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

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Ducker Says Rio is connected to some sports agency? Means he would have the ‘contacts’ that people on here are adamant a DoF would need, he’s also a very charismatic and recognisable figure who would genuinely have Uniteds best football interests at heart.

Don’t understand how us copying the Model of Ajax/Liverpool/Bayern is being received so badly. People just want to criticise everything united do atm, I would see no difference in us hiring Rio to Ajax hiring Overmars or even VDS but because it’s us we’re ‘Finished’
Yeah I'm warming to the idea. Sounds like there are different roles in the pipeline and Phelan wouldn't be in charge of transfers.

I've no problem with appointing ex-players and coaches to oversee the transfer side, but they should have recent experience and not be wedded to a 'what would Fergie do' approach.
 
If the club is planning on having a committee, then it wouldn't be a bad thing. They wouldn't be leaving it all in one person's hands, which is probably better. I only wish they would have at least one experienced outsider to add to Fletcher and Rio (assuming they get roles).
 
If the club is planning on having a committee, then it wouldn't be a bad thing. They wouldn't be leaving it all in one person's hands, which is probably better. I only wish they would have at least one experienced outsider to add to Fletcher and Rio (assuming they get roles).
Yep, agree 100%. Should be a balance between ex-players and outsiders.
 
Yep, agree 100%. Should be a balance between ex-players and outsiders.
Same should be for the coaching staff. Ole needs a lot of good technical people around him. Nothing wrong with that. The more the merrier. Pep has a huge back room staff even though he has all the experience and honours.
 
Ducker Says Rio is connected to some sports agency? Means he would have the ‘contacts’ that people on here are adamant a DoF would need, he’s also a very charismatic and recognisable figure who would genuinely have Uniteds best football interests at heart.

Don’t understand how us copying the Model of Ajax/Liverpool/Bayern is being received so badly. People just want to criticise everything united do atm, I would see no difference in us hiring Rio to Ajax hiring Overmars or even VDS but because it’s us we’re ‘Finished’
I like the looks of it being a committee thing. Phelan, Rio and Fletcher it looks like. The same people will be dealing with contracts - which is a plus as they have experience and a negative because they are fecking shit.
 
I actually love the idea of getting Ferdinand involved, he's modern, charismatic, and he was one of the best defenders around in his day, teams like Bayern and Ajax have hired like this, as someone said above it's no different to Ajax hiring Overmars or VDS. That hasn't worked out too badly for them has it. I also like the idea of a committee as well, more so than 1 individual actually, the thought of Mike Phelan being the sole Technical Director is harrowing...
 
Sporting commitee makes a lot of sense as a step forward from the bs managing that we're having at the moment. Ole is not the one to take a lot of big picture desitions, his role should be solely on developing tactics that suit the squad hes got at his disposal, and managing the characters in the dressing room. As for the coaching stuff I agree it should be the best profesionals out there, i dont see why would they not work here if she sporting managments takes a new direction. Obviously this area needs improving asap
 
Is Rio the kind of personality who’d serve as a sporting director? Usually the low profile, studious ex players are usually the ones who end up in roles like that and coaching and are the best at it. I get why the likes of Fletch being a technical director and Phelan, but Rio strikes me as the guy who’d fancy a new challenge every once in a while, being master of his own destiny, rather than be stuck long term doing something.
 
Is Rio the kind of personality who’d serve as a sporting director? Usually the low profile, studious ex players are usually the ones who end up in roles like that and coaching and are the best at it. I get why the likes of Fletch being a technical director and Phelan, but Rio strikes me as the guy who’d fancy a new challenge every once in a while, being master of his own destiny, rather than be stuck long term doing something.
Yeah just like he left United after 12 years in search of a new challenge
 
Looks like a committee of Phelan, Fletcher & Rio with Ed signing the cheques

I’d be happy with that arrangement. Phelan the first team overseer, Fletch the young talent spotter, Rio the sales pitcher and Ed the money man. We need a committee of heads with the size of Utd.
 
Phelan, Rio and Fletch,
Is maybe a bit of a stretch,
But throw in the money man Ed,
Its a perfect 4 in a bed!

Now we all would like at least five or six,
For us fans that's the perfect fix,
While your at it get rid of the shit,
so Ole can prove he's got it!
 
