Director of Football
Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 5:57 pm
Not a popular role amongst many English football fans.
Traditionalists argue a manager should be in charge of everything.
"Sack Orta" they cry.
But isnt that just hanging on to the past?
Similar to how our fans seem to want ageing English managers, Sam Allardyce, Mick McCarthy etc.
"Big Sam would never work under a DOF".
But he did at Everton, Steve Walsh.
Mick McCarthy to, Dave Bowman.
In fact most clubs in the premier league have a Director of Football, maybe not in name but the duties match whatever the title.
Marina Granovskaia - Chelsea, "she is mainly responsible for player transactions" a line from the Chelsea website.
She isnt called a Director of Football, but her role is similar to what most people assume a DOF does.
Les Reed -Southampton.
Txiki Begiristain-Manchester City.
There's others, but Director of Footballs do have there uses.
Ask Pep where he'd be without his close friend and Director of Football?
Thats the key though imo.
DOFs and Managers or Head Coaches or whatever, they have to be on the same page.
I dont think ours are.
Victor Orta and Paul Heckingbottom, you couldn't get 2 more different people.
One learned his trade at a Spanish giant under a scouting legend. The other is a lower league player from Barnsley.
We have already seen disagreement between the two.
Hecky wanted Andy Yiadom and wants Oli McBurnie. This is factual according to respected journalists.
Orta and Leeds didnt want Yiadom, they refused to go in for him.
And McBurnie is at best a back up option for the club, Hecky's preferred choice.
Hecky talked about wanting to build a team in "his image".
But that doesnt match up with the visions of DOF Victor Orta (and Owner Radz).
Hecky is a traditionalist, you only have to listen to him to know that, second balls, fighting and passion and all that.
He is in the mould of the aforementioned Sam and Mick.
He like good ole grit, ger it forward etc etc.
That isnt the remit Orta has from the top, thats not the type of player he is after.
And alas this is where problems begin.
A DOF and Manager with different visions, until one of them goes or changes we wont move forward.
Traditionalists argue a manager should be in charge of everything.
"Sack Orta" they cry.
But isnt that just hanging on to the past?
Similar to how our fans seem to want ageing English managers, Sam Allardyce, Mick McCarthy etc.
"Big Sam would never work under a DOF".
But he did at Everton, Steve Walsh.
Mick McCarthy to, Dave Bowman.
In fact most clubs in the premier league have a Director of Football, maybe not in name but the duties match whatever the title.
Marina Granovskaia - Chelsea, "she is mainly responsible for player transactions" a line from the Chelsea website.
She isnt called a Director of Football, but her role is similar to what most people assume a DOF does.
Les Reed -Southampton.
Txiki Begiristain-Manchester City.
There's others, but Director of Footballs do have there uses.
Ask Pep where he'd be without his close friend and Director of Football?
Thats the key though imo.
DOFs and Managers or Head Coaches or whatever, they have to be on the same page.
I dont think ours are.
Victor Orta and Paul Heckingbottom, you couldn't get 2 more different people.
One learned his trade at a Spanish giant under a scouting legend. The other is a lower league player from Barnsley.
We have already seen disagreement between the two.
Hecky wanted Andy Yiadom and wants Oli McBurnie. This is factual according to respected journalists.
Orta and Leeds didnt want Yiadom, they refused to go in for him.
And McBurnie is at best a back up option for the club, Hecky's preferred choice.
Hecky talked about wanting to build a team in "his image".
But that doesnt match up with the visions of DOF Victor Orta (and Owner Radz).
Hecky is a traditionalist, you only have to listen to him to know that, second balls, fighting and passion and all that.
He is in the mould of the aforementioned Sam and Mick.
He like good ole grit, ger it forward etc etc.
That isnt the remit Orta has from the top, thats not the type of player he is after.
And alas this is where problems begin.
A DOF and Manager with different visions, until one of them goes or changes we wont move forward.