It was floated around when RD first assumed control, mainly due to his Israeli connections that have gone on to impact Liege, and again when the Sporting Director / Katrine was first rumoured..
However the People linked him again with us yesterday in Director of Football role, and this ties in with other rumours that have been floating around the last few days.
Don't know about others but hope to god this isn't true. I can't for the life of me think of anything positive to say about him in a football sense and think this would be a disaster for a dozen different reasons.
Very hope that is all it is, just talk.
I have a fear its not though.
Thoughts ?
2
Comments
***The Takeover thread mk. 3.0 (IT'S DONE!!!)***
by AdamAddick · January 3
Avram grant hes coming for you
My main worry would be if RD is effectively picking the players to come here, AG is Directing football, then what does Powell do, except pick up the flack for any bad performances?
Don't think he will put up with much more.
This works best when the Coach (Manager) identifies a player to bring in and the FD "does the deal". Or when the Coach identifies a player that must be moves on, the FD arranges fees, wages and the commercial deal on the sale/loan.
Sometimes clubs (Chelsea for example) will set up deals with a number of players, and only then approach the Coach for him to choose which of the players should be brought in. The FD then finalises that deal and let's the others drop.
Where it goes wrong is when the FD and Coach disagree on bringing in players. For example the FD does a deal to buy a player he thinks is right and the Coach doesn't want him.
When it works well it's great. (Why would we expect Chris Powell to be able to negotiate with foreign agents and lawyers on potentially complex deals?). When it doesn't, it REALLY doesn't!
In my view, this role should be taken by Richard Murray. He knows enough about deals and sufficiently little about tactics!
Avram coming as DOF doesn't overly concern per se, the guy done successfully enough for Chelsea, from the little I've seen him as uninspiring as he comes across he doesn't strike me as someone who would rock the boat and could offer Powell some support in terms of understanding the British game and be able to guide the board in a supportive way.
The concern comes really in trying to understand if we really need someone in that role? How influential is this Israeli connection, he seems even from the brief mention in the meet the board interview to intimate that the Liege way is the receipe for success all be it they seem only be achieving at the mid way point this season.
Whether non executive or not I just hope RM comes to the for in terms of guidance here
To my mind then there are two issues here - 1) do we really need a DOF? 2) if so then you'd hope SCP would have some say in the matter (May be wishful thinking on my part)
Incidentally am I right in that this is the role curbs has taken on at Fulham?
Or is Grant going to be a pan-european D of F.
Can't say I would be too impressed
I can believe it of Chelsea though :-)
DOF is not something we are accustomed to in this country and is very much a continental approach with someone overseeing football development, transfers, contracts and the such like so that the 'Manager' as we know him no longer has these distractions and can concentrate of pure footballing matters thereby being retitled 'Head coach'.
A number of this country's old school managers have not been prepared to work under such a structure and If memory serves me well Curbs was unhappy with these proposals at West Ham, yet he now fulfils that role at Fulham. Is it all that bad, a more senior figure with the experience of Grant would also be able to advise CP which unfortunately would then make Keith Peacock surplus to requirements. It would also give an owner the comfort of having his own hand picked football 'expert' looking after his investment.
Should however the Head Coach's position become untenable, the owner has a ready made replacement to take over the reins pending a new appointment. So if the rumours are true, the appointment of a DOF could be RD's insurance policy. If anyone can make it work CP can, whether he wants the shackles on him remains to be seen, Interesting times indeed.