Ed Woodward | Post season 2017 edition

[Ravelation]

Autism.

(SORRY, HOPE NOBODY IS OFFENDED BUT I COULDN'T RESIST!!!!)

We've been OK in the transfer market for 3 seasons now, I can't see how anyone can complain about Woody's work

Herrera/Pogba/Mikhi/Zlatan/Dimaria/Martial/Bailly/Mata am i forgetting anyone?

Considering the state of the Valuation of players fluctuating wildly over the past seasons, plus the fact we are Man United and have had to deal with clubs asking incredible amounts for our players and offering scraps for our players (All Pre-Moyes, I'd say Woodward done great for the club so far, and our outgoing player valuations via Mourinho have also improved. Whereas he hasn't been perfect, he's been more than adequate, and i Honestly believe he's done a good job, I just hope Morata is a sensible figure, and i'm sure Mourinho wants it to be to. Afterall, Madrid are in love with De Gea, a spanish galactico, hopefully we play hardball.

 

[Chesterlestreet]

The upside to having a DOF obviously isn't better deals on individual players or whatever else you can think of on the micro plane.

The upside is continuity. If Mourinho does a SAF we're sorted, but how likely is that? We're a club like any other these days and the realistic future scenario is that we will change managers rather frequently (which is what most clubs do).

It is evidently not a bad thing to have a certain structure in place, then, which does not change when the man in charge leaves (whether he's sacked or otherwise).

You have to find the right man for the job, of course, that goes without saying. But this idea that a DOF is just a pointless middle man is an outdated notion: The Fergie model doesn't work without Fergie (incredibly enough).

A DOF doesn't have to interfere too heavily with the manager either. But such a figure can – to make an obvious example – veto the purchase of players who do not fit a certain profile, and veto the sale of players who may be useful long term.

In short, arguing for a DOF has nothing to do with suspecting that Woody isn't doing his job properly. But Woody's job does not extend to considering the football wise suitability of transfers: That part is down to the manager 100% as far as we know. And what suits an individual manager (who may be good or bad in his own right) may not suit the club long term, i.e. may not suit his successor at all.

The above is precisely what we've seen post Fergie. A need for major squad changes for both LVG and Mourinho – and huge amounts spent on players the next guy probably (or definitely) wouldn't have gone for himself.

 

[Jonno]

I would like a DOF because our transfer strategy since Fergie retired has been a disaster.

We have spent the following amounts since Fergie and Gill retired:
13-14 Season: £64.03m
14-15 Season: £124.15m
15-16 Season: £46.69m
16-17 Season: £117.17m


That is £352m of net expenditure in 4 seasons not counting the current one and we still have a very unbalanced squad in desperate need of a striker, a #10, a winger, a DM and of a LB.

So all I'm saying is our squad building strategy post-Fergie hasn't worked, we have gone through Moyes, Giggs, LVG & Mourinho and our transfer policy appears to be scattergun. A football person (s) in charge of scouting / transfers / recruitment to solve these issues before they become problems, and let Woodward run the business/operations/marketing side of the club and Mourinho run the coaching and training side.

Or we just stick with one manager for the mid / long term. Look at Mourinho's signings since he's been here, pretty much all of them have been accurate, important signings. By 1st September 2018 I expect this squad to be fully balanced, very competitive and talented.

 

[spontaneus1]

Herrera/Pogba/Mikhi/Zlatan/Dimaria/Martial/Bailly/Mata

That's an absolutely laughable list.

 

[Sampy93]

Or we just stick with one manager for the mid / long term. Look at Mourinho's signings since he's been here, pretty much all of them have been accurate, important signings. By 1st September 2018 I expect this squad to be fully balanced, very competitive and talented.

I agree but disagree, I think he won't quite have the balanced squad by September. I think by next January or summer we will have what we need to get back to the top.
If we end up with Lindelof, morata, Perisic and someone like dier we will still need a left back, and someone who has that Wow factor who can be the focal point of our attack. Griezmann would have been ideal, but someone like Bale, Neymar, Ronaldo, Hazard of the like. So I reckon latest next summer we will be sorted.

 

[Jonno]

I agree but disagree, I think he won't quite have the balanced squad by September. I think by next January or summer we will have what we need to get back to the top.
If we end up with Lindelof, morata, Perisic and someone like dier we will still need a left back, and someone who has that Wow factor who can be the focal point of our attack. Griezmann would have been ideal, but someone like Bale, Neymar, Ronaldo, Hazard of the like. So I reckon latest next summer we will be sorted.

