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

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Camilo said:
The squad deserved 2nd. The way we play as a team didn't. Our squad shouldn't have been 20 points back. Jose underachieved.
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That's a very bizarre way of looking at things. The reason we were 19 points behind City is not because we underachieved but because they got 100 points, which is the EPLs new record and entirely out of our control. The league winner's average points over the last 10 seasons is 86.8. We got 81.

If Mou had finished within 5 points of City we would have been +20 points ahead of Liverpool and Tottenham, 30+ points from Arsenal. To flip the argument of points around, you think his squad was that much better than those teams that he should be finishing 20 or 30 points ahead of them? Cause if you think that, I can't really take you seriously.

The only competition he underachieved in was the CL. We played terribly and got knocked out by Sevilla. We finished 2nd in the league and made the cup final. Domestically he did not underachieve for his squad.
 
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11101 said:
@simonhch Quieroz would be my pick too. He was behind Ferguson's last great team, he's been with Iran a long time and the actual managerial thing probably hasn't quite worked out as he hoped it would.

I wonder if Ferguson himself would be interested.
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The role would involve lots of travelling surely? I'd imagine it's the last thing his doctors would recommend, plus spending too much time away from his wife was a big factor in retiring in the first place.
 
0161_UNITED said:
Ah. I just remembered there being some noise that there was no way Tuchel was an option for Arsenal because he fell out with their DOF previously.

I suppose my only point is that I suspect some on here think we’ll get someone like a Monchi and it’s a magic bullet to heal all that ails. For example, both Aston Villa and Everton sacked DOFs this season. My only point is we should at least consider that a DOF might fail here, too.
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Zorc was the DOF, Mislintat was chief scout and still is at Arsenal.
 
I'm not against us getting a DoF, but it doesn't solve our problems.
We need a manager with a style of play we can get behind and trust in him.

Klopp and Pep are both attacking managers, but the type of player they want are completely different.
Getting a DoF to buy to a style of play won't always work because even within a style, there's more to it

We need to back what the manager wants, what he believes fits his system.
I'm not behind Mourinho for his style of football and for what he'd consider his type of player.

That being said, It'd be nice to have somebody with a footballing brain working as the middle man between Ed and the Manager to get the points across, but I wouldn't want to give them control of the transfers.
 
Sky1981 said:
so you assume just because they used to scouts they can deal with multimillion purchase? will it make levy easy on toby if it was a dof instead of ed? would the dof sanction perisic? willian? can ed veto this dof?

what about phylosophy? tactical? jose is one of the best active manager. so the next dof should be technically and tactically better than jose. because how can he devise a 10 year scheme if he knows nothing about tactics of the modern game.

in order for dof to control jose he by nature has to know better than jose or else he'll just be a hindrance. it'll be a lamp for a table all over again.

fwiw i dont think dof would magically improve us, unless we get that 1 percent chance of finding the right dof.
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your talking about things that are not part of a DOF job description. It works like a Head of youth development but for the first team. Find clubs for unwanted players and try and get the best deal possible. Find targets based on a profile of player given by the manager and negotiate for players based on feedback on targets from the manager.

Most DOF that take part in negotiating are good at it but the main role is giving the scouting department their jobs. Dictating who to watch and building a list of targets to discuss with the manager once the manager has decided on a profile of player.

They do not need tactical know how. Although a lot of them do have it. Mourinho says, i need a holding midfielder with strength, who can spread the ball nicely. The Dof discusses this with scouts and finds targets. He then reports back to Mourinho and they decide which players to negotiate with.
 
This won’t be anyone of note - especially not a member of Co92.

I’ll go as far as saying this person will have zero involvement in first team decisions. Woodward and the Glazers make all decisions and that won’t change. This is just more rhetoric briefing to deflect pressure from Woodward.
 
Woodward appointing himself would be the ultimate troll.
 
How many of the players we've signed under Mourinho would we not have signed with a DOF? I'm struggling to think of any obvious candidates.

Hopefully our DOF just determines the ground rules and then leaves the manager to choose players within that mould. What I'd hate to see is players forced on the manager
 
What about Gary Neville? Has the club's best interests at heart and knows what Man Utd is about. Recently said Manager should of been backed in the transfer market and all.
 
