Man Utd set to appoint Director of Football (when hell freezes over)
- Thread starter RedMachine03
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I wonder what exactly remains in Ole's managerial CV if you remove Molde and Cardiff out? Maybe his record since joining us as a permanent manager?
Whats this for a twitter-post? To speak of "longevity and knowledge" and then come up with Brazzo at Bayern as the first example? He is there for some month, but this is enough that everyone in and outside the club (except Hoeness) shakes their head about how clueless he is. Hoeness installed him, obviously to still have power and something to say, Brazzo is his speech-puppet and have no ideas or knowledge in anything related to the job and such a low charisma its ridiculous, which was comedy-like illustrated in the famous press-conference some weeks ago.
The other examples may be true, but this Bayern example does't fit. Nobody could have less "longevity and knowledge" than him.
Doesn't mean you're right either...
Out of curiosity, what was your opinion? I didn't see an opinion, I just saw negative bullshit.
It's a sound argument but I'm still not sure.
very true. His role is distinctively different from other directors, Hoeneß and Rummenigge are pulling all the strings. Salihamidzic is just a puppet and that's by design. No idea why he was mentioned in that tweet.
Ajax and Barca is a better example.
Keep going Devlish, keep going
This.
I’m not exactly sure how extensive Phelans footballing knowledge is around the world but having Ed in charge has not worked one bit.
The only reservation I have about our whole set up at the minute is that Phelan and Ole will play youth just because they’re our products and not based on ability. Hopefully they can help our youth players blossom whilst finding a balance of signing some world class players. Ole needs a transfer season at least before we write them off.
The appointment smells of promoting from within but we need some serious investment if we are going to catch City.
Keep going Devlish, keep going
Im just asking mate.
My only worry is that DOF seems to be a young man job, so when you have someone in his late 50s with little experience of the job, you can have doubts.
Apart from his job with us Phelan has been no 2 at Norwich, Blackpool, Stockport and Hull City. His only job as technical director was in some third rated Australian team. So I guess his football knowledge around the world is pretty pretty limited.
Man City are the benchmark in the PL right now. What did they do we they were hiring their DOF? They raided Barcelona for their staff.
That i don't see much changing at the club. That Phelan will have very little power and the Ed will still have control over everything. Ed needs to be removed from all footballing decisions.
Salihamidzic was 40 when Bayern appointed him sporting director. Abidal was 38. Zorc was 36. Overmars was 39.
Begiristain was 39 when Barcelona made him director of football and City only hired him in his 50s as a way to bring Guardiola to the club.
The point is these successful appointments tend to be younger men with fresh ideas who can change up the direction of a club stuck in the past. This is exactly what United need and what the 37 year old Mitchell at Lepizig could have offered us. No disrespect to Phelan but he's in his late 50s and has been with United since 1999. Just like bringing the 62 year old Sbragia back to coach our u23s this would be a regressive, backward looking, jobs for the boys appointment that only serves to highlight United's refusal to move with the times.
I don't mind Phelan but feels like the club is looking back too much. They've had a year to look supposedly and even had Ribalta at the club and this is their decision? As long as Ed holds all the power its a meaningless position though.
They didn't actually raid Barcelona, Soriano left in 2009 and Begiristain left with Laporta in 2010, they were both without job when City brought them in 2012. It's a nice PR move from City to pretend that they raided Barcelona though.
See how easy it is stating an actual opinion. Now we can have a discussion.
Phelan's role (if appointed) will be to act as a bridge between board and manager. Enabling continuity and also providing a base for a continued cultural structure. Yes, Woodward needs to be removed from footballing decisions but this is aimed at doing that isn't it?
It does seem like we aren’t modernising and moving with the times. Might be a bit unfair to write him off straight away though but we are so behind that I don’t think we can wait another year or two before we see if he is capable. Our competitors are getting better and better whilst we stagnate.
I’m on the fence with this idea really.
Great post. It's vitally important to note the existing structure at those clubs compared to the lack of one at this club.
I don’t mind Phelan as a DOF appointment. What concerns me is that we will make Carrick a number 2. I think Ole needs someone stronger in that number 2 role. Carrick is still learning his trade as a coach.
Pre Ajax Overmars was technical director at Go Ahead Eagles (Dutch first division) for about 6/7 years (2005 - 2012).
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I wish Queiroz were available right now. Ticks the "knows the club" box along with being competent at identifying players who'd work well in the team. I think he would understand what the team needs, and I'd trust him to formulate our long-term footballing strategy, setting up the right framework for Ole and his successor/s to work in. Also I would expect that the man SAF described as a "Rottweiler" would know how to instil discipline in our system.
It’s funny that we all have extremely little knowledge of what Mike Phelans actual football knowledge is, so we all assume he’s not a modern thinker. If he interviewed well and has a plan, then I’d be happy if he was the first to give it a go - seeing it as it’s a new role for us. Someone coming from outside would be a risk as well, they may step on toes, they may end up being shit. Someone in around the current conversations at the club will be an important advantage.
People worried about his ability or knowledge and yet he’s been in football most of his life and yet 95% of this place thinks they know better. Sounds about right.
