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

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Alabaster Codify7

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As much as I love the idea of Cantona back at OT in some capacity, it'd be a ridiculous move by the club and I don't see it happening at all.
 

Yakuza_devils

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I genuinely believe that SAF is behind Ole appointment. Ole tactics bring back the memories of SAF glory days.

If SAF had no interest to be DOF at least he can have some adviser roles in the club to keep the philosophy and tradition

I don't mind Cantona as DOF, SAF will mentor him.
 

Okey

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Erm, Jordi Cruyff anyone? Ex United. Experienced DOF even if at smaller clubs. Just throwing it out there...
 

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Cantona would be a truly idiotic and shameful appointment. These days he's a football celebrity, someone you go for a good quote, he should be no where near such a position at a massive club.
 

sam147

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Promoting from within is just another way of keeping Woodward in control. Whoever he promotes he will always hold power over them. Rather have someone with experience who knows what they are doing
 

Judas

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He will hold power over whoever we hire in the role! For gods sake how many times does it need to be said, they'll still have to report to Woody, he's their boss.
 

RedDevil@84

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Promoting from within is just another way of keeping Woodward in control. Whoever he promotes he will always hold power over them. Rather have someone with experience who knows what they are doing
A DoF is not getting any kind of power of attorney or a pre-signed check book from Woodward. All final decisions still rest with Woodward.
 

DomesticTadpole

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A DoF is not getting any kind of power of attorney or a pre-signed check book from Woodward. All final decisions still rest with Woodward.
The financial side it will be Woodward's call, but a DOF will work with the manager as to who should come in then they will ask Woodward for the go ahead to negotiate. If Woodward starts trying to pick the purchases he will end up changing managers more than he is now, but for difference reasons.
 

Fosu-Mens

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A DoF is not getting any kind of power of attorney or a pre-signed check book from Woodward. All final decisions still rest with Woodward.
Yes, but it will move Woodward further away and less involved in footballing decisions. He will still have the final say, in regards to if he will open the check book or not, but hopefully not involved in identifying targets etc.
 

RedDevil@84

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The financial side it will be Woodward's call, but a DOF will work with the manager as to who should come in then they will ask Woodward for the go ahead to negotiate. If Woodward starts trying to pick the purchases he will end up changing managers more than he is now, but for difference reasons.
Agree.
Woodward has two jobs now - Handle footballing side and handle financial side. He is just delegating one of the jobs to a DoF.
However the point was DoF does not get a free pass, regardless of whether he is promoted from within or got from outside. He still would need to report to Woodward and hypothetically if Woodward has a problem with going for player X, for non-financial reasons, DoF can't overrule that.
 

Beagle

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Is this still going to happen? Haven't read anything substantial in a while.
 

Kag

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I don’t know how we’ve managed to win nine games out of ten without this mythical entity.

It’s almost as if coaching and attacking football are the responsibility of the coach we have in charge.
 

KM

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I have a theory. What if Mislintat's leaving Arsenal is actually a gardening leave until the end of the season before joining Utd?

Again, a Director of Football is a broad term. It could just mean someone who oversees the playing aspect of the club in some way who isn't the manager.

It ranges from a guy that scouts out awesome players on the cheap and awesome players who fit perfectly into Utd's style of play at the time. It could be someone who watches all levels at Utd who decides which academy prospects get to be promoted for a shot at the first team. It could be someone who's a general manager who's somewhat de facto on first team affairs and is a helping hand out of the media's eye (rumoured that SAF could be this right now).
He'll leave Arsenal from 8th Feb, so we won't have to wait that long if there's any news about him joining us. Regardless, I'm getting a feeling that we'll indeed appoint Sven Mislintat too. Let's see.
 

andersj

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Erm, Jordi Cruyff anyone? Ex United. Experienced DOF even if at smaller clubs. Just throwing it out there...
Sven Mislintat would probably not be a director of football, but rather "head of recruitment" or similar. Unless they think that he for some reason would be perfect for a different role than what he have done previously. It would be nice to have both; a "director of football" and a "head of recruitment". Similar to Dortmund.

