Why not just fire all four? I don't understand why ETH should get a pass when many of the players he wanted were signed.
Manchester United name John Murtough as Football Director and Darren Fletcher as Technical Director
- Thread starter Tom Van Persie
- Start date
It basically seems like he just outsources his job to the manager and puts his feet up while they get on with it
I really don't understand it, Neville kept saying on Sky how we don't have a Sporting Director when we do.
He would surely know that, or he knows from the inside that Murtough is not a real Sporting Director like at other clubs. He spoke of people on the inside fearing for their jobs so I would assume those same people have let him know that Murtough does not do what we would expect a Sporting Director to do.
Maybe it's a roundabout way of saying he's a clown who doesn't have a clue and isn't doing his supposed job. Not like Neville's going to come out say that directly, so writing him off as an empty suit who may as well not exist is probably the next best thing.
Only because I don't want to see yet another manager sacked by player power
There needs to be more accountability for our catastrophic recruitment than just sacking ETH. I find it inconceivable that Murtough can remain on board to work with another manager. It's time for us to hire a proper sporting director.
I think it's a safe bet that everyone will be held to account should Ratcliffe get his foot in the door and begin a slow-burning takeover.
Not sure about Fletcher but the other 2 would surely be gone, along with a lot of others. I think ETH will have to go as well, his stock is so low now that he can’t really have a fresh start and I think best to just bite the bullet and bring someone else in rather than having to sack him fairly quickly anyway.
Not sure about Arnold and Fletcher tbh. Mourthough though....the sooner he goes the better.
There is no place for Murtough to hide now.
At first, Murtough's fans were saying it was all Ed and not Murtough even though he was the right hand man for Ed in football for the last decade.
Then, when Ed was gone and Murtough appointed real DOF with power, they say Murtough need time. Hence, he can't really "perform his roles" until everything revamped including the scouting department and whatnot.
Fast forward 2 years we are at one of the worst state in our history post SAF. So what's the excuse for Murtough fans now?
Now it's Arnold and Glazers? Murtough is always the right man even though he has no CV to back it up.
At first, Murtough's fans were saying it was all Ed and not Murtough even though he was the right hand man for Ed in football for the last decade.
Then, when Ed was gone and Murtough appointed real DOF with power, they say Murtough need time. Hence, he can't really "perform his roles" until everything revamped including the scouting department and whatnot.
Fast forward 2 years we are at one of the worst state in our history post SAF. So what's the excuse for Murtough fans now?
Now it's Arnold and Glazers? Murtough is always the right man even though he has no CV to back it up.
He should never have been appointed by Moyes
But, but… Murtough brought Ronaldo home. You don’t get a much bigger statement signing than that.
How is it player power? The manager simply isn't getting results largely with the players he signed. Seems like a cop-out to blame poor results on player power, downing tools, or the board. At some point, the manager has to take responsibility.
My point was I feel he at least deserves the opportunity to work with a proper structure,yes I am not denying he has wasted too much money particularly on Antony and Mount.
Wait so if ETH is gonna get sacked now, is that Murtough making that decision? Is that Arnold making that decision? Both of whom are about to sacked soon themselves?
Murtough decides and brings it to the approvement of Arnold who brings it to the approvement of Kevin who brings it to the approvement of Bryan who brings it to the approvement of Edward who brings it to the approvement of Darcie who brings it to the approvement of Avram who brings it to the approvement of Joel, who asks how much it's going to cost and says he'll decide within 12 months, maybe,
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Depressingly true
Will believe this when it happens but please please let it happen. At this point the season is depressing to watch anyway so anything for some sort of positivity.
You laugh and diss John Murtaugh but you'd be glad if he was your da
Not as depressing as my spelling there!
Maybe, relationships with dads get complicated.
I hope the posters who pushed back on those who were questioning the appointments of Murtough and Arnold are happy now. "Lets give them a chance" was their argument. They must be happy to see the club turning into a charity for underqualified people.
I bet he got you the manager you wanted though.
So maybe you don’t have a clue too.
