point. Seems like a pointless role for the football manager generation.

Is this literally the most important thing for you in a manager?

 

[Rolandofgilead]

Is this literally the most important thing for you in a manager?

Of course not, but it IS a counter argument for what I was originally told regarding long term managers being finished which adds a need for a DOF.

 

[el3mel]

So, here’s the thing.

I STILL don’t understand the point of a DOF. It seems the modern game is passing me by. Which, is a bit odd really as I watch far more than the average football fan across many, many different countries and competitions. My reading of the game is still as good as it ever was and as such, it doesn’t feel like I’m losing touch.

And yet, I still question the need for a DOF. When I asked previously why we need one I was told that as long term managers were a thing of the past there was now a need for a football man to oversee the transfers and playing style, which makes a certain degree of sense but also makes very little sense at all.

We appointed Ole, who understands the fabric and makeup of the club and this is the kicker, is young enough to lead this club for 20+ years. I’m not saying he should at the moment, just saying he could. So, who then picks the playing style? Does it change from game to game? Would it be the same at Anfield as at home against Plymouth in the FA Cup? Who picks the players to sign? Intelligent posters on here wanted to sign HULK once ffs. If we lose games who gets the sack? If two or three managers fail under the DOF, does the DOF still stay?

I just don’t get the point. Seems like a pointless role for the football manager generation.

The point is getting a Dof who will put a strategy for our transfer business and our upcoming managers which will make us build a foundation that will succeed under whoever gets the job because we will be always targeting certain types of players and wanting certain types of managers that will share nearly the same ideas.

Letting the current manager alone control how the team will be shaped is something that may hurt the upcoming manager if he's of a different style than Ole and didn't like his signings etc. Each new manager will come with his signings that may differ in quality than the previous ones leading to a cluster feck of a squad. Ole isn't going to stay here forever and we don't know if the manager after him will share his ideas or not.

However, having a Dof with certain strategy in building team will always ensure us getting certain category of transfers all the time with the managers either always being suited for it or having to adapt to this strategy rather than each new manager coming with his own strategy to apply.

It makes the manager focus more on coaching the side he has and play the style the club want to rather than having to deal with the entire football side and transfers which I hardly think most big managers do at other clubs with dofs.

 

[Skills]

Of course not, but it IS a counter argument for what I was originally told regarding long term managers being finished which adds a need for a DOF.

So tell me how many long term managers are there in the current game at the moment?

 

[Rolandofgilead]

So tell me how many long term managers are there in the current game at the moment?

Off the top of my head, Eddie Howe at Bournemouth and Chris Hughton at Brighton are both well over 3 years and in no danger.

But that’s irrelevant really because teams and fans (especially ours) are inpatient and always looking for something or someone to blame when results don’t go our way. I think adding a DOF will chill the fan base out a bit but I just think you might as well feck the manager off in this scenario because he becomes essentially pointless.

 

[Skills]

Off the top of my head, Eddie Howe at Bournemouth and Chris Hughton at Brighton are both well over 3 years and in no danger.

But that’s irrelevant really because teams and fans (especially ours) are inpatient and always looking for something or someone to blame when results don’t go our way. I think adding a DOF will chill the fan base out a bit but I just think you might as well feck the manager off in this scenario because he becomes essentially pointless.

No we're not

Literally Real Madrid have gone through more managers just this season than we did post Fergie. Mourinho outlasted Ancelotti - who won the Bundesliga in his first season.This idea is that we're some impatient club is completely insane. In fact, we stick around with poor performing for way too long and up until the point the damage they do is irreversible.

Literally every other club constantly jumps through managers - especially the most successful ones (Bayern, Barcelona, Real Madrid) - yet here we are telling them, they're doing it wrong even though they are more successful than us.

Having a long term job should not be a guarantee for a football manager - and shouldn't even be part of the criteria. He should earn his stripes and the right to manage the club the following season. It's what Howe and Hughton do, but the standard is quite low for them.

Big clubs, expect big things. If you're giving your manager 100s millions to spend, signing players for World Record fees and players in their prime for a lot of money - then the manager needs to win. You can't be calling for the club to sign a 27 year old Koulibaly for 80m, and then be like actually it's alright if you don't actually compete for the top prizes because we're just building for the future. That's stupid.

 

[croadyman]

Hang on. We've had top sporting directors offer themselves to us and we've turned them down?

Woodward & co deserve everything they get.

Because he is a control freak and cannot bear to relinquish power to someone else

 

[Gandalf Greyhame]

So, here’s the thing.

