The Athletic: Man Utd preparing to conduct full audit of pastoral offering to 1st team + transition from academy

[ash_86]

Looks like we are leaving no stone unturned.

 

[Jacko21]

About time.

By all accounts, United’s pastoral care has left a lot to be desired since Sir Alex retired.

 

[Solius]

Fred will come into his own now.

 

[kps88]

That's a terribly worded tweet considering it's from a journalist.

 

[Red00012]

Pastor Fred will be made captain

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Anne Wylie is Head of Player Care.

 

[AdNani]

i have no idea what this means, anyone enlighten me as i dont subscribe so can't see article

 

[elnorte]

That's a terribly worded tweet considering it's from a journalist.

Agreed. Shoddily written and I had to read it several times to understand what he was actually meaning.

 

[phelans shorts]

i have no idea what this means, anyone enlighten me as i dont subscribe so can't see article

We’re bringing in someone new to look after the players, but are having an external expert look over our systems first.

 

[Pexbo]

About fecking time. Our players have been struggling to pastor anyone for as long as I can remember.

 

[AdNani]

We’re bringing in someone new to look after the players, but are having an external expert look over our systems first.

look after them in what way? surely they're agents/PR teams do this anyway?

 

[phelans shorts]

look after them in what way? surely they're agents/PR teams do this anyway?

Nah clubs do most. Stuff like sorting somewhere to live etc…

Big agents might look after their top clients, not much use for a, say, Dylan Levitt though.

 

[Tom Cato]

So according to the Oxford dictionary, Ornstein made something up, and unless Luke Shaw is cattle this probably needs editing.


pastoral
/ˈpɑːst(ə)r(ə)l/
adjective
1.

1. (of land) used for the keeping or grazing of sheep or cattle.
   "scattered pastoral farms"
   2.
   (in the Christian Church) concerning or appropriate to the giving of spiritual guidance.
   "pastoral and doctrinal issues"
   
   
   

 

[Real Name]

What the hell is pastoral offering?

 

[Catt]

i have no idea what this means, anyone enlighten me as i dont subscribe so can't see article

So glad you asked

 

[tomaldinho1]

What the hell is pastoral offering?

I assume he means pastoral care, which is essentially support like you see in schools for anti-bullying, safeguarding etc. I’m sure we already have this as a club.

 

[Hoof the ball]

Ah. Pastor Fred giveth and Pastor Fred taketh away.

Amen.

 

[Chipper]

look after them in what way? surely they're agents/PR teams do this anyway?

There'll be loads. Finding a place to live like someone said, but I think some clubs almost leave no stone unturned in that regard. From recommanding schools for player's children, to helping find plumbers/electricians etc. if work needs doing on their house, where to shop, where to go on holiday in the off-season, counselling if something happens in family life, dealing with anger issues or addiction, advice for young players about career paths/alternative options if they look like they won't make it and gaining qualifications. Almost anything they could need advice with.

Agents do a lot of that sort of thing too and some players have personal assistants.

 

[SoCross]

i have no idea what this means, anyone enlighten me as i dont subscribe so can't see article

I think pastoral care in this sense is involved in guiding young players through school etc etc providing them with career counselling.

 

[Ibi Dreams]

So according to the Oxford dictionary, Ornstein made something up, and unless Luke Shaw is cattle this probably needs editing.


pastoral
/ˈpɑːst(ə)r(ə)l/
adjective
1.

1. (of land) used for the keeping or grazing of sheep or cattle.
   "scattered pastoral farms"
   2.
   (in the Christian Church) concerning or appropriate to the giving of spiritual guidance.
   "pastoral and doctrinal issues"
   
   

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pastoral_care

 

[Plant0x84]

From Wikipedia:-

Pastoral care as a contemporary term is distinguished from traditional pastoral ministry, which is religious (primarily Christian). Institutional pastoral care departments in Europe are increasingly not only multi-faith but inclusive in particular of non-religious, humanist approaches to providing support and comfort .

pastoral care is relating gently and skilfully, with the inner world of individuals from all walks of life, and the elements that go to make up that persons sense of self, their inner resources, resilience and capacity to cope.

