Time to doff our hat to the potential return of the DoF?
Monday, June 25, 2012 at 9:58PM Last week we recorded an emergency episode of The Fighting Cock podcast to cover Harry Redknapp's departure and the managers being linked with replacing him. Tim Sherwood was mentioned, not as a replacement but in connection with the alleged potential return of the DoF at the Lane. Firstly, my issue with this is simple. What is the basis for the rumour? Is it because the back to basics approach that replaced Comolli with Harry has come to an end? Or is it because Sherwood survived the cull that saw Allen, Bond and Jordan leave the club? I don't see how such an appointment would work or for that matter be feasible because of his complete lack of experience at the very highest level. It's a non-starter for him. Is it a non-starter full stop? Or is it only a non-starter when assuming the role is similar to past ones we've seen at the club?
If Levy was considering restructuring the hierarchy and re-introducing it, what exactly would the DoF system work when compared to its past ? I've written this article for my own process of dismissing the system from being a relevant option for Spurs to re-introduce. It's not really as in-depth as I set out to craft. It's just me moaning and waffling. You know the drill. I say a bunch of stuff out loud and hopefully in the mess you lot can pull out sound-bites and argue and debate amongst yourselves.
I've been asking myself that question over and over again. What exactly would the DoF system be if re-introduced at Spurs? Would it match the previous under Comolli or the one where Pleat acted like a glorified scout knocking heads with Hoddle and giving us joyful sagas such as 'Rebrov' and 'Diego'? I don't care for the footballing dictionary definition because of the variety of incarnations we've witnessed under the same chairman. Add to it the fact that other clubs are of no significance thanks to the rather sensational reason that other clubs are not THFC.
Under Comolli, the quintessential Spurs DoF appoints the coach/manager and they work in unison, a collaboration, to sign players that fit whatever formation and club model they agree upon with the chairman. It's a system completely reliant on both men being one hundred percent on the same page. It's long term aim is to create stability with transfers and potentially with ideology of said transfers, so that if the manager/coach is replaced the DoF brings in a new man and the transition isn't too disruptive. It's what Levy was advised to look into and introduce when he was still a footballing virgin, turning to advisor's for support. It works on the continent. It works in the NFL. But neither are the English Premier League. It also works in the lower divisions in England but the ambitions and stature of the clubs there provides a different type of working template and very different pressures on all concerned. Again, that's just my own opinion.
Arnesen replaced Pleat. He appointed Santini and then Jol. He left for Chelsea and Comolli took the role and eventually replaced Jol with Ramos. Hardly plain sailing. The ethos and scouting of Arnesen and pattern of incoming players was different to the one introduced by Comolli. I always saw DC as a chief go-getter of potential signings. Levy would rubber-stamp the air travel and off goes DC to bag Berbatov or Zokora (can't always get it right). DC does all the face to face work, easing pressure away from Levy and the manager. But then that just sounds like a more slick productive version of David Pleat.
My discomfort has always been that the DoF, regardless of the fact he's there to support the man he appoints along with the chairman, has too much influence and power that can undermine the coach. Santini struggled. In some ways we hit good form with the unexpected promotion of Martin Jol (conspiracy theorists will suggest Levy felt obliged to appoint Santini, a 'big name' to appease fans and media and Arnesen always had a keen eye on Jol taking the job. Perhaps there is some truth in there that long term, that was the plan, but it came to fruition early).
Jol was his own man but worked well with Frank and post-Arnesen to Chelsea continued to do a superb job before it all fell apart. Ramos was supposed to be the perfect coach for such a system, proving just how delicate and risky it is to implement. Highly rated, few doubted his abilities but we all doubted his lack of English speaking skills. More so the lack of apparent enthusiasm the players had for his tactics and match preparations. My main scratch of head here has been the fact that most successful managerial appointments do not work with someone looking down from above, packing as much punch as the man that selects the team. Ramos was the catalyst for the DoF system imploding at Spurs, never truly proving to be a genuine success. Even when Jol was leading us to top five finishes, the cracks still appeared and Comolli got itchy fingers (along with one or two others that sadly got ahead of themselves with our 'progress'). The only success was that some of the signings proved to be very good ones. But no different to any other prolonged period of time concerning players signed.
