Didsbury Dave said:petrusha said:People are, of course, correct when they point out that one of the major boxes that Soriano ticks from the MCFC point of view is that he's well acquainted with the movers and shakers at the top of European club football. Currently, we're regarded by those people as a rather unwelcome, monied arriviste, and as has been said by various posters above, there's potentially a great benefit to the club if we have a senior executive who commands respect in those circles.
Of course, he lacks prior experience of English football. However, when we gave John Williams a role last summer, there were already rumours that Garry Cook was in his last year as CEO. I believed then, and suspect now, that part of the thinking behind bringing Williams in is for him to assist a CEO who needs schooling in the ways of the English game.
There's one thing that interests me about Soriano that no one has mentioned yet. I posted a while back that I believe very senior people at MCFC are admirers of the Barcelona 'mes que un club' ethos. Given the intensive concentration of football clubs in NW England, we're never going to be able to claim to represent a region in the way that Barca style themselves. But, as we go forward and as the developments around the stadium take shape, the club will be looking to project itself as a representative of its community.
If Soriano arrives, then I wonder if part of the attraction is his prior involvement with stressing this aspect of the club's heritage at Barca. It caught my interest that the MEN seemed keen to emphasise this in the story they ran about City's alleged interest in him.
Meanwhile, we'll see about Begiristain, but given rumoured interest in various candidates for a technical director position over the last year or two (Arnesen, Baldini and so on), it doesn't seem impossible. Many have jumped to the conclusion that his arrival would necessarily entail the departure of Brian Marwood, but I'm personally not so sure. (Danamy, one of the very few posters on here that I particularly look out for, seems not to have the highest regard for Marwood, but I haven't heard serious suggestions that Abu Dhabi are unhappy with him).
I suspect that the big thing we want, however, from a technical director would be to develop our academy. After all, we've announced plans to put in place some of the best academy facilities in the game, but what we need is to ensure that the structure is in place to exploit that to best effect. So who better to oversee all that than the guy who, as Barca's sporting director, presumably had ultimate responsibility for the best development set-up in the game.
And the other area in which we have a problem, and where he could be a big help, is ensuring we have a structure in place to get the kids from the top of our academy (where they stay up to age 18) and into the first team. Currently, there's a problem - we pulled out of the reserve league this season, but don't seem to have found an adequate replacement, while we lost all our games in this Next Generation competition. So there definitely seems scope for a highly qualified professional to come in and get his teeth into our development set up.
For that reason, I suspect that it would be viable for Begiristain and Marwood to work together. Whether there would then still be a role for Mike Rigg, who currently has the title technical director, I'm not so sure. Maybe there would - as far as I know (though I stand to be corrected), he was Hughes's appointment, and is essentially a senior scout. Maybe he could report to Begiristain in a new structure, maybe not.
Anyway, we'll see how it goes, but my opinion is that if these two come in, it would be a bold yet sensible move by the club. They bring attributes that seem to be currently lacking among employees at the top end of our operation. I hope it's true, because for these reasons I find it a rather exciting prospect.
A superbly insightful post and one I agree with most of. There can be no doubt that with the investment in the new training campus, City are going to want world class leadership to ensure it works. We appear to be miles off it at the moment. The conveyor belt of talent seemed to stop with the sidelining of Jim Cassell, although I totally appreciate that the standard of football at the club means it is hugely harder for kids to break through. I also found the "Nextgen" results alarming, particularly as we have been waving the chequebook around the world in an attempt to bolster this generation of players.
Another thing to consider is that Abu Dhabi have had good links with Barca, I don't know if it was through these two or others. Remember the Juan Gamper Trophy? Remember The Sheikh sitting as guest of honour?
With regards to Marwood, I know a few people around the club are questioning his role in the absence of Cook. He's not popular with the playing squad as he is seen to go telling tales to the top brass behind their backs. I have no idea how popular he is where it counts, in Abu Dhabi, but I see no reason why there is a problem. I think Mancini's problems were with Cook rather than Marwood. With regards to Williams, he seemed a strange appointment. There's also the guy acting as chairman, forgot his name, and Mike Rigg too as you say.
Like you, I am quite excited with the potential of this, if it happens of course. We might well be seeing a bit of a clearout, which is no bad thing. A few of us agreed in the summer that it may well be necessary. Cook's idiocy helped of course.
JoeMercer'sWay said:Didsbury Dave said:petrusha said:People are, of course, correct when they point out that one of the major boxes that Soriano ticks from the MCFC point of view is that he's well acquainted with the movers and shakers at the top of European club football. Currently, we're regarded by those people as a rather unwelcome, monied arriviste, and as has been said by various posters above, there's potentially a great benefit to the club if we have a senior executive who commands respect in those circles.
Of course, he lacks prior experience of English football. However, when we gave John Williams a role last summer, there were already rumours that Garry Cook was in his last year as CEO. I believed then, and suspect now, that part of the thinking behind bringing Williams in is for him to assist a CEO who needs schooling in the ways of the English game.
There's one thing that interests me about Soriano that no one has mentioned yet. I posted a while back that I believe very senior people at MCFC are admirers of the Barcelona 'mes que un club' ethos. Given the intensive concentration of football clubs in NW England, we're never going to be able to claim to represent a region in the way that Barca style themselves. But, as we go forward and as the developments around the stadium take shape, the club will be looking to project itself as a representative of its community.
If Soriano arrives, then I wonder if part of the attraction is his prior involvement with stressing this aspect of the club's heritage at Barca. It caught my interest that the MEN seemed keen to emphasise this in the story they ran about City's alleged interest in him.