How many layers of management do we need to put in place, we already have a General Board of Directors, a Management Board of Directors, some people believe we have a Advisory Board of Directors with no voting power, none of these levels appears to be able to form a clear and coherent long term player, manager plan to take the club forward, so why do people think that adding a committee level will make any difference.
What we need is not a committee, but a single person who should be tasked with the responsibility of identifying the future playing concept, recruitment of players and coaching staff which will once again bring long term footballing success to the club.
I would look for a DOF, outside ex or present members of Manchester United, because we need some one who will look at our problems afresh as an outsider with no pre conceived ideas.
I am of that age where I remember the appointment of Wilf and ( No disrespect in terminology intended ) the second coming of Sir Matt, neither of which were very successful. Appointing former players into senior management positions is not always the receipt for success, you only need to look at past former members of this club who have gone into coaching and management who have been a success at a high level, you can count them on one hand. Perhaps the exception to this are those who are involved in Salford Utd, but only time will tell if that continues.
 
Behave he's thick as pig shit, this is the guy who had been at Old Trafford for years and was doing a documentary about his time at United, he was being filmed in his car on the route he took from his home to the training ground every single morning and yet he twice managed to get lost, and intelligent people don't forget to take a drug test.

Nah, not having that.

Rio's a bright guy. Watch him during the World Cup as a pundit, he's not a fecking idiot, he's intelligent.

But he's not a DoF ffs.
 
How many layers of management do we need to put in place, we already have a General Board of Directors, a Management Board of Directors, some people believe we have a Advisory Board of Directors with no voting power, none of these levels appears to be able to form a clear and coherent long term player, manager plan to take the club forward, so why do people think that adding a committee level will make any difference.
What we need is not a committee, but a single person who should be tasked with the responsibility of identifying the future playing concept, recruitment of players and coaching staff which will once again bring long term footballing success to the club.
I would look for a DOF, outside ex or present members of Manchester United, because we need some one who will look at our problems afresh as an outsider with no pre conceived ideas.
I am of that age where I remember the appointment of Wilf and ( No disrespect in terminology intended ) the second coming of Sir Matt, neither of which were very successful. Appointing former players into senior management positions is not always the receipt for success, you only need to look at past former members of this club who have gone into coaching and management who have been a success at a high level, you can count them on one hand. Perhaps the exception to this are those who are involved in Salford Utd, but only time will tell if that continues.

How do you explain Barca, Ajax, Bayern currently? Filled with ex players?

You say it’s all wrong so the way to fix it is to now restructure but add one new guy? What’s the difference? It would still be a restructure. From the names been mentioned there’s no class of 92 or past legends. It’s club affiliates who currently know the ‘new world’ football.
 
Again on the idea of a committee and Phelan, as a player he was a in fill player never commanded a full time place to the extent that he on two occasions failed to meet the requirements to be awarded a title winners medal. Look in depth at his management and coaching credentials since leaving Utd., and it is not impressive. In fact reading his resume of his previous employment, I would say that his appointment was made on the fact that he was a coach under SAF., and not what he achieved after he left the club. I do not think that he is a coach who has the skills to take the coaching side to the next level.
 
I know there's a lot of clamouring for Paul Mitchell, and this in no way besmirches his credentials for the role, but have you seen his darn Linkedin page?



It reads like a soon-to-be-graduate going for his first job post uni!
:nervous::nervous:

Hopefully, Paul just didn't update his page for a decade or so.
 
How do you explain Barca, Ajax, Bayern currently? Filled with ex players?

You say it’s all wrong so the way to fix it is to now restructure but add one new guy? What’s the difference? It would still be a restructure. From the names been mentioned there’s no class of 92 or past legends. It’s club affiliates who currently know the ‘new world’ football.
What I am saying that I have seen this club go done the road of appointing to management former player(s) and bringing back a previous very successful manager but that did not work. I do not think in the present structure of the club forming another committee will work from a responsibility point of view, I prefer a single person who takes full responsibility for his or hers actions and results. With regard to the managerial success of previous UTd., players I do stand by my point that they a few and far between.
 
I don't know why I do this to myself, but I'm actually quite excited at the idea of Ferdinand's being brought on in this capacity!
 
Having a football board of Rio Phelan and Fletcher, wouldnt be bad, who knows if it will work? Ajax took a gamble with VDS and Overmars, now look at the result!
 
In the short term, I think it would be a good appointment. It would be a reminder of the current players of what winning trophies is like and the levels they are expected to achieve every season -- and not about the number of followers on social feckin media.
 
