The Coach's Fatal Mistake? Challenging The Executives and an Unassailable Leadership Class

Itbecame clear Ruben Amorim endured losing against lower-league opposition. He weathered a decisive European final against one of the worst Spurs sides in living memory. He withstood losing at home against domestic rivals, finishing 15th, an unwavering system, laying waste to the team's most promising academy products, the 32% win rate, calling the squad the poorest the club has ever seen. Yet, there existed one adversary with whom Ruben Amorim was not permitted to dance. If you challenge Jason Wilcox, and you best not miss.

In truth, this whole painful saga seems to paint the director in a different perspective. Perhaps it might have been easy, based on his brief stint of experience at Southampton, to view Jason Wilcox as merely a drudge in the United exoskeleton: an individual who owed his position largely to his friendship with his former boss Omar Berrada as any verifiable talent. How wrong we all were. By masterfully outsmarting the club's celebrated manager, just as he bested the unfortunate Dan Ashworth earlier, he has demonstrated to be among the sport’s strategic masterminds: a strategic mind that United’s mid-table rivals are now rightly wary.

The Strategic Conflict Regarding System & Philosophy

For example, it was Jason Wilcox who having been part of the leadership that hired the rigid 3-4-3 advocate Amorim in the first place, played a key role in trying to persuade Amorim to abandon his beloved 3-4-3. Unsurprisingly, these pleas were resisted. But perhaps these judgements carry more weight when delivered from the mouth with the impeccable soccer background he possesses, holder of international appearances and a role in a title-winning side from 31 years ago.

Maybe eventually Jason Wilcox may be persuaded to explain his reasoning to the rest of us. Maybe one day he might be asked regarding why the coach is walking away with a full payout, with no penalty clause activated. But Jason Wilcox speaks rarely in public, and with very good reason. The real thinkers of this sport – individuals such as Jason Wilcox – function on a plane exceeding our mundane comprehension. Were he to speak, probably all we would hear would be high-frequency signals and complex calculations. Desiring an explanation is not quite the same as being prepared to receive.

The Ultimate Power Behind the Throne

Naturally, in training our focus on Jason Wilcox we overlook the real power behind the modern United throne. The director is, after all, simply carrying out the commands of his ultimate superior the billionaire owner, who privately has emphasized his desire for a back four. It is reported, the owner has also suggested playing Bryan Mbeumo as a right wing-back. Ratcliffe is keen for the club to adopt data science and metrics. Per reports, in an executive meeting soon after his investment, he declared that the team's approach of play “shall be determined by this group”.

Ultimately, Ratcliffe is an expert in these intricate footballing stuff, leveraging his previous experience in petrochemicals and sailing. Most importantly he is immensely wealthy, and it is known, the rich are superior: more insightful, sagacious, strategically brilliant, fundamentally better. Whom else could one trust to manage an enlightened programme of cost-cutting, the building of a modern arena that looks a lot like an abstract design, the acquisition of a new striker?

The Modern Football Order: Directors Above Managers

This is a trend we are increasingly seeing in top-tier of the game. Historically, clubs foolishly entrusted big footballing decisions to low-level employees such as coaches, scouts – players themselves. Perhaps it was once feasible for an up-and-coming, innovative manager with a philosophy and drive to join a club and see their vision supported to fruition. But how many companies have such individuals set up? How many mass redundancies have they overseen? Far preferable to invest the real power where it belongs: the leadership tier, the casually dressed executives, the individuals with impressive professional resumes. Better by far to decide the tactics in the boardroom and hire someone who can tailor their methods accordingly. If coaches were once chefs, they have become more akin to delivery personnel: not responsible for the food, yet ultimately answerable should it be delivered cold or leaks out to meet standards.

Nowadays, their job is increasingly less about defining the vision and more about selling it: the front-facing representative on the front desk, the public face for a club they can do little to change. Enzo Maresca takes a squad of literal children into the Champions League and secures two medium-sized trophies, and essentially gets sacked for speaking out. Wilfried Nancy sees his standing damaged while the people who appointed him live to blunder another day.

The Neoliberal Football: Accountability for the Coaches

And possibly in a small way this is simply neoliberalism at work: the rise of a gilded elite who are infallible, whose decisions are always sacrosanct, whose mistakes can always be resolved by sacking without justification. Appoint the system coach only to fire him for playing excessively 3-4-3. Bring in the project manager and later discard him for taking too long. And most importantly be grateful; for the incremental increases in ticket costs, for your new summer signings, for the reality that the adults – however well qualified – remain in control.