United Eye Mikel Gonzalez to replace Dan Ashworth

[dinostar77]

Surely the fact he's been operating with such restrictions means he will have developed an eye for talent, given Bilbao have an excellent track record. Why on earth you think this would translate into an English only strategy is bizarre. If you think he’s going to take a similar narrow approach at United despite there being no need to, it’s more likely that we pick up some basque ballers ahead of the curve if anything.

People worrying he hasn’t got the “network” don’t know that. He’s bought plenty of players from abroad, it’s just where they’re originally from that matters. I just want someone can identify talents who are technically excellent footballers. Bilbao have been pros at that, and the fact they’ve had to do it with such restrictions means they know how to look deep and have experience about how more unknown players have grown.

Seems some of you aren’t willing to let go of the Woodward social media buzzplayer/big name scattergun approach.

Agree that his ability to work with restrictions means he's probably of interest to us. Our financial situation won't improve for a number of years, especially if we redevelop the stadium / build new. The model of the PL is tilling towards buying younger and younger players, thanks to Madrid and their strategy of buying younger players, it's had a knock on effect. Amorim's system requires very energetic players and ineos seem to want work in that end of the market. As ratcliffe said on CNBC last year, "we don't want to buy a mbappe, we want to find and develop the next ones..."

So want a DoF who can think outside of the box, be creative in how he works around his fianncial restrictions, (obviously ours would financial rather than the basque only policy of Bilbao). Also a DoF has an eye for young talent. As DoF for Bilbao his team are probably aware of every young Spanish and French player in their early teens and onwards as they need to find those with basque heritage somewhere in their lineage.

So you could see why there would be interest. Personally I would hope he rejects us and stays at Bilbao. Have nothing but admiration and respect for Bilbao and their philosophy.

 

[crossy1686]

Considering this guy can only sign Basque players (usually kids), and then has to make plans to develop and get those players into the first team to keep Bilbao competitive, I'd say he's doing one hell of a job, and that's what United are likely most interested in. That's a catchment area of about 2 million people, compared to Greater Manchester which is 3 million.

I don't see how this is an 'English only' strategy, unless you thought about it for less than 5 seconds.

 

[devilish]

Many misunderstand the role of SD. That's understandable considering that it varies from one club to another.

The SD is primarily at the top of the football's pyramid. His job , particularly at a club like united were we already have a head of recruitment is that of making sure that each department are working effectively together. Recent reports had shown that this doesn't happen at united particularly surrounding the involvement of data analysis. Meanwhile ashworth was accused of dragging his feet in terms of cuts in the football area which saw United sacking the common guy while concurrently giving salary top ups to Bruno (who was already on a long term contract and a huge salary)

I am not an expert of the guy but from what I read he would make sense. He had built a reputation in the basque region thus berrada would probably know him. He comes from Bilbao who are forced to put huge emphasis on the academy and to sell for top dollar. That's something ineos likes. Regarding his lack of connections due to him being with Bilbao, well, that didn't stop Andoni Zubizarreta from moving to Barca and Marseille after working as SD at Bilbao

 

[Roboc7]

Many misunderstand the role of SD. That's understandable considering that it varies from one club to another.

The SD is primarily at the top of the football's pyramid. His job , particularly at a club like united were we already have a head of recruitment is that of making sure that each department are working effectively together. Recent reports had shown that this doesn't happen at united particularly surrounding the involvement of data analysis. Meanwhile ashworth was accused of dragging his feet in terms of cuts in the football area which saw United sacking the common guy while concurrently giving salary top ups to Bruno (who was already on a long term contract and a huge salary)

I am not an expert of the guy but from what I read he would make sense. He had built a reputation in the basque region thus berrada would probably know him. He comes from Bilbao who are forced to put huge emphasis on the academy and to sell for top dollar. That's something ineos likes. Regarding his lack of connections due to him being with Bilbao, well, that didn't stop Andoni Zubizarreta from moving to Barca and Marseille after working as SD at Bilbao

I think there is too much fixation on replacing Ashworth when really it is looking for someone to fit into the existing structure now. As you say the role varies from club to club, we should now have established what the role will and won’t entail. It may well be suited to someone who is not as high profile and does not expect as much power/influence.

As far as contacts go there is now Berrada and Vivell at the club as well as Wilcox and you’d hope a clear structure of who does what etc.

 

[Yakuza_devils]

While I am no expert in this, I am fed up with all these new appointments in the new football structure. Is it overkill? We have more and more people in the football structure but in term of football we have regressed terribly.

Nowadays, we struggled to beat Leicester, struggle to score goal, struggle to play simple passes, struggle to play the manager system, the list goes on and on.

 

[devilish]

I think there is too much fixation on replacing Ashworth when really it is looking for someone to fit into the existing structure now. As you say the role varies from club to club, we should now have established what the role will and won’t entail. It may well be suited to someone who is not as high profile and does not expect as much power/influence.

