SHA Small Heath Alliance

Yeah I can’t argue with that, I’ll always be grateful but 3 years down the line I think we need more ‘world class’ leadership and less self-preservation.

Le Mod

Yeah I can’t argue with that, I’ll always be grateful but 3 years down the line I think we need more ‘world class’ leadership and less self-preservation.

I think we need to accept we won’t be getting ‘world class’ per se they are so few and far between by their nature and no matter how appealing we are a championship club, and who even would be on that list? Do many people even have a list of world class directors of football?

The world class bit was tongue in cheek, but competence and good decision making over self preservation is what I’d like to see.

Docky91

Le Mod

Yeah I can’t argue with that, I’ll always be grateful but 3 years down the line I think we need more ‘world class’ leadership and less self-preservation.

I think we need to accept we won’t be getting ‘world class’ per se they are so few and far between by their nature and no matter how appealing we are a championship club, and who even would be on that list? Do many people even have a list of world class directors of football?

That has been my question all along.

How do you judge a Director of Football when there does not seem to be a job description common throughout the game?

I am happy for the Club to be looking at making a change if the owners feel that is the best course of action but I feel that it is a more difficult decision than replacing a head coach/manager where there's a closer correlation between performance and results.

I have to agree that if a DoF is to be judged they will require several years before their achievements can be assessed and I am not certain that some on here are prepared to allow that time.

Le Mod

The world class bit was tongue in cheek, but competence and good decision making over self preservation is what I’d like to see.

Yeah that wasn’t aimed at you directly it’s just a term that’s been bandied round a lot.

In all honesty, I think CG is a good DoF and has done well for us, I don’t think the players are particularly playing up to their system but when you look at what we paid for the likes of Wagner, Klarer, Roberts, Paik, Gray, Laird, Neumann etc we have done well.

Yes there was definitely some areas of the squad left weak however we do not know what type of player he was told to go for etc. I honestly think to imply he is incompetent is grossly undervaluing him (again not directed at you)

C'mon You Blues

Docky91

Le Mod

Yeah I can’t argue with that, I’ll always be grateful but 3 years down the line I think we need more ‘world class’ leadership and less self-preservation.

I think we need to accept we won’t be getting ‘world class’ per se they are so few and far between by their nature and no matter how appealing we are a championship club, and who even would be on that list? Do many people even have a list of world class directors of football?

I have to agree that if a DoF is to be judged they will require several years before their achievements can be assessed and I am not certain that some on here are prepared to allow that time.

In all honesty CG will never be able to be judged unless we severely fail our expectations over the next few years as the aim is promotion and as you’ve seen even with teams like Sunderland that have built for years, the entire squad that gets you promoted generally gets ripped apart so the only way we will see these players in a few years is we haven’t met that ambition.

Docky91

Le Mod

The world class bit was tongue in cheek, but competence and good decision making over self preservation is what I’d like to see.

Yeah that wasn’t aimed at you directly it’s just a term that’s been bandied round a lot.

In all honesty, I think CG is a good DoF and has done well for us, I don’t think the players are particularly playing up to their system but when you look at what we paid for the likes of Wagner, Klarer, Roberts, Paik, Gray, Laird, Neumann etc we have done well.

Yes there was definitely some areas of the squad left weak however we do not know what type of player he was told to go for etc. I honestly think to imply he is incompetent is grossly undervaluing him (again not directed at you)

His job isn’t just recruitment though and you need to judge him on more than that

El Mayor

Docky91

Le Mod

The world class bit was tongue in cheek, but competence and good decision making over self preservation is what I’d like to see.

Yeah that wasn’t aimed at you directly it’s just a term that’s been bandied round a lot.

In all honesty, I think CG is a good DoF and has done well for us, I don’t think the players are particularly playing up to their system but when you look at what we paid for the likes of Wagner, Klarer, Roberts, Paik, Gray, Laird, Neumann etc we have done well.

Yes there was definitely some areas of the squad left weak however we do not know what type of player he was told to go for etc. I honestly think to imply he is incompetent is grossly undervaluing him (again not directed at you)

His job isn’t just recruitment though and you need to judge him on more than that

I see your comment on this previously. I don’t think a DoF does influence the style of play however? Unless im mistaken, but that would be madness I mean look at Liverpool they retain DoF and have changed styles and then changes back et.

The connection to the coaching staff I understand, there is very clearly a big disconnect. I can imagine him and CD not getting in particularly well as they strike me as very different people.

Is this the same Kristian Speakman that allegedly received 500k when Jude got transfered from the blues?

Docky91

El Mayor

Docky91

Le Mod

The world class bit was tongue in cheek, but competence and good decision making over self preservation is what I’d like to see.

Yeah that wasn’t aimed at you directly it’s just a term that’s been bandied round a lot.

In all honesty, I think CG is a good DoF and has done well for us, I don’t think the players are particularly playing up to their system but when you look at what we paid for the likes of Wagner, Klarer, Roberts, Paik, Gray, Laird, Neumann etc we have done well.

