A sporting director has never really been considered, clearly Ed Woodward thinks he can do the role, what David Gill was to Fergie. The problem is Ole is no Fergie & Woodward is no Gill...
Its an outdated concept, as Fergie ran the club with an iron fist, but no one can be allowed that much control anymore, as managers don't stay as long as Fergie did. When one manager goes, the next one has been allowed to go in another direction, and it's left us with a disjointed squad, with the likes of crocks Messrs Bailly, Rojo & Jones stuck on high wages and long term deals, stinking up the treatment room. The only continuity we have had is Woodward, it say's it all...
A sporting director should oversee the sporting side of the club, and support the manager, agree transfer targets and work with the clubs legal people to bring those players in, sell the club and the sporting vision of the club, not just the history of it. Someone like Darren Fletcher is a candidate for me speaks very well, clearly articulate and understands the problems as the club. He would have to be given control overall sporting decisions, including pre-agreed transfer budgets etc, but he mustn't be a Woodward fall guy or puppet.
In terms of Ole, he has the right sentiments, and I have been firmly Ole In until now.
The team selection and general management of the squad and the club overall seems flawed. This is compounded by the fact, that a very average but yet very experienced player in Ashley Young turns down a Man Utd contract extension, when we the squad is ridiculously short of senior pro's - like him or not, he always played for the badge.
I am wavering, although Im not calling for Ole's head just yet... The ultimate blame has to be with Ed Woodward, we have not learned from our mistakes. We have spent a fortune, we owe clubs £100m's in transfer fees still and our wage bill is as high as its ever has been, all overseen in Woodwards tenure.
I wouldnt be surprised if we didnt have the money to do the business that's needed. We are 5th but still seem a million miles away from being a Champions League club again, which we really need to get the revenues and sponsorship deal to keep rolling in.
Its a real mess folks, somehow we need to get 4th this year to give us platform to attract the right calibre of players in the summer, I just dont see how we get there though and if we do, do we have the money and the guile without a sporting director to make a difference with recruitment?