The ‘Deputy Football Director’ position | 31.05.2022 - Andy O’Boyle appointed

[Lentwood]

@Isotope

Simon Wells is still around and along with Jose Mayorga, will replace the two out-going head scouts.

I personally believe a club's scouting is only as good as the direction it's being set by the people leading the football side of the club. And with Solskjaer and Phelan leading the way, Simon Wells can only only identify players for the criteria set by the aforementioned two. So what the criteria was regarding player attributes/characteristics is open to speculation, but it was reported that a strategy was put forth by Solskjaer and Phelan, which focused on a particular demographic and later abandoned.

I think the below tweet outlines a criteria which will help the scouts to follow a clear plan set by the DoF/head coach. And if they do follow the criteria below, I do believe it won't be long before we get back to competing for titles.

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

The criteria above should filter out the mistakes we've made in the past.

1. 'Can they out outrun the opposition'? Ticks the intensity/physicality box.

2. 'Can they outplay the opposition'? Ticks the touch and technique box.

3. 'Can they outfight the opponent'? Ticks the strong mentality box.

I think that will then allow Erik ten Hag to mould the team in his image when it comes to implementing a playstyle, togetherness and strong mentality.

Shows how far behind we are that it's taken until now for us to realise these are key qualities for a footballer

 

[Adnan]

Shows how far behind we are that it's taken until now for us to realise these are key qualities for a footballer

It's what can happen when you allow the first team manager to operate without a DoF type figure in the modern game.

 

[Mainoldo]

Yeah, Aston Villa over Liverpool

Maybe few think they barely spent anything and punching above their weight to stay in PL. They were VAR feck up away from relegation.

What’s that got to do with them winning the fa youth cup season before and having a very good crop of youth players. Investing in their youth strategy head hunting West Brom’s highly rated academy boss?

Identifying and filling key positions for the past two years.

GK
RB
CM
CF

Most recently a new CM fans thought could do a job here. Coutinho and a new CB and I’m sure they’ll fill other positions which need upgrading.

 

[Mainoldo]

It's what can happen when you allow the first team manager to operate without a DoF type figure in the modern game.

This.

 

[roonster09]

What’s that got to do with them winning the fa youth cup season before and having a very good crop of youth players. Investing in their youth strategy head hunting West Brom’s highly rated academy boss?

Identifying and filling key positions for the past two years.

GK
RB
CM
CF

Most recently a new CM fans thought could do a job here. Coutinho and a new CB and I’m sure they’ll fill other positions which need upgrading.

Signing players doesn't mean well run, spending money doesn't mean well run either.

Identifying right manager, right players, keeping wages to revenue ratio in check and get max value for the money spent all that matters. Villa tick none of those boxes except money spent.

 

[Mainoldo]

Signing players doesn't mean well run, spending money doesn't mean well run either.

Identifying right manager, right players, keeping wages to revenue ratio in check and get max value for the money spent all that matters. Villa tick none of those boxes except money spent.

They identified a manger who got them into the Prem. they secured a contract for Grealish which got them £100m to re invest in the team.

• They got the Scottish league winning manager
• They signed a talented CDM from Europe for free. If it works they will sell him for a profit
• Got a £150m player for £20m

I mean I could go on. Do you even know what you are talking about?

 

[Mickson]

City, Brighton, Villa recently a few.

Aston Villa well run . they have a lot of money but no clue what they're doing. If I'm being honest, one of the worst in the PL right now, 14th last season....

 

[roonster09]

They identified a manger who got them into the Prem. they secured a contract for Grealish which got them £100m to re invest in the team.

• They got the Scottish league winning manager
• They signed a talented CDM from Europe for free. If it works they will sell him for a profit
• Got a £150m player for £20m

I mean I could go on. Do you even know what you are talking about?

Next what, they have seats in their stadium, they have grass on the pitch, white paint as markings?

Bold part, irony is dead.

 

[Idxomer]

They identified a manger who got them into the Prem. they secured a contract for Grealish which got them £100m to re invest in the team.