As far as contacts go there is now Berrada and Vivell at the club as well as Wilcox and you’d hope a clear structure of who does what etc.

There's no correct answer to it especially from us who sits on the outside and have little idea of what's going on. However here's my 2c about it

a- hiring ANY SD without the CEO's thumbs up was stupid at a whole new level. The SD sits just under the CEO. Its the equivalent of hiring the manager's no 2 without the manager's consent. From what I've read it was yet another Brailsford's mess
b- I'd hire 100 SD if it means keeping Brailsford as far from United's football side as possible (that's a half joke of course which err toward the half serious though)
c- United is huge. That's the first thing managers tend to say the moment they stepped into the club. Mou aged like 20 years at United.
d- anyone with inside information in United will tell you the utter mess there is in there. The only thing working is the academy. The rest is horrifyingly bad from data analysis to fitness right to scouting and transfer negotiating. FFS we can't even cook chicken right.

Considering how big United is and the mess we're in then I really struggle to understand how the present system can work. Sure we can go for Wilcox with Vivell taking the technical director role. However is it a good idea to have 2 people who are new in the job (Berrada had never been CEO and Wilcox has 1 year experience as SD and he's done it at Southampton) to take such huge task? I think we need someone whose big in admin and whose got Berrada's blessing

 

[MaMa given red]

Just because that’s an historic transfer strategy at Bilbao doesn’t mean it’ll become a thing at United. Surely you haven’t only just heard of this in the Basque Country?

If anything it demonstrates his ability to recruit out of such a small selection too.

Maybe the plan is to hire Gonzalez but restrict him to Manchester only?

 

[Roboc7]

There's no correct answer to it especially from us who sits on the outside and have little idea of what's going on. However here's my 2c about it

a- hiring ANY SD without the CEO's thumbs up was stupid at a whole new level. The SD sits just under the CEO. Its the equivalent of hiring the manager's no 2 without the manager's consent. From what I've read it was yet another Brailsford's mess
b- I'd hire 100 SD if it means keeping Brailsford as far from United's football side as possible (that's a half joke of course which err toward the half serious though)
c- United is huge. That's the first thing managers tend to say the moment they stepped into the club. Mou aged like 20 years at United.
d- anyone with inside information in United will tell you the utter mess there is in there. The only thing working is the academy. The rest is horrifyingly bad from data analysis to fitness right to scouting and transfer negotiating. FFS we can't even cook chicken right.

Considering how big United is and the mess we're in then I really struggle to understand how the present system can work. Sure we can go for Wilcox with Vivell taking the technical director role. However is it a good idea to have 2 people who are new in the job (Berrada had never been CEO and Wilcox has 1 year experience as SD and he's done it at Southampton) to take such huge task? I think we need someone whose big in admin and whose got Berrada's blessing

They should have waited for Berrada to be in place but Ashworth was having problems at Newcastle and it maybe was too tempting at the time.

It’s a huge task for whoever took these jobs on, time will tell but I hope if they have decided they need someone else then they bring them in quickly. They should know what the remit is now and then it’s just wait and see how the whole things work.

It might take multiple attempts to sort out, rarely does it work first time but I think we at least have people who are more qualified and who will be held accountable. It’s a low bar but it’s much better than what we’ve had.

 

[lex talionis]

Athletic's philosophy of fielding only players of Basque descent goes back to the founding of the club and isn't any one DOF's strategy. I was in Bilbao a few month ago and this philosophy is written into the DNA of the club and the fanbase. There has been some talk of abandoning this, but I don't see that happening any time soon.

This will never happen at Old Trafford.

 

[Varun1]

Athletic's philosophy of fielding only players of Basque descent goes back to the founding of the club and isn't any one DOF's strategy. I was in Bilbao a few month ago and this philosophy is written into the DNA of the club and the fanbase. There has been some talk of abandoning this, but I don't see that happening any time soon.

This will never happen at Old Trafford.

Whatever works for them. But can you imagine if we had the same philosophy, a club without Best, Keane, Giggs, Schmeichel, VdS, Ronaldo, Irwin, Fergie, Dong Fangzhou...

 

[Gandalf]

While I am no expert in this, I am fed up with all these new appointments in the new football structure. Is it overkill? We have more and more people in the football structure but in term of football we have regressed terribly.

Nowadays, we struggled to beat Leicester, struggle to score goal, struggle to play simple passes, struggle to play the manager system, the list goes on and on.

All these executive appointments do seem to make for a top heavy structure. Showing my age but reminds me of the "Yes Prime Minister" epsiode with the hospital that had no Doctors or Nurses but had a first rate administrative staff. Maybe Jim wants an elite boardroom and no players.