John Murtough Sack Watch

[Tom Van Persie]

Yeah not seeing much on her actual Twitter sounds like nonsense.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/jim-ratcliffe-manchester-united-takeover-explained-76ng05jzh

Somebody posted a breakdown of the article on reddit.

Interesting bits:

- It is understood that director of football John Murtough will leave his position, following recently departed chief executive Richard Arnold, as Ratcliffe brings in people he believes are capable of turning things around.

- it is expected Ratcliffe will bring in a new structure with the aim of improving their strategy.

- Ratcliffe is expected to bring a number of his trusted people into the club though the billionaire is likely to have the final sign-off on any major football decisions.

- A new director of football is a key appointment. Michael Edwards, the former Liverpool recruitment chief, and Paul Mitchell, sporting director at Monaco with experience across a number of European clubs, are among the many names who have been considered. Iain Moody, former sporting director at Crystal Palace, has worked as a consultant to Ineos at Nice and may have a role in the new set-up.

- Sir David Brailsford is expected to be involved at Old Trafford overseeing a transformed performance and recruitment department.

- He wants to renovate and potentially expand the stadium but more investment would be needed if the stadium were to be fully modernised.

- But as a source told The Times in October, “There is no point having a stadium as magnificent as Tottenham’s if you haven’t got the team”. So the main project is sorting out the club’s recruitment and structure behind the scenes.

- Ratcliffe wants to have full ownership and there is an expectation that this purchase of a partial stake is the first move towards full control.

 

[TrebleChamp99]

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/jim-ratcliffe-manchester-united-takeover-explained-76ng05jzh

Somebody posted a breakdown of the article on reddit.

Interesting bits:

- It is understood that director of football John Murtough will leave his position, following recently departed chief executive Richard Arnold, as Ratcliffe brings in people he believes are capable of turning things around.

- it is expected Ratcliffe will bring in a new structure with the aim of improving their strategy.

- Ratcliffe is expected to bring a number of his trusted people into the club though the billionaire is likely to have the final sign-off on any major football decisions.

- A new director of football is a key appointment. Michael Edwards, the former Liverpool recruitment chief, and Paul Mitchell, sporting director at Monaco with experience across a number of European clubs, are among the many names who have been considered. Iain Moody, former sporting director at Crystal Palace, has worked as a consultant to Ineos at Nice and may have a role in the new set-up.

- Sir David Brailsford is expected to be involved at Old Trafford overseeing a transformed performance and recruitment department.

- He wants to renovate and potentially expand the stadium but more investment would be needed if the stadium were to be fully modernised.

- But as a source told The Times in October, “There is no point having a stadium as magnificent as Tottenham’s if you haven’t got the team”. So the main project is sorting out the club’s recruitment and structure behind the scenes.

- Ratcliffe wants to have full ownership and there is an expectation that this purchase of a partial stake is the first move towards full control.

Thank you! Hugely promising if all true

 

[marcus agrippa]

It's a miracle how Murtough can survived in one of the top football club for so long and take the helm of the football pyramid with his disastrous knowledge of football. Unprecedented disaster after disaster for the last decade and yet he survived.

Sometime the connection is more important than your actual ability.

Not really surprising TBH. We've all been in dysfunctional corporate environments which some are able to navigate and rise by figuring out how to ingratiate themselves to key shot-callers (who are often themselves so incompetent or out-of-the-loop that they perceive superficial qualities as markers of competence). Meanwhile true talent, bereft of political nous, withers and dies, or finds better placements elsewhere.

Funny thing is, we fans have been calling this out for years and years, and then they label us as hysterical ("Look how much money the Glazers have spent. Why are you complaining?").

 

[Lash]

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/jim-ratcliffe-manchester-united-takeover-explained-76ng05jzh

Somebody posted a breakdown of the article on reddit.

Interesting bits:

- It is understood that director of football John Murtough will leave his position, following recently departed chief executive Richard Arnold, as Ratcliffe brings in people he believes are capable of turning things around.

