PIF and RB Sports & Media

[The College Dropout]

On 13/05/2026 at 06:18, r0cafella said:

As long as it's done before 30/6 it does  

 

The Nickson stuff is really interesting isn't it? For me it was a really great demonstration of the amount of power and influence Eddie had at that moment in time. Let's be honest the instruction to essentially make Andy Howe Nicksons boss for the summer came from somewhere. 

 

It is understandable, you would think the manager and by proxy his nephew would have a good idea who would suit the system and style, it's also why I give both of them far less bail about the fuck ups of last summer than many others do. 

I maintain they shouldn't have been in position to do that. No functioning club would allow that to happen.

[r0cafella]

7 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

I maintain they shouldn't have been in position to do that. No functioning club would allow that to happen.

I'm not sure what the alternative was at that time? Imagine the leverage Eddie had at that moment  

[The College Dropout]

21 minutes ago, r0cafella said:

I'm not sure what the alternative was at that time? Imagine the leverage Eddie had at that moment  

Hire an Interim CEO & DoF to provide guardrails.

 

£220m on Woltemade, Wissa, Ramsey and Elanga ffs.

[r0cafella]

5 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

Hire an Interim CEO & DoF to provide guardrails.

 

£220m on Woltemade, Wissa, Ramsey and Elanga ffs.

Which clubs have done that? We were obviously slow but I don't recall many clubs hiring interims . 

 

Some times you have to just accept that the recruitment team got it wrong. 

[lovejoy]

Just now, r0cafella said:

Which clubs have done that? We were obviously slow but I don't recall many clubs hiring interims . 

 

Some times you have to just accept that the recruitment team got it wrong. 

We did when we were first taken over tbf. Someone came in on a short term contract.

[r0cafella]

Just now, lovejoy said:

We did when we were first taken over tbf. Someone came in on a short term contract.

We're hired a singular consultant right? I'm assuming we felt it wasn't needed on this occasion as we've obviously transacted with our current team. At that point we were starting from essentially zero. 

[lovejoy]

2 minutes ago, r0cafella said:

We're hired a singular consultant right? I'm assuming we felt it wasn't needed on this occasion as we've obviously transacted with our current team. At that point we were starting from essentially zero. 

I’m sure he came in as a temp director of football. I could be wrong, but I think that was the case.

 

edit: Nick Hammond, now at Everton 

 

 

Edited May 14 by lovejoy

[r0cafella]

Just now, lovejoy said:

I’m sure he came in as a temp director of football. I could be wrong, but I think that was the case.

Not to be pedantic but he was hired as interim transfer consultant. 

 

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11678/12497903/nick-hammond-newcastle-hire-former-celtic-and-reading-director-of-football-as-transfer-consultant-on-short-term-deal

[The College Dropout]

1 minute ago, r0cafella said:

We're hired a singular consultant right? I'm assuming we felt it wasn't needed on this occasion as we've obviously transacted with our current team. At that point we were starting from essentially zero. 

minority shareholders who were essentially CEOs at the time, a consultant, head scout and manager team vs manager and his nephew Scout

 

Thinking a manager and his scout nephew is good enough to manage a critical transfer window is absentee ownership.  

[r0cafella]

Just now, The College Dropout said:

minority shareholders who were essentially CEOs at the time, a consultant, head scout and manager team vs manager and his nephew Scout

 

Thinking a manager and his scout nephew is good enough to manage a critical transfer window is absentee ownership.  

Serious question, what do you think would have changed if we had some temporary set up in place?

[The College Dropout]

I assume the minority shareholders thought we needed the experience to navigate an important transfer window. 

[r0cafella]

Just now, The College Dropout said:

I assume the minority shareholders thought we needed the experience to navigate an important transfer window. 

I assume that they knew it would be tricky but they thought what was in place could handle it. 

 

After all, at that stage we were all in on Eddie and wanted to give him what he wanted which we did. Ultimately the talent identification was off. 

[The College Dropout]

Just now, r0cafella said:

Serious question, what do you think would have changed if we had some temporary set up in place?

I think a semi competent transfer committee does not spend £230m on those players.  
 

Different voices would argue for cheaper alternatives or short term options. 
 

I don’t think any competent DOF signs off Elanga for £55m.  Thats an Antony for £80mesque transfer.  A manager might want that but any sensible recruitment team would say that’s a £40m transfer tops. Likewise you can’t justify Wissa for £55m as a competent DOF.  Definitely not both. When we had DOF’s we didn’t do those types of transfers - particularly not stacked up.  

[The College Dropout]

5 minutes ago, r0cafella said:

I assume that they knew it would be tricky but they thought what was in place could handle it. 

 

After all, at that stage we were all in on Eddie and wanted to give him what he wanted which we did. Ultimately the talent identification was off. 

The owners didn’t know the star player wanted out or the extent he was serious.  The owners didn’t know a lot of things. Because they were distant.  

[aussiemag]

The signings of Wissa, Elanga and Woltemade have been disastrous. 180 million pounds and high wages on players that have a limited future at the club. 

Wissa being the worst given his age and form. Elanga needs to have an incredible upturn in form to justify his fee. Woltemade was a panic buy after missing out on our top targets. 

I like him as a player, but he isnt suited to Eddie's style of play. 

[r0cafella]

Just now, The College Dropout said:

I think a semi competent transfer committee does not spend £230m on those players.  
 

Different voices would argue for cheaper alternatives or short term options. 
 