Yeah, I said September 2018, next year. It's still quite unbalanced

 

[Sampy93]

Yeah, I said September 2018, next year. It's still quite unbalanced

Oh sorry didn't read that haha, then I completely agree with you haha

 

[ocprodigy]

A DOF doesn't have to interfere too heavily with the manager either. But such a figure can – to make an obvious example – veto the purchase of players who do not fit a certain profile, and veto the sale of players who may be useful long term.

In short, arguing for a DOF has nothing to do with suspecting that Woody isn't doing his job properly. But Woody's job does not extend to considering the football wise suitability of transfers: That part is down to the manager 100% as far as we know. And what suits an individual manager (who may be good or bad in his own right) may not suit the club long term, i.e. may not suit his successor at all.

The above is precisely what we've seen post Fergie. A need for major squad changes for both LVG and Mourinho – and huge amounts spent on players the next guy probably (or definitely) wouldn't have gone for himself.

You seriously think ANY future top class coach would come to Manchester United knowing that they won't be able to sign the players they want for their team structure? In fact - you genuinely believe as a club we'd go after top class managers and then say they can only sign players a DOF wants / play a way we want them to? That is called insanity.

A DOF would do absolutely nothing near what you are saying they would. Everyone has the most ridiculous arguments;

• Lower transfer fees - why would that happen? Because there's an additional person all of a sudden clubs will say "**** let's not ask for what we want!". We're not looking to sign average players, so we won't pay cheap prices. Let's take a look at City and some of their transfers (£30m+). de Bruyne (£55m), Sterling (£49m), Stones (£47m), Sane (£42.5m), Otamendi (£35m?), Fernandinho (£34m), Mangala (£31.8m). Some of those are way overpriced, so it's not necessarily helping too much is it?! And bear in mind Woody actually knows what we can afford to spend. Better than most people. We'll pay what we can when we think it's necessary. He isn't just pissing away shareholder money.
• Better scouting - well, one, we have a scouting network who perform our scouting and report to the manager, so this is pointless. Two, how does a DOF know exactly what a manager wants/needs? They don't. It's just someone extra to put pressure on "luxury" signings.
• Continuity - similar to the above, a DOF won't say yes/no to transfers because they want "continuity". Managers wouldn't accept it, fans would hate it when we're playing a disjointed way of football against the manager's preferred tactics and three its a toxic combination to run a football club.

No idea what people genuinely believe a DOF would add when Woody has been excellent at securing our transfer targets and managing the financials. Don't blame him for transfers failing, that's on the manager.

 

[Giggs86]

What would be the point of having a DOF besides being a glorified ambassador? What else will he do except for having a few quotes here and there and taking part in charity events? Can't see how will it have any effect on transfers.

 

[Chesterlestreet]

You seriously think ANY future top class coach would come to Manchester United knowing that they won't be able to sign the players they want for their team structure?

No.

I seriously think, though, that we wouldn't operate with a structure of our own which would be outlandish enough to make prospective managers consider it insane.

You do realize (you never know these days, not least on here) that having some sort of DOF model is what most top clubs opt for, and have done for years?

It's not a crazy and novel scheme thought up by me. I wish it was, actually - would have been rich.

Give me one good reason why we should persist with our current model. One good reason why NOT doing what, say, Bayern Munich does is the rational approach.

And don't say "Mourinho will stay here for years", because you can't possibly know that he will.

And - don't narrow "DOF model" down to one fecker lording it over the manager. What I want is a structure at the club, a long term strategy that someone (the DOF or whatever feckin' title he may get) protects - working with the manager, but also checking the manager if and when he makes decisions that aren't in line with that strategy.

That's common feckin' sense in modern football.

 

[goin4glory]

Very well put.

@goin4glory you can't state something as factual, then not provide evidence that supports the whole of your claim.
You work in a ''Field of logic''? May I enquire what this 'field' is?

I did supply evidence to support my claim, obviously reading comprehension isn't your field.

 

[goin4glory]

Autism.

(SORRY, HOPE NOBODY IS OFFENDED BUT I COULDN'T RESIST!!!!)