- it is expected Ratcliffe will bring in a new structure with the aim of improving their strategy.

- Ratcliffe is expected to bring a number of his trusted people into the club though the billionaire is likely to have the final sign-off on any major football decisions.

- A new director of football is a key appointment. Michael Edwards, the former Liverpool recruitment chief, and Paul Mitchell, sporting director at Monaco with experience across a number of European clubs, are among the many names who have been considered. Iain Moody, former sporting director at Crystal Palace, has worked as a consultant to Ineos at Nice and may have a role in the new set-up.

- Sir David Brailsford is expected to be involved at Old Trafford overseeing a transformed performance and recruitment department.

- He wants to renovate and potentially expand the stadium but more investment would be needed if the stadium were to be fully modernised.

- But as a source told The Times in October, “There is no point having a stadium as magnificent as Tottenham’s if you haven’t got the team”. So the main project is sorting out the club’s recruitment and structure behind the scenes.

- Ratcliffe wants to have full ownership and there is an expectation that this purchase of a partial stake is the first move towards full control.

Wasn't he the guy who got done with Malky MacKay with the racist texts?

 

[Frosty]

Wasn't he the guy who got done with Malky MacKay with the racist texts?

Yep that's the one. Probably just a Brexit benefit that he can still get work.

 

[Lash]

Yep that's the one. Probably just a Brexit benefit that he can still get work.

Would be a stupid first move then. Similar with Ashworth, not actually being able to work for about a year if he did move.

 

[Telsim]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Hopefully, he leaves the club, and not just his post. Unmitigated disaster.

 

[tenpoless]

Leave the club. Please. Lets start anew.

 

[devilish]

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/jim-ratcliffe-manchester-united-takeover-explained-76ng05jzh

Somebody posted a breakdown of the article on reddit.

Interesting bits:

- It is understood that director of football John Murtough will leave his position, following recently departed chief executive Richard Arnold, as Ratcliffe brings in people he believes are capable of turning things around.

- it is expected Ratcliffe will bring in a new structure with the aim of improving their strategy.

- Ratcliffe is expected to bring a number of his trusted people into the club though the billionaire is likely to have the final sign-off on any major football decisions.

- A new director of football is a key appointment. Michael Edwards, the former Liverpool recruitment chief, and Paul Mitchell, sporting director at Monaco with experience across a number of European clubs, are among the many names who have been considered. Iain Moody, former sporting director at Crystal Palace, has worked as a consultant to Ineos at Nice and may have a role in the new set-up.

- Sir David Brailsford is expected to be involved at Old Trafford overseeing a transformed performance and recruitment department.

- He wants to renovate and potentially expand the stadium but more investment would be needed if the stadium were to be fully modernised.

- But as a source told The Times in October, “There is no point having a stadium as magnificent as Tottenham’s if you haven’t got the team”. So the main project is sorting out the club’s recruitment and structure behind the scenes.

- Ratcliffe wants to have full ownership and there is an expectation that this purchase of a partial stake is the first move towards full control.

Moody was involved in the Nice banter era. He wasn't kept afterwards. I doubt that sjr would trust him on this project

 

[Sunny Jim]

Hopefully, he leaves the club, and not just his post. Unmitigated disaster.

True. Him and Ed should be banned from taking any job in football.

 

[ColvaleGoa]

Can we swap him with Dan Ashworrh?

 

[croadyman]

Can we swap him with Dan Ashworrh?

Geordies are having a bad enough time without palming off our rejects onto them

 

[Yakuza_devils]

Can we swap him with Dan Ashworrh?

Why are you showing such disrespect to Ashworth?

Except a few of his staunch supporter posters here, 99.9% are desperately want him to be sacked now. This is how bad Murtough is.

 

[The Red Thinker]

Manchester United must hire best in class in all departments. “Murtough Madness” should be the name of the disease that has infected Manchester United since Sir Alex left.

 

[Stobzilla]

Manchester United must hire best in class in all departments. “Murtough Madness” should be the name of the disease that has infected Manchester United since Sir Alex left.