MadMike said:
Do you think this squad is deserving of a higher place than 2nd? If not, how is the coach or the tactics hindering the players?
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I think we should have been closer to City points-wise, and I think we should've done far better in the Champions League.

But let's not derail the thread, shall we?
 
Smores said:
How many of the players we've signed under Mourinho would we not have signed with a DOF? I'm struggling to think of any obvious candidates.

Hopefully our DOF just determines the ground rules and then leaves the manager to choose players within that mould. What I'd hate to see is players forced on the manager
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Probably Sanchez
 
Can't have another summer of Woodward's incompetence.

We need to adopt a transfer strategy that combines both mid-long-term and short term recruitment.

At the moment we are nothing short of embarrassment and that needs to change NOW.
 
Sultan said:
I'm not against a DoF.

I'm just questioning the fact that we could employ another dud for DoF and be in the same situation or worse. The DoF and head coach starts blaming each other for the teams' downfall. The coach saying he doesn't have the players he requires and DoF saying he's not good at coaching. Who then gets the sack?
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That'll always be the dilemma - But I think it's a dillemma we can live with compared to not having a DoF and not getting a head coach that suits our brand of football in the first place.

Another dillemma I see, is that a DoF sets some rules to follow that are not flexible enough. For instance after Van Gaal, I think Mourinho was very much the right decision to hire, as we just needed to get back to the top by any means necessary. If a DoF had vetoed a signing of Mourinho due to being too negative in his football compared to the overall plan, then I guess we could be worse off now. Another pitfall is that Football is evolving, and new ways of playing pops up - a DoF must be a little bit flexible / open to new managerial styles.

So with hindsight 10/10, now is probably the right time to hire one, now that we're at the top and Mourinho probably wont be here forever. Its time to lay down some visions.

So a new DoF needs to understand both the manager, the finances and the traditional entertaining way we've played football.

But to answer your original question:
I think if Woodward can look back and see that the quality of our signings or the vision just hasn't been good, then a DoF should be replaced. If the signings were good, but the results not, then replace the manager. Right now it's pretty clear to see that we have good quality players in Pogba, Sanchez, Lukaku, Martial for instance - but we're not getting their maximum out of them.
 
Just someone who has an attacking style ethos, many scouting networks, experience in transfer dealing and a good partnership with Woodward but also following managers.

We had the PERFECT person in Ribalta, who took the director of football position elsewhere.
 
It should be a guy who also has a little understanding of finances, history and playing style- Queiroz is a good shout.

If Mata wasn't playing here, I'd say he would be a nice idea too. I think he even has a degree in sports-science and finance. He studied it in 2013.
 
Irish Jet said:
Woodward appointing himself would be the ultimate troll.
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Ed.png
 
Jim Reaper said:
your talking about things that are not part of a DOF job description. It works like a Head of youth development but for the first team. Find clubs for unwanted players and try and get the best deal possible. Find targets based on a profile of player given by the manager and negotiate for players based on feedback on targets from the manager.

Most DOF that take part in negotiating are good at it but the main role is giving the scouting department their jobs. Dictating who to watch and building a list of targets to discuss with the manager once the manager has decided on a profile of player.

They do not need tactical know how. Although a lot of them do have it. Mourinho says, i need a holding midfielder with strength, who can spread the ball nicely. The Dof discusses this with scouts and finds targets. He then reports back to Mourinho and they decide which players to negotiate with.
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so just a scout? if he has no jurisdiction over anything then he's just a scout?
 
None. I think it won't happen. Just the board calming everyone down. It'll get forgotten over time.
 
Damien said:
Mourinho's style clashes with "the United w
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I think we would see a lot of positive Mourinho in terms of playing expansive if the centre back options are lot more commanding and experienced. Currently we lack one, and a right winger will help as well. A prime reason for us playing so conservative is also because our Central defensive options are not commanding enough like every other top Ucl Regulars have.

But i do feel, the way Mourinho is pushing this Board over Recruitment is what is definitely required at this club and i am fine with that. May be he is not producing football we like but it could improve in the future with Right additions.

May be a Director of Football wont let go Talents like Sadio Mane who was perfect for Mourinho's football to a tee for a More Marketable Henrikh Mkh. Even Lvg has mentioned it before that he was forced to work with Di maria by woodward, which is precisely what is wrong with Woodward Handling transfers since Day one, and will work more proactively in identifying talents and getting them signed before the prices jit the roof.
 