I STILL don’t understand the point of a DOF. It seems the modern game is passing me by. Which, is a bit odd really as I watch far more than the average football fan across many, many different countries and competitions. My reading of the game is still as good as it ever was and as such, it doesn’t feel like I’m losing touch.

And yet, I still question the need for a DOF. When I asked previously why we need one I was told that as long term managers were a thing of the past there was now a need for a football man to oversee the transfers and playing style, which makes a certain degree of sense but also makes very little sense at all.

We appointed Ole, who understands the fabric and makeup of the club and this is the kicker, is young enough to lead this club for 20+ years. I’m not saying he should at the moment, just saying he could. So, who then picks the playing style? Does it change from game to game? Would it be the same at Anfield as at home against Plymouth in the FA Cup? Who picks the players to sign? Intelligent posters on here wanted to sign HULK once ffs. If we lose games who gets the sack? If two or three managers fail under the DOF, does the DOF still stay?

I just don’t get the point. Seems like a pointless role for the football manager generation.

Moyes went for Fellaini, a player obviously not very suited to LVG's Plan A. He also let the old guard and all of United's leadership retire/leave. (along with Wilf Zaha as well iirc)

LVG bought Schweinsteiger, Schneiderlin, Depay who failed to make it here either under him or Mourinho. He also let go of Chicharito, Nani, Di Maria, RvP, Rafael - quite a few of them would have done well under Jose.

Jose himself let go of Januzaj and signed some players who are struggling to make it work under Ole (Bailly).

A DoF will hopefully help us avoid wasting money, time and game time on players belonging to different play styles and make the transitions from manager to manager much smoother. The long term hope is that this setup will help us maintain a consistent play style no matter who the manager is - because the player profiles will already be defined.

 

[iKnowNothing]

Moyes went for Fellaini, a player obviously not very suited to LVG's Plan A. He also let the old guard and all of United's leadership retire/leave. (along with Wilf Zaha as well iirc)

LVG bought Schweinsteiger, Schneiderlin, Depay who failed to make it here either under him or Mourinho. He also let go of Chicharito, Nani, Di Maria, RvP, Rafael - quite a few of them would have done well under Jose.

Jose himself let go of Januzaj and signed some players who are struggling to make it work under Ole (Bailly).

A DoF will hopefully help us avoid wasting money, time and game time on players belonging to different play styles and make the transitions from manager to manager much smoother. The long term hope is that this setup will help us maintain a consistent play style no matter who the manager is - because the player profiles will already be defined.

Here's the thing though - for argument sake, assume that someone like Bailly was signed by a DoF instead of Mou. Now if we see that Ole is struggling to fit Bailly in his tactics etc., then aren't we back at the same position where we started? The only thing that changes is that the player was signed by DoF X instead of Manager Y.

 

[walkinhop]

Consistancy! That is rhe point. Obviously, if u hire the wrong guy he will ne consistantly bad. Still, he will or has to ensure transition periods. Lose a player or another getting too old? Dof will have a list of suitable replacements, suitable in character not only skill. Same with the managers. The point is to avoid lvg into mourinho in terms of stylea clashing

 

[ti vu]

Here's the thing though - for argument sake, assume that someone like Bailly was signed by a DoF instead of Mou. Now if we see that Ole is struggling to fit Bailly in his tactics etc., then aren't we back at the same position where we started? The only thing that changes is that the player was signed by DoF X instead of Manager Y.

DOF is to work with the manager to identify the target. It's not just one person to decide. If the manager (more like head coach) to,leave, DOF would interview, talk to the candidates, evaluates to see whose plan that fits the club vision, with less drastic change in player shuffle.

There would be always failure, players that can't make it. DOF would prevent a wholesale change, whenever a head coach change happens.

 

[Cassidy]

Hang on. We've had top sporting directors offer themselves to us and we've turned them down?

Woodward & co deserve everything they get.

So we should appoint them even if we have identified someone else or they are not the right fit just because they are a name...

 

[Thiagoal]

The point is getting a Dof who will put a strategy for our transfer business and our upcoming managers which will make us build a foundation that will succeed under whoever gets the job because we will be always targeting certain types of players and wanting certain types of managers that will share nearly the same ideas.

Letting the current manager alone control how the team will be shaped is something that may hurt the upcoming manager if he's of a different style than Ole and didn't like his signings etc. Each new manager will come with his signings that may differ in quality than the previous ones leading to a cluster feck of a squad. Ole isn't going to stay here forever and we don't know if the manager after him will share his ideas or not.