I think "Woodward Wackiness" is probably more apt.

 

[thisisnottaken1]

I think "Woodward Wackiness" is probably more apt.

Or “Glazer Gonorrhea”

 

[Yakuza_devils]

SARS-CoV-3-H3N3 Murtough.

 

[devilish]

Why are you showing such disrespect to Ashworth?

Except a few of his staunch supporter posters here, 99.9% are desperately want him to be sacked now. This is how bad Murtough is.

Ah I remember the old bad times when I was the only one not dazzled by him signing a zillion data analysts

 

[Giggsyking]

We do not have the luxury to appoint another failure in this important position. I hope the next person is a success.

 

[Sir Erik ten Hag]

Ah I remember the old bad times when I was the only one not dazzled by him signing a zillion data analysts

What's wrong with hiring data analysts?

 

[devilish]

What's wrong with hiring data analysts?

Nothing wrong but it can't be used as the only argument of him being great either.

 

[RedUnited86]

How is this village idiot still in a job?

 

[Yakuza_devils]

This so called first DOF for Man Utd is a unprecedented disaster.

He appointed new Sporting Director, new scouting department, new data analysis team, and tonnes of other new positions in the club to revamp the structure. He also spent more than 400M.

Magically, he is able to made Man Utd worse instead of improving us. Little did we know that he is actually the main problem to begin with. Appointment within and we were asking the blind to lead the blind.

 

[Mindhunter]

This so called first DOF for Man Utd is a unprecedented disaster.

He appointed new Sporting Director, new scouting department, new data analysis team, and tonnes of other new positions in the club to revamp the structure. He also spent more than 400M.

Magically, he is able to made Man Utd worse instead of improving us. Little did we know that he is actually the main problem to begin with. Appointment within and we were asking the blind to lead the blind.

No use blaming one person. The rot started at the top. He along with all the other "decision makers" at the club had no business running one of the premier sporting institutions of the world.

The entire regime smacks of cronyism and it is not a surprise that the football on the ground is tumescent. The vision held by the owners matter. It seeps through the entire organization.

 

[acid_fuji]

Finally I had time to read the athletic piece on how things work out in the back office and feck me this guy has to go asap. He needs to go before any manager gets fired. I highly recommend to read this article before you will put a price type post on the manager.

There is interesting view on how Diallo was bought and Ole approved not knowing the price, only later founding out that in fact the price would make him fist team player rather than young prospect.

Another story is about when Arnold consulted Fergusson when he took over it suggested by the boss to hire Ashworth but he found out he would have to work under Murtogh he declined.

 

[pascell]

Finally I had time to read the athletic piece on how things work out in the back office and feck me this guy has to go asap. He needs to go before any manager gets fired. I highly recommend to read this article before you will put a price type post on the manager.

There is interesting view on how Diallo was bought and Ole approved not knowing the price, only later founding out that in fact the price would make him fist team player rather than young prospect.

Another story is about when Arnold consulted Fergusson when he took over it suggested by the boss to hire Ashworth but he found out he would have to work under Murtogh he declined.

Regarding Diallo, it was reported at the time that Ole thought he was being purchased out of the academy budget, instead he was being bought out of the senior teams budget. I took that bit with a pinch of salt as I don't think any club would be that incompetent, no matter how poor Murtough is/was at his job as DoF.

 

[gajender]

Regarding Diallo, it was reported at the time that Ole thought he was being purchased out of the academy budget, instead he was being bought out of the senior teams budget. I took that bit with a pinch of salt as I don't think any club would be that incompetent, no matter how poor Murtough is/was at his job as DoF.

Take it with more than pinch of salt when are First team managers consulted or give approval for academy signings thats a separate thing altogether isn't it , Murtough maybe incompetent but if this is true it reflects badly on Solskjaer than him .

 

[Skills]

Diallo will probably turn out to be one of our better signings over the last 4 years. He at least, looks like he's got the ability for this level.

It's going to be hilarious if he actually turns into a great player, watching someone like Solskjaer backpedal and claim credit for it.