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Patrick08 said:
I think we would see a lot of positive Mourinho in terms of playing expansive if the centre back options are lot more commanding and experienced. Currently we lack one, and a right winger will help as well. A prime reason for us playing so conservative is also because our Central defensive options are not commanding enough like every other top Ucl Regulars have.

But i do feel, the way Mourinho is pushing this Board over Recruitment is what is definitely required at this club and i am fine with that. May be he is not producing football we like but it could improve in the future with Right additions.

May be a Director of Football wont let go Talents like Sadio Mane who was perfect for Mourinho's football to a tee for a More Marketable Henrikh Mkh. Even Lvg has mentioned it before that he was forced to work with Di maria by woodward, which is precisely what is wrong with Woodward Handling transfers since Day one.
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In what way was he more marketable exactly?
 
Get someone who understands the club and has a respected figure with the fans. Monchi and others may not work that well and they may eventually move on.
 
Sky1981 said:
so just a scout? if he has no jurisdiction over anything then he's just a scout?
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He indeed described a chief scout. A DOF manages the team in the strict sense of the term, he is the one resigning players, creating the philosophy of the club with the approval of the owners, he is also the main decision maker when it comes to transfer targets and coaching staff. On the transfer targets, DOFs are generally a crucial part during the head coach appointment, they are supposed to see things the same way and not have huge differences in terms of players profile, head coaches are also made aware of the philosophy during interviews, if they disagree they don't have to be offered or take the job.
An other thing, DOFs are in charge of the day to day life of the club, making sure that everyone is in a position to do his job efficiently, from players/staff happiness, to the state of the facilities. It's not surprising to see clubs with more than one sporting director, one administrative and the other closer to the first team mid-long term needs.

The problem for us here is that we have a manager with strong opinions, it wouldn't be fair on him or the potential DOF to work together if they are not perfectly compatible.
 
100 said:
It's necessary unfortunately. You can't have managers coming in every few years, signing players to long term contracts when there's a high chance the next manager won't want them. You could do without if the CEO had a greater footballing background but people who can do both roles to a high standard are few and far between.
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This

If we are going to continue the model of sacking managers every 2 to 3 years then we need better continuity.
 
BluesJr said:
In what way was he more marketable exactly?
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May be a marketing guy can explain it more precisely but as per my view flair players at big clubs are more marketable than Workhorses with good engines. Players without good Engines have always struggled under Mourinho and his purchase Made no sense to me over a more mourinho suited player. Fergie used to play these type of players as wingers and one of the prime example of it was Park Ji sung who was a big game player under him, and Mane had a very similar profile to him which was perfect for Mourinho and even for Lvg. I see nothing Other than Woodward's hand in bringing Mkh here back then and he excels in Selling.
 
Giggs doesn't have the experience or intelligence for the role.

The only ex player I know of in an executive role is Van Der Sar, but not sure how suited he would be.

We should just get the best we can and make sure his vision aligns with the club's tradition and ethos. We don't want someone who doesn't understand what the fans expect from the club, nor do we want someone who isn't clever in the market as well. We seem to know the profile of the players we want, we just need that person to execute this.

We also need someone who is adaptable, and has great communication and diplomatic skills to work successfully with whomever the manager is.
I would prefer someone who's not from a finance background....
 
ROFLUTION said:
It should be a guy who also has a little understanding of finances, history and playing style- Queiroz is a good shout.

If Mata wasn't playing here, I'd say he would be a nice idea too. I think he even has a degree in sports-science and finance. He studied it in 2013.
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Yes agree an understanding of finances but preferably not someone whose worked in finance the majority of his career. He'd be too much aligned with Ed then:D
 
What about Vidic? He's very intelligent and one of us. If he had the relevant skill set, he would be perfect. Shame.
 
Xaviboy said:
What about Gary Neville? Has the club's best interests at heart and knows what Man Utd is about. Recently said Manager should of been backed in the transfer market and all.
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This is the thing. People now give him a hard time due to his Valencia stint, but a DOF role might be more suited to him. Loves the club, astute guy, understands modern football. He'd be at the top of my list.
 
A director of football is generally here for the long term. It has to be someone who wants to be here and live in Manchester for their foreseeable future.

So it probably has to be someone who has some association to the club already.
 
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