However, having a Dof with certain strategy in building team will always ensure us getting certain category of transfers all the time with the managers either always being suited for it or having to adapt to this strategy rather than each new manager coming with his own strategy to apply.

It makes the manager focus more on coaching the side he has and play the style the club want to rather than having to deal with the entire football side and transfers which I hardly think most big managers do at other clubs with dofs.

This director of football nonsense just feels like 'the latest thing' where in reality Ed Woodward should be able to oversee all this!

The point about a 'greater philosophy' being ingrained at the club is nonsense! What happens when the DOF leaves? Surely a new one will bring a new philosophy just as a new manager would!

Our problem has been that Ed has no vision and has appointed managers that were so different in philosophy we were left with a mis-mash of a squad! If we'd appoint managers with similar philosophies to each other then our squad would be far more coherent!

We don't need a DOF we need a CEO that has sense

 

[Jacob]

A DoF can hopefully tell us what kind of football we're trying to achieve. It's a bit hit and miss at the moment. I don't even know what the United way is anymore, maybe it doesn't exist. Might be time for United 2.0.

 

[Revaulx]

This director of football nonsense just feels like 'the latest thing' where in reality Ed Woodward should be able to oversee all this!

The point about a 'greater philosophy' being ingrained at the club is nonsense! What happens when the DOF leaves? Surely a new one will bring a new philosophy just as a new manager would!

Our problem has been that Ed has no vision and has appointed managers that were so different in philosophy we were left with a mis-mash of a squad! If we'd appoint managers with similar philosophies to each other then our squad would be far more coherent!

We don't need a DOF we need a CEO that has sense

A CEO that had sense would appoint top quality senior managers to oversee different sides of the operation. That includes the footballing side.

Edwin is CEO of Ajax. Unlike Ed, he has huge footballing experience. Despite that, he still has a Director of Football working for him.

 

[el3mel]

This director of football nonsense just feels like 'the latest thing' where in reality Ed Woodward should be able to oversee all this!

The point about a 'greater philosophy' being ingrained at the club is nonsense! What happens when the DOF leaves? Surely a new one will bring a new philosophy just as a new manager would!

Our problem has been that Ed has no vision and has appointed managers that were so different in philosophy we were left with a mis-mash of a squad! If we'd appoint managers with similar philosophies to each other then our squad would be far more coherent!

We don't need a DOF we need a CEO that has sense

Dofs don't leave that easily unless they are incompetent in their job. Tixiki has been director of football at Man City since 2012. Stop posting "nothing" at any thing you don't like.

 

[Mark Pawelek]

So, here’s the thing.

I STILL don’t understand the point of a DOF.

Somehow United acquired a whole squad of overpaid squad players not quite good enough to make 4th place in the PL. How did that happen? My guess would be by appointing managers who don't get United. Giving executives who don't get football too much control over player contracts. Living from moment to moment, without long-term strategic plans, without football specialists making the hard decisions on who to buy and sell.
Need a DoF to:

1. oversee actual transfers of players in and out: contracts, communication, agents, etc. It's a lot of paperwork, negotiation, seeing thought agent B-S.
2. oversee pay policy. HTF did get Alexis Sanchez get that contract? Now everyone wants the same as Sanchez; but none of them are good enough. Sanchez is on a Messi or Ronaldo contract. But there are only 2 players in the world who should be on that contract.
3. make sure that all over-19 players from the youth are either injured, out on loan, playing in 1st team or on the bench.
4. Coordinate transfer policy. In every position, United must have 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice player. One of them should be U-21. All 3 should be good enough to play the United Way™. Not the Van Gaal, Moyes, or Mourinho way.
5. Spy on other clubs. Find out what they're doing right and, by implication, what United must do better.
6. Bring in top people in all positions: Medics, scouts, couches, ..

Yes the Manager should tell DoF who to buy and sell; which coaches he wants. Execs in the board-room should have no input into buying players.

PS: I'm just making this up. I am not a football pro., but, ... I guess that goes for 90%+ people who post here.

 

[C'est Moi Cantona]

A DoF can hopefully tell us what kind of football we're trying to achieve. It's a bit hit and miss at the moment. I don't even know what the United way is anymore, maybe it doesn't exist. Might be time for United 2.0.

This is a big concern of mine, perhaps it was just unique to the greatest manager we've ever had, or perhaps it's just been superseded nowadays.

It does seem a bit naive that we are seemingly trying replicate what made us so successful
in a vastly different era, and under a far superior manager and structure.