 

[horsechoker]

Do our tubby players need any more pasta?

 

[Telsim]

Ten Hag will need some divine help for sure. This season has made me something of a holy man as I've spent most of it on my knees.

 

[didz]

What the hell is pastoral offering?

"Pastoral" is an old Church-y term - like the kind of help a Chaplain might give in terms of offering advice, guidance and support to people under their care. As I understand the wording, it's just about what care is on offer to the players.

I think it's brilliant news. For years we've had reports about players having a tough time adapting to life as a Man Utd player.

A full audit on what the club is doing to help it's players has been desperately needed for a while now. Getting a specialist in, instead of someone who's been promoted into it via secretarial positions is a really good sign as well.

 

[TheReligion]

Pasta pre and post match. It’s a staple

 

[V.O.]

So according to the Oxford dictionary, Ornstein made something up, and unless Luke Shaw is cattle this probably needs editing.


pastoral
/ˈpɑːst(ə)r(ə)l/
adjective
1.

1. (of land) used for the keeping or grazing of sheep or cattle.
   "scattered pastoral farms"
   2.
   (in the Christian Church) concerning or appropriate to the giving of spiritual guidance.
   "pastoral and doctrinal issues"
   
   

What the hell is pastoral offering?

I'm pretty sure pastoral care is fancy bullshit workplace type speak for looking after the emotional needs etc of people in an organisation. So in this case, it'll be making sure the players are looked after away from the pitch.

Presumably comes from the religious idea of a church taking care of their flock etc.

 

[AdNani]

Nah clubs do most. Stuff like sorting somewhere to live etc…

Big agents might look after their top clients, not much use for a, say, Dylan Levitt though.

ah ok thanks

There'll be loads. Finding a place to live like someone said, but I think some clubs almost leave no stone unturned in that regard. From recommanding schools for player's children, to helping find plumbers/electricians etc. if work needs doing on their house, where to shop, where to go on holiday in the off-season, counselling if something happens in family life, dealing with anger issues or addiction, advice for young players about career paths/alternative options if they look like they won't make it and gaining qualifications. Almost anything they could need advice with.

Agents do a lot of that sort of thing too and some players have personal assistants.

Sounds like it's aimed at players who perhaps don't have the clout with agents to be looked after as well as they should? good to see a another positive change from the club, Murtough is growing on me by the day

 

[Jacko21]

Scheckter recently left West Ham and started his own consulting business.

Here's the kind of stuff that will be looked at as part of the audit:

• Player relocation & onboarding
• Internal team communications – how to engage with the group and get the right feedback
• Team logistics – optimising away travel for minimal disruption
• Unhappy or discontented athletes
• Athletes taking too long to settle or not settling at all
• Unhappy or negative family/support unit around the athletes impacting performance
• Athletes isolated or struggling to fit in to the group
• Negative atmosphere within squad
• Player wellbeing – quantitative data and improvement tracking
• Match day experience for VIPs/families/players

 

[V.O.]

Sounds like it's aimed at players who perhaps don't have the clout with agents to be looked after as well as they should? good to see a another positive change from the club, Murtough is growing on me by the day

Yeah, it does feel as though we're finally taking a few steps into the 21st century. Getting stuff like this right will go a long way to making a more united dressing room with better motivated players, and could even go some way to preventing another Greenwood-type situation somewhere in the future.

 

[facchiano]

Scheckter recently left West Ham and started his own consulting business.

Here's the kind of stuff that will be looked at as part of the audit:

• Player relocation & onboarding
• Internal team communications – how to engage with the group and get the right feedback
• Team logistics – optimising away travel for minimal disruption
• Unhappy or discontented athletes
• Athletes taking too long to settle or not settling at all
• Unhappy or negative family/support unit around the athletes impacting performance
• Athletes isolated or struggling to fit in to the group
• Negative atmosphere within squad
• Player wellbeing – quantitative data and improvement tracking
• Match day experience for VIPs/families/players

Thank you for this. I've always wondered what kind of check and balances clubs have in place to help a bunch of immature footballers with a silver spoon in their mouth. Like basic things that you're taught from a young age a lot of these footballers are incapable of doing. Is financial literacy part of a clubs help to players?

