What about Ji Sung Park, Wes Brown or John O'Shea? We've so many options. Oh and Tomas Kuschzak. Or Dong. What's David May at? I'd personally like to see Djemba x2 get the nod.
Man Utd set to appoint Director of Football (when hell freezes over)
- Thread starter RedMachine03
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I get peoples concerns, but surely I'm not the only one who doesnt hate this idea? He's got a big presence and quite charismatic. You'd think when it comes to the charm offensive and negotiations, he'd make a perfect sporting director. People are not going to roll over Rio, be it agents, opposition board members, or Ed Woodward etc. He'll speak his mind and tell you what we should be getting. If we were to go for a sporting director who is a former player, he'd be the best choice. Better than anyone from the Class of 92.
The names keep getting worse as the time goes on. We were talking about experienced Dofs at the start of the thread. Now we're talking about shoehorning ex player in it. Great.
At this point I’m really past caring. For the first time in my life I feel so distant from the club. Rio would target the right kind of players though at least.
Nothing about this new role is transparent, it’s impossible to know what the role will even entail at this point.
Plus we never hear from Woody, so I doubt we will ever hear from a DoF, Which only adds to the mystery.
But at least the fans can moan about someone other than the Manager, Players and Woody.
Plus we never hear from Woody, so I doubt we will ever hear from a DoF, Which only adds to the mystery.
But at least the fans can moan about someone other than the Manager, Players and Woody.
If Rio gets the job at least that'll guarantee us Sancho, I'd much prefer him over Phelan.
What about Paddy Crerand? Just promote him from MUTV.
Hopefully he'll do some behind the scenes videos during the pre season tour like he used to for Mutv. Only this time it's banter with the recruitment team whatever it is.
Given his patent lack of experience in comparable roles and the fact he current holds an ambassadorial and mentorship role in a football agency which leads to him wildly overstating the ability of any player represented by them, he seems the obvious candidate for the job.
I would like this simply for him to add bonus practical jokes by using unsuspecting players, managers and chairman
Daniel Levy for once in his life getting merked on a transfer
Or
Rio goes to a player and deliberately messes up a transfer only to reveal it's all a joke.
"Neymar, you're actually not signing for 400 million, you just got merked!! Look there's a camera"
Daniel Levy for once in his life getting merked on a transfer
Or
Rio goes to a player and deliberately messes up a transfer only to reveal it's all a joke.
"Neymar, you're actually not signing for 400 million, you just got merked!! Look there's a camera"
Him and his staff reportedly said Isco is not a match winner and too indirect. Considering the team we had and our style at the time. They was right.
I love how a former captain (in one of our most successful teams with players who shit all over our current lot) who shows extremely good leadership qualities and can identify the requisite standards of a manchester united player, who is well known for his football intelligence and has done extremely well on his own outside of football, is suddenly unqualified for the role.
I bet VDS was unqualified for the role at PSV when he started too, yet here they are.
I bet VDS was unqualified for the role at PSV when he started too, yet here they are.
Rio does seem an interesting option as DOF, he gets Manchester United, is popular, well respected and I believe he would be able to identify good young prospects who would fit the squad.
I think he could really sell United to players who are ready to step up to the next level. The more I think about it the more it intrigues me.... Food for thought?
I think he could really sell United to players who are ready to step up to the next level. The more I think about it the more it intrigues me.... Food for thought?
Same here. I literally giggle watching us play these days. So many basics done wrong, poor passing, poor crossing, ashley young and poor finishing.
You was doing so well. It’s Ajax mate and yes your points still valid except we have to talk about Marc Overmars who is there director.
Anyway.. Rio actually seems to have clue what’s going on with footballers of today. Would be perfect for the role and a good career move for him. I hope it’s true. He won’t be influenced by the 92 class and he knows exactly the mental state required to win trophies here.
All for Rio ! He is English and understands the club .
Yeah, results could take time and he will grow with experience. That's fine with me as long as he can advice to sign Sanchos and not Bales
Yeah, results could take time and he will grow with experience. That's fine with me as long as he can advice to sign Sanchos and not Bales
I actually think Rio would be a great choice. Not your typical choice. As @Mainoldo put, he has a clue about modern day footballers, knows what it takes to win. But he is also a good judge of players based on his punditry. He’s respected within the footballing community in England and beyond. You can see he’s still got the social savvy that he’s able to engage with modern day footballers. See his relationships with people like Ronaldo etc.
What else, he did run that 5 magazine business whilst he was a player. Not a club, but it shows he’s got some sort of acumen and capability of managing people. He’ll need this in the role.
I wouldn’t feel underwhelmed if he came on board.
What else, he did run that 5 magazine business whilst he was a player. Not a club, but it shows he’s got some sort of acumen and capability of managing people. He’ll need this in the role.
I wouldn’t feel underwhelmed if he came on board.
People are seriously underestimating Rio Ferdinand. He is a very sharp guy, and very driven. Has exactly the right mentality, and is a mentor figure to younger players. He had his uefa B badges back in 2014 when he was still playing, and I think has his UEFA A now. He is very well connected, and critically understands not only the MUFC ethos, but also modern player culture very well. I think he'd be a good addition. His articles, interviews and punditry indicate he'd have us targeting the sort of players we are all clamouring for.
Wasn't it Rio who came out and said Newcastle fans should be thanking Mike Ashley?
I love the guy, but I don't think I'd want him as our DOF, the glazers would like him though with comments like that.
I love the guy, but I don't think I'd want him as our DOF, the glazers would like him though with comments like that.
yeah if we go down the former player route I wouldn't hate it - along with VDS
my preference would be someone with a proven track record though
Neymar : curses in Brazillian
Wouldn't want Rio anywhere near the club, this is the guy who took the piss after forgetting to take a piss, and who pissed on David Moyes's chips before he'd even had time to get his feet under the table at Old Trafford.
