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

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That's why I don't believe the idea that the managers weren't the main driving force, there are too many ex players and players they were linked with in the past.

Yeah. Plenty of talented players all around the world and manager shouldn't narrow it down to players they know and worked with. Hopefully with rumored transfer committee, this will change.
 
Scoffed when I read about Darren Fletcher being brought in, but he was on Radio 5 last night, and I was quite impressed with him.

Unlike every other pundit on BBC, he seemed to actually know a lot about all the Barca players rather than just the "stars", and was quite insightful about the mistakes Liverpool had made with the first goal.
 
I would have Phelan as the main director. Having him dealing with how the club should be run as a football club. Having the overview on management, coaches, nutritionists and all the other appointments that’s has to do with the footballing side. Tour preparations and other stuff.

Then I’d take in Rio to deal with transfers and player contracts. He and the manager has the control on how the club should go forward on the football pitch. What players we should be looking for. Deciding what profile of being a player for this club should be. He would be the new face for this club. Instead of seeing Woodward’s face zoomed in on the tv during a match it will be Rio’s.

Then Fletcher. Just because I like him. Head scout should fit him.
 
Good options for United DoF are: Phil Mitchell now at Leipzig; Luís Campos (ex Monaco Sporting Director).

If we want to build a structure from scratch and completely rebuild the squad, then Campos is the guy.
If only minar changes are needed both in squad and structure, then Mitchell might be the guy.

Personally, would go for Campos all day. His experience and previous successes at Monaco and Lille is what we need at this club.
 
I still feel, despite our hopes of structural changes, Rio, Fletcher et al, that Ed will somehow fvck this up
 
If we want to build a structure from scratch and completely rebuild the squad, then Campos is the guy.
If only minar changes are needed both in squad and structure, then Mitchell might be the guy.

Personally, would go for Campos all day. His experience and previous successes at Monaco and Lille is what we need at this club.

Agreed. His proven ability to build excellent squads and unearth young gems makes him exactly the type of candidate we would go for if we were serious about arresting this slide into mediocrity.
 
If this Rio thing is true then Woodward is being smart, very smart. He knows that the top reds won't turn against their own while he's concurrently punishing his worst critics (ex the rest of the class of 92) by stripping them from the chance of coming to work at United. I only wished we focused less in these sort of politics and more on how to bring in the team back on top. This squad is the weakest I've ever seen and if Rio/Fletcher's appointments come true then we'll have amateurs from CEO level right to the coaching staff (Woodward, Rio as DOF, Butt as head of youths, Ole and Carrick as no 2). That's a hell of a train wreck if you ask me.
 
Agreed. His proven ability to build excellent squads and unearth young gems makes him exactly the type of candidate we would go for if we were serious about arresting this slide into mediocrity.

It's based on volume and opportunity, he is perfect for clubs like Monaco or Lille but he would have to change his approach for a club like United.
 
It's based on volume and opportunity, he is perfect for clubs like Monaco or Lille but he would have to change his approach for a club like United.

In terms of talent and mentality we're not that far off.
 
It's based on volume and opportunity, he is perfect for clubs like Monaco or Lille but he would have to change his approach for a club like United.

Exactly. That's why appointing technical director or DoF is tricky, what works for one club maynot work at other club as the expectations, requirements and even the network is different.
 
This will be third page now that I've to reiterate that all the rumors suggest that this will be a transfer committee rather than a person working individually.
 
Let’s hire Prince William instead then. Grow up, this isn’t the 90’s with your articulate. England is very very multicultural in this day and age. Who’s not going to like his lingo? The Spanish?

He should not get the job because he has no experience in that role. You have completely washed over my other points as to why he should not get the job. What has England being multi-cultural got to do with any of my points?
 
It's based on volume and opportunity, he is perfect for clubs like Monaco or Lille but he would have to change his approach for a club like United.

