News: The OMT for the 1st Ever MUFC D.O.F

This interview says nothing else from previous reports made earlier this weekend. He obviously holds United in high esteem but he also clearly said that: "Who knows, eventually? But for the coming years I’m here.” as quoted by the article...

 

With a current job you expect him to say something else? lol

He said in Sep the reports were nonsense and he intends to extend his stay at Ajax after his current two year contract is up. If you are unable to discern a change in tone you are naive.

 

As naive as the rest of us waiting for an appointment to be announced.

 

Would love nothing more than to have VdS as our DoF (for reasons I've gone over before), but just because he changed his stance, or rather his wording, slightly from a few months ago (for whatever reason), doesn't necessarily mean he's closer to being on his way to United.
I think there are other ways to suggest doubt or possibility for the immediate future than " for the coming years, I'm here."
Really not sure what "naïve" has to do with anything tbh...

 

Exactly

 

VDS should not be anywhere near the 1st choice for the DOF job. Everyone is getting too in love with bringing in guys familiar with the club because of how Ole has done. This romantic vision is getting in the way of logic and it'll be our downfall.

We already have an inexperienced manager leading this team, which after a good start is starting to yield mixed results. Why would we want to stack on top of that a inexperienced DOF running operations? Why don't we let Ole be the inexperienced guy learning the ropes under an experienced DOF thats been around the block? It makes much more sense.

 

Van der Sar has been working in behind the scenes capability with Ajax for a few years now. And successfully, I might add, being one of the driving forces behind the club's recent success.
Ajax are not United obviously, but they are still a significant club and you don't get to a top executive position the way he has, without some know how behind it. VdS would be an excellent candidate for the DoF position for us.

 

Manchester United appoints director of football.



Manchester United announced Monday that Wood Edward would be named as it's first ever director of football. The announcement came as the club prepares for an important summer transfer window. "Wood comes with a great pedigree. He's already in negotiations with the agents of several near 30 year old, slightly injured, mediocre players and hopes to hit the ground running" said club executive chairman Ed Woodward.

 

Why do we even have this thread? We already know the answer.

 

United (along with Arsenal and Chelsea) are still chasing Paul Mitchell.

https://www.skysports.com/football/...chelsea-and-arsenal-all-chasing-paul-mitchell

 

Per Skysports, Paul Mitchell has confirmed he will be making a decision regarding his future once the season is over. He's currently contracted to RBL until next year (with an offer for a new deal until 2025) and is said to enjoy his current job.
But it's also clear that he's at least considering his future with significant English clubs (United included) all chasing him.

 

Speculation this week that the delay over appointing Mike Phelan as assistant coach is because he is being considered for technical director.

Much as I like Mick, DoF type role isnt him whereas assistant coach+ is.

Makes it feel like Woody is being indecisive - as he is looking for a DoF / Technical Director who is more tracksuit than business suit, so as to maintain his own empire.

 

That's exactly who we need as a DoF imo.

 

Would take Mick over Woody appointing nobody, but would prefer someone like Edwin who has done both the football thing and the money thing.

Want Ed as far away from ALL footballing decisions as possible.

Plus Ole has stated he meeds Mick in his current position - so is undermining Ole coaching staff setup already.

Have no evidence Mick has done DoF like work, lots of evidence he has done great coaching work.

 

This isn't going to happen until the fans start making enough noise that the Glazer's take notice. It's clear that they're completely hands off and trust Woody to run the club. And it's clear that Woody isnt going to voluntarily hand over any power or take himself out of the spotlight.

 

Edwin Van der Sar is the perfect architect for United's rebuild.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/footbal...ed-earmark-edwin-van-der-sar-architect-clubs/

VdS or Mitchell look to be the best candidates we have been seriously linked to. With the former having apparently ruled himself out for now, it's all on Mitchell. Woodward should go all out and make a big offer to him, in an attempt to ward off not just RBL, but Arsenal and Chelsea as well.
Not inherently against the idea of hiring Phelan for the job: it is what he was doing in Oz, but him becoming DoF takes him away from Ole and that is not ideal in the least.
Know nothing about the other 'in house' candidates being considered, Bout and Murtaugh. Jordi Cruyff is another one that has been talked about and would not mind if we fail to get Mitchell.

 

The Phelan as DoF rumors appear to be corroborated by Ducker.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/footbal...come-manchester-uniteds-first-ever-technical/

Have mixed feelings about this, if it does end up happening. Phelan might may make for a solid DoF, because of his knowledge of the club and the type of players who would be good fits to it. At the same time, is he on the level of others we've been linked with? That remains to be seen.
Biggest issue for me though is that him moving to an executive position takes away an important asset to Ole in the coaching department. One who could be greatly missed.
If other top of the line candidates are not available, Phelan would probably be a good fallback option. Just hope we are exhausting all those options before moving for him though.

 

What's the point of grabbing someone with zero experience at the position? Because he has experience at the club? So ********ing what. This whole sentimental club DNA garbage needs to go. Time to start making logical, smart decisions for the club.

 

I don't understand the complaints about undermining Ole by putting Phelan above him.

1. At the end of the day, they are still working together. If Mick is so important to Ole's success, to the point where him taking another position within the club, is a bad thing for Ole, then maybe Ole isnt up to the task.

2. Phelan may not have top level experience in this role, but neither did Ole and we made him the boss. What Phelan does bring is the institutional knowledge that Moyes tried to eliminate. We need to supplement him with scouts and other younger modern staff to help balance things out.

3. The part where some othet posters have said this is to keep Woodward in power. I don't see it like that. Phelan wont be a yes man to Woodward. If he felt things werent going anywhere he'd either take a stand or quit.

 

My personal complaint in regards to Phelan leaving the coaching staff is that he appeared to be instrumental, especially on the tactical and more specifically defensive side of things (where, albeit inconsistent, we did some progress compared to how things were during Mourinho's reign). If he becomes DoF, we'll find out pretty quickly how influential he really was and how much of a miss he'll be to Ole and the staff in general.
Carrick being promoted to Ole's main assistant is the next logical step for him, I suppose but he's a relative novice who has nowhere near Phelan's experience.
Back to Phelan, he could work in the DoF role: as noted, he does know the club and it's traditions inside out, so he'll know the type of players to bring in. Although it was in Oz, that was the role he last was in football prior to coming back to United, so we'll see how it works out, if he ends up being the guy...

 

We need him for that DNA stuff, but we need others too supplement that. More scouts more staff who can add to Phelans experience.

 

I think Ole needs Phelan for help with tactics and team management more than he needs Phelan for transfers and setting up club structure. Does that mean Ole isn't fit for the job? Yeah, maybe. That's been the knock on him this whole time.

 

I would prefer the DoF or Sporting Director or whatever to have had no previous experience coaching the likes of Jones, Smalling, Young, etc. Emotions get in the way.

 

Not to mention this would be another knee-jerk reaction

 

none of this matters if woodward is still at the top of the pyramid of football operations.