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

[red thru&thru]

I reckon he should bring in someone like Paul Mitchell as DoF. We have lost our British soul from the club. This is when we thrived the most. Bayern, Real, Barca etc have at heart their national players.

 

[bucky]

Still think he did the sensible thing by not giving in to the ridiculous prices for players such as Willian, Alderweireld, Boateng and Maguire.

 

[Blackice64]

Before Ed Woodward the Glaziers was there with David Gill and we had one of the most successful periods in our history.

The Glaziers are not to blame, they have always backed the managers.

The common denominator in the last 5 years failures is one Ed Woodward. He wants "Hollywood' "Disneyland" signings ala Di Maria, Sanchez, Pogba, Falcao etc I believe those signings was forced on the managers. I don't believe Mourinho really wanted Pogba or Sanchez.

I think if David Gill was still the big cheese things would be much different.. he would back the manager and sign the players HE wants, not the players he thinks is best for the "brand" or some fantasy of "Manchester United Disney!"

 

[Sandikan]

The most damning thing is that he won't sell Martial. Mourinho clearly wants him out, so Woodward's refusal to sanction the deal suggest he sees Martial as the longer-term bet. Given that Martial's only got a maximum of two years left on his contract, it can only mean he expects Mourinho to go fairly imminently.

That plus a few whispers that Woodward has started briefing the dreaded "vote of confidence", and It suddenly feels that a couple more ropey results and it could be curtains.
That and the Zidane talk too.

A fancy big name like him would be classic us, wouldn't it!

 

[Schneckerl]

The common denominator in the last 5 years failures is one Ed Woodward. He wants "Hollywood' "Disneyland" signings ala Di Maria, Sanchez, Pogba, Falcao etc I believe those signings was forced on the managers. I don't believe Mourinho really wanted Pogba or Sanchez.

Most people would have been furious if he'd didn't try to get Sanchez and City ended up signing him.

 

[Member 58925]

Not sure what the gripe is against him he's doing exactly what the owners want him to do, which is run the club as if it were a department store chain based in the midwestern United States.

 

[Mainoldo]

Before Ed Woodward the Glaziers was there with David Gill and we had one of the most successful periods in our history.

The Glaziers are not to blame, they have always backed the managers.

The common denominator in the last 5 years failures is one Ed Woodward. He wants "Hollywood' "Disneyland" signings ala Di Maria, Sanchez, Pogba, Falcao etc I believe those signings was forced on the managers. I don't believe Mourinho really wanted Pogba or Sanchez.

I think if David Gill was still the big cheese things would be much different.. he would back the manager and sign the players HE wants, not the players he thinks is best for the "brand" or some fantasy of "Manchester United Disney!"

Nothing to do with the greatest manager ever retiring no?

No? We just going to forget that and talk about Euro Disney lol.

I really don't get this Gill loving, i get it a lot of high level people liked him, but we spent pennies during his reign, if he had stayed here people act like he would have told Moyes not to get rid of all his back room staff, got Fabregas and Co. If Moyes exploded like he's done everyone else after us, he'd would have hired LVG and told him we need to pass Forward LVG, we pass Forward. Then after that failed got Jose and gave him a warchest just like he use to give Fergie when Chelsea were buying up all our targets because they were willing to offer more money. Obviously like Fergie... Mourinho would not have a problem with this!! No chance, value in the market and all that.

 

[Infra-red]

That plus a few whispers that Woodward has started briefing the dreaded "vote of confidence", and It suddenly feels that a couple more ropey results and it could be curtains.
That and the Zidane talk too.

A fancy big name like him would be classic us, wouldn't it!

I don't think it'd work out - he's not the man to sort out the issues we have with the squad.


On a side note, a few titbits from Duncan Castles' 'Transfer Window'podcast today:

• Things are as bad between Woodward and Mourinho as they ever have been. Mourinho is desperate to succeed at United and wanted at least another two players (CB, RW) in during the summer to challenge City for the league. He is not happy at being overruled on football matters by an investment banker. Woodward is not happy with José's unhappiness.

• Mourinho's frustrations with the organisational infrastructure at United are long-standing. Bureaucracy and penny-pinching are rife within the club (eg upon arrival, Mourinho asked for a new desk for his office but was told it needed to be referred up through the various layers of management to Tampa for budgetary approval). This runs through all decisions taken at the club (eg red tape and complication around allowing the players to use the club's hydrotherapy pools with a physio after hours - club reluctant to pay the money to hire an after-hours lifeguard).