With no top class DOF guiding us in a direction we need to go in this rapidly evolving football we are seeing others play, in an era more competitive than ever, and us seemingly about to go into another transfer window under the same failed setup, it just so obviously looks destined to fail.

 

[Mark Pawelek]

It does seem a bit naive that we are seemingly trying replicate what made us so successful
in a vastly different era, and under a far superior manager and structure.

With no top class DOF guiding us in a direction we need to go in this rapidly evolving football we are seeing others play, in an era more competitive than ever, and us seemingly about to go into another transfer window under the same failed setup, it just so obviously looks destined to fail.

Noticed there does not seem to be a thread on the United Way. What it is, for every position. For example: do United need full-backs who can hardly defend, never get forward, can hardly cross, etc.? If it's just a myth then why do people talk about it as if it's a thing?

 

[cathari]

Recent comments from Ole in addition to Mike's alleged focus on youth as a key principle at United makes me less desperate for a new director at United for the time being.

 

[ti vu]

Recent comments from Ole in addition to Mike's alleged focus on youth as a key principle at United makes me less desperate for a new director at United for the time being.

Saying is easy. However, it's a huge job to get the first teams doing well, getting the signings for all level right, managing loans, keeping track of unattainable targets at the moment for the future... Ole is still on a learning curve when it comes to this level. Phelan was here all these year, however, this club right now is very different to the one when he left. The club was centered around SAF. Now it centered around Woodward. Even Phelan didn't have experience for this.

 

[JPRouve]

Noticed there does not seem to be a thread on the United Way. What it is, for every position. For example: do United need full-backs who can hardly defend, never get forward, can hardly cross, etc.? If it's just a myth then why do people talk about it as if it's a thing?

The United way is based on having an incredible generation of academy players managed by one of the best manager ever. In reality it's not really a thing because United doesn't have a method to produce top class players on a regular basis and we don't even have a tactical approach that systematically elevates players level like Ajax(who are probably the extreme example of a "way").

Now you can still spot interesting things with United, it's a club that historically plays an adventurous game and relies on its academy to fill the team. To me that's enough, you don't need to have a complete blueprint telling you where all the Xs and Os are supposed to be. United should have an enthusiastic and bold manager but also the best academy in the country which should allow the club to reduce costs at the bottom of the roster and allow to spend relatively big at the top of it and we should be intransigent with that because that's the best way to compete with oil clubs and control our wage bill.

 

[Tincanalley]

This director of football nonsense just feels like 'the latest thing' where in reality Ed Woodward should be able to oversee all this!

The point about a 'greater philosophy' being ingrained at the club is nonsense! What happens when the DOF leaves? Surely a new one will bring a new philosophy just as a new manager would!

Our problem has been that Ed has no vision and has appointed managers that were so different in philosophy we were left with a mis-mash of a squad! If we'd appoint managers with similar philosophies to each other then our squad would be far more coherent!

We don't need a DOF we need a CEO that has sense

Tall order. Ed is the Glazer's best boy. He is truly representative of their values. Weaken Ed's hand by having a DoF and a manager who are mutually supportive? Give him less of a feeling of importance and involvement? Dim the excitement of late night faxing sessions? Chill his inner muppet? Tether him to the boardroom table? Think not.

 

[Wumminator]

Is it a complete coincidence that this director of football post being the most important thing ever coincided with FM adding that feature to the game?

 

[Tincanalley]

- oversee actual transfers of players in and out: contracts, communication, agents, etc. It's a lot of paperwork, negotiation, seeing thought agent B-S.

This would be in tandem with the CEO, who would still control the purse strings...

- oversee pay policy.

Would not think his brief would extend to that... Money matters would be the remit of boardroom

- make sure that all over-19 players from the youth are either injured, out on loan, playing in 1st team or on the bench.

Phil Jones doing quite a good job in this department, imho.

Coordinate transfer policy. In every position, United must have 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice players.

There are assumptions about the United Way in here that are a whole other kettle of fish. But yes, co-ordinate transfer policy would be part of a DoF remit.

Spy on other clubs. Find out what they're doing right and, by implication, what United must do better.

We do this already.

Bring in top people in all positions: Medics, scouts, couches, ..

Sofa Sogood.

Yes the Manager should tell DoF who to buy and sell; which coaches he wants. Execs in the board-room should have no input into buying players.

PS: I'm just making this up. I am not a football pro., but, ... I guess that goes for 90%+ people who post here.

Me too.

 

[JPRouve]

Is it a complete coincidence that this director of football post being the most important thing ever coincided with FM adding that feature to the game?

