The absolute state of this club. Do they actually not understand what's at stake here? We keep falling behind because of the absolute shambles that is Ed Woodward/other decision makers. Are they actually so blind to the shite 'solutions' that they come up with? Why not go for someone experienced in this position and who knows how to do good work instead of promoting from within and continuing on with the nonsense that has been the last 6 years?
Man Utd set to appoint Director of Football (when hell freezes over)
- Thread starter RedMachine03
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Nobody has experience of being a DOF until they get that job. What VDS has is a reputation as a footballer if we go in for players.
To be honest, if VDS never played for us in his career, would anybody still want him as DoF? Phelan played for us as football and coaching for a decade yet nobody wants him as DOF.
I recall Schmeichel applying for DOF, everyone is completely against due to his lack of experience in that role, he has a reputation in as a footballer as much as VDS, if not much better than VDS.
If they were offered a job, maybe they are enough good, who knows? But we won't know until they take a job and see how it went in a few years from the time they started working as DOF.
Many of the most successful Directors of Football have been promoted from within and many who move between clubs aren't able to replicate that success elsewhere.
I also think it's really important that whoever is in charge of recruitment focuses on the character of the players. Changing the culture of the club is one of the keys of this regime.
That said, a key for this appointment should have been a savvy operator in the transfer market with industry contacts and relationships with all of the top agents. It's extremely unlikely Phelan will have that.
He really is an unknown quantity in the role. The Central Coast Mariners will be lucky to exist in a couple of years' time so that experience counts for nothing. But, at least there is now someone in the role who won't treat player recruitment and retention as an inconvenience.
It shows what a terrible state the club is in that for such a pivotal role in the future of the club, I see it as an unexpected positive that they've got somebody in the role because it's an improvement on nobody.
I also think it's really important that whoever is in charge of recruitment focuses on the character of the players. Changing the culture of the club is one of the keys of this regime.
That said, a key for this appointment should have been a savvy operator in the transfer market with industry contacts and relationships with all of the top agents. It's extremely unlikely Phelan will have that.
He really is an unknown quantity in the role. The Central Coast Mariners will be lucky to exist in a couple of years' time so that experience counts for nothing. But, at least there is now someone in the role who won't treat player recruitment and retention as an inconvenience.
It shows what a terrible state the club is in that for such a pivotal role in the future of the club, I see it as an unexpected positive that they've got somebody in the role because it's an improvement on nobody.
In the case of VDS I think it’s due to Ajax’s recent success. With Phelan, I think it comes down to him being needed on the bench. If he becomes DOF, will Ole and Carrick be good enough without Phelan? We know both get United and what it’s about but what does Carrick actually bring in terms of tactics, selections, and in general, football brains? I honestly don’t know. He did not seem to have much influence with Jose, or did he? (Queue conspiracy theme)
Schmeichel? No idea what he does these days.
Don't know if you guys noticed that Mislintat is now the new DOF of Stuttgart. Another good possibility gone. Rhetoric question: can somebody tell me what your board and Woodward is doing all day long?
Counting their money.
Kluivert had a reputation as a footballer but was a total disaster as a DOF. The thing is that it's an actual job that requires actual competences, if you take people like Rangnick and Campos they don't really have reputations as players but they happen to be very competent DOFs because they have all the other skills in terms of management, organizational skills and ability to network. These are the things that you need to target not the reputation in a totally different capacity.
I agree - Ajax, Dortmund, Bayern etc all promote from within the club so that's not a major big deal. Most DOF work closely with the head of recruitment or head scouting so there is always going to be input from someone else, they don't make decisions soley by themselves.
Soon they're going to have a lot more time on their hands.
We're going to have to pray that Phelan has something we've never heard of or seen to be a technical director or God help us. We need someone with great vision and contacts. If it's true we're going for a 'British' core I hope they understand that it needs to be players with talent and the right mentality, not chosen just because they are British. This worries me. You should be going after the players with the right attributes regardless of where they're from.
From the outside this looks a real limited appointment. I hope I'm wrong.
From the outside this looks a real limited appointment. I hope I'm wrong.
I think it's more of a Fergie power move. All of a sudden we've got a lot of 'Fergie's' men in key positions at the club so guess who gets more of a say about the way things go?