 

[Andy_Cole]

Scheckter recently left West Ham and started his own consulting business.

Here's the kind of stuff that will be looked at as part of the audit:

• Player relocation & onboarding
• Internal team communications – how to engage with the group and get the right feedback
• Team logistics – optimising away travel for minimal disruption
• Unhappy or discontented athletes
• Athletes taking too long to settle or not settling at all
• Unhappy or negative family/support unit around the athletes impacting performance
• Athletes isolated or struggling to fit in to the group
• Negative atmosphere within squad
• Player wellbeing – quantitative data and improvement tracking
• Match day experience for VIPs/families/players

I know we’re making jokes but it seems we’re terrible at this. Again it was something that I think SAF was excellent at and we we’re left a huge hole. A big thing that worries me is diet. How can several members of our squad over the years get this wrong. Needs sorting.

 

[Jeffchin]

Saw this on reddit:

"Pastoral care and onboarding has been a big issue at the club, something that was barely looked at till Ole came in. From the day Fergie left to the day Ole came in, we were signing players and then just dropping them off in Chester. Players were pretty much left to sort it out themselves. Luke Shaw and Memphis were the two highlighted cases where Shaw just came up with a bunch of friends and hired his mate to be his chef.

Luke Shaw was still a kid when we signed him. He didn’t know anybody so hired 2 friends from down south to be his “driver” and “chef”. Of course, none of them knew how to cook so the three would eat takeaways and play FIFA every night.

Pogba lived in a hotel for quite a while, till he could sort out a house for himself.

Cavani had big problems when he arrived and wanted to go back to South America. Turns out he just has a protein filled diet and normally has these South American style meats that you wouldn’t find in a sainsburys. Took 6 months and the player threatening to leave for somebody to point out a butchers that he could get the things he wanted from.

Meanwhile over the road, when they sign a player, they’ve got houses ready to move into with other players nearby. Here’s your driver to make sure you get to training. Here’s a chef to get your dieting right. Heres a language tutor, they’re currently teaching English to these players. Here’s 3 schools for your kids, other players kids go there too. What does your wife like? Here’s some things to keep her busy. Here’s a phone with a UK SIM card, a selection of cars for you to take. Everything is thought of and done so that a player can focus entirely on their football.

Onboarding is a hugely overlooked part of modern football. The clubs are spending 10s of millions on players but not going the extra mile to ensure their investment is looked after so they can get the most out of it"

 

[HTG]

Reading that headline I’m about 70% sure your club wants to sacrifice a virgin for future success.

 

[Jacko21]

I know we’re making jokes but it seems we’re terrible at this. Again it was something that I think SAF was excellent at and we we’re left a huge hole. A big thing that worries me is diet. How can several members of our squad over the years get this wrong. Needs sorting.

It's definitely a reflection of how we have been run in recent years, that a club of United's size needs an external consultant to point this stuff out. It's actually quite a canny business idea, because I imagine there's lots of clubs within the pyramid that could benefit from this kind of input on a consultancy basis - but a club like United should already have all of this in order.

 

[Revaulx]

What does Fletcher do?

If what has been reported is true, his number one remit is to help academy players transition into the first team squad.

He’s worked at other clubs. Maybe it’s him that’s realised United are bad in the pastoral field, and need to improve?

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Saw this on reddit:

"Pastoral care and onboarding has been a big issue at the club, something that was barely looked at till Ole came in. From the day Fergie left to the day Ole came in, we were signing players and then just dropping them off in Chester. Players were pretty much left to sort it out themselves. Luke Shaw and Memphis were the two highlighted cases where Shaw just came up with a bunch of friends and hired his mate to be his chef.