I don’t think any competent DOF signs off Elanga for £55m.  Thats an Antony for £80mesque transfer.  A manager might want that but any sensible recruitment team would say that’s a £40m transfer tops. Likewise you can’t justify Wissa for £55m as a competent DOF.  Definitely not both. When we had DOF’s we didn’t do those types of transfers - particularly not stacked up.  

But this is the thing. What committee exist when Eddie has two votes plus ownership backing?

 

If the committee is Eddie and Andy Howe, Nickson and a DOF who do you think breaks the tie? 

 

I wrote long ago we have structural issues and this is one of the elements I was referring too, Eddie has/had credit in the bank and so at that stage was getting his way. 

[The College Dropout]

I’m of the view that everything that happens on the pitch the manager is ultimately responsible and accountable.  Good or bad.  
 

likewise I’m of the view if a club has multiple years of poor transfers, sales, contract renewals that is the responsibility of the owners and leadership team. I’m never blaming the manager for transfers. Functional clubs do not let managers dictate transfers or the fees.  

[r0cafella]

Just now, The College Dropout said:

I’m of the view that everything that happens on the pitch the manager is ultimately responsible and accountable.  Good or bad.  
 

likewise I’m of the view if a club has multiple years of poor transfers, sales, contract renewals that is the responsibility of the owners and leadership team. I’m never blaming the manager for transfers. Functional clubs do not let managers dictate transfers or the fees.  

I agree and your right but this is precisely where the structural issue hits doesn't it?

 

So you either pie Eddie and his Nephew off and hire someone who doesn't have that level of influence or your hobble along as you are. 

 

Take your pick?

[The College Dropout]

1 minute ago, r0cafella said:

But this is the thing. What committee exist when Eddie has two votes plus ownership backing?

 

If the committee is Eddie and Andy Howe, Nickson and a DOF who do you think breaks the tie? 

 

I wrote long ago we have structural issues and this is one of the elements I was referring too, Eddie has/had credit in the bank and so at that stage was getting his way. 

By all accounts Nickson was sidelined.  
 

At functional clubs the DOF has final say over transfers and contract - that is ultimately their responsibility even if there’s a committee. We know Ashworth was the only reason Joelinton was not given a new contract because that is ultimately within his remit.  We know that Berta chose Gyokeres over Sesko despite Arteta preferring Sesko.  We know Edwards chose Salah or Brandt despite Klopp wanting Brandt.  This is how elite football clubs are ran. If a clubs ownership decides to over empower a manager, that is their poor decision making because club structure is ultimately their responsibility. 

[The College Dropout]

4 minutes ago, r0cafella said:

I agree and your right but this is precisely where the structural issue hits doesn't it?

 

So you either pie Eddie and his Nephew off and hire someone who doesn't have that level of influence or your hobble along as you are. 

 

Take your pick?

We got to where we did because Eddie worked with a DOF and other voices. Sure there was tension but it worked.  Ashworth advocated for Man U to hire Howe - they could work together.
 

Hiring a bulldog like Mitchell was a misstep but that doesn’t mean you hand over all power to Howe. 

 

ownwrship is responsible for structure. 

[r0cafella]

1 minute ago, The College Dropout said:

By all accounts Nickson was sidelined.  
 

At functional clubs the DOF has final say over transfers and contract - that is ultimately their responsibility even if there’s a committee. We know Ashworth was the only reason Joelinton was not given a new contract because that is ultimately within his remit.  We know that Berta chose Gyokeres over Sesko despite Arteta preferring Sesko.  We know Edwards chose Salah or Brandt despite Klopp wanting Brandt.  This is how elite football clubs are ran. If a clubs ownership decides to over empower a manager, that is their poor decision making because club structure is ultimately their responsibility. 

From what has been written Eddie retains final say on all transfers, a privilege you might argue he earned. 

 

I think, we have to look forward as the past is pretty evident at this stage and hope Eddie's willing to be more flexible. 

 

When the ownership came in we were in a position where we had to put the cart before the horse and to be fair we benefitted from this approach for a long time. Obviously the wheels came off and we have to hope Ross Wilson is competent and can work on tandem with Eddie. 

[PauloGeordio]

21 minutes ago, r0cafella said:

From what has been written Eddie retains final say on all transfers, a privilege you might argue he earned. 

 

I think, we have to look forward as the past is pretty evident at this stage and hope Eddie's willing to be more flexible. 

 

When the ownership came in we were in a position where we had to put the cart before the horse and to be fair we benefitted from this approach for a long time. Obviously the wheels came off and we have to hope Ross Wilson is competent and can work on tandem with Eddie. 

[Wilson]

Christ this is boring. 

[KennyUtd]

2 minutes ago, Wilson said:

Christ this is boring. 

Aye, I look at the thread in the hope there's news about the ground or training centre or an announcement about a £300,000,000 cash injection for transfers. I'm always disappointed. 

[TRon]

54 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

I think a semi competent transfer committee does not spend £230m on those players.  
 

Different voices would argue for cheaper alternatives or short term options. 
 

I don’t think any competent DOF signs off Elanga for £55m.  Thats an Antony for £80mesque transfer.  A manager might want that but any sensible recruitment team would say that’s a £40m transfer tops. Likewise you can’t justify Wissa for £55m as a competent DOF.  Definitely not both. When we had DOF’s we didn’t do those types of transfers - particularly not stacked up.  

 

 

I think that was a direct result of Howe's fall out with Mitchell. There is no way he would have sanctioned the sort of signings we made last summer. 

 

Ultimately though, we won a cup and got into the CL so the ownership backed Howe in that stand off, and Mitchell backed out. You could argue Mitchell was a bad appointment, but there is no exact science here. I'm not sure how much football knowledge we have in the boardroom and that is a concern.