I agree that he has a high volume in arrivals and departures, but this might be due to him completely rebuilding the squad, and thus it makes sense having a high volume of transfers in the first transferwindows. What we need him to do is: Create a recruitementstructure and rebuild the squad(high number of transfers needed) so that we can actually argue that this squad can challenge for something with 2/3 key additions.
Identifying top talents like Felix and Sancho is something everyone can do, same with top players in their peak.
What not everyone can do, at least not at this club, is to identify other players that may suit a squad and negotiate good deals and contracts --> Something Campos and his teams seems to excel at.
He also seems to be able to create a recruitementstructure (Lille and Monaco), the teams he works at seems to improve, he investigates the targets personality as this is as important as their abilities.

The reality is that the squad/club/structure are far far off anything resembling a title challenge, and we are going to rebuild from scratch.
Only way we are going to attract top players now is to give them stupid wages, and top players wanting to win something will stay far away from our club as it currently is. And we already have enough of these overpaid players in the squad.
 
Is that a good idea however.

It's a better idea than to give all the power to one person. They're looking for Marcel Bout, Lawlor to complete the committee.
 
This will be third page now that I've to reiterate that all the rumors suggest that this will be a transfer committee rather than a person working individually.

I think most of us agree that a DoF would work with the manager and scouts to identify targets and together agree on transfers. He would not be a dictator, doing as he likes.

Is that a good idea however.

All depends on what the goal is, and who is in the committee.
 
This will be third page now that I've to reiterate that all the rumors suggest that this will be a transfer committee rather than a person working individually.
A committee would be good if it was a small group, say 3 or 4 of them. It seems like this committee will be around 6 people if the rumours are to be believed (Rio, Vida, Fletch, Marcel Bout, Lawlor, Phelan?). The more people you add the more indecision there is and there is a good chance of groupthink.
 
He should not get the job because he has no experience in that role. You have completely washed over my other points as to why he should not get the job. What has England being multi-cultural got to do with any of my points?

Who told you he has no experience you don’t even know what the job role requires. I see people on here telling me about VDS degree like that means experience. So what experience does he actually require?
 
A committee would be good if it was a small group, say 3 or 4 of them. It seems like this committee will be around 6 people if the rumours are to be believed (Rio, Vida, Fletch, Marcel Bout, Lawlor, Phelan?). The more people you add the more indecision there is and there is a good chance of groupthink.

No the rumors have been that one of Rio, Vida, Phelan would be appointed rather than all of them.
 
I agree that he has a high volume in arrivals and departures, but this might be due to him completely rebuilding the squad, and thus it makes sense having a high volume of transfers in the first transferwindows. What we need him to do is: Create a recruitementstructure and rebuild the squad(high number of transfers needed) so that we can actually argue that this squad can challenge for something with 2/3 key additions.
Identifying top talents like Felix and Sancho is something everyone can do, same with top players in their peak.
What not everyone can do, at least not at this club, is to identify other players that may suit a squad and negotiate good deals and contracts --> Something Campos and his teams seems to excel at.
He also seems to be able to create a recruitementstructure (Lille and Monaco), the teams he works at seems to improve, he investigates the targets personality as this is as important as their abilities.

The reality is that the squad/club/structure are far far off anything resembling a title challenge, and we are going to rebuild from scratch.
Only way we are going to attract top players now is to give them stupid wages, and top players wanting to win something will stay far away from our club as it currently is. And we already have enough of these overpaid players in the squad.

No, it's due to the type of players that he goes after, players with potential and very little experience that can only reach a good level with time and lots of good coaching. Also he doesn't build structures, he joined Monaco as a novice in that role and the club already had a structure, what he brings is a very large network with the backing of Gestifute(Mendes) and he obviously is a very good scout.
 
It's a better idea than to give all the power to one person. They're looking for Marcel Bout, Lawlor to complete the committee.

Didn't Liverpool have a much critizied transfer committee pre Klopp? Full of people with Liverpool connections having an odd evaluation of players?