What I am saying that I have seen this club go done the road of appointing to management former player(s) and bringing back a previous very successful manager but that did not work. I do not think in the present structure of the club forming another committee will work from a responsibility point of view, I prefer a single person who takes full responsibility for his or hers actions and results. With regard to the managerial success of previous UTd., players I do stand by my point that they a few and far between.

#MUGA
 
I hope We'll appoint someone to sign transfer cheques too. Let Ed handle sponsorship deals in China (and steal his ID + passport).

My concern is, Ed is the only executive in this club, so.. all these Dof speculations do not quite matter after all.
 
Woodward's hit that stride now where literally every single decision is the shittest, dullest, most uninspiring it could be...

It's almost got a dreamlike quality to it.

I wonder who the 'transfer help' will be...?

Phil Neville's already employed so that rules him out... hmm maybe that Jimmy fella that Moyes brought in?

Kinda like a double act, Phelan and Jimmy.

It's absolutely amazing, when you're hot, you're hot!
 
Let's get this straight:

  • We have the Molde manager with little top flight football managerial experience incharge.
  • His assistant will be a rookie who recently joined the coaching staff.
  • First coach will be a guy who jumped straight from managing the U18's this season.
  • Technical director will be a guy who failed as a manager after he left Sir Alex's shadow & was managing operations at some obscure club in Australia
  • Another will be a rookie who is a pundit and a "business mogul".
  • The sporting director will be another ex-player who experience is playing with us and for Stoke.
All have been related to us in some capacity as coaches and players but don't have any significant experience in the roles they would be occupying. What could possibly go wrong?
 
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Until Ed is the final decision maker regarding footballing matters and transfers nothing will change. Ideally we should be appointing VDS as CEO and Paul Mitchell as Head of Recruitment, with Rio and Fletcher as his advisors / team members. Woodward should be sent back to the role of Director of Marketing.
 
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Until and unless Ed is the final decision maker regarding footballing matters and transfers nothing will change. Ideally we should be appointing VDS as CEO and Paul Mitchell as Head of Recruitment, with Rio and Fletcher as his advisors / team members. Woodward should be sent back to the role of Director of Marketing.

Eddie is our Perez and he is going nowhere. The best we can hope for is recruitment of a good team that can define the vision of the club and hire players and other staff based on that vision.
 
Nah, not having that.

Rio's a bright guy. Watch him during the World Cup as a pundit, he's not a fecking idiot, he's intelligent.

But he's not a DoF ffs.

Thick as pig shit was a bit harsh, but he's definitely dippy and forgetful, he'd even admit that himself. I just can't think of anybody less suitable for the job now Mr Bean has ruled himself out of the running.
 
Ducker Says Rio is connected to some sports agency? Means he would have the ‘contacts’ that people on here are adamant a DoF would need, he’s also a very charismatic and recognisable figure who would genuinely have Uniteds best football interests at heart.

Don’t understand how us copying the Model of Ajax/Liverpool/Bayern is being received so badly. People just want to criticise everything united do atm, I would see no difference in us hiring Rio to Ajax hiring Overmars or even VDS but because it’s us we’re ‘Finished’
The caf for you mate, can't please them all. I like the idea, those 3 mentioned will do their homework on the players properly and won't be pushed to making 'superstar' signings just because their a big name.
 
Until and unless Ed is the final decision maker regarding footballing matters and transfers nothing will change. Ideally we should be appointing VDS as CEO and Paul Mitchell as Head of Recruitment, with Rio and Fletcher as his advisors / team members. Woodward should be sent back to the role of Director of Marketing.

So the guy that signed of Bastian, Zlatan and Matic is going to now ruin decisions made by Rio and Fletcher I.e.? History says otherwise but obviously as usual it just get overlooked when it comes to Ed for some reason. Too much listening to Full time devils.
 
Looks like a committee of Phelan, Fletcher & Rio with Ed signing the cheques

The Telegraph actually says that Jim Lawlor and Marcel Bout will be a part of the committee. I'm okay with that to be honest. Both of them are experienced scouts.
 
The Telegraph actually says that Jim Lawlor and Marcel Bout will be a part of the committee. I'm okay with that to be honest. Both of them are experienced scouts.
At least we are making an effort to get things right in the transfer department. Whatever players these guys come up with can't be worse than our signings in the last 6 years.
 
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