The big issue here is that Solskjaer should've had nothing to do with that signing anyway - it was a super young player, about 2-3 years away from first team football. There shouldn't be a separate academy and first team budget - it should all sit under the DOFs remit, with the flexibility of moving funds around.

The fact that Solskjaer had to approve that signing just shows how much the DOF's hands are tied behind his back at this club. The tail wags the dog.

 

[devilish]

This so called first DOF for Man Utd is a unprecedented disaster.

He appointed new Sporting Director, new scouting department, new data analysis team, and tonnes of other new positions in the club to revamp the structure. He also spent more than 400M.

Magically, he is able to made Man Utd worse instead of improving us. Little did we know that he is actually the main problem to begin with. Appointment within and we were asking the blind to lead the blind.

The Glazers hate change, they are undecisive and they only trust a very small pool of people. They replaced a former PWC employee/former Bristol student in Woodward with another former PWC employee/former Bristol student in Arnold. Back in the day the pressure for United to reform itself was growing to the point that it couldn't be ignored. Which makes you wonder if the appointment of Murtough (no experience in DOF) and Fletcher (2 promotions in less then a year) as DOF/Technical director was a window dressing attempt. It certainly didn't change anything. United kept leaking info left right and center, we kept suffering from waves upon waves of injury, we kept on buying players for silly money and giving them ridiculous contracts etc.

So I think that Murtough is tied to the hip with Glazers management. He would have never got the job/be retained into it if it wasn't for them and he had to live within the restraints set by them which would have not been accepted by the best DOFs/Sporting directors.

 

[devilish]

Diallo will probably turn out to be one of our better signings over the last 4 years. He at least, looks like he's got the ability for this level.

It's going to be hilarious if he actually turns into a great player, watching someone like Solskjaer backpedal and claim credit for it.

The big issue here is that Solskjaer should've had nothing to do with that signing anyway - it was a super young player, about 2-3 years away from first team football. There shouldn't be a separate academy and first team budget - it should all sit under the DOFs remit, with the flexibility of moving funds around.

The fact that Solskjaer had to approve that signing just shows how much the DOF's hands are tied behind his back at this club. The tail wags the dog.

Dan Ashworth described the DOF role very well. Do note that certain clubs (ex Brighton) has different titles for the DOF role


If it’s a big decision on who’s going to be the next academy manager then that’s not the first team coach’s job. That’s clear in my view,” he says. “If it’s a big decision where we’re signing a player then ultimately, there is no point having a disagreement with the manager. If I want to sign him and the manager doesn’t, then the player won’t play and it becomes a fruitless exercise.”

With the transfer of players often seen as the main job of a technical director by fans, Ashworth explains the issues “that everyone wants to get their teeth into”.

He says: “We would work off of a traffic light system; the recruitment department have got to like the player; the player has got to stack up on data and numbers like the contract and if we can afford him; and the first team manager has got to like the player. If all three things get the green light, then we’ll go ahead. If one is orange, then we need to have a discussion “


Is there much back and forth with the manager when debating the possibility of signing a player? “Yes, of course,” Ashworth explains. “They’re big, multi-million-pound decisions. If it didn’t go backwards and forwards, then there’d be something wrong!

“In any business, if there’s a multi-million-pound decision then several people will be getting involved. It’s healthy debate and constructive conflict. Graham might say “I like this player” and we ask “why?” because we think another player can do X, Y, and Z better and is better value. We then either agree or disagree, then sign the player, or we don’t.”

Ashworth ends our conversation by stating that his role is one as a “relationship builder”, adding: “I’ve got to get on the right page with whichever head coach I’m working with. I’ve got to understand their philosophy, what they want from their team and what they like and dislike, because there’s no point in me bringing them in a player that I know isn’t going to be any good to them.”


If Ole was given the impression that Diallo was being bought using the academy budget and it wasn't the case then there's two scenarios here

a- He was lied to
b- He wasn't properly informed

In both cases its a breakdown of good communication which is exactly something that a DOF should never do.