I don't think Fergie has anything with the whole situation.
Of course it's not that simplistic they would go just for British for the sake of it.
Ole's record ever since he became permanent manager has been horrible. So what do we do? We give his right hand's man a promotion in a job he never worked in (apart from at some mickey mouse club). That's survival of the best for all of you
Quite right!
Brian Marwood is the football administrator at City, and is highly thought of.
The DOF is Begeristain.
Not every appointment has to be some sort of household name. Having said that, it remains a bit of speculation for the moment.
Is that down to the appointment though? Was it some sort of Sword of Damocles hanging over his neck so that as soon as it was announced the players suddenly decided to play crap?
Yes. But to be more precise: this doesn't evolve out of nowhere. For example at Dortmund since this season Kehl is a "second" DoF, being between the squad/the dressing room and Zorc (DoF). Its an open secret that he will climb the ladder and take Zorcs position when Zorc climbes the ladder and will be CEO (when Watzke retires). So there is plan behind, teaching and learning for all the important people who have something to say in the Club. And Dortmunds buying new players was and will always be the result of different people: Head of recruitment, the DoF, now Kehl in addition, and the CEO (Watzke) working together, Sammer as an counseler "outside the club" is another person who have something to say in all these things.
Or another example, the mentioned Mislintat above: He was a scout, then head of recruitment at Dortmund, now climbes the ladder and is hired as the DoF at Stuttgart. Which i think is a great move from them, and all the footballworld here in Germany says this is a coup from Stuttgart, very clever.
Of course not. Having employed a headhunting firm to look into it, I doubt they suddenly said, 'feck the rest, let's go British!'
That's not the point. You don't give a promotion to an administration that is failing. That's silly.
Regarding Ole let not forget that this same guy was out of depth at feckin Cardiff. Not Real, not Barcelona, not even Spurs or Everton. Cardiff.
If we keep bringing up past failures at every juncture then no one would have a job. The Cardiff appointment was premature, it wasn't what was needed there when Warnock is their type and always has been.
Maybe he wouldn't have failed at Everton. rememeber they have a guy who the fans have been saying was out of his depth, sacked at Watford etc.
Only time will tell if it's the wrong appointment. For the moment he has the backing of the club
Ole as manager, Phelan as DOF, we're backtracking regarding transfers and we're keeping players past their time. All point at the club not willing to force any new administration into new expensive commitments . I wouldn't be surprised if the club is on sale.
Ah so what did he do afterwards? Ah yes he managed that amateur team in Norway. That kind of justify his place with us
This guy is so green he pisses grass
This has to be one of the worst run elite clubs in sports.
Even Bayern have a convicted criminal in charge of them and are run better.
Even Bayern have a convicted criminal in charge of them and are run better.
This is a really good point - people here dont seem to understand the role of the DOF. The bolded is what a good structure looks like, imo it shouldn't be one person making all the decisions.
it’s not going to happen and whatever happens after this will be just about pleasing the fans or just a panic change.
If there was any actual plan, we would have had one by now.
If there was any actual plan, we would have had one by now.
This is a leap in logic. How do you know that’s why he’s been a success? Could it not also be down to his intelligence and football acumen ?
Ever heard of Inter and AC Milan.
Ok perhaps I should of said got the job because he was immersed in Ajax? As far as I’m aware he hadn’t been a DOF anywhere else?
We’re desperate for a DoF to direct transfer business instead of Woody. Look at our recent major signings (since summer 2017) compared to City and Liverpool.
Us -
Lindelof - decent but no Van Dijk / Laporte
Lukaku - not top level, struggles to get in the team
Matic - past his best
Sanchez - expensive flop, past his best
Fred - doesn’t seem to be suited to the PL
Dalot - too early to say, promising
City -
B.Silva - one of the best players in the league
Ederson - one of the best GKs in the league
Walker - one of the best fullbacks in the league
Mendy - one of the best fullbacks in the league
Laporte - one of the best CBS in the league
Mahrez - good squad player
Liverpool -
Robertson- one of the best fullbacks in the league
Oxlade-Chamberlain - was looking good before his injury
Salah - one of the best players in the league
Van Dijk - one of the best players in the league
Fabinho - looks the part so far
Keita - too early to say, promising
Shaqiri- useful squad player
Allison - one of the best GKs in the league
City's signings and, even more so, Liverpool's have hugely improved their squads whereas ours have hardly moved us on.