• In the early days of his tenure, Mourinho wanted an experienced football man on the Executive Board (nobody on United's Exec. Board has any experience running a football club prior to joining United) - Mourinho lobbied to get Sir Alex appointed to the board - José hoped Fergie could push for things for the betterment of the team with the moneymen at United. The Glazers rejected the idea. Joel & Avram used the opportunity of Fergie/Gill's departures in 2013 to take the club in a new direction - wanted an increased influence in football matters inc. transfers. Woodward has allied himself with them.

• Ferguson (pre-illness) and Charlton have no say on football matters at the club. Executive Board and "Football Board" are kept segregated - when United are entertaining directors from other clubs, they are greeted by Fergie and Charlton who eat with them, while Woodward, Joel and Avram disappear off to a different room for lunch.

• Woodard's position at United is essentially unassailable. Record share price despite five years of mediocrity on the pitch = happy Glazers. Woodward shareholder conference call earlier this summer: "Playing performance doesn’t really have a meaningful impact on what we can do on the commercial side of the business."

https://www.acast.com/thetransferwindow


Take with a pinch of salt as it will largely be Mourinho's side of the story. Nevertheless, it does not paint a rosy picture.

 

[Drainy]

I think it's pretty clear that they are happy with financial success. To avoid taking a hit to that all they need is top 4 and to challenge for cups.

Competing for the league is expensive, and I think the wankers with the chequebook don't realise how well Mourinho did (and how lucky we were) to get 2nd last year with these players. They probably thought that adding a little bit to the squad without losing anyone of note would be enough to secure another good year, but football isn't like that.

It's often about 'feeling', the squad is shit, we play tumescent football and had a terrible summer both in terms of transfers and with pre-season being disrupted due to the World Cup, while our main rivals all have an aura of dominance about them.

We needed a lift in the transfer market to put a spark in the team, but instead we get 'no value in the market' and a war between the board and the manager, putting unruly players in a position to take advantage of a weakened boss while the press and our rivals watch on and laugh, of course we are not performing well ffs. There is a malaise around the club that is far deeper than Mourinho and replacing him will only bring in another patsy.

 

[Alabaster Codify7]

Nothing Castles has said there is unbelievable. In fact, I'd say it's all very likely to be true - stuff like the new desk / lifeguard etc I have no idea about really but the rest is highly believable. Club is a mess. Zidane, Pochettino, it wouldn't matter - the club will still be run in the manner it is now and any new manager will end up butting heads with the board at some point or other. Not to the extent or publicly like Jose, but behind the scenes for sure.

We're being run as nothing more than a business; any football man will find a bone to pick with that. Regardless of who that manager is.

 

[King Kana]

Who’s after City’s CB? Your argument is pretty silly. All of them except Smalling are first team internationals. I’m sick of José getting into fans heads mentally it’s a joke. This was the guy who had Chelsea fans calling their players Judas and cowards of them which now plays for us in Matic. If the same thing continues to happen wherever you go, maybe it’s not your environment maybe it’s just you!

No need to get your knickers in a twist. He’s not going to last long here. Be patient you’ll get your wish soon enough.

 

[el3mel]

I don't think it'd work out - he's not the man to sort out the issues we have with the squad.


On a side note, a few titbits from Duncan Castles' 'Transfer Window'podcast today:

• Things are as bad between Woodward and Mourinho as they ever have been. Mourinho is desperate to succeed at United and wanted at least another two players (CB, RW) in during the summer to challenge City for the league. He is not happy at being overruled on football matters by an investment banker. Woodward is not happy with José's unhappiness.

• Mourinho's frustrations with the organisational infrastructure at United are long-standing. Bureaucracy and penny-pinching are rife within the club (eg upon arrival, Mourinho asked for a new desk for his office but was told it needed to be referred up through the various layers of management to Tampa for budgetary approval). This runs through all decisions taken at the club (eg red tape and complication around allowing the players to use the club's hydrotherapy pools with a physio after hours - club reluctant to pay the money to hire an after-hours lifeguard).

• In the early days of his tenure, Mourinho wanted an experienced football man on the Executive Board (nobody on United's Exec. Board has any experience running a football club prior to joining United) - Mourinho lobbied to get Sir Alex appointed to the board - José hoped Fergie could push for things for the betterment of the team with the moneymen at United. The Glazers rejected the idea. Joel & Avram used the opportunity of Fergie/Gill's departures in 2013 to take the club in a new direction - wanted an increased influence in football matters inc. transfers. Woodward has allied himself with them.