I could be wrong but I seem to recall some scrutiny on the general policy when they constantly bought shite talent like Adam and Carrol etc.

I just hope we don't do the same when we look at players. Even Adam and Carrol seemed like potentially good players at the time but damn did they flop..
 
No the rumors have been that one of Rio, Vida, Phelan would be appointed rather than all of them.

To be honest, I would love all 3 of them to be on that committee.

A committee of Rio, Vida, Bout, Phelan would be nice. Ole would need to get a new assistant though. I think Ole needs an experienced head beside him, not Carrick. Maybe bring back Meulensteen as his assistant.
 
A committee would be good if it was a small group, say 3 or 4 of them. It seems like this committee will be around 6 people if the rumours are to be believed (Rio, Vida, Fletch, Marcel Bout, Lawlor, Phelan?). The more people you add the more indecision there is and there is a good chance of groupthink.

I doubt there will be so much people. The final view will probably be Ole and another once the committee design there list.
 
To be honest, I would love all 3 of them to be on that committee.

A committee of Rio, Vida, Bout, Phelan would be nice. Ole would need to get a new assistant though. I think Ole needs an experienced head beside him, not Carrick. Maybe bring back Meulensteen as his assistant.

I actually wouldn’t want Rene.
 
Who told you he has no experience you don’t even know what the job role requires. I see people on here telling me about VDS degree like that means experience. So what experience does he actually require?

He's never been a director a football. His former job roles are being an ex footballer, a pundit and selling some hats with the number 5 on them. I know his previous background, he has done NOTHING to qualify him for the job.

If you want to research what a director of football does type into google 'what is a director of football?'. You're asking me what a DOF does when you clearly have no idea yourself.
 
He's never been a director a football. His former job roles are being an ex footballer, a pundit and selling some hats with the number 5 on them. I know his previous background, he has done NOTHING to qualify him for the job.

If you want to research what a director of football does type into google 'what is a director of football?'. You're asking me what a DOF does when you clearly have no idea yourself.

Would all be a good argument if he was actually being interviewed for DoF. Maybe read through the thread before commenting on Rio next time. But I can’t remember many new managers having manager experience before getting a job? Just putting it out there. This is football, it works abit different to your everyday job.
 
Let’s hire Prince William instead then. Grow up, this isn’t the 90’s with your articulate. England is very very multicultural in this day and age. Who’s not going to like his lingo? The Spanish?
What does England being multicultural have to do with being articulate or not? speaking well isn't ethnicity related! I'm not sure if Rio is the best candidate but can it get any worse than the last 6 years? Doubt it
 
What does England being multicultural have to do with being articulate or not? speaking well isn't ethnicity related! I'm not sure if Rio is the best candidate but can it get any worse than the last 6 years? Doubt it

Well you have to ask @Josep Dowling where he got his views from. I can’t explain it for him. I don’t know what articulate speech is when referring to Rio Ferdinand, like he’s going to treat the job as a football Big Narstie show. So let him explain as I might have got the wrong end of his actual point.
 
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Well you have to ask @Josep Dowling where he got his views from. I can’t explain it for him. I don’t know what articulate speech is and how it refers to Rio Ferdinand. So let him explain as I might have got the wrong end of his actual point.
I guess @Josep Dowling means Rio is too cockney & common sounding to be the man to negotiate contracts and transfer fee's. But then you said England is multicultural so it doesn't matter. Then I said how do the two relate? England has every race under the sun but that doesn't mean we should hire a bunch of rough sounding, slang talking nutters. This is Man United not Del Boy's market stall :lol:.
 
No, it's due to the type of players that he goes after, players with potential and very little experience that can only reach a good level with time and lots of good coaching. Also he doesn't build structures, he joined Monaco as a novice in that role and the club already had a structure, what he brings is a very large network with the backing of Gestifute(Mendes) and he obviously is a very good scout.