Jordi Cruyff is a cool shout for director of football due to background and name. No idea about his "ability". Was Solskjaers best friend at the club when he arrived. Winter have an intervju with him today (apparently in Manchester!), but I can't access it.
 

JohnnyKills

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This is more important than the managerial appointment. Much more.

Find the right DoF and we should prevent anymore disastrous managerial appointments in future.
 

Lash

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He'll leave Arsenal from 8th Feb, so we won't have to wait that long if there's any news about him joining us. Regardless, I'm getting a feeling that we'll indeed appoint Sven Mislintat too. Let's see.
How comes? I can't seem to see very much linking him to us. Would be interesting if so. Another kick in the nuts from us, to Arsenal, as well :D.
 

Chairman Steve

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The Mislintat theory for me comes from a few things:

  • We get rid of Jose and we’re looking to appoint an interim manager with a supposed view of also looking to appoint a new permanent manager and a director of football figure at the club
  • About a month later, Arsenal announce Mislintat is leaving Arsenal after just over a year despite Mislintat supposedly being a key part to the post Wenger Arsenal
  • It’s rumoured that Mislintat is leaving because there’s no money to spend at Arsenal, as well as other speculation such as Gazidis leaving left a room for a more senior position to be created (technical director) which he coveted, but didn’t get.
  • Woodward apparently tried to get Klopp whilst the latter was at Dortmund (the Disneyland story) so it wouldn’t be too far fetched that Woody would look to get the guy who brought the players in there, which was Mislintat
  • Utd have probably realised the Galactico route of purchasing marquee names like Schweinsteiger, ADM and Falcao didn’t work, so they’d go back to trying to finding smaller names and build their own marquee names like the Sir Alex days
  • Mislintat has a strong skill in finding younger players and smaller names such as Kagawa, Lewandowski, O.Dembele to name a few
  • The usual hoover upper of anything good and German, Bayern, haven’t cropped up as his next destination and they appear to be happy with their current personnel
  • Raphael Honigstein said last week that Mislintat sees his future with another club in the Premier League
  • It’s been reported that Jose has blocked any kind of DoF like figure coming into the club, which is what the board want to happen
  • Mislintat would have money to spend at Utd and he would probably be entrusted sizeable power by Woodward since Woody likes the way Dortmund recruit and mould players.
I can’t really see any of the other big teams needing him either... City don’t with their old Barca posse, Spurs won’t since Poch has gained power from them getting rid of someone similar, Liverpool probably not unless Mislintat wants to link up with Klopp again, Chelsea possibly I guess?
 

Dve

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New DOF is going to be Andrea Berta from Atletico Madrid. Reportedly.
 

Red For Ever

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IF Cantona was appointed DOF what would everyone’s thoughts be? Too inexperienced? Too romantic? feck it it’s Eric?
I have no idea if he would be good or not, I think he has the knowledge and reputation to help him, but not sure thats enough.

But Ole and Eric working together at OT next season would create a stunning atmosphere for players and fans :D

Beckham as Media manager, Keane as Head of Security, and ...............
 
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Lash

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The Mislintat theory for me comes from a few things:

  • We get rid of Jose and we’re looking to appoint an interim manager with a supposed view of also looking to appoint a new permanent manager and a director of football figure at the club
  • About a month later, Arsenal announce Mislintat is leaving Arsenal after just over a year despite Mislintat supposedly being a key part to the post Wenger Arsenal
  • It’s rumoured that Mislintat is leaving because there’s no money to spend at Arsenal, as well as other speculation such as Gazidis leaving left a room for a more senior position to be created (technical director) which he coveted, but didn’t get.
  • Woodward apparently tried to get Klopp whilst the latter was at Dortmund (the Disneyland story) so it wouldn’t be too far fetched that Woody would look to get the guy who brought the players in there, which was Mislintat
  • Utd have probably realised the Galactico route of purchasing marquee names like Schweinsteiger, ADM and Falcao didn’t work, so they’d go back to trying to finding smaller names and build their own marquee names like the Sir Alex days
  • Mislintat has a strong skill in finding younger players and smaller names such as Kagawa, Lewandowski, O.Dembele to name a few
  • The usual hoover upper of anything good and German, Bayern, haven’t cropped up as his next destination and they appear to be happy with their current personnel
  • Raphael Honigstein said last week that Mislintat sees his future with another club in the Premier League
  • It’s been reported that Jose has blocked any kind of DoF like figure coming into the club, which is what the board want to happen
  • Mislintat would have money to spend at Utd and he would probably be entrusted sizeable power by Woodward since Woody likes the way Dortmund recruit and mould players.
I can’t really see any of the other big teams needing him either... City don’t with their old Barca posse, Spurs won’t since Poch has gained power from them getting rid of someone similar, Liverpool probably not unless Mislintat wants to link up with Klopp again, Chelsea possibly I guess?
Thanks for summing that up! it does actually make quite a lot of sense. I'd be more than happy if he came in as DOF/ head of recruitment and we gave the job to Ole full time. Would plug Ole's obviously gap in his proven skills now.
 

