Paul Mitchell (Sporting Director)

[TBG]

I wonder if there's a much sexual tension between the admins.

[KaKa]

6 minutes ago, Kid Icarus said:

 

You now have theories about what's happening that haven't even been rumoured let alone reported? What have you done with the real KaKa? Respond with 2 lol emojis if you're in trouble. 

 

 

 

None of that was even rumoured?

 

One factor in the equation is that his period at Newcastle has not been entirely smooth behind the scenes, with moments of friction coming from Eddie Howe’s already-established authority, a blurring of responsibilities, plus managing the high expectations of owners in Saudi Arabia’s PIF, although Ashworth strengthened relations with chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan during the trip to Riyadh at the start of this year.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5275694/2024/02/15/why-manchester-united-want-dan-ashworth/

 

Toon talent spotter set for promotion in wake of Dan Ashworth's exit, new stadium plans suffer a blow... and former winger misses out on academy role

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13146825/NEWCASTLE-NOTEBOOK-Toon-talent-spotter-set-promotion-wake-Dan-Ashworths-exit-new-stadium-plans-suffer-blow-former-winger-misses-academy-role.html

 

 

[Rod]

21 minutes ago, bobbydazzla said:

 

what does he think of the pedestrianisation of Norwich city centre ?

Never fails to crack me up.

[huss9]

2 hours ago, STM said:

There is some seriously disingenuous stuff going on with journalists.

 

Mitchell wasn't saying that our post takeover transfers have been poor, he was saying that our strategy could be better or at least that was my reading of it.

 

Yet there's Howe in a press conference having to defend the players who he has signed.

 

It's the equivalent of them saying: "Eddie, Mitchell thinks you are a cunt, what is your response?" and then following it up with an article about how Howe hates Mitchell.

 

It's absolutely childish stuff.

thats what i took away.

[Fak]

Yawn.

 

[junkhead]

NOT SPOKEN

[Hovagod]

Toon civil war, just like the old days.

[Kid Icarus]

21 minutes ago, KaKa said:

 

None of that was even rumoured?

 

One factor in the equation is that his period at Newcastle has not been entirely smooth behind the scenes, with moments of friction coming from Eddie Howe’s already-established authority, a blurring of responsibilities, plus managing the high expectations of owners in Saudi Arabia’s PIF, although Ashworth strengthened relations with chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan during the trip to Riyadh at the start of this year.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5275694/2024/02/15/why-manchester-united-want-dan-ashworth/

 

Toon talent spotter set for promotion in wake of Dan Ashworth's exit, new stadium plans suffer a blow... and former winger misses out on academy role

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13146825/NEWCASTLE-NOTEBOOK-Toon-talent-spotter-set-promotion-wake-Dan-Ashworths-exit-new-stadium-plans-suffer-blow-former-winger-misses-academy-role.html

 

 

Classic KaKa, I didn't say 'NONE' of it was rumoured, I said you have theories that haven't even been rumoured let alone reported. 

 

These bits in bold are your theories

 

51 minutes ago, KaKa said:

 

When Ashworth left there were reports he was being marginalised by Howe. Easy to dismiss at the time because Ashworth was a snake, but looks like that was indeed an issue that may have even influenced Ashworth's move.

 

After Ashworth left, there was talk of Nickson getting promoted to DOF, but it didn't happen. And so someone higher up didn't seem to want that, and opted for someone of a higher calibre.

 

That decision probably means they are not prioritising Howe over everyone else. It was also reported Howe wasn't consulted in the hiring of the new DOF, which seemed to get his back up, hence the interview shortly after Mitchell came in.

 

 

[KaKa]

10 minutes ago, Kid Icarus said:

Classic KaKa, I didn't say 'NONE' of it was rumoured, I said you have theories that haven't even been rumoured let alone reported. 

 

These bits in bold are your theories

 

 

 

 

Ah, well yes, that is me speculating on their thinking based on what was reported, as that is all we have to go on.

 

Nickson had a lot of support internally apparently, and would have been best placed to work with Howe in the manner he wanted.

 

Instead, despite him being considered, he wasn't appointed, and they brought in someone else without consulting Howe allegedly.

 

Then you have the CEO and the new DOF speaking about Howe not being as involved in other areas and focusing on his managerial/coaching role.

 

I don't get the impression any issues behind the scenes going forward will see them decide to move Eales and Mitchell to accommodate Howe with a Nickson appointment at DOF.