At Lille this is understandable as they are not flushed with cash. At Monaco, they experienced that the wild expenditure during the owners first years was not sustainable, hence the shift in going for cheaper and lesser known players but under the correct coaching could turn out be become good, and with the (assumed) hunger to want to improve and work to become good.
He was new to the role at Monaco yes, but he worked as an analyst for JM at RM, worked as a manager and coach etc. So had a good foundation for how to evaluate players, understanding the role of the manager etc.
He is good at spotting talents, seems to be able to achieve good deals and contracts for the players he buys and his approach to identifying players seems to work well.
If he had the resources that our club have, he might change his approach somewhat.

The reason why we would benefit from appointing him are the fact that he seems to understand how to build a squad, how to negotiate contracts and transfers without getting fleeced, despite a small samplesize (Monaco and Lille) what he does seems to work, he values the personality of the players (something we need to do), he got experience and a good trackrecord as a DoF.

If you have not read this article already on Campos, then you should. Not saying that he will be the saviour of this club, but he seems to fit into what we need.
http://breakingthelines.com/manager...-footballs-most-underrated-sporting-director/
 
In terms of talent and mentality we're not that far off.

Indeed. The squad needs a complete re-tooling and has done for 6 years now. We simply don't have the expertise at the club to carry it through. Failure followed by more failure. We are at least as far away from where we need to be now, as when Moyes was fired, as he said himself this morning:

“I feel that since I took over to where they are just now... I don’t think there’s an awful lot of difference.
When I took over it was needing a change and needing a turnaround of players, and that was all going to take time.

I feel like in the four years or so since I was managing there, it’s probably not moved on much more. It’s quite similar, they’re still saying there needs to be changes and has to be things done.

That time since I felt hasn’t been used awfully well.”

https://talksport.com/football/536522/manchester-united-progress-david-moyes-tells-talksport/
 
I guess @Josep Dowling means Rio is too cockney & common sounding to be the man to negotiate contracts and transfer fee's. But then you said England is multicultural so it doesn't matter. Then I said how do the two relate? England has every race under the sun but that doesn't mean we should hire a bunch of rough sounding, slang talking nutters. This is Man United not Del Boy's market stall :lol:.

Like I said Old Trafford isn’t going to now turn into the Big Narstie show with man shouting Yo Geezer, bro we getting De Ligt or wat?

Sign the contract gee your getting bare p compared to what dem man originally tried offer man. I know Barca want you but hear what I’ve managed to get you a yard with jacuzzi n cinema and I know I man that can get WiFi free for the year.

Is this what people are scared of? I don’t get it.

I said multi cultural as as a society we all know how to communicate compared to in the past. You don’t need to be of a different class to know how to present yourself. It was a silly point as far as I was concerned.
 
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.

Someone with scouting experience you would assume would be a good fit for the role, but also you don't know if they can handle the "vision" and "planning" part the role requires. It is all well and good being able to spot a good player, but if a player can't fit the system it is pointless.
 
At Lille this is understandable as they are not flushed with cash. At Monaco, they experienced that the wild expenditure during the owners first years was not sustainable, hence the shift in going for cheaper and lesser known players but under the correct coaching could turn out be become good, and with the (assumed) hunger to want to improve and work to become good.
He was new to the role at Monaco yes, but he worked as an analyst for JM at RM, worked as a manager and coach etc. So had a good foundation for how to evaluate players, understanding the role of the manager etc.
He is good at spotting talents, seems to be able to achieve good deals and contracts for the players he buys and his approach to identifying players seems to work well.
If he had the resources that our club have, he might change his approach somewhat.

The reason why we would benefit from appointing him are the fact that he seems to understand how to build a squad, how to negotiate contracts and transfers without getting fleeced, despite a small samplesize (Monaco and Lille) what he does seems to work, he values the personality of the players (something we need to do), he got experience and a good trackrecord as a DoF.

