http://soccerlens.com/sporting-directors-good-or-bad-for-football-clubs/3779/ Football News Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:17:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= http://soccerlens.com/sporting-directors-good-or-bad-for-football-clubs/3779/#comment-65161 John Ford Fri, 02 Nov 2007 17:46:24 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/sporting-directors-good-or-bad-for-football-clubs/3779/#comment-65161 The problem with clubs bringing in technical directors, sporting directors etc is that communications to other areas of the staff - players included - takes longer and the whole process turns into a game of Chinese whispers. Jose Mourinho didn't appreciate it during his time at Chelsea and I doubt any other managers would either. Coaches come to clubs to stamp their own unique mark on things and the least number of staff they have working with them to run a well-oiled machine the better. The problem with clubs bringing in technical directors, sporting directors etc is that communications to other areas of the staff – players included – takes longer and the whole process turns into a game of Chinese whispers. Jose Mourinho didn’t appreciate it during his time at Chelsea and I doubt any other managers would either.
Coaches come to clubs to stamp their own unique mark on things and the least number of staff they have working with them to run a well-oiled machine the better.

]]> http://soccerlens.com/sporting-directors-good-or-bad-for-football-clubs/3779/#comment-65036 Cherie Thu, 01 Nov 2007 20:33:50 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/sporting-directors-good-or-bad-for-football-clubs/3779/#comment-65036 While I agree in theory that the Sporting Director should probably do more good than bad, its a little too many chefs in the kitchen for me. Skewing who has the ultimate authority is confusing and like children who always know which parent to go to when they want something (knowing the other won't give it) players and owners then have one too many to choose from, and that split in authority and continuity is not good for club. While I agree in theory that the Sporting Director should probably do more good than bad, its a little too many chefs in the kitchen for me. Skewing who has the ultimate authority is confusing and like children who always know which parent to go to when they want something (knowing the other won’t give it) players and owners then have one too many to choose from, and that split in authority and continuity is not good for club.

]]> http://soccerlens.com/sporting-directors-good-or-bad-for-football-clubs/3779/#comment-65025 Brian Thu, 01 Nov 2007 19:27:52 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/sporting-directors-good-or-bad-for-football-clubs/3779/#comment-65025 Ahmed - This question seemed so interesting to me that my comment grew too big for the space, so I've written a post instead at The Run of Play (runofplay.com, if you're curious). Essentially my argument is that the failure of the sporting-director system in England is completely a failure of execution, and that there's no reason to think it wouldn't work in England if it were done right. What "done right" means is addressed in some detail in the post, but I agree with you about the system not being to blame if the board put the wrong people in it. Thanks for the thought-provoking question. Ahmed – This question seemed so interesting to me that my comment grew too big for the space, so I’ve written a post instead at The Run of Play (runofplay.com, if you’re curious). Essentially my argument is that the failure of the sporting-director system in England is completely a failure of execution, and that there’s no reason to think it wouldn’t work in England if it were done right. What “done right” means is addressed in some detail in the post, but I agree with you about the system not being to blame if the board put the wrong people in it. Thanks for the thought-provoking question.

]]> http://soccerlens.com/sporting-directors-good-or-bad-for-football-clubs/3779/#comment-64993 JohnST Thu, 01 Nov 2007 15:17:38 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/sporting-directors-good-or-bad-for-football-clubs/3779/#comment-64993 The role of a sporting director should be restricted to being a figurehead in public. The guiding principle is never to undermine the manager. The role of a sporting director should be restricted to being a figurehead in public. The guiding principle is never to undermine the manager.

]]> http://soccerlens.com/sporting-directors-good-or-bad-for-football-clubs/3779/#comment-64920 Hugo Steckelmacher Thu, 01 Nov 2007 08:39:40 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/sporting-directors-good-or-bad-for-football-clubs/3779/#comment-64920 Check out Spooky's piece on Dear Mr Levy. It's an excellent read and is, as usual, very well balanced. Check out Spooky’s piece on Dear Mr Levy. It’s an excellent read and is, as usual, very well balanced.

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