We've been OK in the transfer market for 3 seasons now, I can't see how anyone can complain about Woody's work

The chances of someone on the internet called "GaztheLegend" not being a complete retard must start somewhere around 50-1.

 

[sunama]

I'm not going to comment on Woodward's performance, but the caftards are certainly performing and coming out with some beauties.

The chances of someone on the internet called "GaztheLegend" not being a complete retard must start somewhere around 50-1.

You don't know how the internet works, mate. First I say something mental, you ask me to back it up, I refuse, but even as you're asking me, I'm breakdancing and high fiving my own laptop off the table. I've got a baseball hat on backwards and you live in your nan's spare room.

Keep 'em coming guys.

 

[Ravelation]

That's an absolutely laughable list.

why?

 

[Ravelation]

I did supply evidence to support my claim, obviously reading comprehension isn't your field.

If you was to read what I had wrote, you'd of understood that I implied you had provided evidence, but not enough evidence to support the whole of your claim in which you identified Man Uniteds transfer failings as the worst in comparison to every other club.

If you claim that we are worse than every other club, how comes you haven't found one suitable club of our stature, to compare with?

It's pretty awkward when you insult someone, and you bare the brunt of your own insult.

 

[GazTheLegend]

That's an absolutely laughable list.

Yeah, signing the Bundesliga player of the year, a brilliant centre back, one of the most famous footballers in the world and the most promising central midfielder was laughable.

Just as laughable as when two of those very same signings won us two trophies and got us champions league football.

I mean - I don't understand the joke but it's clearly hilarious.

 

[goin4glory]

why?

It's a laughable list because it ignores every single one of his failed transfers like the joint bid for Baines/Fellaini, paying millions over Fellaini's release clause by missing his deadline due to chasing Fabregas and failing, or the three amigos trying to resolve the tax issue in Spain.

If you was to read what I had wrote, you'd of understood that I implied you had provided evidence, but not enough evidence to support the whole of your claim in which you identified Man Uniteds transfer failings as the worst in comparison to every other club.

If you claim that we are worse than every other club, how comes you haven't found one suitable club of our stature, to compare with?

It's pretty awkward when you insult someone, and you bare the brunt of your own insult.

If you were to read what I wrote, not "if you was to read what I had wrote". Awkward when you can't construct a basic sentence.

 

[Ravelation]

It's a laughable list because it ignores every single one of his failed transfers like the joint bid for Baines/Fellaini, paying millions over Fellaini's release clause by missing his deadline due to chasing Fabregas and failing, or the three amigos trying to resolve the tax issue in Spain.



If you were to read what I wrote, not "if you was to read what I had wrote". Awkward when you can't construct a basic sentence.

Did you honestly just correct my grammar in an online debate? How original. You didn't even reply to what I wrote you just corrected my grammar.
So, are you going to reply to what I have written, or just nitpick at insignificant grammar mistakes?

Addidtionally, the list of transfers I quoted were not in reference to him always being successful, It was in support of him not being the worst.

 

[Sandikan]

With the Ronaldo news blowing up, it's at least stalled the usual
"why aren't we getting on with our signings" fretting from one camp.

While the other camp tediously repeat...it's only May/early June/middle of June, before eventually browning their pants themselves.

The players are back soon, and off on tour no doubt. Always best to get the new players in by then, but every season we know we'll sign someone super late, and they'll end up going into the team with no prep, no bonding time etc

 

[JoaquinJoaquin]

With the Ronaldo news blowing up, it's at least stalled the usual
"why aren't we getting on with our signings" fretting from one camp.

While the other camp tediously repeat...it's only May/early June/middle of June, before eventually browning their pants themselves.

The players are back soon, and off on tour no doubt. Always best to get the new players in by then, but every season we know we'll sign someone super late, and they'll end up going into the team with no prep, no bonding time etc

Well Jose has said for months he wants his transfers done before July 6th when we head out to America. Clock is ticking as we still need major surgery on this squad. Just hope we aren't letting the Ronaldo nonsense dislodge our whole plans.

 

[roseguy64]

Well Jose has said for months he wants his transfers done before July 6th when we head out to America. Clock is ticking as we still need major surgery on this squad. Just hope we aren't letting the Ronaldo nonsense dislodge our whole plans.

Why would it? It's not just one person working on the transfers? We've completed multiple deals at the same time before.