[timeEd32]

You're ignoring reports that Eddie was very supportive of moving in this direction:

 

Howe has pushed the club to modernise and become more scientific in their recruitment processes, which is part of the reason a sporting director with Mitchell’s profile was sought.

 

One of the criticisms levelled at Howe by some supporters — and rejected by the head coach — is that he prefers Premier League additions. Howe would contest that Newcastle’s recruitment team hold far greater data and analysis of domestic and European targets than of those from further afield and that he would acquire more players from elsewhere if similar levels of information were available to him.

 

I really think the main driver of Howe's Germany interview was Bunce. He may have been unhappy about how Staveley left or the manner in which Mitchell was appointed, but there's no reason to think he's anti-DoF. He knew this was happening even if it didn't play out exactly as he would have wanted. But he has said many times, including again today, that training sessions are the highlight of coaching for him. Having a performance director - someone who would have input on how training is run - brought in without his say would have been a major red flag to Eddie. The fact this appears to be going well is huge.

 

That's not to say he hasn't had or continues to have some issues with Mitchell, but it definitely seems likely that it's being blown out of proportion. 

[KaKa]

19 minutes ago, timeEd32 said:

You're ignoring reports that Eddie was very supportive of moving in this direction:

 

Howe has pushed the club to modernise and become more scientific in their recruitment processes, which is part of the reason a sporting director with Mitchell’s profile was sought.

 

One of the criticisms levelled at Howe by some supporters — and rejected by the head coach — is that he prefers Premier League additions. Howe would contest that Newcastle’s recruitment team hold far greater data and analysis of domestic and European targets than of those from further afield and that he would acquire more players from elsewhere if similar levels of information were available to him.

 

I really think the main driver of Howe's Germany interview was Bunce. He may have been unhappy about how Staveley left or the manner in which Mitchell was appointed, but there's no reason to think he's anti-DoF. He knew this was happening even if it didn't play out exactly as he would have wanted. But he has said many times, including again today, that training sessions are the highlight of coaching for him. Having a performance director - someone who would have input on how training is run - brought in without his say would have been a major red flag to Eddie. The fact this appears to be going well is huge.

 

That's not to say he hasn't had or continues to have some issues with Mitchell, but it definitely seems likely that it's being blown out of proportion. 

 

Yes, I agree that this is being blown out of proportion.

 

However, with these articles from Hope the discussion has just developed regarding the importance of the DOF role.

 

All I'm simply stating is that IF there are issues with that at any point, I'm not really in favour of any manager that can't work within that setup.

 

 

Edited September 13 by KaKa

[Pancrate1892]

So is Mitchell a cunt then? 

[PauloGeordio]

51 minutes ago, Pancrate1892 said:

So is Mitchell a cunt then? 

IF he is, he’s our cunt! 

[TBG]

You either become the best DoF in world football within 20 pages or last long enough to see yourself become the villain within 40 pages.

 

 

Edited September 13 by TBG

[Memphis]

This shit-stirring is getting seriously weird now. As ever, people are talking past each other rather than to each other. 

 

FACT: Paul Mitchell doesn't think the existing scouting setup was "fit for purpose".

FACT: Paul Mitchell was hired to overhaul the system, with his job considered "90% about recruitment".

FACT: Within the existing scouting system, Eddie Howe - aided by Nickson, Ashworth, et al - made several astute signings.

FACT: Eddie Howe has said he understands and supports the idea of reshaping the scouting system and signing internationally.

FACT: As a club, we have to modify our existing way of recruiting because PSR/FFP is restricting our potential outflow of cash.

FACT: Paul Mitchell has praised Eddie Howe's coaching and has spoken that they're forging a working relationship.

 

All of those things are objectively true. Mitchell can call for an overhaul of the scouting system without shitting all over the previous signings. Howe can rightly be proud of his role in the signings while also understanding that the system was not good enough or able to identify a wide enough variety of players.  What people are doing is conflating all these things - saying that Mitchell calling the previous system "not fit for purpose" means that he thinks all those signings were also not fit for purpose. That's incorrect. And by the same logic - Howe defending his signings means that he's criticizing Mitchell's new approach. Again, not necessarily true.

 

Nature abhors a vacuum, as the saying goes. When Mitchell delivers his interview on the first Monday of a two-week layoff, people have got to fill their column inches with something in that interim period. Level-headed, reasoned analysis doesn't sell papers.

