This is a brilliant piece Sam. The key thing here is your point about ‘process v outcomes’. Sacking Wilder merely covers up the fundamental lack of strategy and structure at the club. It needs a complete overhaul
Thoughtful, as usual, Sam. I don't think it makes any sense to sack Wilder now; the whole squad is built around him. And sacking Wilder is not really the issue; what alternative are the Wilder out brigade proposing? I don't think our performances have been inspiring lately, but we were beaten at Stoke by two late worldies from way outside the box, so we can't even blame the fact that our three best full backs are out injured. I don't think we'll go down, and I do think results will improve. But confidence in football is everything, so just bloody calm down and give the players a break. UTB. ✌️😎⚔️
Great article. The way the club is now set up means that any replacement for Wilder would probably not cope as there is far too much responsibility. We need to restructure first, but then that also might cause conflict with Wilder. However strategically, that's the only way to go.
A great piece. I've been saying, along with a fair chunk of the fanbase I imagine, that we need a structure. I really worry that we haven't installed someone at the Bettis sort of level that has a knowledge of how to run a football club. The whole of our potential success depends solely on Bettis and Wilder's decisions. We should have a recruitment team, we should have an analyst team, a coaching team; all of which should be assembled by a comptent board with some footballing knowledge. We may have the skeleton of these things, but they can't all be people that the manager likes to have a drink with. That may sounds harsh, and maybe presumptuous, but there is evidence out there that this sort of thing is unfortunately happening.
The structure of the club, and the succession plan, should be out of the manager's hands. While none of this is sorted, it doesn't really matter who the manager is. We will continue making rash and risky decisions that will ultimately lead us in one direction.
In the short term, sacking Wilder doesn't move the needle for me, it would be another unnecessary risk. We need better strategy behind the scenes, not a new figurehead.
Great article. It’s often struck me that processes and practices which are commonplace in most large and successful organisations are absent in most football clubs: strategic plans; long term talent management; diversifying the functional skill base. Similarly, you see stuff in football clubs that doesn’t happen, or at least doesn’t go unpunished, in large companies. I’m particularly thinking here about naming and shaming, not taking responsibility and throwing staff under the bus. Are you listening Chris Wilder?!
The odd thing is: I don’t think it’s that hard to do. I assume wealthy owners have at least some exposure to planning and process as they’ve build and sold companies! It’s bizarre that they don’t apply the same disciplines to their football club assets.
Thanks Sam - valuable and insightful as ever. For me, cutting CW off at the knees in the transfer window and then sacking him 8 games in is bonkers, illogical. I believe in the guy. I would finish lower mid table and still not fire him. But the point you make about the wider organisation / coaching / CEO, I had not considered. Thanks again
This is a brilliant piece Sam. The key thing here is your point about ‘process v outcomes’. Sacking Wilder merely covers up the fundamental lack of strategy and structure at the club. It needs a complete overhaul
Thoughtful, as usual, Sam. I don't think it makes any sense to sack Wilder now; the whole squad is built around him. And sacking Wilder is not really the issue; what alternative are the Wilder out brigade proposing? I don't think our performances have been inspiring lately, but we were beaten at Stoke by two late worldies from way outside the box, so we can't even blame the fact that our three best full backs are out injured. I don't think we'll go down, and I do think results will improve. But confidence in football is everything, so just bloody calm down and give the players a break. UTB. ✌️😎⚔️
Great article. The way the club is now set up means that any replacement for Wilder would probably not cope as there is far too much responsibility. We need to restructure first, but then that also might cause conflict with Wilder. However strategically, that's the only way to go.
A great piece. I've been saying, along with a fair chunk of the fanbase I imagine, that we need a structure. I really worry that we haven't installed someone at the Bettis sort of level that has a knowledge of how to run a football club. The whole of our potential success depends solely on Bettis and Wilder's decisions. We should have a recruitment team, we should have an analyst team, a coaching team; all of which should be assembled by a comptent board with some footballing knowledge. We may have the skeleton of these things, but they can't all be people that the manager likes to have a drink with. That may sounds harsh, and maybe presumptuous, but there is evidence out there that this sort of thing is unfortunately happening.
The structure of the club, and the succession plan, should be out of the manager's hands. While none of this is sorted, it doesn't really matter who the manager is. We will continue making rash and risky decisions that will ultimately lead us in one direction.
In the short term, sacking Wilder doesn't move the needle for me, it would be another unnecessary risk. We need better strategy behind the scenes, not a new figurehead.
Thanks, Sam
Nail on the head, as always.
Your list 7 points in the middle were especially pertinent - can only nod and agree.
I'm in the Wilder camp at the moment, simply because of asking who could do any better?
Sue.
Great article. It’s often struck me that processes and practices which are commonplace in most large and successful organisations are absent in most football clubs: strategic plans; long term talent management; diversifying the functional skill base. Similarly, you see stuff in football clubs that doesn’t happen, or at least doesn’t go unpunished, in large companies. I’m particularly thinking here about naming and shaming, not taking responsibility and throwing staff under the bus. Are you listening Chris Wilder?!
The odd thing is: I don’t think it’s that hard to do. I assume wealthy owners have at least some exposure to planning and process as they’ve build and sold companies! It’s bizarre that they don’t apply the same disciplines to their football club assets.
Thanks Sam - valuable and insightful as ever. For me, cutting CW off at the knees in the transfer window and then sacking him 8 games in is bonkers, illogical. I believe in the guy. I would finish lower mid table and still not fire him. But the point you make about the wider organisation / coaching / CEO, I had not considered. Thanks again
Enjoyed this. Agree with most and smells of Warnock too for me.