It has always been one of the most important on the continent. In fact I would say that FM is nowadays simply looking outside of english football because managers aren't really a thing in the rest of Europe.

 

[redsunited]

This director of football nonsense just feels like 'the latest thing' where in reality Ed Woodward should be able to oversee all this!

We don't need a DOF we need a CEO that has sense

The way I see it is DoF is football man where as a CEO is Jack of all trades especially with commercial specialization.
In Woodward's case, he is a success in commercial operations and failure as a football man. He is the sole reason for our current situation. Describing United as a Disney land to Klopp, bad negotiator paying more and getting less for players, not selling players who flopped at right time, extending contracts for undeserving players etc.
Imo, DoF has the task of selecting a manager, transfer players, contract extension etc. We had seen us dithered more often in transfers as different managers were in situations like poor runs, living on borrowed time etc and we missed out on players who were attainable.
Last few months Chelsea bought Christian pulisic from Dortmund, Real Madrid got Eder Militao when their managers were about to be sacked. Those clubs have a system which plays its role regardless of managers. Whereas Woodward will wait for next manager to arrive and decide after assessing the current lot for few months etc.
Also, We have missed on so many players who were on the move for decent money who we could have moved on right time. Kante, Mane, Sane, Fabregas (year after Moyes when he was ready to move), talents who played well against us like Dele Ali from MK Dons, Sanchez and De Ligt from Ajax etc.

 

[Tincanalley]

The way I see it is DoF is football man where as a CEO is Jack of all trades especially with commercial specialization.
In Woodward's case, he is a success in commercial operations and failure as a football man. He is the sole reason for our current situation. Describing United as a Disney land to Klopp, bad negotiator paying more and getting less for players, not selling players who flopped at right time, extending contracts for undeserving players etc.
Imo, DoF has the task of selecting a manager, transfer players, contract extension etc. We had seen us dithered more often in transfers as different managers were in situations like poor runs, living on borrowed time etc and we missed out on players who were attainable.
Last few months Chelsea bought Christian pulisic from Dortmund, Real Madrid got Eder Militao when their managers were about to be sacked. Those clubs have a system which plays its role regardless of managers. Whereas Woodward will wait for next manager to arrive and decide after assessing the current lot for few months etc.
Also, We have missed on so many players who were on the move for decent money who we could have moved on right time. Kante, Mane, Sane, Fabregas (year after Moyes when he was ready to move), talents who played well against us like Dele Ali from MK Dons, Sanchez and De Ligt from Ajax etc.

All fine and good @redsunited - but is it realistic to expect Ed to give up this much influence? Who brought up the DOF idea, I wonder?

 

[sullydnl]

Is it a complete coincidence that this director of football post being the most important thing ever coincided with FM adding that feature to the game?

Other way around, I'd imagine. A DOF set up seems to be the standard in top European clubs for the last decade at least. Power moving from the manager was hardly ideal from FM maker's point of view though. Including DOFs was just them finally catching up with the way football clubs are generally run now, which makes our set up look even more old fashioned if anything.

 

[JPRouve]

No Woodward isn't the sole reason for our current situation, in fact you could easily argue that he is an other victim of a larger issue.

In essence it's easy to spot the problem, under SAF the club was SAF, he was in charge of everything at the exception of budgeting. This is a stupid setup and the fact that it worked during SAF's tenure shouldn't hide the fact that it's stupid because anything can happen from death, illness to even boredom and the unique person in charge disappears, that's an extremely risky setup. Now what happened is that in 2013 SAF suddenly retired, the club that was built by him and for him had no time or opportunity to restructure itself and even worse the CEO, the main man in charge of budgeting and taking care of the other operations also left.

That's the problem and the reason for our current situation, a club not ready for transition was suddenly put in transition. And then we made all the mistakes that people make when they panic, we looked at short term fixes instead of playing the long game.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

No Woodward isn't the sole reason for our current situation, in fact you could easily argue that he is an other victim of a larger issue.

In essence it's easy to spot the problem, under SAF the club was SAF, he was in charge of everything at the exception of budgeting. This is a stupid setup and the fact that it worked during SAF's tenure shouldn't hide the fact that it's stupid because anything can happen from death, illness to even boredom and the unique person in charge disappears, that's an extremely risky setup. Now what happened is that in 2013 SAF suddenly retired, the club that was built by him and for him had no time or opportunity to restructure itself and even worse the CEO, the main man in charge of budgeting and taking care of the other operations also left.