Not sure if you're being sarcastic here or being serious.I bet he got you the manager you wanted though.
So maybe you don’t have a clue too.
I have been against these appointments right from the start and getting ETH in doesn't change that.
Nothing will happen to him until the partial sale is complete, but if we are to believe Ten Hag insisted on total control over transfers, or he was simply given final say in an act of complete faith and support from those above him, a conversation would need to take place with the new people coming in outlining he no longer would have final say on transfers and will be required to state clearly how he wants the team to play or he’s done.
Even when (if) this Mitchell guy comes in, it’s going to take a long while to sort this mess out and even then there’s no guarantee he will. People forget even the much-maligned Solskjaer organisation did actively pursue Haaland and Bellingham and regardless of the reasons they failed to get them in, the intent was there.
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I think people, like myself and a good portion of folk on here, know nothing about the running of a football club and were hoping things would improve with the new appointments, just as some are now hopeful the rumoured Mitchell can do the same.
Out of interest, who would you appoint?
Lads, grab the fireworks and see you outside Murtough’s house.
My point is you didn’t have a clue how good this guy was going to be and the things you wanted like ETH he did.
So maybe, me included.. people need to relax on thinking they know it all when in reality most don’t have a f’ing clue like Murtough.
You probably want ETH to ride it out too.
For such a large organization like Utd, its justified to question such appointments for people who would be learning on the job or have no CV to show that they are good enough. No other big club makes moves like these or atleast its not very common.
@UnitedSofa who do you blame for our transfer business? Murtough or ETH?
Not really. Most DoF’s at top clubs come from within. Open to be corrected though.
Yes, it's definitely not unusual for ex-players for to stay at the club in a role close to the team, effectively working as an assistant to the DOF and later on stepping up into that role. Point is, if that's the case they are often effectively nurtured to grow into that role, they aren't thrown in it without preparation.
Which btw is a reason why "jobs for the boys" is not always a bad thing. If they have talent and interest in such roles, why shouldn't they go for it? They at least already know their workplace, and if they work their way up through the ranks and deserve their promotions, there is nothing wrong about it. IF.
I predicted as much months ago. I mean it's beyond obvious to anyone with an ounce of common sense.
We've failed for a decade due to hiring people who aren't fit for purpose. People either learn on the job or they are flat out incompetent at their job. I've got no business experience but I know the first thing I'd do if I owned United is to make wholesale changes to the personnel employed to oversee footballing operations.
We can't sack the entire squad and replace them, but we sure as hell can sack the morons who are responsible for assembling the mess of a squad.
I mean how more football people can you get than actual football people. It’s true an education in the role should be adopted but the DoF should understand a clubs ethos and ensure their vision is seen through the training ground onto the pitch.
Darren Fletcher should ideally be perfect but you also want that person to have good relationships in football and an eye for talent.
However right now we really do need someone established to get us back up to scratch.
I'm wasn't asked, but I'll answer: There's no way of telling.
When Murtough was appointed, was he given full power when it comes to incoming transfers (except for the money, let's say) but then chose to hand that power to ETH? If so, it's on him. But if he never had that power in the first place, then I'd blame whoever appointed him to such a halfarsed role.
If it’s true that ETH “demanded” full control over transfers (whatever that means) as a condition of taking the job, maybe it would have been a good idea for Murtough (or whoever) to do some research into his transfer record, or even whether he’d ever been involved with transfers.
Its a great shame there wasn’t anyone in a senior management position at Ajax with whom United had friendly relations. They could have had a little chat.
Oh wait…
Its a great shame there wasn’t anyone in a senior management position at Ajax with whom United had friendly relations. They could have had a little chat.
Oh wait…
Can we really judge Murtough at this point? Doesn't a DOF earn their keep between managerial appointments, ensuring that each appointment is within the same mould as the last so the playing squad doesn't have to be re-assembled every time you sack someone? The transfers have been shocking and a lot of money has been spent but should he be telling the managers who they're allowed to buy to improve their squad? Should anyone except the manager have that kind of power?