Parky

You're right. These people know nothing about football. Much better to leave these footballing matters to an offshore and marine business executive or a City lawyer.. Coming from the man who reckons Dien was a DOF. That's ridiculous. Wenger said as much. He reffered to his search for a Director of Football as somebody doing the job that Dein did previously. Of course, you would know better.. Quote from: Parky on Today at 05:01:26 PM Quote from: Unbelievable! on Today at 04:57:42 PM Quote from: Sniffer on Today at 04:47:10 PM These clubs were successful in the past without a doF. Chelsea are an anomaly. Spurs wasn't at the level that they have been in the recent past. Also, Dein has been the DoF (maybe not in title but certainly in role) at Arsenal from before Wenger was appointed in 1996 (source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/6571099.stm). Chelsea is the only other club I mentioned, and a bit of an anomaly as you mention, but still a good example as apparently Abramovic saw the sense in appointing a Director of Football rather than completely depend on the manager in place and entrust them with the cash. What has the DOF at Chelsea done? Why is Mourinho constantly bemoaning he has no youth players coming through? It's all very well signing young players for huge fees that other big clubs are after, but surely that is the anti-thesis of the DOF role? Dien is not a f****** DOF. He was from the old Arsenal board who understood/headhunted and worked closely with Wenger. He didn't suggest or buy ANYBODY...He had zero input in the youth setup. As I said, he may not have had the DoF title officially, but he certainly acted the part by all accounts. The club itself states it is looking for a DoF to replace Dein itself: http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=news&article=477261&lid=NewsHeadline&Title=Wenger+-+My+delay+over+Director+of+Football Was he hands on in the youth development side? Did he suggest players? Did he oversee fitness and training continuity? You're either changing the remit of the DOF or you don't really know what one is.

8)

You took you're fekin time Chris!

You're right. These people know nothing about football. Much better to leave these footballing matters to an offshore and marine business executive or a City lawyer.. Coming from the man who reckons Dien was a DOF.

This is what Mourinho has to deal with under this enlightened system.. Arnesen and his cronies from PSV recommending players to Roman. Kenyon recommending players to Roman. Pini Zahavi recommending players to Roman. Kenyon hiring a some Israeli football all seer from Portsmouth to oversee everything...A man who has barely touched the ground outside of Israeli football. Kenyon arguing with Mourinho about buying Alex at Arnesens behest. Roman on the blower to Hiddink. Hiddink on the blower to Kenyon and Arnesen. Zhavi recommending more players. Roman insisting that Mourinho plays Schevchenko. Schevchenko insiting he wants back to Milan. etc.... mackems.gif Is Mourinho being undermined? Of course he is.

You haven't explained why Comolli a jumped up youth scout is in any position to decide who is good enough at anything. Have you? Just throwing slights my way isn't really a debate.

All I see is a team supposedly 'buying for the future' but the future never comes. Bar Berbs Comolli has had little affect on the current side apart from making Jol feel his job is unsafe for the last year or so. Have a look at his cv. 7 years at Saint Etienne (hardly big guns in Euro are they?). Wenger was thinking about Rodent ffs...My questioning of his judgement was too kind it seems. he was never at st etienne for 7 years, but he was Arsene Wenger's head scout for 7 years, scouting the likes of Toure and Eboue, then he went to St Etienne for a couple of years before spurs snatched him up. My mistake. Spurs took him for the same reason Chelsea stole Arnensen...They both had an in with key young players around Europe. That is understandable and I'm all for it. The Dutch contingent inc Arnesen at Chelsea haven't been doing much more than suggesting players to Kenyon and devloping the overall contact and knowledge base. Hence the arrival of the the Israeli.

More DOF lunacy... http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/premiership/article2710693.ece Avram Grant has been appointed Chelsea's new sporting director, according to sources at the Premiership club. The move, which is expected to be officially announced after 1 July, is a further sign of the tenuous grip that manager Jose Mourinho has on his own job. Crucially Grant will be given wide-ranging powers - including involvement in coaching, signing players and their recruitment. Mourinho will not walk out, as he threatened to do when Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich first proposed employing Grant back in January as a means of improving the club's fortunes and getting more out of misfiring striker Andrei Shevchenko in particular. However, it will be fascinating to see how Mourinho copes with the new structure. Grant will leave his current post as technical director of Portsmouth. It is understood that Grant, who had never previously worked outside Israel, has agreed a two-year contract.