• They got the Scottish league winning manager
• They signed a talented CDM from Europe for free. If it works they will sell him for a profit
• Got a £150m player for £20m

I mean I could go on. Do you even know what you are talking about?

 

[Mainoldo]

Aston Villa well run . they have a lot of money but no clue what they're doing. If I'm being honest, one of the worst in the PL right now, 14th last season....

Again. Explain to me why they are badly run? Should they be 8th?

 

[Mainoldo]

It’s true though

 

[Mainoldo]

Next what, they have seats in their stadium, they have grass on the pitch, white paint as markings?

Bold part, irony is dead.

Well all you’ve said is basically they didn’t reach the Champions League final.

 

[Withnail]

They identified a manger who got them into the Prem. they secured a contract for Grealish which got them £100m to re invest in the team.

• They got the Scottish league winning manager
• They signed a talented CDM from Europe for free. If it works they will sell him for a profit
• Got a £150m player for £20m

I mean I could go on. Do you even know what you are talking about?

You have to know you went too far there

 

[Mainoldo]

You have to know you went too far there

You know what I’m like

 

[Grande]

Interesting. Do we know what Solksjaer's strategy was from detailed reports or are these ideas your perception? I think it's difficult to reverse engineer a strategy from an output that says the players are poor because that wasn't an intended outcome. Where would these focal competencies be if ETH makes a hash of it for example?

The way they analysed these players was obviously not aligned with current opinion. And before people say "it was obvious X can't play in a high line!" - it is obvious now. Everything is obvious when the mist descends, but some of the failings were not so obvious on sale. Also there is a reality that most players are not perfection, you do have to build a team with individual weaknesses.

There are also many connected steps in recruitment, so it is difficult to say with any certainty where it fell down. Even if he had Pep's Bible of player values by position it's still possible to fail.

The initial report still reads as made up to me. Reminds me of the strategists version of the transfer journalist that links every player under the sun. Eventually the broken clock runs right. I'm not sure what they've illuminated for me but possibly I'm missing the point somewhere!

You make good points. About Solskjær, that’s my take based on memory and a lot of the (mostly soeculative) reports coming out over time, and what he said himself at various points. I also followed him fairly closely in two stints at Molde, being Norwegian. What I know, is that he was less focused on a few central core competencies than Pep and Klopp, and more open to players with different specialist competencies combining the through developping relations. Solskjærs main coaching role models all thought more like that (Ferguson, Drillo Olsen, Hareide, Meulensteen), which is a bit different from more systems based approaches like Lobanovsky, Cruyff, Van Gaal or Rangnick who by various degrees inspired Klopp or Pep.

Regardless of wether Uniteds recruitment system was fragmented or wether Solskjærs ideas were overruled, it is unthinkable that anyone would have serviced a manager like Guardiola with as different players as James and Sancho, Wan Bissaka and Van de Beek. Solskjær was more in line with Mourinho in that way, Ten Hag with Van Gaal. What works best has tendes to change through time, and Ancelotti/Zidane with RM shows what can be done with a more complementary/relations approach. But atm, it seems almost unthinkable to win the PL without a well implemented systems approach. And such an approach will normally have a much stricter set of core competencies that all players must adhere to.

 

[roonster09]

Well all you’ve said is basically they didn’t reach the Champions League final.

No, in the first post itself @KM said why they are not.

Can you please enlighten how Aston Villa a club who has spent nearly 400m euros in PL in last three years and have finished 17,11 and 14th respectively better run than Liverpool?

 

[Mainoldo]

No, in the first post itself @KM said why they are not.

First season in the Prem
Good second season
Manager got sacked.

Answered it.

 

[roonster09]

First season in the Prem
Good second season
Manager got sacked.

Answered it.

OK, VIlla are better run than Liverpool

 

[Withnail]

No, in the first post itself @KM said why they are not.

Don't forget that €400m is really €530m, once you factor in the Coutinho deal.

 

[roonster09]

Don't forget that €400m is really €530m, once you factor in the Coutinho deal.

