Jason Wilcox - New technical director

[LawCharltonBest]

That Ducker piece seems to suggest that Jason Wilcox will effectively be doing Ashworth’s job until Ashworth arrives?

 

[OleGunnar20]

Used to fecking hate them in the early 90's and was ecstatic that they faded to irrelevance.

Yeah it was always a weird one that. Sign of the times I suppose. By the time I was sentient they were very much a nothing team with a funny looking kit. David Dunn, Chris Samba, Brad Friedel etc.

 

[Cassidy]

I've been following Blanc since his Juventus days. What he did there defied simple logic. Juve were relegated to Serie B with a squad that was filled with stars. Blanc generated enough money to retain some key players of that winning side, build a new stadium and provide the manager with enough cash to be relatively competitive. No wonder why Juve promoted him as their president something very few people outside the Agnelli/Elkann's inner circle were able to achieve.

Yet as CEO his football side was exposed. He stuck to a DOF and a fitness team who everyone knew wasn't good enough. That crippled his career as CEO, something he never recovered since then. At PSG he did pretty much the same. He boosted PSG's finances through sponsorships, infrastructure project and by growing its fan base at lightening speed but the football side was meah. Think of the guy as a Gill on steroids. The guy can do magic with money but football is not his area

Yet as I stated at PSG he was at every managerial interview so my point stands (that he has experience hiring managers and more than Wilcox)

 

[Cassidy]

During that time they changed managers though. They let go of Selles and appointed Russell Martin in his first (and only) summer.

So hes hired one championship level manager… right ok

 

[VP89]

That Ducker piece seems to suggest that Jason Wilcox will effectively be doing Ashworth’s job until Ashworth arrives?

Been eluded int he past too, think it was Athletic or similar that said some new recruits will need to "step in and step up" until Ashworth + a recruitment guy arrives.

 

[Idxomer]

He appointed the English Pep at Southampton, don't expect him to like what Ten Hag has been serving.

 

[yumtum]

Getting flashbacks, all this praise reminds me of Ragnick being the key to unlocking our success.

 

[pocco]

He appointed the English Pep at Southampton, don't expect him to like what Ten Hag has been serving.

Who, Russell Martin? Is he any good?

 

[Idxomer]

Who, Russell Martin? Is he any good?

He's rated highly but I haven't really been following him this season. I do remember his Swansea team dominating possession heavily a couple of seasons back. Southampton is well ahead of other teams in that department under him too.

 

[Ubik]

Getting flashbacks, all this praise reminds me of Ragnick being the key to unlocking our success.

My new rule is needing two consistent seasons of improvement before even beginning to think things are starting to get better.

 

[JJ12]

Getting flashbacks, all this praise reminds me of Ragnick being the key to unlocking our success.

Ragnick knew what needed to be done, the owners didn't like it

 

[pocco]

He's rated highly but I haven't really been following him this season. I do remember his Swansea team dominating possession heavily a couple of seasons back. Southampton is well ahead of other teams in that department under him too.

Interesting, seems one to keep an eye on. There might actually be a few decent managers coming through the championship right now. Perhaps the next big managerial talent could be British.

 

[Teja]

Ragnick knew what needed to be done, the owners didn't like it

He also communicated that in an absolutely horrible manner. If he had people skills to go with his brain he'd have been great.

 

[golden_blunder]

So hes hired one championship level manager… right ok

If it helps, Russell Martin spoke in glowing praise of him, especially around the structure he put in place at Southampton such as all teams from the youth up playing the same way, same formation etc. seems to have a good football brain

 

[Ricardo de la Vega]

Remember hating Jason Wilcox as a player. Thought he was overrated, and an annoying Rovers player when they beat us to the title. A bit like Stuart Ripley or Tim Sherwood. Would have never thought he'd end up working at a real club like United but anyway, thats all in the past now. Best of luck to him in this new role.

 

[pascell]

Colin Hendry was a real nutter.

Had it bad since retiring.

My mate actually played against him in a vets league the other week, apparently Hendry was still levels above everyone else.

 

[TheNewEra]

Had it bad since retiring.

My mate actually played against him in a vets league the other week, apparently Hendry was still levels above everyone else.

You'd assume that's the case though, if you are a professional football player you should be.

I still expect Usain bolt to be faster than most amateurs even at 50.

 

[Grande]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Three obvious assumptions:

1. He’d be doing this in absolute any case (together with The Secret Garden Commitee, shhhh)

2. No one would ever tell James Ducker about it

3. Due to point 1, trust James Ducker to present this as ‘something he’s found out’ in friendly, large letters.

 

[JJ12]

He also communicated that in an absolutely horrible manner. If he had people skills to go with his brain he'd have been great.

People skills worked marvellously for Ole

 

[wolvored]

If it helps, Russell Martin spoke in glowing praise of him, especially around the structure he put in place at Southampton such as all teams from the youth up playing the same way, same formation etc. seems to have a good football brain

That should be the norm under any structure and will be a big step up here

 

[golden_blunder]

That should be the norm under any structure and will be a big step up here

You make it sound like he’s a rookie, he’s very experienced in different aspects

 

[croadyman]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Would this have still taken place IF Coventry had knocked us out yesterday,maybe he was safe until the end of the season irrelevant of result

 

[Plant0x84]

Would this have still taken place IF Coventry had knocked us out yesterday,maybe he was safe until the end of the season irrelevant of result

I think it’s just due diligence for the new guys getting up to speed. He will surely talk it over with Sir Dave and Omar, if not Dan.