Levy scrapped it. Enter the wheeler dealer and the rest is very recent history.
Would most of the managers we've been linked with so far be comfortable working under a DoF or would they expect the chairman to trust their own judgement? Is it not more prudent to allow someone with ambitions that match the clubs to perhaps ask for changes to be made in scouting or youth development or for the club to offer this support to aid the new man at the helm?
I've always believed that a DoF can work as an administrator taking some of the more mundane responsibilities away from the manager. Mundane underplays it, what I mean is - if the manager wants to sign a striker he tells the 'DoF' what he requires and the DoF returns with the short list. Apparently, it's what Comolli did. But then Comolli did a lot more than that what with his dizzying offers to others. Technically speaking, he did what a DoF (dictionary describition) is meant to do, but that doesn't necessary make it the right thing to do at Spurs and in the English Premier League.
Also, the major bugbear I have with all of this concerns the fact that you could argue Daniel Levy is so hands on with transfers and building relationships with other clubs (i.e. Real Madrid and Internacional, two very different relationships) that in many ways he is a director of football. Or an acting General Manager at the very least. The assumptions made and usually confirmed by Redknapp via Sky Sports was that they would both 'discuss' potential targets. Levy famously telling Harry about van der Vaart's availability is one example. Another concerns the story that Pienaar was signed by the chairman and not wanted by the manager. Parker, another well documented disagreement between the two of them.
Their relationship degraded, we know that much. They didn't always see eye to eye to players. Whether it's true that Levy wanted to spend big but Redknapp only wanted the bargains and the cheap for the moment signings rather than players that can impact Spurs season positively over the next few years, that's something we won't quite know for sure (until the next man is appointed). Levy and Redknapp were not on the same page.
The chairman will always do the chasing but you could clearly tell which targets being linked to Spurs were Levy targets and which belonged to Harry. The conflict here is; if you trust the manager you back him you don't try to influence him into another direction because if you find yourself doing so then perhaps he's not the right man for the job you want him to do.
There is no need for a DoF at Spurs.
For a start, if you believe what you read in the press, we've gone after potential managers. We'd have to appoint a DoF first before we started interviewing anyone. There is no need for one I'm certain of it, but there is a necessity that Levy's vision is shared with the prospective manager and they both understand how best to improve and evolve Spurs together. A collaboration not based on job titles but one based on a clear understanding of the task ahead and how to achieve it (or die trying). The same page please.
I'd like to hope the plan is long term with the aim to sustain a challenge in the short term. I'd explain that hope with us signing the players we need to build on the side we have and avoid stagnation. No job in football is particularly easy but a job where the two most important people at the club fail to agree will be made impossible. Such a basic and obvious statement, and yet one that failed us not too long ago.
The director of system works on the continent because the culture is completely different there. Real Madrid is an example of a club signing players before appointing managers. But even they have gone through internal hardship with Jose Mourinho fighting for 'complete control'. I personally don't see the point in comparing football with any U.S. sport in terms of the DoF system. Mainly because their culture and structures are different to our own.
If you want to lighten the load on the manager that has to handle training, day to day business, match day preparation and transfer targets, assign him Tim Sherwood. Or define the role to be a more concrete long term position in the club to cater for youth development, say a technical director (as the suggested rumours). Not quite as interfering as a director of football. You'd think Sherwood must be doing something to impress behind the scenes. In fact, let the new manager ask the chairman for the personnel he requires to be able to comfortably do his job. Let the new man at the helm set up his boot room of soldiers so he can lead us into the battle as one unit with no politics holding us back from marching forwards. No Brutus for our Caesar. We do not need to complicate things and I doubt very much we will. So if Sherwood does end up with a position it will probably be one that will also benefit Levy, allowing him to concentrate on the stadium and other matters (like ENIC selling Spurs.../trollface).
As for the other slightly more important appointment we are all waiting on, I'm not going to guarantee we all agree on the man Levy does end up appointing. Just hope we can agree to back him.
Until Christmas at the very least.
If you're interested in more on this discussion including comparisons between the DoF system in the NFL, visit this thread for heated debate.