 

[JoaquinJoaquin]

Why would it? It's not just one person working on the transfers? We've completed multiple deals at the same time before.

Well Jose's deadline is 2 weeks away. I cannot see 4-5 players coming in within that time frame considering all links to players seem to of gone cold, can you? There may always be an exception that a player will arrive later like Pogba did, Di Maria etc but we should still have the base signings in place before we tour America which it doesn't look like we will.

 

[barmyarmy]

Well Jose's deadline is 2 weeks away. I cannot see 4-5 players coming in within that time frame considering all links to players seem to of gone cold, can you? There may always be an exception that a player will arrive later like Pogba did, Di Maria etc but we should still have the base signings in place before we tour America which it doesn't look like we will.

People are forgetting morata got married recently once he is back I think we will wrap up or move on to next target if this doesn't work out for some reason. Maybe we are waiting for Inter's deadline to FFP regulations to get perisic on cheap it means we can get these two signing before our pre season starts. If we can get another signing just before tour or during we will be fine with all the new signings having pre season under their belt and getting to know the new teammates as well as club.

 

[JoaquinJoaquin]

People are forgetting morata got married recently once he is back I think we will wrap up or move on to next target if this doesn't work out for some reason. Maybe we are waiting for Inter's deadline to FFP regulations to get perisic on cheap it means we can get these two signing before our pre season starts. If we can get another signing just before tour or during we will be fine with all the new signings having pre season under their belt and getting to know the new teammates as well as club.

That's alot of 'ifs and buts' though. I understand in the case of Morata with his wedding, but the likes of Perisic should be pretty much wrapped up if Jose does in fact want him. I just cannot see us making 4-5 signings in the next 2 weeks. In that case it leaves our new signings not having a full pre season with us, and that has often been a disadvantage.

 

[prath92]

That's alot of 'ifs and buts' though. I understand in the case of Morata with his wedding, but the likes of Perisic should be pretty much wrapped up if Jose does in fact want him. I just cannot see us making 4-5 signings in the next 2 weeks. In that case it leaves our new signings not having a full pre season with us, and that has often been a disadvantage.

We signed 3 players in 2 days couple of seasons back. How are you saying we won't sign anyone in 2-3 weeks?

 

[Infra-red]

Well Jose's deadline is 2 weeks away. I cannot see 4-5 players coming in within that time frame considering all links to players seem to of gone cold, can you? There may always be an exception that a player will arrive later like Pogba did, Di Maria etc but we should still have the base signings in place before we tour America which it doesn't look like we will.

It looks like there's another 3 on the list, not 4-5. We'll get Perisic over the line before the tour.

Matic/Dier and Morata might have to happen later, as we're likely waiting on deals at other clubs progressing first (Bakayoko to Chelsea, Mbappe/Ronaldo situation at Madrid).

 

[JoaquinJoaquin]

We signed 3 players in 2 days couple of seasons back. How are you saying we won't sign anyone in 2-3 weeks?

I'm not saying we won't sign anyone. What i'm saying is that I cannot see Jose getting all of his targets in within the next 2 weeks before the tour which is what he demanded.

 

[Sparky10Legend]

Did you honestly just correct my grammar in an online debate? How original. You didn't even reply to what I wrote you just corrected my grammar.
So, are you going to reply to what I have written, or just nitpick at insignificant grammar mistakes?

Addidtionally, the list of transfers I quoted were not in reference to him always being successful, It was in support of him not being the worst.

Grammar nazis are the scourge of forums, should be a one week ban, unless it's truly horribly constructed.

 

[prath92]

I'm not saying we won't sign anyone. What i'm saying is that I cannot see Jose getting all of his targets in within the next 2 weeks before the tour which is what he demanded.

Why not? In summer 2015, from nowhere we signed all of darmian Schweini and Schneiderlin before we left for tour. Over a weekend

 

[ocprodigy]

I'm not saying we won't sign anyone. What i'm saying is that I cannot see Jose getting all of his targets in within the next 2 weeks before the tour which is what he demanded.

It's not what he "demanded", it's what he'd ideally like. Do you really think transfer negotiations are easy? When you're trying to sign quality players, it's never as simple as FIFA/FM makes you believe. You'd truly be an idiot if you believed the club (and Woodward) aren't trying to secure Jose's targets as soon as possible. Sometimes it just isn't feasible when dealing with a player, his family, his agent and the selling club. There's a lot to negotiate.