 

[Amsterdam Devil]

Is he officially in now?

 

[wolvored]

You make it sound like he’s a rookie, he’s very experienced in different aspects

No I meant it should have already been the norm here and at any club really that the kids and youth play the same tactics as the first team.

 

[TheNewEra]

Is he officially in now?

Official announcement so barring website, twitter hack and a doppelganger in the executive box yesterday I'd say so.

 

[Bastian]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

It’s imperative that any such audit does not focus solely on the upcoming month but on the past 12 months and what the metrics thereof indicate, to be able to draw a more sound judgment about where we’re headed.

I reckon this is more of a formality and doing things a certain way rather than a genuine chance of ETH staying next season.

 

[devilish]

Yet as I stated at PSG he was at every managerial interview so my point stands (that he has experience hiring managers and more than Wilcox)

I've been into my share of interviews myself. There will be all sort of people attending those, not just technical people. You see, people are analysed in interviews way beyond their skills and experience. They would want to have a glimpse at their attitude, their character and how they perform when faced with difficult questions

I would expect Brailsford to be involved in those at United. That doesn't make him a football person

PS: I am not saying that Blanc = Woodward. He is far more knowledgeable in sports then Woodward is. He also sees the sports side as key to financial success as well. Both Juve and PSG engaged into huge infrastructure endeavours during Blanc's time and he played a central role in persuading Buffon to stay at Juve. That's more then Woodward did

 

[Freak]

It’s imperative that any such audit does not focus solely on the upcoming month but on the past 12 months and what the metrics thereof indicate, to be able to draw a more sound judgment about where we’re headed.

I reckon this is more of a formality and doing things a certain way rather than a genuine chance of ETH staying next season.

Agreed. And it should not just be an audit of ETH but also of the players we have.

 

[Tom Van Persie]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

 

[IncyWincySpider]

I like the picture of him with his little work satchel. I imagine it to contain some sarnies wrapped in brown paper, a packet of crisps and an apple.

 

[Cassidy]

If it helps, Russell Martin spoke in glowing praise of him, especially around the structure he put in place at Southampton such as all teams from the youth up playing the same way, same formation etc. seems to have a good football brain

Pretty sure we have heard that many times at United…

 

[Judas]

Pretty sure we have heard that many times at United…

I mean, what have you got to lose by believing things might actually go different and work out this time? There's enough good noises for me to at least try and be positive personally.

 

[Marcelinho87]

He also communicated that in an absolutely horrible manner. If he had people skills to go with his brain he'd have been great.

Disagree.

Politely telling the glazers was never going to work, this whole thing needed blunt force trauma.

I genuinely believe had Rangnick been given a budget in that window he’d have made some excellent signings.

 

[Plant0x84]

It’s imperative that any such audit does not focus solely on the upcoming month but on the past 12 months and what the metrics thereof indicate, to be able to draw a more sound judgment about where we’re headed.

If you’re going to audit the manager fairly, you look at his whole tenure. You have to take the good as well as the bad. It must also consider mitigating factors. Sounds like the audit will also consider ETH and his interactions with players and staff around training and his methods and planning.
Its not as simple as the team is poor, or you lost a game so you’re sacked.
I really don’t think this is the foregone conclusion many hope, it’s about benchmarking a starting point to measure future success against and is more about aligning INEOS and ten hag moving forward. I still believe there is a strong possibility that Erik takes us into next season.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

If you’re going to audit the manager fairly, you look at his whole tenure. You have to take the good as well as the bad. It must also consider mitigating factors. Sounds like the audit will also consider ETH and his interactions with players and staff around training and his methods and planning.
Its not as simple as the team is poor, or you lost a game so you’re sacked.
I really don’t think this is the foregone conclusion many hope, it’s about benchmarking a starting point to measure future success against and is more about aligning INEOS and ten hag moving forward. I still believe there is a strong possibility that Erik takes us into next season.

Yes sure, 12 months / 18 months / entire tenure, the point remains the same - that you have to take a large enough sample to draw conclusions about the future prospects from. Same goes for players really.

I do think it’s mostly a foregone conclusion because the underlying metrics are extremely poor under ETH over and above the fact that he has been given a lot of money and we are missing out on CL football which no manager in the post SAF era has survived (under Glazers who are the kings of low standards). I’d be very surprised if his handling of players, staff etc and other similar factors mitigate the fact that nearly two seasons on, we have not made any progress but are possibly even worse off than when he took over.

 

[Buster15]

Disagree.

Politely telling the glazers was never going to work, this whole thing needed blunt force trauma.

I genuinely believe had Rangnick been given a budget in that window he’d have made some excellent signings.

We will never know about that.
But one thing is for sure, some of Ten Hag signings have been anything but excellent.

And that absolutely must not happen again.

 

[Buster15]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

As a life long supporter of Manchester United, I wish him every success.

 

[Marcelinho87]

We will never know about that.
But one thing is for sure, some of Ten Hag signings have been anything but excellent.

And that absolutely must not happen again.

Agreed, though i'd like to know the involvement of Murtough in regards to fees etc.