VDS is both?
They signed Kagawa after this?
yeah, would prefer him to Rio for that reason
would still rather someone with actual DOF experience, but I am clueless about who is the best out there tbh
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The phrase "he understands the club" seriously needs to be banned ffs
The club is understood by him.
First one to bring Sancho on board gets the job.
On 31 July 2017, Salihamidžić was appointed Sporting Director of Bayern Munich. Salihamidžić signed a three-year contract until 30 June 2020. Bayern's Chairman, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said, "In Hasan, we have brought a man to FC Bayern who knows the club very well. He is a very hard-working, serious, loyal and very alert person with great integrity and he speaks five languages. His time in Italy means he has a great network that will definitely be very helpful in his job. We have complete confidence that he will be able to do the job as he should do."[14]
In February 2005, Overmars became a shareholder of Go Ahead Eagles.[145] Two months later, he joined the club's supervisory board to deal with technical matters. Hans de Vroome, chairman of Go Ahead Eagles, said he was "more than satisfied" with Overmars' arrival, adding, "The board needs someone with a solid football background."[145]
In 2011, Overmars took up a position as youth coach of Ajax for one day per week.[146] At the end of the 2011–12 season, Overmars left his post at Go Ahead Eagles. He said, "I have been active on a voluntary basis at the club for seven years. That's a big time in my life."[147] The club's disappointing league form "accelerated" his decision.[147]
Overmars became director of football at Ajax in June 2012.[148]
It's not like the Sporting Directors of Bayern or Ajax have awesome experience. People constantly assuming experience elsewhere will make us do well, even after years of that being shown to be wrong at our club.
In February 2005, Overmars became a shareholder of Go Ahead Eagles.[145] Two months later, he joined the club's supervisory board to deal with technical matters. Hans de Vroome, chairman of Go Ahead Eagles, said he was "more than satisfied" with Overmars' arrival, adding, "The board needs someone with a solid football background."[145]
In 2011, Overmars took up a position as youth coach of Ajax for one day per week.[146] At the end of the 2011–12 season, Overmars left his post at Go Ahead Eagles. He said, "I have been active on a voluntary basis at the club for seven years. That's a big time in my life."[147] The club's disappointing league form "accelerated" his decision.[147]
Overmars became director of football at Ajax in June 2012.[148]
It's not like the Sporting Directors of Bayern or Ajax have awesome experience. People constantly assuming experience elsewhere will make us do well, even after years of that being shown to be wrong at our club.
Open election for DOF, Real Madrid style with campaigns and pressers.
The Glazers could milk this for a few extra million in profits.
I would like if rio was involved tbh. He has a charismatic personality which could help in negotiations, he has a business mind, he basically told Fergie to sign Ronaldo and he knows good players and what United need.
Yeah. People talk like that as if it's enough qualification for any job at the club. I am sure there are many fans too who understand the club but that doesn't make them qualified to be a Dof or a manager.
It's a bonus but it shouldn't be the first thing that jumps to your mind when a name is chosen.
For the case of Bayern, compare Rummenigge and Hoeness to Woodward. Consider that they can be afforded the luxury of appointing a relatively inexperienced individual at Sporting Director because of the wealth of experience in the organization both below that individual and, just as importantly, above that individual.
For the case of Ajax, again consider how long they've been operating with the organizational structure they currently have. The job of a DoF is not a new concept to them, and they have enough stability in place around the individual to be able to account for the lack of experience.
Now consider the role here. This position has never formally existed before. This person would be working with a relatively new coaching staff, a Frankenstein's monster group of players assembled by 4 managers previous to our existing one, and he'd have Matt Judge and Ed Woodward (2 former consultants and investment bankers by trade) as his superiors. Add in the ridiculous expectations of the job and two surging competitors in City and now Liverpool that we're expected to compete with. There is no nurturing bosom here to ease someone with no experience. Realistically, unless this person is hired to be a paper tiger, this person is going to be tasked with building up a structure from the ground up. That's why people want experience. For a position that's this challenging, with the lack of organizational structure currently in place, having experience with the job is sort of helpful. If that person wants to hire someone like Rio or Scholes or Phelan to work under them because of their institutional knowledge, that would make much more sense.
Hiring people with experience reduces the risk of failure, and that is why they cost more. Just because sometimes experienced people fail or inexperienced people succeed, doesn't change that.
Even in your example of Overmars, we're talking about a guy with decades of experience in professional football in numerous countries and at international level, along with experience of working at Ajax before.
Well, does Woody understand the club given the decisions he has overseen. He understands the owners and dividends and sponsors.
Boy, do we need someone with a backbone that understands football. Let's face it, Glazers and Woody and possible Judge don't. All have a business background, can't see any improvement while Woody has the reins, just not a football person. It's been said enough, if this was a company in the sense he runs it, as CEO he would be gone after the results he has overseen.
You are the weakest link, goodbye !!!
Rio, if you're reading, please compile the following transfers:
Sancho: 70M
De Ligt: 70M
Saul: 70M
Wan-Bissaka: 25M
Alderweireld: 25M
Rabiot: 0M
Please sell:
Jones: 35M
Rojo: 25M
Valencia: 0M (end of contract)
Net expenditure: 200M (which is our transfer budget or thereabouts).
Sancho: 70M
De Ligt: 70M
Saul: 70M
Wan-Bissaka: 25M
Alderweireld: 25M
Rabiot: 0M
Please sell:
Jones: 35M
Rojo: 25M
Valencia: 0M (end of contract)
Net expenditure: 200M (which is our transfer budget or thereabouts).
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