David Sharpe appointed Head Of Football Operations

Thanks Jordan, useful insight.

 

When you have watched City for a while then
Amateur Hour sounds familiar as well

 

Agree. Small seeds of hope after watching the earlier video. Watched the behind the scenes Mansfield video some months ago and liked what I saw.

We will get a clear plan and vision that we can all buy into but its action that really counts. Let's see how hard the player cull is in the summer as we prune back the squad.

That's the first test in my opinion.

 

I liked his point about taking a multi-window view to recruitment. Too much of our own recruitment is either short term in its thinking or absent of a longer tern roadmap.

 

Initially quite hopeful about this appointment. But..............on reflection................and digesting the views on here...........beginning to think it is a polyfilla job........ a short notice appeasement, but in the longer term creating another line and level of irresponsibility. Hopefully there will be a cascade of subsequent change and clearer lines of responsibility as a consequence of his appointment in the summer, that will allay my negativity

 

Let’s hope we get Quality over Quantity,one of the failures of this season.

 

People are getting het up about titles and the organizational hierarchy….. Sharpe has the football knowledge Sparks lacks. You’d think Ryan will be moved into a commercial focussed role and delegate football matters to Sharpe.

Who really cares what their titles are if Ryan has now delegated?

Maybe Rupp didnt want to humiliate Ryan with a demotion.

He’s accepted now he’s been too absent and needed to support Sparks more than he has.

Maybe Rupp’s agreed to fund this and other forthcoming appointments and, in return, Ryan keeps his title and salary as his reward for achieving his supposed target of sustainability - albeit a target Rupp finally realises the fans won’t accept?

 

His first 2 jobs imo
1Nail down Pointon to a new contract
2 show Smallwood to the exit

 

1 and 2 are not happening.

 

Come on now you negative Nelly - even I've got a tinge of positivity today

 

Sparks just finalising his new role as head tea boy to Kersten England and the rest of the City of 5hite team, and then we might be somewhere approaching a fresh, positive start.

 

You never know you could be right with your predictions.

 

Why wouldnt Smallwood leaving happen?

id say the chances are its far more likely to happen than not. He’s been underwhelming this season, dropped a few times (rare for a captain), on good money and we’ve a new football man who will look beyond the Teesside network for new recruits.

I’d say its 10% likely he stays, 90% likely he’s off.

Sadly, I expect Walker will be cut loose too, owing to injury issues. Shame as he’s a class act, but you must be talking 8k a week between those two. One is regularly injured, one hasn’t regularly performed to the level expected.

 

I'd say it is hopefully more likely to happen now Sharpe is here than it was prior to his arrival. He just needs to convince GA it's the right thing to do.

 

I think he’ll soon realise. Can’t remember the numbers but our stats for goals from midfield are truly woeful arent they. Gillead has his plus points but doesnt contribute enough there either.

its a shame Pattison is a crock as he looked a likely goal source, but with Walker also a crock, its an area we may well see an overhaul next season.

if Kevin McDonald wants to prolong his playing career surely he’ll be off too?

pointon out of favour but hopefully GA sees the light and we extend his deal?

 

”Family issues” His dad?

 

Just catching up after a busy day at work:

1. So Ryan has finally realised he needs help and he can’t do the job on his own. Perhaps he’s swallowed his pride, but it should have happened sooner.

2. Good interview with Sharpe on the club YouTube channel. The guy is 32 but seems mature beyond his years. His experience at football clubs will stand him in good stead. I hope he works on strategy and does not get involved in on-the-pitch matters or scouting of players. I’m not sure he is the right person for recommending players - he’s a businessman who happens to work in football, no more.

 

As I heard the interview, I thought the interviewer did not try to clarify a couple of things:
1. what is the hierarchical structure between owner, CEO, head of football, manager and head of recruitment?
2. What is the division of responsibilities?
In other words who does what and who decides?

 

which leads us to Objective #3 : Renew Ridehalgh

 

The only order in this football club moving forward should be :
Sparks focuses on the financial side of things, an leaves football matters the feck alone.
Sharpe is in charge of all football matters. Gent an Alexander get in line or are shown the door.

Truth be told, both can go for me. Now im not gonna say that either are bad people, but they dont fit the system

The thing with Gent is, he does bring in good players from time to time. Kavanagh an Walker (the second) Look good. The rest dont fit the profile. Which signals to me theres a clear discrepancy between what the manager wants an what the Head of recruitment wants. The managers want certain players but theyre offered polar opposites. Happened under Hughes as well. Now im not sure whether its a case of Gent recommending certain players based off what the manager wants, an Sparks intervening an Veto'ing certain deals due to finances or whatever, but something is clearly wrong. Hopefully Sharpe can sort it out