Reader Comments (30)
Well, I for one am all for the reintroduction of the DoF - for one simple reason. 'Managers' are concerned with the short term (none perhaps more so than our latest incumbent). The manager's job is to get results NOW - get 4th, reach the final of the FA Cup, etc. - which will inevitably lead to a short-term recruitment policy. Because you're hardly going to spend your kitty on a player that will be the finished article in two seasons, if you can get a seasoned pro who can deliver from the first whistle. This approach is patently detrimental to the club's long-term strategies - particularly if the manager fails to deliver results and has to be replaced.
The DoF position (which is de facto currently held by DL) is nothing but a guarantee that the club will not end up with an unbalanced squad full of players past their sell-by date (best case) or that the whole squad has to be shifted to accommodate the different playing styles of a succession of managers. There's nothing sinister about it - merely a system of checks and balances, and we're all used to those.
This of course means that the DoF position is/should be a long-term appointment - which was what we thought we'd be getting with Arnesen, who IMO did a sterling job even if he did prove to be a disloyal so-and-so. And I think that this is why DL seems to be lining Sherwood up for the position.
Sherwood would not be likely to jump ship any time soon, having been given a job that he'll probably take some time growing into. He would be guardian of the club's strategy (developed/agreed upon with the board) - what kind of football we play, what kind of coaching and coaches are conducive to that style of play, etc - and be able to judge whether a manager's proposed signing would fit into that strategy.
With the new stadium looming, we need a system that ensures long-term stability (as little waste of transfer monies as possible) - and I think the DoF system is it.
Klinsmann as DoF.
Loew as coach.
I think we could live with that, ja?
DL is getting very busy. He is obviously involved in other things outside of Spurs and, my feeling is that Tim Sherwood has already proven his loyalty to 'the powers that be' he may be employed as suggested by you (technical director) with a watching brief, like a project (pun not intended) manager, but also with the responsibility for bringing in young potential that the scouts discover. The manager could then get on with working with his players. I think it is important that the manager is boss over choosing the players he wants in and out of the first team/squad, as we then avoid the Jol problem where he was getting players he didn't want or request.
I am hoping that Sherwood is the only person between Levy and the manager and my reason for saying that is that there’s less of a chance in bullying, which happened between Jol and Commolli. That way Levy could recruit a David Moyes or a Martinez who would be their own man as far the first team squad is concerned and rise or fall by their own knowledge of tactics, inward/outward playing staff and success of the team. So for me no DOF, just Tim Sherwood as the chairman’s eyes and ears, which works well in most professions and trades.
Sig appears to have signed according to reports. Reckon we'll have more good news to follow it.
Hmmm if Sig`s signed it means I`m going to have to change my `we`ve got a free kick in a threatening position, therefore it`s safe to go for a piss` strategy.
I believe that in today's football a DoF or GD (like in Milan and other clubs) is necessary because of the complexity and the diversity of the issues concerning a football club. What's most important is that such a person should be the proper one. Someone who has CERTAIN skills and qualities as well the necessary insight, experience and above all the necessary mental capacity and world football knowledge. So we never should refer to persons like Comolli.
A DoF should normally run the club and would be responsible for all issues relating to the squad and the technical staff. The owner/chairman should be responsible for the finances of the club and would set up the directions that the club and the DoF should follow as well the targets of the club.
The DoF should supervise the manager (who is the sole person responsible for coaching the squad) and could intervene if things aren't going well on the field or in the dressing room. Then we could avoid situations like giving away a significant lead or not addressing in time obvious shortcomings of the team.
The manager proposes the positions of the squad that need to be strengthened and the players who should be replaced and the Dof finds proper, effective and affordable players in the frame of the club's budget and salary limitations and sees to off load in the most profitable way those players who are surplus or dead wood.
The DoF proposes to the board those managers he thinks that suit better to the squad, have most chances to help the club achieve its targets, come up to the fame of the club and their preferable football style is similar to the traditional football style of the club.
As a footballing dinosaur, how the f-heck can a geezer in a whistle tell the man who has daily contact with his players and
a playing strategy be told, we have bought you X, fit him in and make it work!!
It has to be the other way round! Get me X and I,ll fit him in and make it work! Surely!!!