[Kanji]

Eales and Mitchell can fuck right off. Literally this is the most STUPID thing the club could have done. We are early doors in this season and they have created a problem for absolutely no reason at all. 

[KaKa]

9 minutes ago, Memphis said:

This shit-stirring is getting seriously weird now. As ever, people are talking past each other rather than to each other. 

 

FACT: Paul Mitchell doesn't think the existing scouting setup was "fit for purpose".

FACT: Paul Mitchell was hired to overhaul the system, with his job considered "90% about recruitment".

FACT: Within the existing scouting system, Eddie Howe - aided by Nickson, Ashworth, et al - made several astute signings.

FACT: Eddie Howe has said he understands and supports the idea of reshaping the scouting system and signing internationally.

FACT: As a club, we have to modify our existing way of recruiting because PSR/FFP is restricting our potential outflow of cash.

FACT: Paul Mitchell has praised Eddie Howe's coaching and has spoken that they're forging a working relationship.

 

All of those things are objectively true. Mitchell can call for an overhaul of the scouting system without shitting all over the previous signings. Howe can rightly be proud of his role in the signings while also understanding that the system was not good enough or able to identify a wide enough variety of players.  What people are doing is conflating all these things - saying that Mitchell calling the previous system "not fit for purpose" means that he thinks all those signings were also not fit for purpose. That's incorrect. And by the same logic - Howe defending his signings means that he's criticizing Mitchell's new approach. Again, not necessarily true.

 

Nature abhors a vacuum, as the saying goes. When Mitchell delivers his interview on the first Monday of a two-week layoff, people have got to fill their column inches with something in that interim period. Level-headed, reasoned analysis doesn't sell papers.

 

You tell em Rafa! 

 

[Coffee_Johnny]

4 hours ago, aussiemag said:

It is unusual to not have any communication with your boss in ten days. 

Depends on your role and level of autonomy. See mine about once a month. 

 

 

Edited September 13 by Coffee_Johnny

[KaKa]

5 minutes ago, Kanji said:

Eales and Mitchell can fuck right off. Literally this is the most STUPID thing the club could have done. We are early doors in this season and they have created a problem for absolutely no reason at all. 

 

Eddie's interview before even sitting down with Mitchell, started all this drama to be fair.

[Keegans Export]

15 minutes ago, Memphis said:

This shit-stirring is getting seriously weird now. As ever, people are talking past each other rather than to each other. 

 

FACT: Paul Mitchell doesn't think the existing scouting setup was "fit for purpose".

FACT: Paul Mitchell was hired to overhaul the system, with his job considered "90% about recruitment".

FACT: Within the existing scouting system, Eddie Howe - aided by Nickson, Ashworth, et al - made several astute signings.

FACT: Eddie Howe has said he understands and supports the idea of reshaping the scouting system and signing internationally.

FACT: As a club, we have to modify our existing way of recruiting because PSR/FFP is restricting our potential outflow of cash.

FACT: Paul Mitchell has praised Eddie Howe's coaching and has spoken that they're forging a working relationship.

 

All of those things are objectively true. Mitchell can call for an overhaul of the scouting system without shitting all over the previous signings. Howe can rightly be proud of his role in the signings while also understanding that the system was not good enough or able to identify a wide enough variety of players.  What people are doing is conflating all these things - saying that Mitchell calling the previous system "not fit for purpose" means that he thinks all those signings were also not fit for purpose. That's incorrect. And by the same logic - Howe defending his signings means that he's criticizing Mitchell's new approach. Again, not necessarily true.

 

Nature abhors a vacuum, as the saying goes. When Mitchell delivers his interview on the first Monday of a two-week layoff, people have got to fill their column inches with something in that interim period. Level-headed, reasoned analysis doesn't sell papers.

This 👆🏻

 

...followed by this 👇🏻

6 minutes ago, Kanji said:

Eales and Mitchell can fuck right off. Literally this is the most STUPID thing the club could have done. We are early doors in this season and they have created a problem for absolutely no reason at all. 

Could not have been more perfect

[Conjo]

Kanji is just joking.....I think...I mean, he has to, right?

[PauloGeordio]

 

[The College Dropout]

The media want Howe for the England job. It’s all fake news. 

[KaKa]

3 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

The media want Howe for the England job. It’s all fake news. 

 

Oh my God ...

 

Keep forgetting about this.

 

I bet this is what is behind all this. Might even be the FA trying to rock the boat behind the scenes as well.

[timeEd32]

They should have done an internal interview released via video (and, if necessary, edited).