Woodward wanted him to do well and has given him every opportunity to do so. However his own position would be under far more scrutiny by not getting rid in the summer than it would be if he kept him on.

Please tell me that is a late April Fool's?
I cannot think of one club where a Director of Football has been successful (willing to hear examples) and Zlatan? No way - he's 34 and surely not got much left in him except his huge ego.

I agree I'd be completely against a DoF.

I do think though that maybe there's an issue with Woodward being so close to the manager. Makes you wonder if his decisions are clouded by the fact he works with him so closely and also because knows his own reputation relies (or relied) on Van Gaal being a success. Sacking someone you appointed reflects poorly on your own judgement after all. Someone whose reputation wouldn't falter on making the decision might not be so hesitant to yield the axe.

Not sure how you get around that though unless you add another layer of bureaucracy.

Bayern Munich.

Barcelona.

Milan.

Inter.



Their success isn't entirely down to those 'director of football' appointments though, but they are clubs who use this model who have been successful.

I have said before that the cause of the poor performance is collective. All of the players, the manager and the Board bear an element of responsibiity but what concerns me most is that none of them seem to think that there is a problem.

My bookshelf has one with football manager quots and my two favorites are Bill Shankly - we murdered them nil one and Harry Redknapp - We did not underestimate them, they just played better than we thought they were going to.

Maybe shutting your eyes to reality eases the temporary pain but it does not solve the problems in the long run.

Yesterday's game cost me a few quid in the granchildren's swear box (they wait to pounce!) but i really do not see any improvement since we went out of the CL league months ago. No pace in the attack, no awareness in defence and no commander in midfield.

Picking team is not my job but if there is a sacking offence anywhere it is paying £250m for those players.

No, I haven't, why?

He would be a good fit there, Welsh legend, could attract good names, and there is a solid base at the top of the club.

From there end however, it would be one heck of a risk, as he has had only four games as a manager, so is very inexperienced, but they gave the job to Monk very early in his managerial career, so it wouldn't be the first time that they did something like that (but he did know the club and the players much more than Giggs does to be fair).

Is 'English legend' a criteria at our club?

Swansea have a philosophy across the cluub. What little we have seen from Giggs as a manager indicates he would never be a good fit for that club.

As long as Ed keeps on bringing in those sweet money making deals, then his job is safe, and that is something that he is very good at doing, so no matter what happens in regards to our managerial situation, I can't see him being under any pressure from the owners.

Huh, no, not that I know about?




Fair enough, I was on trying to match him to an appropriate club, other than the ones that I have tried to mention on this topic, I am out of ideas, as to where he might end up.

I was talking more about why he hadn't been sacked already rather than what will happen in the close season. Obviously Woodward wont have much choice if we don't get top 4, which has been stated numerous times is the minimum expectation.

Giggs seems a bit thick.

He wasn't even sure he wanted to go into coaching when he was asked about it aged 37. Strikes me as someone who does it in order to continue working for the only company he's ever worked for.

For all the talk of him threatening to leave if he's not appointed the next manager I don't buy it. He'll work the cloakroom as long as it means being in continued employment of the club.

Then why is Giggs being a Welsh legend relevant to the Swansea job?

No charisma, seemingly few leadership qualities, seemingly little influence as assistant manager, no way a runner for the role and most premier league clubs' fans would think the same if he were linked with their club I reckon. Forget it with regard to man United.

I was just thinking it might be a good sell on that basis for the fans, as he is one of their own, and apart from Hughes, there are not too many Welsh managers out there, managing at the highest levels (Coleman with the national team as well is another).

A bit of a flimsy reason maybe so, but again I was just trying to find a suitable club forging, if it is not say, Swansea, Everton or even Villa, then I don't know where he would be best going to properly start his managerial career.

Watching Zlatan this season tells me he certainly still has something to give even if it's on a twelve month deal. As for the huge ego I think we're missing someone with a character like his.

Did you see it when Memphis and a Spurs player were kicking off towards the end of the game yesterday? The only players who got involved were Martial and Lingard. Can you imagine that situation when the likes of Keane, Vidic, Rio or Stam to name a few were here ? Where was Carrick? Probably tying his laces. Even Rooney was never afraid of getting involved in stuff like that. This team is full of wussies.

Can't give examples of DOF but I still think it's worth considering.

Udinese, and Sevilla are two clubs who have thrived under a Director of Football, and have made a lot of money, (and in Sevilla's case had a lot of success) by having someone in that role.

Monchi is the guy at Sevilla who has been such a key cog in their recent successful period.

Small fry compared to Man United though... The big guns like Bayern are the best example

Perhaps so, but I was just pointing out clubs where such a position has been a success, as it was asked just which clubs have had them, and have achieved success because of them.

Bayern with Sammer is a very good example, and they are the pinnacle I think of how a modern superclub should be run (well apart from the one time a Director went to prison recent course!).

This is an interesting development if true-

https://twitter.com/SkySportsNewsHQ/...821297153?s=09

And I'm sure Swansea would love a Cardiff man, managing them.

What evidence do you have to support the idea that Woodward is safe based on non-football income?

Its just a soundbite people love to trot out.

So he'll come if we sack our manager?

He sounds like an even bigger prick than Van Gaal is

What evidence is there to the contrary?

All we can do here, is say what we feel or think is the most likely outcomes as we personally see them at the time.

Tbf they have history.

I can also imagine Luca Toni still having nightmares about seeing Louis meat and two veg.