A lot of smoke coming from WHL at the moment. Vert is still yet to be announced, rumours of Sig signed and approaches to Sturridge. I don't know about you lot but I am getting a little excited...
There's a gulf of difference between: "I need a striker" and "Get me Tevez". The first statement only works if, as you say, everyone is on the same page and, therefore, all three (Chairman, DoF and Manager) TRUST each other. For that reason, DoF has to be a footballing man - but one with particular skills in administration and organisation, too. From the reported accounts, Tim Sherwood has been showing excellent promise in that field. That is not to say, however, that there isn't a massive jump to be negotiated from supervising youth teams to representing the whole Club to the world at large. Until now, Sherwood' has worked on a micro level (ie his work has been INTERNAL to the Club. When something doesn't go quite as it should, there are numerous people to turn to, make a slight adjustment and get things right before the next game. Contrast that with the lonely life of a DoF. Never the most popular person in the Club and when he gets something wrong, at that level, his mistake could be very costly - in terms of finance, personnel and the job security of both himself AND the Manager. It's a difficult proposition and one I don't envy Levy having to consider. On the other hand, Levy has been the de facto DoF for almost four years and maybe, Sherwood really WILL be his "eyes and ears". One thing's for sure, if Levy's main focus is going to be on raising money for the stadium and/or on seeking potential investors to buy into or buy out the Club, then he needs to divest himself of the DoF position altogether and have someone in there he can trust. The days of the Manager trying to do everything himself is coming to an end. I also think it is one of the contributory reasons to there being so few Englishmen as managers of big teams anymore. Most just don't have the intellectual background or capacity to handle all that goes into running a 21st century football club, Harry, being a case in point. Rather than standing comparison with American ball sports, the more I think about it, the more I can see football, which is, after all a GLOBAL commodity, rather than belonging to a specialist niche, (such as NFL, MLB or ice hockey), becoming more like Formula One, with its technical directors for almost every compartmentalized aspect of each team. It's not romantic - but neither was Chelsea's performance in winning the Champions League.
Come On You Spurs.
PS Get well soon, Dave Mackay, Steve Perryman and, of course, Eusebio.
I really don't care what the structure is at WHL. There has to be empathy between the powers that be. Everyone must be singing from the same hymn sheet. What we DON'T want is another Manager going mentally AWOL when things start to unravel. Lets just bide our time and see what Levy delivers. I firmly believe that Levy and I have at least one thing in common. We both want to see Spurs winning the EPL.
Surely the way to go is to ask all our potential new managers whether they'd be comfortable working with a DoF ? Bearing in mind that as far as we know all the potential candidates are non-Brits, the answer would probably be yes. But the system only falls apart when the new manager gets sacked/leaves (which on our recent track record won't be that long); in comes a Brit whose pre-condition for the job is no DoF; and we're back where we started. Bottom line is who's more important to the club ? A DoF or a manager ?
So basically imo, the manager manages and you then buy-in whatever help he needs to lift some of the admin work off his shoulders. Not someone to tell him how to do his job.
One other point...is Dan Levy currently acting as chairman, DoF and manager in reported chases for Sygurdsson and Sturridge ? If not - who's he turning to for advice/opinion ?
Isn't Levy our DoF (self appointed)? Even if we did return to this model, what would it mean? Levy would just become DoDoF!
This Vanwheresmemoney deal is so contrived, so orcherstaed it's almost on par with Oceans 11. Seems that the only thing about to be done was Ajax!
Call it what you want, maybe technical director is the right title, but the manager is interested in just the first team. We go out and get these uyoungsters with potential, but they are not evaluated against a system we play from the ground up, and there is no clear way of playing. This is why when someone is injured we don't have someone to step into the team, and who understands what is expected. Spurs need to replicate an Ajax, or barca, or even arsenal. If we loan players out they need to be to teams with the same ethos. With our current revenue model, this is even more important
Why do we need another tier of management? DoF sounds like someone else you blame before you get to the Chairman. Surely the Chief Scout and the Manager could sort out the signings and the Chairman could do the negotiating if the others aren't up to it.