• Ferguson (pre-illness) and Charlton have no say on football matters at the club. Executive Board and "Football Board" are kept segregated - when United are entertaining directors from other clubs, they are greeted by Fergie and Charlton who eat with them, while Woodward, Joel and Avram disappear off to a different room for lunch.

• Woodard's position at United is essentially unassailable. Record share price despite five years of mediocrity on the pitch = happy Glazers. Woodward shareholder conference call earlier this summer: "Playing performance doesn’t really have a meaningful impact on what we can do on the commercial side of the business."

https://www.acast.com/thetransferwindow


Take with a pinch of salt as it will largely be Mourinho's side of the story. Nevertheless, it does not paint a rosy picture.

Nothing should be a surprise here. We all know all of this is right.

We're a terribly run club and I have zero hope for the future under this management of the club.

Some can't grasp it because their hatred for Mourinho is covering it. When the next manager, hopefully a likable one as Zidane, suffers the same fate, people will start looking at this mess with a better look.

 

[Member 58925]

I don't think it'd work out - he's not the man to sort out the issues we have with the squad.


On a side note, a few titbits from Duncan Castles' 'Transfer Window'podcast today:

• Things are as bad between Woodward and Mourinho as they ever have been. Mourinho is desperate to succeed at United and wanted at least another two players (CB, RW) in during the summer to challenge City for the league. He is not happy at being overruled on football matters by an investment banker. Woodward is not happy with José's unhappiness.

• Mourinho's frustrations with the organisational infrastructure at United are long-standing. Bureaucracy and penny-pinching are rife within the club (eg upon arrival, Mourinho asked for a new desk for his office but was told it needed to be referred up through the various layers of management to Tampa for budgetary approval). This runs through all decisions taken at the club (eg red tape and complication around allowing the players to use the club's hydrotherapy pools with a physio after hours - club reluctant to pay the money to hire an after-hours lifeguard).

• In the early days of his tenure, Mourinho wanted an experienced football man on the Executive Board (nobody on United's Exec. Board has any experience running a football club prior to joining United) - Mourinho lobbied to get Sir Alex appointed to the board - José hoped Fergie could push for things for the betterment of the team with the moneymen at United. The Glazers rejected the idea. Joel & Avram used the opportunity of Fergie/Gill's departures in 2013 to take the club in a new direction - wanted an increased influence in football matters inc. transfers. Woodward has allied himself with them.

• Ferguson (pre-illness) and Charlton have no say on football matters at the club. Executive Board and "Football Board" are kept segregated - when United are entertaining directors from other clubs, they are greeted by Fergie and Charlton who eat with them, while Woodward, Joel and Avram disappear off to a different room for lunch.

• Woodard's position at United is essentially unassailable. Record share price despite five years of mediocrity on the pitch = happy Glazers. Woodward shareholder conference call earlier this summer: "Playing performance doesn’t really have a meaningful impact on what we can do on the commercial side of the business."

https://www.acast.com/thetransferwindow


Take with a pinch of salt as it will largely be Mourinho's side of the story. Nevertheless, it does not paint a rosy picture.

This is the American sports ownership model to a t. Nothing surprising or far fetched in the least, but hard to wrap your head around if you don't follow American sports. Evil men own this club.

 

[C'est Moi Cantona]

Yes because your manager prioritized defense, knowing the defenders are either gash, rash, or sicknotes and De Gea.

But you lot got the pitchforks out cos of Pep/Klopp and now he is opening you lot up and you are shipping goals left right and center. Your defense is dire to bebe honest. The fact that 3 out of your back 4 last night were Fergie buys says it all really. Are there any top 3, hell, top 10 teams in the world clamoring to sign any of those defenders? The answer should tell you everything you need to know.

Well Jose spent last season masking this great need for a CB very well, because I didn't see it as a priority at all, nor did many others, neither did I see a manager famed for his defensive prowess, and ability to grind out results suddenly 'opening up', atm he just looks like he's either missing his right hand man way more than we ever thought he would, or he wants to get sacked, because any rational manager would surely play the way they know best if they don't get their transfer targets in.