Better than Liverpool who were couple of points and couple of goals away form sweeping all trophies.

 

[Adnan]

You make good points. About Solskjær, that’s my take based on memory and a lot of the (mostly soeculative) reports coming out over time, and what he said himself at various points. I also followed him fairly closely in two stints at Molde, being Norwegian. What I know, is that he was less focused on a few central core competencies than Pep and Klopp, and more open to players with different specialist competencies combining the through developping relations. Solskjærs main coaching role models all thought more like that (Ferguson, Drillo Olsen, Hareide, Meulensteen), which is a bit different from more systems based approaches like Lobanovsky, Cruyff, Van Gaal or Rangnick who by various degrees inspired Klopp or Pep.

Regardless of wether Uniteds recruitment system was fragmented or wether Solskjærs ideas were overruled, it is unthinkable that anyone would have serviced a manager like Guardiola with as different players as James and Sancho, Wan Bissaka and Van de Beek. Solskjær was more in line with Mourinho in that way, Ten Hag with Van Gaal. What works best has tendes to change through time, and Ancelotti/Zidane with RM shows what can be done with a more complementary/relations approach. But atm, it seems almost unthinkable to win the PL without a well implemented systems approach. And such an approach will normally have a much stricter set of core competencies that all players must adhere to.

Good post

 

[Grande]

Over the last six to eight months we've had nothing but announcements about changes at senior manager level but absolutely nothing when it comes to the squad itself.
Some things never change.

Some thimgs change: A club who over years have had very few outgoing staff suddenly has a landslide of personnel leaving.
Some things never change: A team changing manager and playing style has few to no players signed and announdced by July 1st.

 

[padzilla]

Some thimgs change: A club who over years have had very few outgoing staff suddenly has a landslide of personnel leaving.
Some things never change: A team changing manager and playing style has few to no players signed and announdced by July 1st.

There should have been an announcement at least that Pogba and Lingard, both out of contract in weeks, will be leaving the club. Instead, it would appear either this has not been addressed or the club is actively trying to persuade them to stay.

 

[Grande]

Good post

Thanks

 

[Mainoldo]

There should have been an announcement at least that Pogba and Lingard, both out of contract in weeks, will be leaving the club. Instead, it would appear either this has not been addressed or the club is actively trying to persuade them to stay.

Have they announced Cavani is leaving?

 

[Mickson]

Again. Explain to me why they are badly run? Should they be 8th?

Something like that, yes, but most importantly they buy players who don't fit the system or are superfluous. Take Buendia for example, and then six months later they buy Coutinho. Ings is another. They are not well run at all. I'm curious as to why you think they are, they are not showing results at all either and are sacking managers and replacing players more often than anyone, more or less. So?

 

[phelans shorts]

Over the last six to eight months we've had nothing but announcements about changes at senior manager level but absolutely nothing when it comes to the squad itself.
Some things never change.

In the last 6 to 8 months there has been a combined 31 days where squad changes could be made, and it saw plenty of outgoings.

 

[UnitedSofa]

For non-United Tweets, only the following clubs are accepted:
Premier League
Champions League
Europa League
Europa Conference League

Shows how far behind we are that it's taken until now for us to realise these are key qualities for a footballer

It's what can happen when you allow the first team manager to operate without a DoF type figure in the modern game.

This.

No it’s not, how often did Ole bang on about “passion” & “who wants it more” “desire” - it’s basically the same thing but with more words. Ralf stressed it too during his time here

 

[Mainoldo]

Something like that, yes, but most importantly they buy players who don't fit the system or are superfluous. Take Buendia for example, and then six months later they buy Coutinho. Ings is another. They are not well run at all. I'm curious as to why you think they are, they are not showing results at all either and are sacking managers and replacing players more often than anyone, more or less. So?

They needed a back up striker so they got Ings. Buendia was brought in to replace Jack and Coutinho was brought in as Gerrard likes to play with two 10’s behind the striker. I just checked and he did exactly that against City.

