splinter Posted January 11 Share Posted January 11 On 08/01/2026 at 15:25, Elliottman said: Go back and watch some of his press conferences, he consistently talks up Wilson and says what a fantastic appointment he's been. He's clearly a big fan of his and has a good working relationship. Eddie wanted Wilson and hence they waited.At least its good they get on which wasn't the case with Mitchell. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEFAFWISP Posted January 11 Share Posted January 11 11 days in. No new Cape Verdean superstar signing. Hurry it up Ross. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibierski Posted January 11 Share Posted January 11 3 hours ago, splinter said: Eddie wanted Wilson and hence they waited.At least its good they get on which wasn't the case with Mitchell. Didn’t Howe get on with Mitchell though? Same with Ashworth? If somehow Wilson ended up moving in summer having done nowt, think it would be fair to say it’s the structure upstairs that pisses off these guys (not Howe / DoF relations). Because if everything needs signing off and it takes an age, I can see why a DoF gets frustrated as some deals are there to be made quick, so if you can’t do those deals and miss out, it’s all a bit meh for them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteV Posted January 11 Share Posted January 11 Just now, Sibierski said: Didn’t Howe get on with Mitchell though? Same with Ashworth? Going off what he said in one of his pressers recently, no. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussiemag Posted January 11 Share Posted January 11 Think he got on with Ashworth, not MitchellZ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky Posted January 11 Share Posted January 11 2 hours ago, aussiemag said: Think he got on with Ashworth, not MitchellZ Mitchell came in trying to be the alpha in the situation. Took a hardline approach to sensitive issues, like telling Isak that the club would discuss his contract next season despite Howe wanting to keep the player. Telling a star player that you’re under contract, just get on with your job was never going to go well. It would seem the club, or at least Howe’s side tried to smooth things over with several members of the squad with the news of Mitchell’s departure ahead of the end of the season but the damage had been done by then, especially in the case of Isak who had been well tapped up by then. We had a window to keep him (and keep him happy etc) but this passed and then he did act the cunt but I do believe he was put in a position where he didn’t feel valued by those upstairs, doesn’t excuse what happened but there’s always a reason for shit that happens. I do believe Eddie started to feel like Mitchell was not only a hindrance but also a threat. So as soon as the cup final happened, Eddie pulled rank and gambled that the summer would go ok. Massive pressure now over Wilson because he’s rubber stamped his approval. He’s always just wanted help and not someone who feels and acts like they are over them, which is how Mitchell carried on. Ashworth at least got that and acted accordingly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRon Posted January 11 Share Posted January 11 9 minutes ago, Lucky said: Mitchell came in trying to be the alpha in the situation. Took a hardline approach to sensitive issues, like telling Isak that the club would discuss his contract next season despite Howe wanting to keep the player. Telling a star player that you’re under contract, just get on with your job was never going to go well. It would seem the club, or at least Howe’s side tried to smooth things over with several members of the squad with the news of Mitchell’s departure ahead of the end of the season but the damage had been done by then, especially in the case of Isak who had been well tapped up by then. We had a window to keep him (and keep him happy etc) but this passed and then he did act the cunt but I do believe he was put in a position where he didn’t feel valued by those upstairs, doesn’t excuse what happened but there’s always a reason for shit that happens. I do believe Eddie started to feel like Mitchell was not only a hindrance but also a threat. So as soon as the cup final happened, Eddie pulled rank and gambled that the summer would go ok. Massive pressure now over Wilson because he’s rubber stamped his approval. He’s always just wanted help and not someone who feels and acts like they are over them, which is how Mitchell carried on. Ashworth at least got that and acted accordingly. Mitchell's job WAS to be the alpha. That's the way most clubs are set up these days, where the DOF makes all the decisions running the club, and the coach is responsible for coaching. Whether Mitchell was actually any good at his job is another matter, it might be he was hopeless. But Wilson will need to deliver on all the same fronts, whether we like it or not, most clubs are running this model. We have actually done well in recruiting one of the best coaches in the PL in Howe, but even he will need to work within the framework set by Wilson according to the club's overall vision. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theregulars Posted January 11 Share Posted January 11 3 minutes ago, TRon said: Mitchell's job WAS to be the alpha. That's the way most clubs are set up these days, where the DOF makes all the decisions running the club, and the coach is responsible for coaching. Whether Mitchell was actually any good at his job is another matter, it might be he was hopeless. But Wilson will need to deliver on all the same fronts, whether we like it or not, most clubs are running this model. We have actually done well in recruiting one of the best coaches in the PL in Howe, but even he will need to work within the framework set by Wilson according to the club's overall vision. Why does a DOF have to be an “alpha”? They have that at manure, Chelsea, forest and doesn’t go well for any of them really. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbydazzla Posted January 11 Share Posted January 11 (edited) 10 minutes ago, Theregulars said: Why does a DOF have to be an “alpha”? They have that at manure, Chelsea, forest and doesn’t go well for any of them really. They don’t have to be an Alpha twat, as the person in one of the biggest DOF jobs in world football demonstrates: Hugo Viana, Manchester City’s Director of Football and former weak as piss midfielder who didn’t live up to his hype at Newcastle, is generally described as a discreet, reserved, and calm individual who prefers to work behind the scenes. He has earned the nickname "the shadow man" in Portugal due to his quiet, yet highly impactful, nature as a sporting director. Edited January 11 by bobbydazzla Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theregulars Posted January 11 Share Posted January 11 3 minutes ago, bobbydazzla said: They don’t have to be an Alpha twat, as the person in one of the biggest DOF jobs in world football demonstrates: Hugo Viana, Manchester City’s Director of Football and former weak as piss midfielder who didn’t live up to his hype at Newcastle, is generally described as a discreet, reserved, and calm individual who prefers to work behind the scenes. He has earned the nickname "the shadow man" in Portugal due to his quiet, yet highly impactful, nature as a sporting director. Right? Strikes me that the best DOF understands that part of their role is to avoid the limelight and to forge effective working relationships. I was soured on Mitchell from his first gaffe interview because it struck me that he wanted attention and wanted to disrupt (not necessarily a bad thing given the PSR pit we were I ) and make a show of it. If you forge a good relationship with the manager by helping them get what they want, to my mind they’ll be much more likely to e.g. actually listen when you suggest a player they’ve not heard of for purchase. Strikes me as a very interpersonal role that requires emotional intelligence and the ability to successfully navigate and bring together different personalities and objectives; I thought it was clear quickly that Mitchell lacked the intelligence required to recognise that and carry it out. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abacus Posted January 11 Share Posted January 11 3 minutes ago, Theregulars said: Why does a DOF have to be an “alpha”? They have that at manure, Chelsea, forest and doesn’t go well for any of them really. Clearly the idea is that the DOF makes all the high level sporting decisions and has the ultimate vision, so that head coaches can come and go but that vision never changes. Which is all fine in theory. However, quite what qualifies someone to be a DOF in the first place is beyond me and then how you judge good and bad ones likewise, particularly because that role makes then pretty unaccountable. It's not them in front of the press or responsible for day to day results And because they seem to jump jobs almost as much as anyone else, this long term vision thing can fall down. I don't know what the answer is, other than for them to be a key part of the management team rather than anything else, offering constructive challenge and picking up things like the academy etc, which no manager could pick up along with everything else. Ashworth seemed to understand that, and the main frustration from Howe with him seemed to have been that he jumped ship rather than being in it for the long run. Mitchell's abrasive style just seemed to annoy everyone. I don't think that's an alpha, I think that's a fool. Yes, the manager / head coach needs challenge, but in the right and constructive way because they also need support. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theregulars Posted January 11 Share Posted January 11 I think it’s what Ashworth and (thankfully) Wilson have said; it’s a role overseeing all the different sporting aspects of the operation and making sure they all work as well as possible. A big part of that in my view is participating in scouting and getting player deals done, but you’re right that there seems to be no agreed formula or specific remit and it’s usually quite a shadowy role. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky Posted January 11 Share Posted January 11 The sporting director role in the Dan Ashworth remit is really just a glorified project manager, not actually doing much work but measuring how everyone else is doing theirs. No need to be a cunty alpha in that sense. And there was no need for Mitchell to be either. At end of day, nothing really happens at this club now without sign off from PIF, as much as Hopkinson and Nickson and Wilson may be capable, they do not seem to be autonomous in making big decisions without the big ok first. I guess my point is that we’re never really going to see the full potential of these people as their success will rely on how interested PIF are. Maybe that’s changed with Hopkinson coming in, but hard to tell so far. Was certainly the case with Eales. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanj Posted January 11 Share Posted January 11 The best sporting directors are ones you never hear from only year(s) on and you say wow they really oversaw a period of success (recruitment or trophies etc). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRon Posted January 11 Share Posted January 11 2 hours ago, Theregulars said: Why does a DOF have to be an “alpha”? They have that at manure, Chelsea, forest and doesn’t go well for any of them really. Alpha was the term used so I was just answering that question. The point is, there does need to be a hierarchy and that's the way the game is heading at most of the clubs these days. The game has changed massively since the Keegan era. I was actually reading about this today in an article about Amorin clashing with the DOF at Man U who is by all accounts quite a mild person. Ross Wilson will just have to be good at his job according to whatever remit he's been given. As long as he is, then he doesn't need to beat his chest about it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellis H Posted January 11 Share Posted January 11 Our last 4 DOF's have been Kinnear, Ashworth, Mitchell and Wilson so it's fair to say we haven't seen how effective this position can be yet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Spaceman Posted January 11 Share Posted January 11 And you don't necessarily reset to zero each time one leaves and another comes in. It's almost impossible to call their individual effectiveness and therefore not worth the worrying about imo. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toon25 Posted January 11 Share Posted January 11 22 minutes ago, Ellis H said: Our last 4 DOF's have been Kinnear, Ashworth, Mitchell and Wilson so it's fair to say we haven't seen how effective this position can be yet. Kinnear, fucking hell Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toon25 Posted January 11 Share Posted January 11 If there was one man to bring in a prolific goal scorer, it was Joe fucking Kinnear Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hovagod Posted January 11 Share Posted January 11 (edited) Listen to that cunt, man, calling our fans thick in not so many words. It’s not remembered now but this was the basic narrative: Geordies are stupid. It’s since been rewritten of course, but hatred of us was a national hobby way before our takeover also: RIP etc Edited January 11 by Hovagod Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toon25 Posted January 11 Share Posted January 11 Would love to see what his business plan looked like Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfcastle Posted January 11 Share Posted January 11 Honestly thought it was just a final FU from Ashley on his way out and we'd only have to put up with idiots running and managing the team a few more month. 13more years. FML. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaylorJ_01 Posted January 11 Share Posted January 11 there's a whole bunch of chaotic free agents we could sign if we're struggling; Dele Alli, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jesse Lingard, Insigne, James Rodriguez, Kurt Zouma and many more. Maybe one of them will roll back the years and not be a complete disaster and/or not punch cats tonnes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteV Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 Seems to have got Botman’s contract sorted with a minimum of fuss. Obviously we don’t know the details of the contract, so impossible to say whether he’s made a good job of it, but the fact it’s been resolved before it started becoming an issue, at least bodes well to him knowing what he’s doing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobsonsWonderland Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 This DoF seems a piss easy job if you ask me... And if it's not you get paid off after a year so it's a winner either way. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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