 

[bond19821982]

This so called first DOF for Man Utd is a unprecedented disaster.

He appointed new Sporting Director, new scouting department, new data analysis team, and tonnes of other new positions in the club to revamp the structure. He also spent more than 400M.

Magically, he is able to made Man Utd worse instead of improving us. Little did we know that he is actually the main problem to begin with. Appointment within and we were asking the blind to lead the blind.

Think we have a better academy and our scouting team is also just fine . He actually did a great job in getting them correct. The problem has been with the first team recruitment. He doesn't have the authority or he isn't showing the authority to say NO to manager signings. Our scouting team recommendations are ignored and manager is given full authority. That's where our problem is.

 

[roseguy64]

Diallo will probably turn out to be one of our better signings over the last 4 years. He at least, looks like he's got the ability for this level.

It's going to be hilarious if he actually turns into a great player, watching someone like Solskjaer backpedal and claim credit for it.

The big issue here is that Solskjaer should've had nothing to do with that signing anyway - it was a super young player, about 2-3 years away from first team football. There shouldn't be a separate academy and first team budget - it should all sit under the DOFs remit, with the flexibility of moving funds around.

The fact that Solskjaer had to approve that signing just shows how much the DOF's hands are tied behind his back at this club. The tail wags the dog.

It should be good to note that the Diallo deal was agreed in October 2020 when Murtough was not DOF.

 

[roseguy64]

Think we have a better academy and our scouting team is also just fine . He actually did a great job in getting them correct. The problem has been with the first team recruitment. He doesn't have the authority or he isn't showing the authority to say NO to manager signings. Our scouting team recommendations are ignored and manager is given full authority. That's where our problem is.

Yeah Murtough has done a good job it appears with everything except first-team recruitment. No different than anyone involved since Sir Alex left.

 

[LawCharltonBest]

He gone yet?

CEO sorted for next season. I would imagine that CEO will want to hire his own sporting director

 

[Kostov]

Why isn’t more being made of the absolute catastrophic current situation the club is in. January transfer window and the club can’t buy anyone because a certain incompetent imbecile wasted money during the summer on the likes of Mount.

And a large part of the fanbase still operate on the narrative “it’s not your money”. Well the taxman is now here and guess what It ain’t pretty when you can’t do shit.

The likes of Mount, Antony, Onana were so much overpaid, we will be crippled even in the summer.

 

[Big Ben Foster]

Why isn’t more being made of the absolute catastrophic current situation the club is in. January transfer window and the club can’t buy anyone because a certain incompetent imbecile wasted money during the summer on the likes of Mount.

And a large part of the fanbase still operate on the narrative “it’s not your money”. Well the taxman is now here and guess what It ain’t pretty when you can’t do shit.

The likes of Mount, Antony, Onana were so much overpaid, we will be crippled even in the summer.

Yup, every fecking summer this line comes up; it's like a lot of our fans never learn.

 

[caid]

Why isn’t more being made of the absolute catastrophic current situation the club is in. January transfer window and the club can’t buy anyone because a certain incompetent imbecile wasted money during the summer on the likes of Mount.

And a large part of the fanbase still operate on the narrative “it’s not your money”. Well the taxman is now here and guess what It ain’t pretty when you can’t do shit.

The likes of Mount, Antony, Onana were so much overpaid, we will be crippled even in the summer.

I feel like if there was any trust or regard for the guy they'd let him do some business with selling players and bringing new ones in. He'll live or die on Mount, Antony and Onanas form so wont be here in the summer clearly. Too many misses.

 

[Leftback99]

Seen the financial situation coming for years. Every summer trying to explain to those saying "pay whatever it takes", "it's only £3m/£5m/£10m... " that it would all catch up with us.

Sadly Murtough etc were as clueless as them.

 

[Andycoleno9]

This guy thought that 200 mil for Onana, Mount and Antony is good business. Unbelievable

 

[croadyman]

This guy thought that 200 mil for Onana, Mount and Antony is good business. Unbelievable

Yeah he will surely get the axe when INEOS finally get their ratification maybe next week