That's the problem and the reason for our current situation, a club not ready for transition was suddenly put in transition. And then we made all the mistakes that people make when they panic, we looked at short term fixes instead of playing the long game.

In hindsight SAF should've been involved not in selecting his successor, but in selecting a DoF to work with him for his final season or two and taking the club forward from there.

As you say, selecting his successor himself and then Gill handing over everything to Woodward was a terrible idea and I personally feel a little sorry for Woodward and the stick he gets. That said, now is the time to correct that so any sympathy I have towards him will vanish if he doesn't make the right moves before the Summer.

 

[Smores]

The idea that Ole is going to be a fantastic coach taking us to titles is optimistic enough as it is but some of you are against a DoF because you feel Ole will also be excellent at acquiring the talent we need?

Neither view has evidence to back it up beyond red tinted specs and putting both responsibilities on Ole is a fecking terrible and risky strategy. It's also not fair to Ole he should be given support.

 

[RasTiaGba]

I seen a news article, which seemed to be a quote from a former Man Utd head of recruitment.

Saying that (in previous years) Utd had loads of reports on De Ligt and De Jong but opted for other players instead.

Source: FourFourTwo / Manhester Evening News

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.fourfourtwo.com/news/manchester-uniteds-former-recruitment-head-criticises-club-letting-brilliant-dutch-pair-slip?_format=amp

We really need to tighten up, these two players could be the next Puyol and Xavi of Barca and we let them slip through the net

 

[JPRouve]

In hindsight SAF should've been involved not in selecting his successor, but in selecting a DoF to work with him for his final season or two and taking the club forward from there.

As you say, selecting his successor himself and then Gill handing over everything to Woodward was a terrible idea and I personally feel a little sorry for Woodward and the stick he gets. That said, now is the time to correct that so any sympathy I have towards him will vanish if he doesn't make the right moves before the Summer.

He should have been involved in selecting the DOF and he should have groomed him too, that's where I believe the owners and the board failed miserably and that's on Gill and Glazers.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

He should have been involved in selecting the DOF and he should have groomed him too, that's where I believe the owners and the board failed miserably and that's on Gill and Glazers.

I think the issue there was that SAF never had a DOF;trusting instead his relationship with Gill and Woody. The former worked well but I’m not convinced the latter did with Fergie.
He did come with that school of thought along with Wenger that the coach/manager has all the say in who comes in etc.
It can work well as with Rangnick at Leipzig who does both jobs. However the Glazers put far too much faith in the outgoing manager to move this club forward plus they themselves should have been planning long term. They had to know that he was going.
You’re right, the chaotic situation is down to them

 

[Johan07]

The idea that Ole is going to be a fantastic coach taking us to titles is optimistic enough as it is but some of you are against a DoF because you feel Ole will also be excellent at acquiring the talent we need?

Neither view has evidence to back it up beyond red tinted specs and putting both responsibilities on Ole is a fecking terrible and risky strategy. It's also not fair to Ole he should be given support.

Yep, its not black and white this.
We should be aware of that we have spent a large, large amount of money on expanding our scouting network from being pretty much non-existent under SAF to being a similar size to the other big clubs in Europe now.
Same with the youth setup that was lagging behind the other English clubs way, way too much during the last part of the SAF-era.
There is so much unfounded criticism of the Glazers and Woodward on this forum and others, when they actually have spent a lot of money on the squad making it the most well paid in the PL, but also spent a lot of money on the infrastructure of the club; the scouting network and the academy being the two most important.
Which was absolutely critical and it did not come cheap. They should get some credit for this. For some reason this does not seem like money invested/spent in the mind of United-fans.
The next step is to get the football side of the club working together.
To employ a dictator like Mourinho when you have just started to finish the makeover of the club was the worst decision ever made by the club and set us back two or three years. Hopefully this will be different under OGS and he will be able to take advantage of what is not such a stoneage club anymore on the footballing side as well.
I dont think we are so far behind tbh, the most important changes in the club have already been made. A DoF or technical director might help but its not going to make such a big difference that people in this thread think.

 

[giorno]

Of course not, but it IS a counter argument for what I was originally told regarding long term managers being finished which adds a need for a DOF.

You don't really need one. It's about how the ownership or the people in charge want the club to be run. People are desperate for one here because of United's recent managerial failures and the fact that nearly every big club around is run with a DoF

 

[Adnan]

Steve Bates is reporting that Phelan wants the DoF role..

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/man-utds-mike-phelan-aiming-14440099

 

[Sterling Archer]

The title change ...