Manchester United name John Murtough as Football Director and Darren Fletcher as Technical Director
- Thread starter Tom Van Persie
- Start date
Yeah it was. If you don't want to Google the countless quotes from these managers that's on you. If you really believe Woodward had no involvement in football decisions over the past number of years then fair enough but there is plenty of reports to the contrary.
Is football direct the same as director of football or is it like "assistant to the manager" not "assistant manager"
Sounds positive, if nothing else at least that gobshite Judge will have fletch next to him to slap him once in a while.
Bunch of fecking whiners in here 
I personally feel this is Ole's work.
Woodward is quite trusting of Ole (except for spending all of Glazers money) considering Ole has given some stability to United.
I can imagine that Ole recommended/made Woodward choose a DOF and Technical director to be there because Ole is clearly not here to win a title - he is rebuilding United.
It's why people called Ole a DOF for so long because people can see his positive work - I think this is just something extra.
Woodward is quite trusting of Ole (except for spending all of Glazers money) considering Ole has given some stability to United.
I can imagine that Ole recommended/made Woodward choose a DOF and Technical director to be there because Ole is clearly not here to win a title - he is rebuilding United.
It's why people called Ole a DOF for so long because people can see his positive work - I think this is just something extra.
Yeah that’s the feeling I got. However at the same time we’ve been doing a LOT better in recruitment so it might be best not to rock the boat too much and bring in an outsider who may not see eye to eye with the manager etc.
At least the position has been created now, which is a first for us.
Hopefully we might lure Edwin back for the position
Looks more like an organisation restructure more than anything radically new or cutting edge. Interested Darren Fletcher’s Technical role given the tag he appears to have as a ‘Student of Football’.
The structure is about as important as the names appointed in this case, because it is new. If the owners are committed to the structure, it now means for example that any of Woodward or Ole can be replaced without it necessarily meaning a change in the multi-year strategy of the football operation.
Also it's hard to claim that there is a wealth of clear-cut candidates out there you'd want for a DoF position. Half or more of the top level clubs in the world are pet projects (Man City, PSG, Chelsea), another chunk are forever in internal political turmoil (think Madrid, Barcelona). There's not very many clubs trying to be at the top and be profitable at the same time, with a clear DoF. That means there's not many people that have experience in the role.
Also it's hard to claim that there is a wealth of clear-cut candidates out there you'd want for a DoF position. Half or more of the top level clubs in the world are pet projects (Man City, PSG, Chelsea), another chunk are forever in internal political turmoil (think Madrid, Barcelona). There's not very many clubs trying to be at the top and be profitable at the same time, with a clear DoF. That means there's not many people that have experience in the role.
Is a man who came through every underage team and academy team to enter the first team at the club capable of transitioning players from the underage teams and academies to the first team at that same club?
Let me have a think on that.... hmmmmmm....
Damn it! No! Should've given this role to Igor Spelvinic at Lazio. He has a much cooler sounding name.
Murtough’s fame just went through the roof, now every fan of the biggest team in the world recognised him. Must be a bit mad that.
I guess it's over-optimistic to expect everyone to be happy, but I think we should give these guys a chance. I mean, it's unlikely to be as bad as just leaving the whole thing in Ed's hands. Fletcher is an interesting option for Technical Director I reckon because he is very much a football person and seems to have the necessary skills to do the role based on the little I've read.
The structure is changing though, and why do we need a turn around in fortunes? 3rd and 3 semi finals, 2nd this season and 1 semi final loss so far but in with a good shot for the FA Cup and Europa League. It's been progressive growth for a few years now on the pitch, and we don't know what impact the structure has had on that, and how this will change it. We literally don't have a clue as we don't work there. Sometimes the same position, the same person can have an entirely different impact at 2 different clubs. Literally all we can judge is how things are on the pitch, the end result of our transfer business and operationally see how our finances are doing. There's no point in pretending to know how much impact one position makes vs another behind the actual playing squad because we aren't privy to to info. Everyone hated on Matt Judge just because he was connected to some failed transfers. Is it fair? Maybe, maybe not. Literally no idea, and nobody here has any idea on it.
If 0 is Woodward/Judge and 10 being Rangnick/Nagelsmann, I give these appointments a 3/10. Slight improvement with hopefully bigger ones to come.
Even if people aren't happy with certain aspects at the club surely you can at least be happy the club recognises it's had issues and has been working to fix them in the background, we've taken our time with these appointments too. Restructuring the academy was probably one of the biggest jobs in the club's history and should be a testament to what we as club can accomplish in the modern era when we're all pulling in the same direction, which is what our recent appointments have all been about.
In all the articles it suggests Woodward's recognised the what issues the club has faced, whether it's between certain aspects of the management and the negotiation team or why we've spent enough for multiple titles but yet find ourselves with 0, and has put the men in place to rectify it. He's far more intelligent than anyone here will ever give him credit for, he knows where the issues are and he's genuinely been trying to solve them. Hopefully in the next few years we'll see the fruits of our efforts.