0le

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He'll leave Arsenal from 8th Feb, so we won't have to wait that long if there's any news about him joining us. Regardless, I'm getting a feeling that we'll indeed appoint Sven Mislintat too. Let's see.
Either way I hope it is sorted quickly. Whoever his in charge will need time to settle and plan for the upcoming summer transfer window.
 

Chairman Steve

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It’d be great if Mislintat could walk into OT on the 9th as a technical director, then he has three months to evaluate the first team squad, review the academy squad and then come summer he has a list of youth players to potentially promote and/or awesome players that are lesser known who can be signed for reasonable money.
 

Tiber

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I have my doubts about Mislintat. Quickly fell out of favour within Arsenal but some want him to walk into an even more powerful job at United?
 

Adnan

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Mislintat is leaving Arsenal due to not being happy with working under a DoF? If that is true, then I don't see him coming to us.

Raphael Honigstein who is usually on the money when it comes to German football has reported, Mislintat will join another EPL club, or something along those lines. Which other club in England could he join if it's not us? I'm assuming it'll be one of the top 6 clubs and possibly Everton/Wolves.
 

Adisa

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Only very few of our signings post SAF can be classed as Galatico buys.
 

KM

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Mislintat is leaving Arsenal due to not being happy with working under a DoF? If that is true, then I don't see him coming to us.

Raphael Honigstein who is usually on the money when it comes to German football has reported, Mislintat will join another EPL club, or something along those lines. Which other club in England could he join if it's not us? I'm assuming it'll be one of the top 6 clubs and possibly Everton/Wolves.
No. Ornstein said on a podcast that Mislintat left Arsenal because he wanted the technical director role.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Gunners/comments/anffz6/points_raised_in_the_ornstein_arsecast_podcast/

and given how reliable Ornstein is for Arsenal, we can safely say that this was indeed the case.
 

roonster09

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Only very few of our signings post SAF can be classed as Galatico buys.
Yeah, not sure why anyone even believe that. We have signed few big name players and all of a sudden Woodward is obsessed with Galactico policy or players who have good marketing thing.
 

Dve

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reported by whom?
Search for a youtube movie named "Dunphy, Giles on Man Utd, still doubting Solskjær (...)". Don´t know how reliable this guy is, but I got it from here (starting from around 30:30 in the movie).
 

onemanarmy

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Search for a youtube movie named "Dunphy, Giles on Man Utd, still doubting Solskjær (...)". Don´t know how reliable this guy is, but I got it from here (starting from around 30:30 in the movie).
Excellent source, a random YT video.
 

IRELANDUNITED

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For anyone interested Paddy Power has betting on who will be our next director of football, odds are as follows:

Eric Cantona - Evens

Paul Mitchell - 3/1

Edwin Van der Sar 4/1

Fabio Paratici 11/2

Monchi - 11/2

Andrea Berta 11/1

Gary Neville - 14/1

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - 14/1

Michael Zorc - 20/1

Marcel Brands 25/1

Ralf Rangnick - 25/1

Giuseppe Marotta - 25/1

Luis Campos - 25/1

Les Reed - 50/1

Peter Schmeichel - 66/1

Nicola Cortese - 66/1

David Beckham - 80/1

Paul Scholes - 90/1

Rachel Riley - 225/1

Usain Bolt - 400/1

Andy Tait - 500/1

Mick Hucknall - 500/1
 
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