@Spurs37001 - Levy needs a DoF as he needed to watch Redkrapp like a hawk and the whole sorry saga has probably led to him being unable to trust any manager in the short term. But it`s a role that he would rather delegate than continue with himself. He`s got his head screwed on, he knows a `football man` is more appropraiate for the job than he himself.
Wisky Tom - hahaha! DoDoF - you kill me every time. Hope your good lady has recovered by the way.
That post was a dramatisation of actual events that occurred here last night - she hates Spooky with a passion, and refers to this site as 'The Blue Screen of Death' she tells her mates I have 'locked in syndrome' - anyway, she got in yesterday well pissed - she was like a wasp around a Magners! 'wots wrong' ? I said, putting down the iPad. Wish I'd kept my mouth shut. She literally spoke in tongues for best part of an hour. All a bit emotional it was...I didn't hear exactly what was pissing her off, but I got the gist!
You see where this is going?
In hindsight, I suppose the last thing she expected while cooking the tea, was the thoughtful silence to be broken with sustained, machine gun type laughter, the sort of laughter which becomes uncontrollable. She quickly appeared at the door holding a fcuk off wooden spoon, I looked up, but was unable to help myself. It's was a bit like lamping! All I could do was laugh, and point at the iPad, hoping she'd join in, but all she saw was the Blue Screen of Death. Ever had indoor fireworks?
Moe - if we need a Director of Football to oversee the Manager and must be a "football man" I am supposing he would need to be experienced in such a position and more knowledgeable than the new manager. The DofF would need to be able to have a good working relationship with the manager and so should have a say in who is appointed. If that is the case, why hasn't the Dof F been appointed yet?
Spurs37001 - Both have already been appointed - Klinsmann is our DoF and Loew is our manager. Can`t announce until after 1st July, as that`s the date of the Euro final and Herr Loew may be otherwise committed until then. The `I love Joachim Loew, Joachim Loew loves me` T shirts are already printed. I hate to be an ITK, but there`s this bloke down the pub who breeds German Shepherds that told me about it, so I know it to be true.
Wisky Tom - think yourself lucky, my missus is convinced this is a dating site and Spooky is some kind of pimp. I do the cooking, so I know where the wooden spoons are at all times. It`s the only way.
Blue screen of death. Ha! Brilliant.
All of this is just more ammunition in the case against Levy. My point, one I keep banging on about, is that Levy keeps getting it wrong even at the moments when he is getting it right. By that I mean that when he is actually right in principle or insight his execution is usually screwed up. What is galling is that the average Spurs fan, not the frothing ranter spewing words of hatred, actually understands what the club needs, where it wants to be in terms of its relationship to the game of football and where it needs to be in terms of stadium. None of this collective knowledge is actually rocket science or requires a Cambridge degree to appreciate. If Levy gets the next two seasons right then I am prepared to send him a token for a pint of beer in his favourite pub.
I believe however that his track record will prevail and he will let the potential of the moment slip like sands through his fingers as he snatches disaster from the jaws of optimism.
Spooky for DoF!
"in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king"
Heard the news about the Vertonghen breaking down? Fuck sake, Levy should have never fired Redknapp in the first place, what was he thinking?!
Wonder if DL ever tried to reign in HR over his comments to the media ? Or was it HR's performance in court that convinced DL to part company?
Bale. Bale. Bale.
I'm sure he tried, but probably got sick of trying.
In other news - Bale extends contract (Official). So that means he wants to stay, or his transfer fee is increased - either way it's good news and sends out the right message.
And Corluka ("Jean-Luca" lol) has gone, hope we recouped some decent money.
We are signing the relagation magnet Paul Robinson again. Trust.
The PR has already began. Apparently he is our "best ever" goalkeeper in the premiership era.
http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/spurs/News/xtra-our-all-time-pl-team-rb-26062012.page?
Remind me who holds the record of number of consecutive games without a clean sheet. Robinson concedes with every second shot. And don't forget the mandatory five goals he concedes in each game against the gooners.
Watch the nightmare unfold.
Robbo would be OK as long as no one lets our opponents shoot from 25yards. I like Robinson, but we should be aiming higher.
I thought that Paul Robinson won the Spurs website's best Tottenham goalie since the start of the Premiership award - not a place in next season's squad.
lol sorry yea robbo was voted our best goalie in the prem