Ed Woodward Interview

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Mciahel Goodman said:
Have to wonder though, if Woodward had SAF as manager, would he be splashing the cash like he is?
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It's something we've all discussed since 2005....

Did the debt hold Fergie back? Fees spent suggest otherwise. But then, some of the cheapos we bought were mind boggling to say the least.
Did Gill mess up some deals? Things like refusing to pay Hazard's agent's fees suggest that.

No one really knows. And probably never will.

However, Fergie, when he won the CL in 1999, didn't improve on the squad when they were on top and let it run down.
Same thing happened in 2008 after the CL final.

Ah, look...Another topic for another day.

This is all about King Ed :D
 
A PR exercise, but it was still interesting.

He genuinely seems to care about the team itself. You could see how proud he was of the "not straightforward" Schweinsteiger signing when he mentioned how other teams would react to seeing him in the lineup.

The working relationship between Woodward and Van Gaal seems really good. I liked the bit when Ed mentioned how he had joked about how Louis reports to him, but how it seems like Ed works for Louis, which was quite telling.

Van Gaal has more control than he ever had at other clubs as well as the confidence of his boss. He must be loving it at United.
 
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Decent interview. Maybe because of his investment banking background, I presumed he'd be a self-serving prick but he comes across well. Seems to understand what the club's about.
 
Very good interview, I know its a PR exercise basically but the answers are good. Comes across as very genuine there. Has a great relationship with Van Gaal too which is excellent.
 
He just seems to get younger every time I see him. I think he must gain some youth with every big transfer. Reach for immortality Ed, bring us Messi.
 
Thanks for uploading this Giflord!

Second interview am seeing with Woody and have to say he's all right that lad. For a finance/investment banker type, it's surprising how well he comes across.
 
GifLord does it again. There's a man with an extensive scouting network to upload all goals and moments.
 
Seems to come off as a fan in it. I'll be honest and say that I thought he was just a lapdog for the Glazers and would parrot what Gill had been saying the past decade about the funds being available but not proving it. Turns out he's a big transfer muppet as well.
 
the finance of united (the football club, not the glazers) were really bad since the takeover and got worst by the year around 2008. it's only getting improved since 2010

by that time being saf was very close to his retirement. i well believe saf was hinted in a few times about this until he finally made up his mind two years ago. and i don't think the hierarchy would spend big money on saf for his last years before his retirement. instead, they would choose to delay reinvestment after he really called up his time.

that makes sense though. spending money big for a manager going to step down soon is not a smart move, especially saf was still able to win trophies with a limited budget. so if you are the owner you might want to hold up the reinvestment until a new manager would have been appointed.

by saying so it doesn't mean the heirarchy spent wisely until this summer
 
Cheers for making that available. Ed didn't miss a beat, properly well done interview.
 
Woodward looks like a grown up version of that kid who never played any sports and used to get ulcers just by the thought of getting hit by a rubber object.
 
Brilliant interview...especially the bit about the anatomy of a transfer deal at 10 minutes in.
 
Its a bit surreal actually hearing Ed talk instead of being caricatured as a meme in a Code-CX video.
 
"It's not a challenge bringing in players, the most difficult work is blending them in."
 
Raoul said:
Brilliant interview...especially the bit about the anatomy of a transfer deal at 10 minutes in.
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And he seems like he supports the club. He knew a few tidbits like we were the first English club to play in Europe & the first to win it in 1968.
 
Baby Faced Assassin said:
And he seems like he supports the club. He knew a few tidbits like we were the first English club to play in Europe & the first to win it in 1968.
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Any CEO worth his salt will know that stuff tbf. But in general i agree, he came across very well there.
 
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He's starting to feel like a real leader now. Speaks clearly and directly. Obviously has a good sense of humour. Very powerful eye contact (to the extent that the interviewer gave a somewhat dithering performance). I really like him.
 
Liked the first interview he gave last pre-season as well. Was proper taken aback as I never thought I'd find an ex-investment banker likeable! :D
 
Mciahel Goodman said:
Have to wonder though, if Woodward had SAF as manager, would he be splashing the cash like he is?
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Fergie was never averse to splashing the cash in the past, when Kenyon took over they bought RVN, Veron and Ferdinand for about £80m.

I imagine it would have been the same under woodward now that the debt isn't a real worry.
 
.Rossi said:
It's something we've all discussed since 2005....

Did the debt hold Fergie back? Fees spent suggest otherwise. But then, some of the cheapos we bought were mind boggling to say the least.
Did Gill mess up some deals? Things like refusing to pay Hazard's agent's fees suggest that.

No one really knows. And probably never will.

However, Fergie, when he won the CL in 1999, didn't improve on the squad when they were on top and let it run down.
Same thing happened in 2008 after the CL final.

Ah, look...Another topic for another day.

This is all about King Ed :D
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Seems like that is one of the Caf myths that just won't die, i'm sure if it was only a case of 4-5m we would have signed him.

But the small matters of him wanting paid £180k pw and preferring london once he knew Chelsea would be in the CL, also contributed to us not signing him.
 
Baby Faced Assassin said:
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Thats a great interview.

He really has turned the tide, from looking completely incompetent in his first window, and inspiring absolutely no confidence. To looking in complete control and making you really believe we're heading the right direction. His little digs (unintentional or not) at Moyes were lovely too :lol:
 
Baby Faced Assassin said:
And he seems like he supports the club. He knew a few tidbits like we were the first English club to play in Europe & the first to win it in 1968.
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He probably made the pitch to the Glazers on the takeover of the club. Not surprised that he knows our history well and seems to have genuinely fallen in love with the club.
 
Raoul said:
Its a bit surreal actually hearing Ed talk instead of being caricatured as a meme in a Code-CX video.
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I'd love to know if he ever see any of those Gifs :lol:

I'd like to think he does, and chuckles at them.
 
Love Woody. Shots fired at Moyes when he brought up charisma and LVG being a winner and bringing instant respect. Should put to bed any doubt who was at fault for our horrendous summer transfer window a couple years ago.
 
For me, the real thing that nails it on Moyes (if it was before as it is now), is that Woody and the rest of the transfer-team is only there to help the manager with data on targets, and then present it (along with alternatives) for the manager to decide who to go for.
Moyes might have had his eyes too set on Fabregas and then didn't care for any targets because he felt Fellaini was a very easy-to-get backup-plan.
 
Red Katie said:
He looks like Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory.
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Don't mean to derail the topic, but does anyone else think Neuer does?

BraTpYjCUAAqHsS.jpg
 
I wish he would just hurry up and admit which Redcafe user he is.
 
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