Jose has bought two CB's, one looked fantastic in his first season, but now looks lost, the other looks like he'd struggle in the championship, that's on him, and whilst now it looks like a bad idea, I'm not sure I blame Ed for questioning the need for a player in this position at the time.

 

[Cassidy]

I think it's pretty clear that they are happy with financial success. To avoid taking a hit to that all they need is top 4 and to challenge for cups.

Competing for the league is expensive, and I think the wankers with the chequebook don't realise how well Mourinho did (and how lucky we were) to get 2nd last year with these players. They probably thought that adding a little bit to the squad without losing anyone of note would be enough to secure another good year, but football isn't like that.

It's often about 'feeling', the squad is shit, we play tumescent football and had a terrible summer both in terms of transfers and with pre-season being disrupted due to the World Cup, while our main rivals all have an aura of dominance about them.

We needed a lift in the transfer market to put a spark in the team, but instead we get 'no value in the market' and a war between the board and the manager, putting unruly players in a position to take advantage of a weakened boss while the press and our rivals watch on and laugh, of course we are not performing well ffs. There is a malaise around the club that is far deeper than Mourinho and replacing him will only bring in another patsy.

I'm not 100% sure this is true, although it will be interesting to see how this plays out.
Jose seems like he is under pressure to win not just come top 4 we'll see I guess if managers survive just getting top 4 at United.
If top 4 was the aim then Im not convinced we would have went in for Sanchez like we did.

 

[spiriticon]

Still think he did the sensible thing by not giving in to the ridiculous prices for players such as Willian, Alderweireld, Boateng and Maguire.

I think he's sensible as well.

Once you do it once, every one else expects the same in the future and it's unsustainable in the long run.

 

[JPRouve]

I don't think it'd work out - he's not the man to sort out the issues we have with the squad.


On a side note, a few titbits from Duncan Castles' 'Transfer Window'podcast today:

• Things are as bad between Woodward and Mourinho as they ever have been. Mourinho is desperate to succeed at United and wanted at least another two players (CB, RW) in during the summer to challenge City for the league. He is not happy at being overruled on football matters by an investment banker. Woodward is not happy with José's unhappiness.

• Mourinho's frustrations with the organisational infrastructure at United are long-standing. Bureaucracy and penny-pinching are rife within the club (eg upon arrival, Mourinho asked for a new desk for his office but was told it needed to be referred up through the various layers of management to Tampa for budgetary approval). This runs through all decisions taken at the club (eg red tape and complication around allowing the players to use the club's hydrotherapy pools with a physio after hours - club reluctant to pay the money to hire an after-hours lifeguard).

• In the early days of his tenure, Mourinho wanted an experienced football man on the Executive Board (nobody on United's Exec. Board has any experience running a football club prior to joining United) - Mourinho lobbied to get Sir Alex appointed to the board - José hoped Fergie could push for things for the betterment of the team with the moneymen at United. The Glazers rejected the idea. Joel & Avram used the opportunity of Fergie/Gill's departures in 2013 to take the club in a new direction - wanted an increased influence in football matters inc. transfers. Woodward has allied himself with them.

• Ferguson (pre-illness) and Charlton have no say on football matters at the club. Executive Board and "Football Board" are kept segregated - when United are entertaining directors from other clubs, they are greeted by Fergie and Charlton who eat with them, while Woodward, Joel and Avram disappear off to a different room for lunch.

• Woodard's position at United is essentially unassailable. Record share price despite five years of mediocrity on the pitch = happy Glazers. Woodward shareholder conference call earlier this summer: "Playing performance doesn’t really have a meaningful impact on what we can do on the commercial side of the business."

https://www.acast.com/thetransferwindow


Take with a pinch of salt as it will largely be Mourinho's side of the story. Nevertheless, it does not paint a rosy picture.

I strongly believe that the club needs to restructure but there is nothing in that resume. Though the third point is actually daft, an employee who thinks that he can influence who is a member of the executive board, if it was true he would have been sacked on the spot.

 

[endless_wheelies]

I strongly believe that the club needs to restructure but there is nothing in that resume. Though the third point is actually daft, an employee who thinks that he can influence who is a memeber of the executive board, if it was true he would have been sacked on the spot.

Didn't he do something similar at Real Madrid and succeed?

 

[JPRouve]

Didn't he do something similar at Real Madrid and succeed?

No.
Edit: I should expend, he had bad relationship with Valdano who was a sort of DOF but without power and Valdano was sacked in 2011. The executive board is where the actual boss are the people, Real's executive board looks a lot like ours in terms of profile.