 

[JoaquinJoaquin]

It's not what he "demanded", it's what he'd ideally like. Do you really think transfer negotiations are easy? When you're trying to sign quality players, it's never as simple as FIFA/FM makes you believe. You'd truly be an idiot if you believed the club (and Woodward) aren't trying to secure Jose's targets as soon as possible. Sometimes it just isn't feasible when dealing with a player, his family, his agent and the selling club. There's a lot to negotiate.

He has said for months he wants his squad and transfers set for the Tour of USA and that he submitted his list of players in April. So that is 2 / 2.5 months Woodward has had to get his targets secured. Obviously things such as the Griezmann fiasco can happen, but Jose has said he had a priority list in place so if one falls through than we get the next one down. I know agreeing terms with players, agents and selling teams is a process and can take time, but the simple fact is we are 2 weeks away from the Tour and have 1 player in thus far. I'm sure Jose will be frustrated. Let's hope we get moving in the coming days \ weeks but if Perez is telling the truth and we haven't even bid yet for Morata that will mean that it's likely that he will be a late arrival without a pre season with the team possibly. I think we may see a Perisic type arrive before the tour but we need more than that if we are to challenge for the title.

 

[Sampy93]

Man it looks like it's going to be a very underwhelming transfer window for sure. Perisic and dier are not the quality I personally think would take us to challengers next season. Morata I can get behind, but those other two seem meh at best.

I'd say go all out on Mbappe (which won't happen) or dembele.

 

[prath92]

Man it looks like it's going to be a very underwhelming transfer window for sure. Perisic and dier are not the quality I personally think would take us to challengers next season. Morata I can get behind, but those other two seem meh at best.

I'd say go all out on Mbappe (which won't happen) or dembele.

At the end of the day, it's going to be based on the linkup and performances of the team. No one was impressed by Chelsea's window of Luiz, Alonso, Kante and Moses. Yet all of them were key in them winning the title

 

[Infra-red]

Man it looks like it's going to be a very underwhelming transfer window for sure. Perisic and dier are not the quality I personally think would take us to challengers next season. Morata I can get behind, but those other two seem meh at best.

I'd say go all out on Mbappe (which won't happen) or dembele.

They wouldn't be my picks either. That being said, only when Mourinho has built his own side, can he be properly judged. The club has to let him do that.

 

[LeftyBlaster]

They wouldn't be my picks either. That being said, only when Mourinho has built his own side, can he be properly judged. The club has to let him do that.

Not thrilled about Perisic but I would take Dier in a heartbeat. Also I agree that Jose has to be trusted to build his own side. If possible we should conclude our deals asap so the new signings can gel while on tour.

 

[goin4glory]

Did you honestly just correct my grammar in an online debate? How original. You didn't even reply to what I wrote you just corrected my grammar.
So, are you going to reply to what I have written, or just nitpick at insignificant grammar mistakes?

Addidtionally, the list of transfers I quoted were not in reference to him always being successful, It was in support of him not being the worst.

Your terrible strawman argument got the response it deserved.

 

[ash_86]

many of our supposed flair signing had been horrible ADM , Falcao ect... I don't mind some non flair players if they fit our team better.

 

[Red Defence]

Well Jose's deadline is 2 weeks away. I cannot see 4-5 players coming in within that time frame considering all links to players seem to of gone cold, can you? There may always be an exception that a player will arrive later like Pogba did, Di Maria etc but we should still have the base signings in place before we tour America which it doesn't look like we will.

Depends who we are going after. Plenty of names mentioned in the media but there always are, most of which we have no interest in and it's all purely press speculation. Was only a couple of years ago that they had us linked with over 90 players in one transfer window.

Most likely there will be negotiations going on behind closed doors and they may be almost finalised. They may also be for players that the media and the fans weren't expecting. Only time will tell but I'm sure the club will have these things in hand.

 

[OohAahMartial]

There's an Instagram of him in NZ watching the Lions. Maybe the lack of transfer activity is because he's on his holidays, like most footballers too.

 

[Lawman]

There's an Instagram of him in NZ watching the Lions. Maybe the lack of transfer activity is because he's on his holidays, like most footballers too.

In reality I'd expect him to holiday not during the two transfer windows when business is still to be concluded. Maybe he was there for business who knows.