Meanwhile, we'll see about Begiristain, but given rumoured interest in various candidates for a technical director position over the last year or two (Arnesen, Baldini and so on), it doesn't seem impossible. Many have jumped to the conclusion that his arrival would necessarily entail the departure of Brian Marwood, but I'm personally not so sure. (Danamy, one of the very few posters on here that I particularly look out for, seems not to have the highest regard for Marwood, but I haven't heard serious suggestions that Abu Dhabi are unhappy with him).
I suspect that the big thing we want, however, from a technical director would be to develop our academy. After all, we've announced plans to put in place some of the best academy facilities in the game, but what we need is to ensure that the structure is in place to exploit that to best effect. So who better to oversee all that than the guy who, as Barca's sporting director, presumably had ultimate responsibility for the best development set-up in the game.
And the other area in which we have a problem, and where he could be a big help, is ensuring we have a structure in place to get the kids from the top of our academy (where they stay up to age 18) and into the first team. Currently, there's a problem - we pulled out of the reserve league this season, but don't seem to have found an adequate replacement, while we lost all our games in this Next Generation competition. So there definitely seems scope for a highly qualified professional to come in and get his teeth into our development set up.
For that reason, I suspect that it would be viable for Begiristain and Marwood to work together. Whether there would then still be a role for Mike Rigg, who currently has the title technical director, I'm not so sure. Maybe there would - as far as I know (though I stand to be corrected), he was Hughes's appointment, and is essentially a senior scout. Maybe he could report to Begiristain in a new structure, maybe not.
Anyway, we'll see how it goes, but my opinion is that if these two come in, it would be a bold yet sensible move by the club. They bring attributes that seem to be currently lacking among employees at the top end of our operation. I hope it's true, because for these reasons I find it a rather exciting prospect.
A superbly insightful post and one I agree with most of. There can be no doubt that with the investment in the new training campus, City are going to want world class leadership to ensure it works. We appear to be miles off it at the moment. The conveyor belt of talent seemed to stop with the sidelining of Jim Cassell, although I totally appreciate that the standard of football at the club means it is hugely harder for kids to break through. I also found the "Nextgen" results alarming, particularly as we have been waving the chequebook around the world in an attempt to bolster this generation of players.
Another thing to consider is that Abu Dhabi have had good links with Barca, I don't know if it was through these two or others. Remember the Juan Gamper Trophy? Remember The Sheikh sitting as guest of honour?
With regards to Marwood, I know a few people around the club are questioning his role in the absence of Cook. He's not popular with the playing squad as he is seen to go telling tales to the top brass behind their backs. I have no idea how popular he is where it counts, in Abu Dhabi, but I see no reason why there is a problem. I think Mancini's problems were with Cook rather than Marwood. With regards to Williams, he seemed a strange appointment. There's also the guy acting as chairman, forgot his name, and Mike Rigg too as you say.
Like you, I am quite excited with the potential of this, if it happens of course. We might well be seeing a bit of a clearout, which is no bad thing. A few of us agreed in the summer that it may well be necessary. Cook's idiocy helped of course.
isn't Rigg just chief scout and head of overseeing incoming youth prospects? he hasn't done a bad job with Rekik, Suarez etc. imho, I think he'd be ok but maybe more meat will be added around him.
John MacBeath is the acting CEO isn't he?
we'll see anyway, having continental and world class expertees and insight in the hierachy will be a great benefit I think, and much needed.
Didsbury Dave said:Not sure about the youth prospects if I'm honest. I only watch them once or twice a season, apart from the ones who figure around the first team. I haven't seen too much to get me excited but I am far from an expert. One thing is for sure, with FPP and the investment in the "campus", this is a side of the business we will be ramping up. I remember Hughes replacing Cassell with some guy who hardly had a shining CV.
It kind of feels like the right time for a full-on re-establishment and shake up of the top brass. Let everyone know who does what and what their responsibilities are. Khaldoon could even be replaced by a full-time Chairman if he feels he can't commit the time required.
Neville Kneville said:I'm wondering who this 'talent' was that the previous academy staff produced. Imo, it's been a great success at producing journeymen & financing itself but a complete & utter failure at producing any kind of 'talent' since the day it was created.
The only players remotely good enough to even sit on the bench for a top squad were all brought in from other academies. The only true success is Micah.
Our academy has failed to produce one single top quality attacking player. Ken Barnes produced much more with a fraction of the resources.
Didsbury Dave said:Neville Kneville said:I'm wondering who this 'talent' was that the previous academy staff produced. Imo, it's been a great success at producing journeymen & financing itself but a complete & utter failure at producing any kind of 'talent' since the day it was created.
The only players remotely good enough to even sit on the bench for a top squad were all brought in from other academies. The only true success is Micah.
Our academy has failed to produce one single top quality attacking player. Ken Barnes produced much more with a fraction of the resources.
Well I bet Micah's value to the club has paid for the academy since it's inception. SWP and Hart, whilst they didn't come as schoolboys, were turned into pros by the staff. Barton is a good player, although an idiot. Sturridge would be a massive asset to the team now. The Academy then was the academy of a non-trophy winning side and as such brought plenty through.
Throw in the profit made from sales like Crooks and the Academy was a huge success story.
It needs to step up now we are a top club, which is what this thread is partly about.
BillyShears said:I think it's rarer than rocking horse shit to have an academy which regularly produces top drawer players. What we need from our academy is to continue to nurture and produced players who can be sold on for a profit. More than anything, the link between the academy and the first team needs to be built around a footballing philosophy. From youth teams upwards if the kids are taught to play exactly as the first team are drilled (ala Barca and Arsenal) then that ensures that if a player has enough potential, they can be integrated into the first team to see if they can take the step up.
I actually think Guidetti is an excellent example of how our academy should work over the coming years. He can learn in Holland, raise his profile, improve his all round game, all the while we retain his registration so that we can either a) sell him on for a big profit or b) integrate him into the first team if he's good enough.