 

[Drainy]

If top 4 was the aim then Im not convinced we would have went in for Sanchez like we did.

We were able to offload a player the manager didn't really want for a much better (historically) and more commercially popular one for relatively little outlay.

 

[Mainoldo]

We were able to offload a player the manager didn't really want for a much better (historically) and more commercially popular one for relatively little outlay.

We still just could have not done the deal. It's not like Mhki and Sanchez difference showed. If anything we was better of with Mhki. Atleast he had good games.

 

[el3mel]

We still just could have not done the deal. It's not like Mhki and Sanchez difference showed. If anything we was better of with Mhki. Atleast he had good games.

Sanchez is more marketable. Ed was very proud with how many retweets the Sanchez announcement tweet got.

 

[endless_wheelies]

No.

Yes, he got Perez to boot the director general out and give all his powers to Mourinho.

And as it happens modern corporate accountability means that there's a "no bad idea" open door structure towards suggestions from the lower workforce towards upper management, and given Mourinho's power and the direct impact the make up of the executive board has on his job saying he would be sacked on the spot for making suggestions is daft.

 

[Revan]

We were able to offload a player the manager didn't really want for a much better (historically) and more commercially popular one for relatively little outlay.

Signing fee, agent fee and difference on salary between Mhiky and Sanchez during the course of their contract adds up to circa 100m. Essentially, for each year, that is more than what Glazers take out for the club, and 10 times as much as Woodward's salary for the next 4 years.

It is hardly little outlay.

 

[JohnnyKills]

That plus a few whispers that Woodward has started briefing the dreaded "vote of confidence", and It suddenly feels that a couple more ropey results and it could be curtains.
That and the Zidane talk too.

A fancy big name like him would be classic us, wouldn't it!

Yeah it would indeed

 

[JPRouve]

Yes, he got Perez to boot the director general out and give all his powers to Mourinho.

And as it happens modern corporate accountability means that there's a "no bad idea" open door structure towards suggestions from the lower workforce towards upper management, and given Mourinho's power and the direct impact the make up of the executive board has on his job saying he would be sacked on the spot for making suggestions is daft.

No, I edited my post to explain who was Valdano. The funny thing about that is that the man that allowed it is a member of the executive board and he isn't a football man while Valdano was, José Sanchez.

 

[NinjaZombie]

I don't think it'd work out - he's not the man to sort out the issues we have with the squad.


On a side note, a few titbits from Duncan Castles' 'Transfer Window'podcast today:

• Things are as bad between Woodward and Mourinho as they ever have been. Mourinho is desperate to succeed at United and wanted at least another two players (CB, RW) in during the summer to challenge City for the league. He is not happy at being overruled on football matters by an investment banker. Woodward is not happy with José's unhappiness.

• Mourinho's frustrations with the organisational infrastructure at United are long-standing. Bureaucracy and penny-pinching are rife within the club (eg upon arrival, Mourinho asked for a new desk for his office but was told it needed to be referred up through the various layers of management to Tampa for budgetary approval). This runs through all decisions taken at the club (eg red tape and complication around allowing the players to use the club's hydrotherapy pools with a physio after hours - club reluctant to pay the money to hire an after-hours lifeguard).

• In the early days of his tenure, Mourinho wanted an experienced football man on the Executive Board (nobody on United's Exec. Board has any experience running a football club prior to joining United) - Mourinho lobbied to get Sir Alex appointed to the board - José hoped Fergie could push for things for the betterment of the team with the moneymen at United. The Glazers rejected the idea. Joel & Avram used the opportunity of Fergie/Gill's departures in 2013 to take the club in a new direction - wanted an increased influence in football matters inc. transfers. Woodward has allied himself with them.

• Ferguson (pre-illness) and Charlton have no say on football matters at the club. Executive Board and "Football Board" are kept segregated - when United are entertaining directors from other clubs, they are greeted by Fergie and Charlton who eat with them, while Woodward, Joel and Avram disappear off to a different room for lunch.

• Woodard's position at United is essentially unassailable. Record share price despite five years of mediocrity on the pitch = happy Glazers. Woodward shareholder conference call earlier this summer: "Playing performance doesn’t really have a meaningful impact on what we can do on the commercial side of the business."

https://www.acast.com/thetransferwindow


Take with a pinch of salt as it will largely be Mourinho's side of the story. Nevertheless, it does not paint a rosy picture.