Spurs wasn't at the level that they have been in the recent past. Also, Dein has been the DoF (maybe not in title but certainly in role) at Arsenal from before Wenger was appointed in 1996 (source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/6571099.stm). Chelsea is the only other club I mentioned, and a bit of an anomaly as you mention, but still a good example as apparently Abramovic saw the sense in appointing a Director of Football rather than completely depend on the manager in place and entrust them with the cash. What has the DOF at Chelsea done? Why is Mourinho constantly bemoaning he has no youth players coming through? It's all very well signing young players for huge fees that other big clubs are after, but surely that is the anti-thesis of the DOF role? Dien is not a f****** DOF. He was from the old Arsenal board who understood/headhunted and worked closely with Wenger. He didn't suggest or buy ANYBODY...He had zero input in the youth setup. As I said, he may not have had the DoF title officially, but he certainly acted the part by all accounts. The club itself states it is looking for a DoF to replace Dein itself: http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=news&article=477261&lid=NewsHeadline&Title=Wenger+-+My+delay+over+Director+of+Football How did he act the part then? Did he suggest player purchases? Did he oversee the youth system? Did he plan the training and fitness structure? I think the Dien thing has been overplayed by the media. He was a good sounding board for Wenger and his voice in the boardroom, I'm not aware of anything futher...

You talking to me....? mackems.gif I thought you were over your bitchng phase that lasted 2 whole weeks... You've done nothing but parrot the general consensus on DOF's not an original idea in your head it seems.

Spurs wasn't at the level that they have been in the recent past. Also, Dein has been the DoF (maybe not in title but certainly in role) at Arsenal from before Wenger was appointed in 1996 (source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/6571099.stm). Chelsea is the only other club I mentioned, and a bit of an anomaly as you mention, but still a good example as apparently Abramovic saw the sense in appointing a Director of Football rather than completely depend on the manager in place and entrust them with the cash. What has the DOF at Chelsea done? Why is Mourinho constantly bemoaning he has no youth players coming through? It's all very well signing young players for huge fees that other big clubs are after, but surely that is the anti-thesis of the DOF role? Dien is not a fucking DOF. He was from the old Arsenal board who understood/headhunted and worked closely with Wenger. He didn't suggest or buy ANYBODY...He had zero input in the youth setup.

Where is the DOF inspired youth system at Chelsea?

All I see is a team supposedly 'buying for the future' but the future never comes. Bar Berbs Comolli has had little affect on the current side apart from making Jol feel his job is unsafe for the last year or so. Have a look at his cv. 7 years at Saint Etienne (hardly big guns in Euro are they?). Wenger was thinking about Rodent ffs...My questioning of his judgement was too kind it seems. That story probably emanated from Thompson House though in fairness. Perhaps. But this thread has blown wide open all this DOF bollocks. You've just argued Comolli isn't very good at it as far as I can see. It's difficult to make a judgement without knowing what his role actually is though and I take MJ's ITK stuff with a large dose of salt. Is there a role? In the wider sense, you mean? Because if that is what you mean, that's not what I meant I hope you remember all those long smug posts by MJ (no offence intended) and the like (kingprawn or whatever his name is) about how infalliable and forward thinking their 'system' and 'planning' was...Turns out it's a managerial quagmire and a political minefield. If we implement the system here the DOF should be on an equal footing as Big Sam and not someone watching over his shoulder imo. He should look after the overall health of the football club and develop the infrastructure. More importantly he should stick to buying players Sam wants....

All I see is a team supposedly 'buying for the future' but the future never comes. Bar Berbs Comolli has had little affect on the current side apart from making Jol feel his job is unsafe for the last year or so. Have a look at his cv. 7 years at Saint Etienne (hardly big guns in Euro are they?). Wenger was thinking about Rodent ffs...My questioning of his judgement was too kind it seems. That story probably emanated from Thompson House though in fairness. Perhaps. But this thread has blown wide open all this DOF bollocks. You've just argued Comolli isn't very good at it as far as I can see. It's difficult to make a judgement without knowing what his role actually is though and I take MJ's ITK stuff with a large dose of salt. Is there a role? Did I mention he was French?

Go with your own mate. As you were.

All I see is a team supposedly 'buying for the future' but the future never comes. Bar Berbs Comolli has had little affect on the current side apart from making Jol feel his job is unsafe for the last year or so. Have a look at his cv. 7 years at Saint Etienne (hardly big guns in Euro are they?). Wenger was thinking about Rodent ffs...My questioning of his judgement was too kind it seems. That story probably emanated from Thompson House though in fairness. Perhaps. But this thread has blown wide open all this DOF bollocks.

All I see is a team supposedly 'buying for the future' but the future never comes. Bar Berbs Comolli has had little affect on the current side apart from making Jol feel his job is unsafe for the last year or so. Have a look at his cv. 7 years at Saint Etienne (hardly big guns in Euro are they?). Wenger was thinking about Rodent ffs...My questioning of his judgement was too kind it seems.

Will they ever let this go?

Agreed. He's gone a bit 'Spurs' with all the cash he's been given. Not like they're not wildly in debt either. Servicing £400m at last count. Happy days.

They should have ditched Saha by now really.

He'll probably play till he's 46 mind.

...a man destroying one club with imo very little going for him...I don't think so ringo.

Sorry but that's utter cobblers.

...and ManU seething from recent injustices are going to be drinking blood before the game.

Comolli's background doesn't seem so impressive imo. Running youth set ups to telling managers what to do.....Ridiculous.