If you have not read this article already on Campos, then you should. Not saying that he will be the saviour of this club, but he seems to fit into what we need.
http://breakingthelines.com/manager...-footballs-most-underrated-sporting-director/

I'm not telling you this just like that, I have always followed Monaco very closely and I saw all his work. Also he doesn't negotiate contracts or transfers, he didn't do it for Monaco and he doesn't do it for Lille either. At Moanco it was Vasilyev job and Mendes would be sometimes used as intermediary. Something else, he isn't the one who decided to go with young and cheap players but the club, it was due to FFP issues and a deal with the UEFA.
 
Rio Ferdinand and Darren Fletcher makes sense as members in a committee. That’s my take of it.

The benefits with a committee who’s working together with DoF is obvious and the club needs more people in charge who are connected to all levels inside the club. Some of them has the right kind of diplomatic skills, others don’t

Rio is one of those characters who are well liked wherever he goes. Well spoken and well dressed, good social skills, cool, impressive CV as a player, entrepreneur skills, a multi culture background. Almost tailor made for this kind of role. I can easily see him on a permanent basis dealing with agents, talking to players, visiting high profile games, being an ambassador and a spokesman of the club when it comes to sports related things.

The same with Darren Fletcher. Well spoken and a ex player who handle himself with respect and dignity. Darren seems to have some sorts of authority aura around him. He’s a guy who says what he means and mean what he says. A younger version of Sir Bobby. The club needs these kind of people at the top who can handle the responsibility the right way and are decisive enough to make difficult decisions.

Edward Woodward has recently lost most of his credibility so we need new faces representing our club. Solskjaer should concentrate on his squad and game day related things. His focus should be about next game, nothing else. And from my perspective he don’t have the self confidence and the right swagger to handle the political game of this magnitude. Sir Alex was in a different league when it comes to authority but he had his age and the results who helped him.


Together with these two and the manager it should be someone with experience of organization and business structure, someone who’s familiar with dealing with agents, other clubs, and the financial part of handling a squad full of rich young players. A DoF should be more of a administrator then our public face.

If was in charge I would also consult a Mino Raiola type of agent to help with tricky negotiations when necessary. All sorts of skills and wisdoms helps when unreal sums of money is involved. (I know Raiola isn’t a favorite on this place).

We need new blood. A new structure. Whatever we do that don’t include Woodward is a step forward,
 
I'm not telling you this just like that, I have always followed Monaco very closely and I saw all his work. Also he doesn't negotiate contracts or transfers, he didn't do it for Monaco and he doesn't do it for Lille either. At Moanco it was Vasilyev job and Mendes would be sometimes used as intermediary. Something else, he isn't the one who decided to go with young and cheap players but the club, it was due to FFP issues and a deal with the UEFA.

Fair point. Monacos way to tax wages also certainly helps when negotiating wages. I do not follow Ligue 1 closely, and will not say that i now how enough on how they operate(d) and who does/did what part of the recruitement/transfers.
What i can say, is that having a background as a manager, coach, scout and as an analyst is helpful when being a DoF.

Do you think that Campos would be a good solution for the club as a DoF? Where he is tasked with rebuilding the squad within a 3 year period ending up with a team able to compete, creating a recruitementstructure that works and creating a strategy for how we should come back to the top.
Or would you rather have the club end up with a transfer/recruitementcommittee consisting of the people rumored to be appointed in the media. And this committee are going to achieve the same?
 
I still feel, despite our hopes of structural changes, Rio, Fletcher et al, that Ed will somehow fvck this up
Even if Woodward does change the structure (by no means guaranteed), the last 6 baffling years of mis-management make me dubious about the results. This is a guy who took The Hilton and turned it into Fawlty Towers. Why would anyone have any faith in him at this point?
 
Even if Woodward does change the structure (by no means guaranteed), the last 6 baffling years of mis-management make me dubious about the results. This is a guy who took The Hilton and turned it into Fawlty Towers. Why would anyone have any faith in him at this point?

The sooner it gets really bad, the sooner the increasing value of football and PL are not enough to offset the detoriation the club is experiencing --> Selling the club.
 
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