They’ve only sacked one manager. Am I missing something here? Who else did they sack?

There player turn around is beca they have been trying to change a Championship squad into a EPL squad FFS.

 

[dubplate warrior]

It's what can happen when you allow the first team manager to operate without a DoF type figure in the modern game.

I feel more optimistic about the next five years than I ever have post-fergie, purely because Woodward isn't there and Richard Arnold would rather shake up the organisation and delegate to people with a background in football.

I think in two or three years you'll begin to see a more efficient, modern Manchester United. Korn Ferry are top notch at restructuring massive companies with regards to organisation and productivity. United are a financial juggernaut, as long as the structure is put in place, results will come.

 

[Mickson]

They needed a back up striker so they got Ings. Buendia was brought in to replace Jack and Coutinho was brought in as Gerrard likes to play with two 10’s behind the striker. I just checked and he did exactly that against City.

They’ve only sacked one manager. Am I missing something here? Who else did they sack?

There player turn around is beca they have been trying to change a Championship squad into a EPL squad FFS.

It's still bizarre that you say that they are well run. They spent loads and loads of money and ended up 14th. And no, they rarely play Buendia and Coutinho together. Buendia only started five games from February to the end of the season when Coutinho was there. Ings was of course not bought as a backup striker...

 

[LARulz]

We should also snap up that Chelsea executive who is leaving - can't remember her name but she seems to be doing a pretty good job based on what I read about her before. Or at least I think it's her - she knows how to sell players for more than £5 million

 

[Adnan]

No it’s not, how often did Ole bang on about “passion” & “who wants it more” “desire” - it’s basically the same thing but with more words. Ralf stressed it too during his time here

What Solskjaer said and what actually transpired in-front of our eyes was two different things. And then I listened to Mike Phelan and things started to make sense as far as the profile of player that was being signed, especially in the first season of their tenure.

 

[phelans shorts]

We should also snap up that Chelsea executive who is leaving - can't remember her name but she seems to be doing a pretty good job based on what I read about her before. Or at least I think it's her - she knows how to sell players for more than £5 million

I’m pretty sure that Roman Abramovich’s long term assistant is persona non grata for the vast majority of the western world, regardless of how much she flogged Tariq Lamptey for.

 

[Withnail]

We should also snap up that Chelsea executive who is leaving - can't remember her name but she seems to be doing a pretty good job based on what I read about her before. Or at least I think it's her - she knows how to sell players for more than £5 million

Marina Granovskaia? She's some operator. I'm not sure it'd be the best move from a PR perspective though.

 

[Mainoldo]

It's still bizarre that you say that they are well run. They spent loads and loads of money and ended up 14th. And no, they rarely play Buendia and Coutinho together. Buendia only started five games from February to the end of the season when Coutinho was there. Ings was of course not bought as a backup striker...

They aren’t established it was always going to cost them money. I explained to you the Coutinho signing and you somehow have rejected it. If he chooses to adopt different tactics at times thats up to him but the reason for another number 10 was because of that.

Ings was back up because there number 1 striker is Olli Watkins. Are you going to tell me i’m wrong? Is Ashley Young there number 1 left back now too.

 

[Mainoldo]

We should also snap up that Chelsea executive who is leaving - can't remember her name but she seems to be doing a pretty good job based on what I read about her before. Or at least I think it's her - she knows how to sell players for more than £5 million

Did she not buy Lukaku, Havertz and Werner?

 

[phelans shorts]

Did she not buy Lukaku, Havertz and Werner?

Aside nobody having a 100% record, how the feck has Havertz made this list?

 

[Mainoldo]

Aside nobody having a 100% record, how the feck has Havertz made this list?

What do you mean how has he made the list. Has he done anything of note? He cost as much as Pogba.

Has he played against us yet? Never seen him.

 

[phelans shorts]

What do you mean how has he made the list. Has he don anything of note?

Has he played against us yet? Never seen him.

He won them a Champions League, at 21 years of age, pretty noteworthy.

I’d love to have him here, doubt he’d get in at Aston Villa mind.