not often can say i've read a half decent article in the MEN for years but feel
Sam Lockwood does a decent job here
Q: Any chance of a new Director of Football to take over player acquisition?
SL: I'm confident I'll live to see the day United appoint a DoF but I think those of us who cover the club can be forgiven for feeling fobbed off. United communicated in March 2019 they were close to filling the role and here we are, 19 months later, and there is still no DoF. United have still talked about the role and stressed it would not just be about doing transfers.
The feeling is Woodward doesn't want to relinquish too much control because he likes doing what he does, even though the word last year was he has nothing to do with recruitment (I no longer believe that), He was pleased about a piece on the MEN that suggested he was United's de facto DoF and there are perks that come with that image. The reality is he's not competent at executing transfers and United need someone else.
Q: It seems like Ed Woodward and Matt Judge are immune from criticism within the club and it seems very unlikely the Glazers will make a change. Why are the Glazers so content with this constant failure?
SL: Because Woodward makes money for them. The Glazers have not contributed a single cent to United. They siphon off the club to make as much money as possible and nobody at United can credibly claim they actually care about how the club is performing. They only care about how much money they are making. So they might be unhappy about the lack of outgoings.
Q: Do you think United are content with CL money and have no ambitions to progress further? Very much like Arsenal of the past. Also the sponsorship deals allow the club to miss the CL one season without it being detrimental to their revenue stream. The cynic in me thinks they will only care to invest next season after me miss out on CL next season so they revenue stream isn't hurt.
SL: You've hit the nail on the head. They have become Wenger's Arsenal, post-2005. That's extremely disheartening for supporters but the club is in a sorry state and many fans feared this when the takeover happened in 2005. Just recall how modern Old Trafford used to be and how unimpressive it is now. The stadium, the squad, the academy: all of them have been neglected at various stages.
Q: The transfer business of Wolves and Leeds shames the business of United. Do the Glazers ignore the bad press? I can't see how they cannot hear the discontent, how they can be proud of the performances. How long before the sponsors dry up, why will the sponsors want to give money to be on the shirts of a team with no ambition of being champions?
SL: The Glazers just ignore the press. And the supporters. They don't communicate with either.
Q: Why did Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo receive new contracts?
SL: Woodward touched upon this in his UWS interview without actually answering it. The answer is most likely that because the deal-makers have little or no football knowledge they just cocked it up again.
full article
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co...ancho-19041201