This will only be felt 10-15 years down the road. By which time, Woodward could be long gone. The Glazers may even have sold the club by then.

 

[endless_wheelies]

No, I edited my post to explain who was Valdano. The funny thing about that is that the man that allowed it is a member of the executive board and he isn't a football man while Valdano was, José Sanchez.

It's an example of Jose going to the head of the entire club and having his direct boss sacked. Petitioning the board to have something akin to a worker's representative on the board is no "dafter" surely.

 

[Drainy]

Signing fee, agent fee and difference on salary between Mhiky and Sanchez during the course of their contract adds up to circa 100m. Essentially, for each year, that is more than what Glazers take out for the club, and 10 times as much as Woodward's salary for the next 4 years.

It is hardly little outlay.

Relatively. We're in a post Neymar transfer world.

I wonder which player the commercial department would have picked? If the manager wanted him, he is a player that improves the profile of the club, he replaces a player the manager doesn't rate and he doesn't have a relatively substantial up front cost - why wouldn't the club go for it?

It doesn't disprove my view that the club are happy with top 4.

 

[JPRouve]

It's an example of Jose going to the head of the entire club and having his direct boss sacked. Petitioning the board to have something akin to a worker's representative on the board is no "dafter" surely.

And that's not what I said in my post I specifically talked about the executive board.

 

[Cassidy]

We were able to offload a player the manager didn't really want for a much better (historically) and more commercially popular one for relatively little outlay.

His contract is not relatively little outlay

 

[endless_wheelies]

And that's not what I said in my post I specifically talked about the executive board.

Yes and how would it look if they had sacked Mourinho a few weeks into his reign for merely suggesting SAF should be an executive? "Benevolent American Pioneers Sack Insubordinate Jose" is not the headline that would be running.

Anyway it's a rather minor point we're arguing about.

 

[Drainy]

His contract is not relatively little outlay

It's offset by getting Mkhy off the books. We also didn't pay market value for him due to his contract situation and I would imagine that a large amount of his pay is tied to commercial rights, similar to how Rooney's was.

Either way, the point is that the club don't seem interested in making the final push to catch up with city. We were well off their pace last season while looking really poor and getting quite fortunate, and barely improved the squad this summer.

We were desperate for improvements in at least 3 positions and only spent £50m net.

 

[JPRouve]

It's offset by getting Mkhy off the books. We also didn't pay market value for him due to his contract situation and I would imagine that a large amount of his pay is tied to commercial rights, similar to how Rooney's was.

Either way, the point is that the club don't seem interested in making the final push to catch up with city. We were well off their pace last season while looking really poor and getting quite fortunate, and barely improved the squad this summer.

We were desperate for improvements in at least 3 positions and only spent £50m net.

The issue with this is the Sanchez deal, we don't know how much it actually costed, we will eventually have an idea when the financial reports are out though.

 

[Fosu-Mens]

I don't think it'd work out - he's not the man to sort out the issues we have with the squad.


On a side note, a few titbits from Duncan Castles' 'Transfer Window'podcast today:

• Things are as bad between Woodward and Mourinho as they ever have been. Mourinho is desperate to succeed at United and wanted at least another two players (CB, RW) in during the summer to challenge City for the league. He is not happy at being overruled on football matters by an investment banker. Woodward is not happy with José's unhappiness.

• Mourinho's frustrations with the organisational infrastructure at United are long-standing. Bureaucracy and penny-pinching are rife within the club (eg upon arrival, Mourinho asked for a new desk for his office but was told it needed to be referred up through the various layers of management to Tampa for budgetary approval). This runs through all decisions taken at the club (eg red tape and complication around allowing the players to use the club's hydrotherapy pools with a physio after hours - club reluctant to pay the money to hire an after-hours lifeguard).

• In the early days of his tenure, Mourinho wanted an experienced football man on the Executive Board (nobody on United's Exec. Board has any experience running a football club prior to joining United) - Mourinho lobbied to get Sir Alex appointed to the board - José hoped Fergie could push for things for the betterment of the team with the moneymen at United. The Glazers rejected the idea. Joel & Avram used the opportunity of Fergie/Gill's departures in 2013 to take the club in a new direction - wanted an increased influence in football matters inc. transfers. Woodward has allied himself with them.