Yes there was definitely some areas of the squad left weak however we do not know what type of player he was told to go for etc. I honestly think to imply he is incompetent is grossly undervaluing him (again not directed at you)

His job isn’t just recruitment though and you need to judge him on more than that

I see your comment on this previously. I don’t think a DoF does influence the style of play however? Unless im mistaken, but that would be madness I mean look at Liverpool they retain DoF and have changed styles and then changes back et.

The connection to the coaching staff I understand, there is very clearly a big disconnect. I can imagine him and CD not getting in particularly well as they strike me as very different people.

Richard Hughes has only been there 2 years.

I was told while in Portugal for pre-season (yes it might not be true) that an ex coach that left the club allegedly received 500k when Jude got transfered from the blues?

Are coaches employed directly or are they self employed?

Docky91

El Mayor

Docky91

Le Mod

The world class bit was tongue in cheek, but competence and good decision making over self preservation is what I’d like to see.

Yeah that wasn’t aimed at you directly it’s just a term that’s been bandied round a lot.

In all honesty, I think CG is a good DoF and has done well for us, I don’t think the players are particularly playing up to their system but when you look at what we paid for the likes of Wagner, Klarer, Roberts, Paik, Gray, Laird, Neumann etc we have done well.

Yes there was definitely some areas of the squad left weak however we do not know what type of player he was told to go for etc. I honestly think to imply he is incompetent is grossly undervaluing him (again not directed at you)

His job isn’t just recruitment though and you need to judge him on more than that

I see your comment on this previously. I don’t think a DoF does influence the style of play however? Unless im mistaken, but that would be madness I mean look at Liverpool they retain DoF and have changed styles and then changes back et.

The connection to the coaching staff I understand, there is very clearly a big disconnect. I can imagine him and CD not getting in particularly well as they strike me as very different people.

It’s not just “style of play” either.

A proper DoF is responsible for the whole footballing side of the club - ie a “Director” of “Football”. Their job is to ensure all the bits of the club work together and are part of a common plan.

The big problem at Blues is that doesn’t happen.

We have a huge disconnect between our first team and our academy; our recruitment policy for the first team is such that there is no thought to what we could do internally while our recruitment for our academy appears to be non existent currently.

We have no cohesive or cogent strategy for loaning out players, we haven’t built a rapport with teams to consistently loan out players to help improve them so our pathway has become very limited.

We are also struggling to hire and retain staff; as an example this season we have hired and lost (for various reasons) our u21 manager, our head of academy recruitment and two of his staff (that I know of off the top of my head). This is either cos we’re hiring the wrong people or not giving them the right tools to do their job.

I’ve said before I like Gardner and I understand he’s in place cos he’s done okay and he was a big part of the transition. I understand why we need to move on and bring in someone new but I fear (and have said this for months) that people are going to complain about his replacement within weeks cos of misunderstandings about how seismic a change this is going to be.

Whats working for an ex- footballer?
40hrs and time and a half on Saturday???
If its football related the salary is well beyond what us fans relate to. ( Steven Knight probably not included).

RectoryPark

I was told while in Portugal for pre-season (yes it might not be true) that an ex coach that left the club allegedly received 500k when Jude got transfered from the blues?

Are coaches employed directly or are they self employed?

Employed directly - and it’s often a bonus for academy coaches or staff to receive incentives for player sales and/or first team appearances.

It’s another reason we can’t keep staff, the pathway doesn’t exist for players so the incentive of bonuses isn’t there.

El Mayor

It’s not just “style of play” either.

A proper DoF is responsible for the whole footballing side of the club - ie a “Director” of “Football”. Their job is to ensure all the bits of the club work together and are part of a common plan.

The big problem at Blues is that doesn’t happen.

We have a huge disconnect between our first team and our academy; our recruitment policy for the first team is such that there is no thought to what we could do internally while our recruitment for our academy appears to be non existent currently.

We have no cohesive or cogent strategy for loaning out players, we haven’t built a rapport with teams to consistently loan out players to help improve them so our pathway has become very limited.

We are also struggling to hire and retain staff; as an example this season we have hired and lost (for various reasons) our u21 manager, our head of academy recruitment and two of his staff (that I know of off the top of my head). This is either cos we’re hiring the wrong people or not giving them the right tools to do their job.

I’ve said before I like Gardner and I understand he’s in place cos he’s done okay and he was a big part of the transition. I understand why we need to move on and bring in someone new but I fear (and have said this for months) that people are going to complain about his replacement within weeks cos of misunderstandings about how seismic a change this is going to be.

Having read all this, I thought I'd go back and check the statement when confirming Gardner's new role. It stated:

Gardner, the Club’s current Technical Director, will now be responsible for both the Men’s First Team and the Academy set-up, drawing from his three-and-a-half years’ experience in the role.

Since being appointed to the senior position in June 2021, the former Blues midfielder has overseen the direction of the club’s football strategy, playing identity, recruitment, squad development and performance.

And then later...

As Director of Football, Gardner will help to develop a world class culture and implement innovative processes, as well as strengthening ties with the Academy. Through building a more unified approach, a consistent club playing identity and philosophy, he will aim to make progression from Academy to the Men’s First Team a seamless process for the Club’s top emerging talent in all footballing areas.