Us -
Lindelof - decent but no Van Dijk / Laporte
Lukaku - not top level, struggles to get in the team
Matic - past his best
Sanchez - expensive flop, past his best
Fred - doesn’t seem to be suited to the PL
Dalot - too early to say, promising
City -
B.Silva - one of the best players in the league
Ederson - one of the best GKs in the league
Walker - one of the best fullbacks in the league
Mendy - one of the best fullbacks in the league
Laporte - one of the best CBS in the league
Mahrez - good squad player
Liverpool -
Robertson- one of the best fullbacks in the league
Oxlade-Chamberlain - was looking good before his injury
Salah - one of the best players in the league
Van Dijk - one of the best players in the league
Fabinho - looks the part so far
Keita - too early to say, promising
Shaqiri- useful squad player
Allison - one of the best GKs in the league
City's signings and, even more so, Liverpool's have hugely improved their squads whereas ours have hardly moved us on.
I dont know about that. As soon as the Glazers see profits decreasing in a projection report they will sell and for a huge profit, so no matter what Ed and the Glazers will be laughing all the way to the bank
feck that is depressing to look at
If this was going to be sorted for this summer, it would have been done by now. In other words, we're set for another summer window orchestrated by Ed.
As long as Ed Woodward is pulling the strings of this club we won't be a success on the pitch. He is incapable of relinquishing any control over the operation of the club, which is what a good Football Directorial appointment would entail. If we do appoint one, they will almost certainly be under the command of Woodward.
And the worst thing is, it's not really Ed Woodward's fault. He's just the man-on-the-ground for the Glazers who want us to be a money-making juggernaut. Which we are!
Face it, until the Glazers move on, we are not going to be seriously competing anytime soon.
As long as Ed Woodward is pulling the strings of this club we won't be a success on the pitch. He is incapable of relinquishing any control over the operation of the club, which is what a good Football Directorial appointment would entail. If we do appoint one, they will almost certainly be under the command of Woodward.
And the worst thing is, it's not really Ed Woodward's fault. He's just the man-on-the-ground for the Glazers who want us to be a money-making juggernaut. Which we are!
Face it, until the Glazers move on, we are not going to be seriously competing anytime soon.
That's an interesting list because it screams Mourinho, I'm not trying to bash him because at the exception of Lukaku I had no particular issues with the transfers. But you have two players that he managed, two that were said to come from his portuguese connections and then you have Sanchez and Fred who both fit his criteria of experience and being busy players.
This.
We have basically had Matt Judge in this position for five years now even if 99 procent of the Caf still thinks Woodward is involved in negotiating contracts. He has all of those contacts by now.
I think Judge might very well get the job. Or be "re-branded" to technical director to appease the masses. Its not that much of a difference to what he is already doing.
There is still too many forces at the club that wants most of the power of footballing decisions needs to remain with the manager.
If he's been effectively doing the role for 5 years, he deserves to be sacked rather than promoted.
Anyone involved in player recruitment and squad management at United currently should be ashamed.
Lady and gentlemen, they want one of Fergie's dinosaur to be in charge of the modernization of Manchester United.
Fantastic. How can one man be this incompetent? A clown with a dice would make better decisions than Ed Woodward. It's like he's deliberately trying to destroy club from inside.
Fantastic. How can one man be this incompetent? A clown with a dice would make better decisions than Ed Woodward. It's like he's deliberately trying to destroy club from inside.
this club 
I am sorry, but this is such a lazy and ignorent statement.
We did not have a scouting system setup when the great man retired. Thats on him. Even Moyes was shocked by the lack of it. If one should give him any credit for anything its for recognising that. Which was not difficult tbf.
The youth setup was in shambles as well
We have spent a lot of money and five years to rebuild these two things to be on the same level as other top European cliubs. Something the Glazers and Woodward will of course never get credit for because it does not immediately effect our results. But it was fecking necessary more than anything else.
This is two of the major reasons why we are were we are today. You dont build a world-wide scouting setup over one or two years though. And you cant expect effect from it at once either because of the pure nature of that work.
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