Luke Shaw was still a kid when we signed him. He didn’t know anybody so hired 2 friends from down south to be his “driver” and “chef”. Of course, none of them knew how to cook so the three would eat takeaways and play FIFA every night.

Pogba lived in a hotel for quite a while, till he could sort out a house for himself.

Cavani had big problems when he arrived and wanted to go back to South America. Turns out he just has a protein filled diet and normally has these South American style meats that you wouldn’t find in a sainsburys. Took 6 months and the player threatening to leave for somebody to point out a butchers that he could get the things he wanted from.

Meanwhile over the road, when they sign a player, they’ve got houses ready to move into with other players nearby. Here’s your driver to make sure you get to training. Here’s a chef to get your dieting right. Heres a language tutor, they’re currently teaching English to these players. Here’s 3 schools for your kids, other players kids go there too. What does your wife like? Here’s some things to keep her busy. Here’s a phone with a UK SIM card, a selection of cars for you to take. Everything is thought of and done so that a player can focus entirely on their football.

Onboarding is a hugely overlooked part of modern football. The clubs are spending 10s of millions on players but not going the extra mile to ensure their investment is looked after so they can get the most out of it"

Well that’s infuriating, if true.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Saw this on reddit:

"Pastoral care and onboarding has been a big issue at the club, something that was barely looked at till Ole came in. From the day Fergie left to the day Ole came in, we were signing players and then just dropping them off in Chester. Players were pretty much left to sort it out themselves. Luke Shaw and Memphis were the two highlighted cases where Shaw just came up with a bunch of friends and hired his mate to be his chef.

Luke Shaw was still a kid when we signed him. He didn’t know anybody so hired 2 friends from down south to be his “driver” and “chef”. Of course, none of them knew how to cook so the three would eat takeaways and play FIFA every night.

Pogba lived in a hotel for quite a while, till he could sort out a house for himself.

Cavani had big problems when he arrived and wanted to go back to South America. Turns out he just has a protein filled diet and normally has these South American style meats that you wouldn’t find in a sainsburys. Took 6 months and the player threatening to leave for somebody to point out a butchers that he could get the things he wanted from.

Meanwhile over the road, when they sign a player, they’ve got houses ready to move into with other players nearby. Here’s your driver to make sure you get to training. Here’s a chef to get your dieting right. Heres a language tutor, they’re currently teaching English to these players. Here’s 3 schools for your kids, other players kids go there too. What does your wife like? Here’s some things to keep her busy. Here’s a phone with a UK SIM card, a selection of cars for you to take. Everything is thought of and done so that a player can focus entirely on their football.

Onboarding is a hugely overlooked part of modern football. The clubs are spending 10s of millions on players but not going the extra mile to ensure their investment is looked after so they can get the most out of it"

The reports of cliques might have also helped this along. Making sure everybody understands each other so they mix together better, then not so inclined to stick to their own little groups. Making sure there are the right influences in the background is also important and has wrecked a few careers. I am flabbergasted that a club of our size has basically left players, especially young players to their own devices.

 

[Bondi77]

Hallelujah!

 

[izec]

That with Luke Shaw is totally believable. Probably to this day as well, would explain a lot.

At City and Pool, you imagine everything is in place and professional in and around football matters, so players only need to work and perform.

I have a feeling we leave the players all the freedom in the world, as nobody cared when Fergie was here as it worked and the man was all in one. The players need to be much more micromanaged and looked after, they just do whatever they want, on and off the pitch.

 

[Rory 7]

This is really interesting. The audit appears to be around all areas of player welfare but it did get me thinking...the world has changed so much since Fergie first took over. When you think back to then all our players were from generally the same part of the world, Britain, Ireland, Scandinavia at a push. Today we really do need to think seriously about player welfare in the context of different cultures, religions, backgrounds. It’s interesting. Would love to know how far ahead the other clubs are on this front or are going down a brand new rabbit hole.