Director of Football

MYOLDMANSAID (the blog) .... said today that it has heard that Tom Fox is considering appointing a DOF. What do you guys think about a DOF?

I haven't always been a fan of having a DOF but it would give this club some vital knowledge of the game at the higher levels. Someone like Houllier would be great IMO

Not for me. The manager should have full control over the football side of the club. It's just unfortunate that our manager isn't fit for that purpose.

At the moment there is only one person in the management chain with any actual football experience. I would imagine that there are very few knowledgeable football related discussions going on at AVFC on a day to day basis. Surely on that basis alone we would benefit from an experienced DoF.

It's at least a change. I was never a DOF fan, but looking at the continuity that some clubs have managed, Swansea and Southampton particularly spring to mind I may be a convert. The status quo certainly isn't the answer.

In theory, I'm against it. But looking at the club and rationally analysing where we are, I think it could be good for us. I'm not sure it will be good for Lambert but frankly that's not something I'm worried about it - and if it genuinely helps him, then it helps Villa and that's a good thing.

it might help him out of the door Kimbo

If we get a genuine big hitter, then that tells us that there's hope. If it's a lame duck then we're just continuing to fiddle about and getting nowhere.

Jurgen Klinsmann anyone?

DaveAV1 wrote:If we get a genuine big hitter, then that tells us that there's hope. If it's a lame duck then we're just continuing to fiddle about and getting nowhere.

Jurgen Klinsmann anyone?

I'd have him as manager & DOF, history of restructuring clubs.

Well perhaps, and this is just a theory of course, the DOF could be the manager in waiting. Lerner may have made certain promises to Lambert about his job being safe and insists that Fox sticks to this. So in order to get around this, but at the same time get us out of this managerial mess, we appoint a DOF who in reality is the manager in all but name.

DaveAV1 wrote:If we get a genuine big hitter, then that tells us that there's hope. If it's a lame duck then we're just continuing to fiddle about and getting nowhere.

Jurgen Klinsmann anyone?

YES PLEASE!! He can manage and bring in another German great, Hitzfeld? To be Sporting Director/DOF Simple ha!

As far as I am concerned any change is GOOD change!

The club is in a right mess and needs radical surgery!

achilles wrote:As far as I am concerned any change is GOOD change!

The club is in a right mess and needs radical surgery!

Agreed, needs extensive open heart type surgery

I've always been in favour of a DoF provided it's someone with a long-term vision for a club but who has the flexibility to change with new trends when they occur. Or, better still, someone who can predict and set new trends.

If the club have pushed the boat out in search of such a man then it could well be one of four things:

(a) a last ditch attempt by Lambert to save his own arse.
(b) an attempt by the club to take control away from Lambert in order to convince him to walk away.
(c) the club accepting that they desperately need a football man on board to point us in the right direction.
(d) instruction from a new owner (which could also encompass a, b and c above).

Trotters wrote:I've always been in favour of a DoF provided it's someone with a long-term vision for a club but who has the flexibility to change with new trends when they occur. Or, better still, someone who can predict and set new trends.

If the club have pushed the boat out in search of such a man then it could well be one of four things:

(a) a last ditch attempt by Lambert to save his own arse.
(b) an attempt by the club to take control away from Lambert in order to convince him to walk away.
(c) the club accepting that they desperately need a football man on board to point us in the right direction.
(d) instruction from a new owner (which could also encompass a, b and c above).

I definitely like that particular option but they all seem plausible!

At this moment in time, the right appointment could be what is needed. However those choosing the DOF, I have no faith in them appointing the right man.

I've noticed that we don't tend to advertise and appoint in house any more. We out source senior appointments to professional head hunting operations. In theory this should mean that capable people are chosen.

On the subject of a DOF we have to remember that this is an unsubstantiated rumour, but we have heard it from two different (good) sources. If we do appoint a DoF it will take some of the pressure off Paul Lambert. The majority of fans have run out of patience with PL, but it appears that those that make Villa decisions haven't.

I know that there is a feeling of collective responsibility for our current position among the people that matter. That feeling is that the problems we have been facing lately are not the fault of one man, but are the result of a collective effort, years in the making.

The appointment of an experienced DoF would go some way to helping our beleaguered manager, but in my opinion the appointment of a really good first team coach (who knows how to coach goal scoring football) is perhaps more important in the short term. We have to survive in order for long term plans to have any meaning.

villabromsgrove wrote:I've noticed that we don't tend to advertise and appoint in house any more. We out source senior appointments to professional head hunting operations. In theory this should mean that capable people are chosen.

On the subject of a DOF we have to remember that this is an unsubstantiated rumour, but we have heard it from two different (good) sources. If we do appoint a DoF it will take some of the pressure off Paul Lambert. The majority of fans have run out of patience with PL, but it appears that those that make Villa decisions haven't.

I know that there is a feeling of collective responsibility for our current position among the people that matter. That feeling is that the problems we have been facing lately are not the fault of one man, but are the result of a collective effort, years in the making.

The appointment of an experienced DoF would go some way to helping our beleaguered manager, but in my opinion the appointment of a really good first team coach (who knows how to coach goal scoring football) is perhaps more important in the short term. We have to survive in order for long term plans to have any meaning.

Definitely. I want new coaching staff in ASAP. If a new DoF is on the way, that can genuinely wait until end of the season. Getting in people that can help turn possession football into something that's actually useful and productive is pretty much needed right now.

Perhaps the plan is DoF who then has a role in appointing an assistant to PL? Either way I agree a decent coach would probably have a more immediate effect.

I think like Kimbo has said a DoF would be appointed for this summer, a really good coach is needed now.

I don't think we've had a really good coach at Villa for some considerable time.

To be honest, the last time I really enjoyed watching us play football on a consistent weekly basis was under Brian Little, which speaks volumes.

kimbo wrote:To be honest, the last time I really enjoyed watching us play football on a consistent weekly basis was under Brian Little, which speaks volumes.

You're right, it was a golden period through the big Ron and Sir Brian days. Loved it!

What would be terrible is if Lambert gets "promoted" to DoF and a docile head coach gets appointed.

snitum wrote:What would be terrible is if Lambert gets "promoted" to DoF and a docile head coach gets appointed.

Oh, no, I hadn't considered that. Expect the unexpected, that is the way of this club. We get an American sports franchise owner with a history of failure, UTV.

Ill throw a name out there, either as (ok probably short term) new boss or DOF - Dick Advocaat. He knows the game, bags of experience, available...