• Ferguson (pre-illness) and Charlton have no say on football matters at the club. Executive Board and "Football Board" are kept segregated - when United are entertaining directors from other clubs, they are greeted by Fergie and Charlton who eat with them, while Woodward, Joel and Avram disappear off to a different room for lunch.

• Woodard's position at United is essentially unassailable. Record share price despite five years of mediocrity on the pitch = happy Glazers. Woodward shareholder conference call earlier this summer: "Playing performance doesn’t really have a meaningful impact on what we can do on the commercial side of the business."

https://www.acast.com/thetransferwindow


Take with a pinch of salt as it will largely be Mourinho's side of the story. Nevertheless, it does not paint a rosy picture.

Not that you need any inside information to figure these things out, but good to see people with some "fame" starting to reveal how this club is run.
Only way for it to have any effect is to get the fans going to Old Trafford on a regular basis to start protesting Woody and the Glazers again.

 

[Mainoldo]

Not that you need any inside information to figure these things out, but good to see people with some "fame" starting to reveal how this club is run.
Only way for it to have any effect is to get the fans going to Old Trafford on a regular basis to start protesting Woody and the Glazers again.

Because they don't hire an after hours bodyguard. Behave.

 

[Ban]

I don't think it'd work out - he's not the man to sort out the issues we have with the squad.


On a side note, a few titbits from Duncan Castles' 'Transfer Window'podcast today:

• Things are as bad between Woodward and Mourinho as they ever have been. Mourinho is desperate to succeed at United and wanted at least another two players (CB, RW) in during the summer to challenge City for the league. He is not happy at being overruled on football matters by an investment banker. Woodward is not happy with José's unhappiness.

• Mourinho's frustrations with the organisational infrastructure at United are long-standing. Bureaucracy and penny-pinching are rife within the club (eg upon arrival, Mourinho asked for a new desk for his office but was told it needed to be referred up through the various layers of management to Tampa for budgetary approval). This runs through all decisions taken at the club (eg red tape and complication around allowing the players to use the club's hydrotherapy pools with a physio after hours - club reluctant to pay the money to hire an after-hours lifeguard).

• In the early days of his tenure, Mourinho wanted an experienced football man on the Executive Board (nobody on United's Exec. Board has any experience running a football club prior to joining United) - Mourinho lobbied to get Sir Alex appointed to the board - José hoped Fergie could push for things for the betterment of the team with the moneymen at United. The Glazers rejected the idea. Joel & Avram used the opportunity of Fergie/Gill's departures in 2013 to take the club in a new direction - wanted an increased influence in football matters inc. transfers. Woodward has allied himself with them.

• Ferguson (pre-illness) and Charlton have no say on football matters at the club. Executive Board and "Football Board" are kept segregated - when United are entertaining directors from other clubs, they are greeted by Fergie and Charlton who eat with them, while Woodward, Joel and Avram disappear off to a different room for lunch.

• Woodard's position at United is essentially unassailable. Record share price despite five years of mediocrity on the pitch = happy Glazers. Woodward shareholder conference call earlier this summer: "Playing performance doesn’t really have a meaningful impact on what we can do on the commercial side of the business."

https://www.acast.com/thetransferwindow


Take with a pinch of salt as it will largely be Mourinho's side of the story. Nevertheless, it does not paint a rosy picture.

It's a depressing read.

Also, if Jose gets the sack Ed will definitely try to get Zidane. That would be such a lazy appointment, just go for the big name if he's available, without thinking about the direction we're heading to or anything of the sort.

 

[Mainoldo]

It's a depressing read.

Also, if Jose gets the sack Ed will definitely try to get Zidane. That would be such a lazy appointment, just go for the big name if he's available, without thinking about the direction we're heading to or anything of the sort.

What would you do? I don’t think Zidane is a bad idea at all. No real experience behind him but he’s young and has shown he is a adaptable coach.

 

[endless_wheelies]

http://www.offtheball.com/OTB-AM/Ed-Woodward-Galcticos-strategy-is-failing

"“I spoke to Brian McClair, who’s a bright man, and he said Ed Woodward has always wanted this sporting director position,” he added."

Quelle surprise.

 

[Moriarty]

http://www.offtheball.com/OTB-AM/Ed-Woodward-Galcticos-strategy-is-failing

"“I spoke to Brian McClair, who’s a bright man, and he said Ed Woodward has always wanted this sporting director position,” he added."

Quelle surprise.

If true, we're well and truly fecked. He thinks we're 'Disneyland for adults.'