As a scout, the people who had a real hand in those deals was Fabio Patrici and of course Beppe Moratta. Juve didn't even see Ribalta as a great loss.
Man Utd set to appoint Director of Football (when hell freezes over)
- Thread starter RedMachine03
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Don't see why not. He'll make sure we get back to our traditionsPeople actually want Neville?
Reed's knocking on a bit now though, can't be far off 70.
Are people fully aware that appointing a DoF carries just as much risk (if not more so) than our next manager? Majority of the talk seems to be based around this being a situation that can't fail and would automatically improve the club. I'm not convinced.
Yup 66, but have done great job at Soton.
Hopefully they get it done quickly before the next appointment. Both this and the new manager will be crucial decisions and we can't feck this up.
What about Alan Carr's dad?
think this should be merged with the mourinho thread guys
Thanks for informing me dude I was under the impression that he was a lot more influential than he was
What if the DOF fecks up?
Paul Mitchell would fit well.
- He’s young
- Successful premier league experience
- Unlike Monchi, could be a long term person because he’s from Manchester
- Is modern thinking
I was thinking of something like that regarding the commercial side. Totally agree with the part in bold and glad something else is thinking along the same lines mate
Then we blame the Glazers.
Not really, has incremental turnover and profit year on year. He is made to be a CEO for a good and service business, just not football.
Would love to see Paul Mitchell working alongside Luis Campos. I think this would be a great combination, with the right manager.
It’s become this big thing that will save our club. It will mean nothing if Woodward still decides he knows better. Like he did to the manager in the summer. It can cause as many problems as it solves.
That would be Phil Jones with a new 10 year contract.Don't see why not. He'll make sure we get back to our traditions
The manager would still have a major say in our dealings but in abscense of any one he won't switch off and let other clubs sign players we should be signing. A dof won't have all the power without the current managers consent, with our old board having the same old principles.
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Then he should stay away from the football side.
I'm not going to dispute that! Hopefully this DOF does that.
If toby costed 75 m, Woodward was absolutely right to overrule any of Willian, perisic, maguire, Boateng and toby as well signings for the money they were supposed to cost. Add aurountovic to the list.
What's this about? Monchi spent 17 years at Sevilla. If that's not long term I don't know what is.
He'd be my choice, also worked with Poch - IIRC?
Plus Paul Mitchell is from Manchester. Some people are hellbent on wanting northern lads running stuff... well here you go! One that is qualified.
You and Jose should work together next!
Good post. Ridiculous flippance in here
Such a shit idea that all elite clubs across Europe have had one for years
In American professional sports the days of one person being both coach and general manager are long gone. And the few recent throwbacks, such as Stan Van Gundy or Tom Thibodeau in the NBA, have proved disastrous.
If the coach is allowed to control transfers and planning, then he tends to go for short term thinking and the club lacks continuity when coaches change.
Also, the job is simply too big these days for one person as the sports have gone global in their recruitment.
In the case of Sir Alex, you had a long term manager capable of thinking long term and United’s league position and market was simpler to understand back then.
But in the period before and after Sir Alex’s retirement, there was no director of football to manage the transition. Not only that, but David Gill retired at the very moment he was needed most.
Ever since, we have had lost transfer windows as managers were indecisive (David Moyes) or living in the past (Van Gaal) or falling out with their players (Mourinho).
Living without a Director of Football was a luxury afforded for a while by SAF and by continued club success, but this time around they will have realized that the hiring of a Director of Football must precede the hiring of a new manager.
Woodward was not enough of a football man to naturally fill that need, nor was it clear that it was even in his job description to take over the kind of decision-making that had always belonged to Sir Alex. This time they need to start with clearly defined roles and a clear division of labor.
If the coach is allowed to control transfers and planning, then he tends to go for short term thinking and the club lacks continuity when coaches change.
Also, the job is simply too big these days for one person as the sports have gone global in their recruitment.
In the case of Sir Alex, you had a long term manager capable of thinking long term and United’s league position and market was simpler to understand back then.
But in the period before and after Sir Alex’s retirement, there was no director of football to manage the transition. Not only that, but David Gill retired at the very moment he was needed most.
Ever since, we have had lost transfer windows as managers were indecisive (David Moyes) or living in the past (Van Gaal) or falling out with their players (Mourinho).
Living without a Director of Football was a luxury afforded for a while by SAF and by continued club success, but this time around they will have realized that the hiring of a Director of Football must precede the hiring of a new manager.
Woodward was not enough of a football man to naturally fill that need, nor was it clear that it was even in his job description to take over the kind of decision-making that had always belonged to Sir Alex. This time they need to start with clearly defined roles and a clear division of labor.
Zidane DOF... Wenger Coach... Manager Blanc maybe.
Spot on. I hope we get someone with a good track record.
Given the choice between working under a DOF or working directly under Woodward, I'd prefer the manager work under a DOF.
Imagine we announce it on MUTV with all former players around. Woodwards comes on stage and he says
"Ladies and gentlemen I wish to announce our DOF. In fact he's already in the audience. Here's the hint. He's English, erm actually a local lad. He's young, a former player and time and time again he proven to be very knowledgeablel"
Sky cameras move quickly towards Gary Neville
"Let me present you, Paul Mitchell"
Id kill to see Gaz's face after that.
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That won't work. What's the use of a DoF if the manager can overrule him.
So we won't be making any signings like Ross barkley when the manager has no plans to use him.
I actually think Wenger would be a fantastic sporting director. Very intelligent man and excellent at spotting potential.
You may not be convinced in us getting a DoF but I think we need someone in with a plan to steady the ship after the crap we have been served up since Sir Alex retired.
There is always a chance of it not going to plan but I would rather a good DoF in who knows what he is doing and has a proper plan for the next say 4-5 years. Rather than keep Ed in charge who has new clue about the football side and seems like he wants to just bring in the next big game manager give them hundreds of millions and when that doesn't work start again.
I've been saying for a while that I think the DoF will be one of the most important appointments in our history as I don't want to see us becoming then new Liverpool.
If Jose had his way, we would have bought Willian, Perisic and Alderweireld for 70m each and sold Martial.
Great post.
He messed it up.
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