In all the articles it suggests Woodward's recognised the what issues the club has faced, whether it's between certain aspects of the management and the negotiation team or why we've spent enough for multiple titles but yet find ourselves with 0, and has put the men in place to rectify it. He's far more intelligent than anyone here will ever give him credit for, he knows where the issues are and he's genuinely been trying to solve them. Hopefully in the next few years we'll see the fruits of our efforts.
Ole’s job isn’t to rebuild the club, he isn’t and hasn’t been doing that. This is a positive in the sense that people now have formal job titles and accountability but whether there is enough competence there we will have to wait and see.
So your critera of 0 is a CEO and a negotiator and a 10 is a DoF and a manager, I think you might need to double check what you're even ranking here.
Great!
we’ve appointed a scouser, is he a klopp agent?
we’ve appointed a scouser, is he a klopp agent?
This is great news, I don’t understand the negativity. People seemingly wanted a fancier continental DOF? The important thing here is the structural changes, not who holds the position right this moment.
How trueJust saw press conference, Ole said that Fletcher will sell United as a club to players and both decision were made few months ago. This shows how much idea media have about united who use our name to sell the papers.
They should have hired someone from outside the club, must be a yes man yeah
What pull does Fletcher have in world football to sell United to players ? He’s hardly known outside the UK
This club
What pull does Fletcher have in world football to sell United to players ? He’s hardly known outside the UK
This club
Rangnick would obviously do the job of both the bankers, and sign Nagelsmann. Possibly moving Ole to Judge's role.
That's the key part, those people were already doing part of all of the job but they were doing it without the accountability. Now they can't hide in the shadows and maybe the pressure that comes with it will yield positive things because Murtough is now always working to keep his job.
'a close confidant of Ed Woodward' hopefully that means he's not just a 'yes' man and what Murtough has helped the club achieve behind the scenes means that his opinion holds weight. WIll he still be overseeing recruits for the academy?
Get a grip lad ffs.
If John Murtough was called "Jorge Lopezio" from Spain you'd be pulling yourself silly.
I'm always vary of Spaniards with Italian sounding surnames myself.
Since when was Lopez an Italian surname? anyway you get the point, it's exotic sounding.
John Murtough just doesn't sound sexy.
Lets see how he does. Get rid of (permanently), Jones, Lingard, Periera and De gea and thats a good start.
Has our recruitment really been a lot better?Yeah that’s the feeling I got. However at the same time we’ve been doing a LOT better in recruitment so it might be best not to rock the boat too much and bring in an outsider who may not see eye to eye with the manager etc.
At least the position has been created now, which is a first for us.
Hopefully we might lure Edwin back for the position
An objective analysis of last summer's acquisitions (admittedly in isolation and covid impacted) is not my idea of a successful recruitment drive.
Telles: Hardly features, although you could argue his arrival has sparked Luke Shaw into life
Van de Beek: I think he is a very good player but don't think he suits our play. He is a technical give and go player, more suited to Man City's system
Cavani: When he is fit he has been a positive but he misses a lot of games
Pellistri/Diallo: Haven't really featured so jury is out.
I do agree that our academy recruitment has been aggressive but will take many years before know the dividends.
Not sure why anyone is critical. This sounds like sound management to me.
When will #MurtoughOut first start trending, do we think. I will guess within the first two weeks of the transfer window.
Should have hired Lady Gaga. World famous, and impossible for her to be a yes man.They should have hired someone from outside the club, must be a yes man yeah
What pull does Fletcher have in world football to sell United to players ? He’s hardly known outside the UK
This club
This.
It's not a complicated job at all. I sometimes read posts in here regarding a Sporting director and it sounds like people are expecting someone to arrive with a magic wand.
You're not wrong. To be fair a lot of the comments I've read have been surprisingly positive regarding this news.
Good. This is good.
A very positive aspect of that appointment is that now there will be no confusion on who agents other club executive need to contact. It has allegedly been an issue for years.
So people think its a good thing that the guy who has apparently been overseeing our recruitment since 2014 - which has been roundly criticised by almost everyone - has now got an official title. People wanting a more established name are not just chasing exotic names but people with a more proven track record and better connections into the European market both for players and managers. I don't understand how anyone can be anything other than pleased the title has been created and underwhelmed by the appointments. This is not best in class. And Fletcher to sell the club? I love the guy but he's not going to be the name that gets some kid who idolised Zidane or Ronaldo or Messi to join.
I had a small drivable tractor as a kid called ''Big John". It was great fun riding around so on that basis I'll give Murtough the benefit of the doubt.
I don't really see how it's a bad thing. They could have just left it how it was and known no different.
They've publically announced a restructuring which is a sign they agreed it could have worked better. If it allows Woodward to concentrate on the sponsorship/money side, and we get proper football men in Murtough and Fletcher doing the day to day football side, what's not to like?
As long as they are good at their job (proof will be with time) then that's all that matters.