Whoever is brought in will still answer to Ed. Ed will not be out of the picture. He’ll still just become another piece of the puzzle that confers with head scouts, the manager etc.
What are people expecting this DoF to do exactly. What ever it is, it’s going to take time. I believe our finishing position this year will have a bigger effect than a DoF.
Whoever is brought in will still answer to Ed. Ed will not be out of the picture. He’ll still just become another piece of the puzzle that confers with head scouts, the manager etc.
What are people expecting this DoF to do exactly. What ever it is, it’s going to take time. I believe our finishing position this year will have a bigger effect than a DoF.
No, it's not this. No one here is saying they know more about football than Mike. People are saying he doesn't have anywhere near the experience or track record to be in such a position at such a critical stage for this club.
This is definitely the part that i'm not sure about. It seems like he has an ego and would like to be seen as someone who reshaped the way Utd are run. I don't think the commercial side is for him anymore. We don't really know the specifics of his role yet. Will be interesting to see what comes of it. I just have zero faith in anything that involves Woodward at this point. Six years of failure and poor planning. Maybe things will change but i won't get my hopes up.
Because they’d already worked fir years with Pep. Big difference
Depends, what kind of responsibilities and freedom does Phelan actually get ?
Who is commissioned to supervise (and overrule) his position ? Woodward ?
What is the role of the Ole/First team manager ? What's his say in transfers ?
Currently and for years the entire Board of Directors and day to day management is made out of people with a non-football background. Which is pretty incredible. It's all finance/commercially driven.
https://ir.manutd.com/corporate-governance/board-of-directors.aspx
https://ir.manutd.com/corporate-governance/management.aspx
Man.United should do more to re-arrange it's structure. For example with a supervisory board which includes people with football know-how, who can support and supervise the technical director. Giving long term answers on short term questions (or vice versa) like what's the vision of club, what football do we actually want to play, what players and coaching staff fits that vision. For instance managers like Moyes, LvG and Mourinho are completely diff. What's the thought behind it ?
Football first than the money and commercial side will automatically follow. But I doubt the Glazers will want to give (some of) their influence away.
No news, but for now it all seems a bit hit and miss for United.
According to the experts on here we might as well give up being a male football team and concentrate on the women. When Ole was winning we were all behind him, getting rid of Mourinho was the right thing. Now it seems that it only appeared that way because most are against it and some now wished Mourinho was still here. Everybody was crying out for a DOF and now it seems its Phelan then its not such a good idea. FFS lets at least give them a full season before we slag them off before they really start. Ole said the players aint fit enough they need to do more running in games and that only can be built up over a pre season not odd days between matches. He said some players aint good enough and will be gone. Let him and Phelan assess whats needed and judge the this time next year, and if we are 5th/6th again,but there is a marked improvement on the pitch, then lets give them at least another season before the boo boys start saying they should be sacked.
Some people actually want the club to do well rather than spouting top red bollocks.
Very strange appointment if it happens. Mike Phelan was a director in Australia a few months ago yet we are supposed to believe he was the best choice? It stinks of an appointment of convenience, because Woodward still wants to pitch Adult Disneyland to potential managers and Judge wants to plan the player contracts. So they'll take the assistant manager, give him a new title and he'll do the same job anyway.
What was wrong with keeping him in the coaching setup and getting some fresh eyes in?
What was wrong with keeping him in the coaching setup and getting some fresh eyes in?
Sorry but what on earth is a 'United player' ? Can you explain for those who aren't familiar?
No, of course not. It's just naive, romantic shite isn't it.
Also stop comparing us to Ajax.
Overmars has years to implement all his work and the budget was non existent. You can take risks when your biggest signing is for £16m and that was off us too.
We don’t have years unless we wanna go more backwards whilst our rivals leapfrog us. We already been in the doldrums for years. We need someone with experience eye for spotting talent. We give them a bigger budget than they ever had before.
We need to sign young players who can have a impact on the first team immediately not in five or six years.
Overmars has years to implement all his work and the budget was non existent. You can take risks when your biggest signing is for £16m and that was off us too.
We don’t have years unless we wanna go more backwards whilst our rivals leapfrog us. We already been in the doldrums for years. We need someone with experience eye for spotting talent. We give them a bigger budget than they ever had before.
We need to sign young players who can have a impact on the first team immediately not in five or six years.
It seems to me, that both of these decisions (giving Ole full-time job and potentially giving Phelan DOF job) are rash, and the board hasn't spent any time planning for the future since sacking of Mourinho. I also think this complete lack of planning is going to show in the summer, when we will try to get new signings.
jobs for the boys
The risk taking seems to be more applicable to United situation given the erratic spending on players for too much money.
By the way Overmars didn't have years, Overmars didn't invent it either.
Did VDS have any experience when he took over at Ajax?( Using him as an example because everyone seems to want him)
At least he knows the club and might know what is needed.
Dunno, I feel that any appointment has the same degree of risk, experience or not.
And what did Barca do when hiring his replacement?
Jesus chill out it was a turn of phrase to imply he knows the quality required to play for United
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