Dan Ashworth - Newcastle DoF currently tending to his garden
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Good point, I guess the next question is how long will Ten Hag last.
De Zerbi at United is a very possible scenario imo. The reason I say this is twofold. City were known admirers of De Zerbi as a potential replacement for Pep, and if we were to take Jewell he may be a logical hire.
Of course I want Erik to work out, but the performances over a long period have been really bad and that shouldn't be ignored in spite of results.
Berrada
Ashworth
Jewell
Coach
That's a pretty strong structure, and one that sets up United really well.
Think he will as well to be honest, ours was a bit of a unique situation as well where the guy that helped put it together Gazidas left for AC Milan which created a bit of a power vacuum as well.
I'm sure Utd will get it right, there will be enough people there that are experienced enough in top operations at a sporting level and know how they should work.
Starting to see actual light at the end of the tunnel on the pitch as well now they are trusting the young guys like Garnacho, Mainoo & Hojlund. Seeing parallels to when we focused on the likes of Saka, Smith-Rowe & Martinelli to turn our fortunes round.
Didn't he work with Murtogh at the PL? Seems a very logical signing if so.
Interesting that De Zerbi-mania is still going strong with Brighton winning just 4 PL matches, all at home, in the last 3 months.
Murtough did a great job with the academy and should stay there in some capacity.
Unlikely he'd take a demotion.
Cox is the most important man in the academy structure, as long as we've got him we'll be fine.
someone has to pick the cones I guess.
Whitwell's article about a month ago paints the picture of someone who will very much look to cling on in any capacity.
Unlike Arnold, who agreed to walk away as chief executive owing to the changing ownership structure and issues with co-chairman Joel Glazer, Murtough has no intention of stepping aside. He has made clear his openness to staying and working with INEOS as part of a revised structure that could see his authority reduced, which former and current colleagues say is characteristic of a shrewd political operator.
Murtough is seen by those who have worked with him as a great survivor, more amenable and less egotistic than other executives in his position who would reject operating under a new regime. One leading agent, not known for handing out easy praise, says Murtough is courteous and good to deal with. That range of views helps explain Murtough’s presence this month at Old Trafford alongside Stewart for meetings with Brailsford and INEOS sporting director Jean-Claude Blanc. The feeling was those meetings went well.
It's also highly doubtful he gets the same job he's had elsewhere.
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I’d like the guy here just off of the strength of me saying we should have bagged Livramento a few years back, and then this dude signing him for Newcastle. He clearly knows ball.
I hope it’s something to do with our youth sides. He that’s actually done an amazing job in that regard
Paul Jewell's son
You can see the resemblance! He had a great start to the PL with Wigan back then.
For all his flaws Murtough was credited with finding Garnacho, Hanibal and others for the academy, Nick Cox isn't in charge of recruitment
I was just about to say, looking at that picture he has to be an offspring of Paul Jewell!
While I do agree with you, the last 3 -4 years has been great from Ashworth. Not many dud signings and I would take all of the Newcastle signings (except the relegation ones) at United.
Gordon, Bruno, Trippier, isak, Tonali, Botman,Livramento
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Without knowing the details of Ashworth’s position at Brighton or Newcastle, I would never really expect that kind of role to yield results visible on the pitch before a couple of years.
There seems to be discrepancies in people’s impression of what Ashworth actually has been involved in at those clubs. Who has the better sources here?
Good interview with Sam Jewell here. Interesting points are him learning Spanish during lockdown to help with recruiting South American players, and Brighton planning transfers two or three windows in advance - imagine!
He seems to have a broad background with lots of relevant experience for a guy who's still pretty young.
https://www.brightonandhovealbion.c...thway-to-becoming-albions-head-of-recruitment
He seems to have a broad background with lots of relevant experience for a guy who's still pretty young.
https://www.brightonandhovealbion.c...thway-to-becoming-albions-head-of-recruitment
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We’re being very noisy about this one, very unlike the way we bagged Berrada.
Sounds like the noise is coming from Newcastle.
I think most people are putting too much of an emphasis on the recruitment aspect of his role. As a DoF, you’d imagine he would be involved in absolutely everything, from youth ranks, sports science, nutrition, contract negotiation, managing staff, our sports facilities and obviously recruitment.
Your head of recruitment is basically your chief scout, and they’re the one who’ll suggest which players best fit the model and identity that the DoF sets. But let there be no confusion, the DoF always has the final say and this’ll be made clear to whoever takes this role.
I just keep seeing too many people compare DoF by the players they sign, but I believe it’s more important to note these two things:
1. Is there a clear philosophy?
2. Is there cohesion between our youth and first team?
Once you have a philosophy, that essentially dictates who your coach is, who you sign and who you sell.
And at Manchester United, the operation of our youth is extremely important. Are we able to keep our best young talents? Is there a pathway into the squad for them?, these are the questions that the DoF will need to answer.
Your head of recruitment is basically your chief scout, and they’re the one who’ll suggest which players best fit the model and identity that the DoF sets. But let there be no confusion, the DoF always has the final say and this’ll be made clear to whoever takes this role.
I just keep seeing too many people compare DoF by the players they sign, but I believe it’s more important to note these two things:
1. Is there a clear philosophy?
2. Is there cohesion between our youth and first team?
Once you have a philosophy, that essentially dictates who your coach is, who you sign and who you sell.
And at Manchester United, the operation of our youth is extremely important. Are we able to keep our best young talents? Is there a pathway into the squad for them?, these are the questions that the DoF will need to answer.
He's also a more well known figure than Berrada too, all seems more difficult to contain.
The news originally was broken by Newcastle reporters a few weeks ago. Looks like the noise is coming from their side.
Well he also had 4/5 years at West Brom from 2007-2012 as technical and sporting director and then was head of elite development in the FA from 2012-18 which has seen the England team and the entire English youth system progress to us having some of the most exciting young players in the world across the men’s and women’s games.
His CV is there as a specific technical/sporting director with around 10 years in the job. He’s also relatively young and on the cutting edge.
What on your CV qualifies you to know what exactly makes a top tier DoF?
That image of him on the bed just flashed in front of my eyes.
More him moving to his actual job.
I imagine the interest in Ashworth - at least I hope - might be down to his familiarity with starlizard and setting up Brighton as we know them today. We know we are already building a huge data platform and have made a number of hires here in the last couple of years, what we need is someone who has been part of that implementation already.
Interesting. Thought Paul Mitchell was earmarked for this role.
Who would people prefer I wonder
that does look the possible progression if we stuck with the concept of going with what you know
i think realistically what is done for the first time since Fergie and David Gill ran the club is a legitimate football structure to worry just about the sporting side
He'd zero interest in it according to an interview with Ornstein the other week and INEOS were on the same page seemingly.
In essence, if you take away the nuts and bolts of it, a Director of Footballs job is pretty simple. Commit to a way of playing, sign a manager to implement that way of playing, sign players to fit the way of playing, and if your manager leaves/is sacked, you get someone in who is able to implement your way of playing so that you don't have to rip it all up and start again every time you get a new manager and they want new players, as we've done over the last 10 years.
More you need to actually read his CV before passing judgement.
https://theathletic.com/5274684/202...ter-united-who-is/?source=user_shared_articleDan Ashworth – the sporting director Manchester United want to lure from Newcastle
Not sure if this has already been discussed but I'm assuming this means John Murtough will be next out the door?
I did read about his CV. Why else would I talk about it.
All I said is his experience as a technical director is limited. Not his experience in football or other roles.
Maybe! But look what has happened at Brighton since he arrived in 2019.