Silva or the club

[H4usuallysitting]

Man City do have a hands on DOF Hugo Viana who is a retired Portuguese footballer. Some of the flak TK gets is not only to do with his part time role but the fact that he hasn't any real pedigree with the sport.
Decisions have improved over the years but I can understand why he gets criticised - especially when it comes to timing in the market

None of us have a clue - how our transfer business is arranged...we can only see who walk's through the door & so far in the past 3/4 years has been relatively successful...if not very successful

[Woolly Mammoth]

Man City do have a hands on DOF Hugo Viana who is a retired Portuguese footballer. Some of the flak TK gets is not only to do with his part time role but the fact that he hasn't any real pedigree with the sport.
Decisions have improved over the years but I can understand why he gets criticised - especially when it comes to timing in the market

Absolutely Correct on all points.

[3rdgenfan]

Does a director of football have to have masses of experience or training. Could TC take on an assistant DOF with the longer term aim of doing it solely.

In his recent interview he said he couldn't imagine wearing a non Fulham shirt so would fit the bill as being affiliated to the club.

A club legend as DOF. Amazing

[H4usuallysitting]

Does a director of football have to have masses of experience or training. Could TC take on an assistant DOF with the longer term aim of doing it solely.

In his recent interview he said he couldn't imagine wearing a non Fulham shirt so would fit the bill as being affiliated to the club.

A club legend as DOF. Amazing

I'd better get warmed up

[White Knight]

Man City do have a hands on DOF Hugo Viana who is a retired Portuguese footballer. Some of the flak TK gets is not only to do with his part time role but the fact that he hasn't any real pedigree with the sport.
Decisions have improved over the years but I can understand why he gets criticised - especially when it comes to timing in the market

Agree 100% you took the words right out of my mouth.

[H4usuallysitting]

Man City do have a hands on DOF Hugo Viana who is a retired Portuguese footballer. Some of the flak TK gets is not only to do with his part time role but the fact that he hasn't any real pedigree with the sport.
Decisions have improved over the years but I can understand why he gets criticised - especially when it comes to timing in the market

Of course they do.... let's take a rough look at their spend

2012 - 2023....£2bn
2023 - Today...£700m

We simply cannot compete...

I'm probably wrong, but I don't think Everton actually have a sporting director anymore....

I'm understanding Fulham's transfer decisions are made by committee - like a load of other clubs....

I can't help feeling that some people are just anti Tony Khan

[Rupert]

Genuine question-

If we are told that Shahid Khan (age 75 at present) is no longer able to carry on as Chairman due to ill health/death or whatever, and Tony Khan (age 43) decides to carry on the great sporting legacy by maintaining control of Fulham and the Jaguars, as well as the wrestling, will those who seem to dislike him warm to him?

I am assuming in this scenario that he carries on investing in the team (giving us lots of money and turning the debt into shares) and we at least maintain our current standing.

Or would you passionately want us to have a new, untested owner come in, with all the potential pitfalls or great benefits that could accrue?

[ArcticOctopus]

Personally, I feel like you can't just find in the couch cushion owners willing to convert debt into equity. If the Khan's were to leave I think its much more likely we get owners who view the club more in the ROI it gives them or are unable to write off as much as the Khan's.

[Twig]

I have no dislike whatsoever of Tony Khan. I have never felt it was right to appoint him as DoF and I think he made plenty of mistakes in that role. However, never having met him how can I like or dislike the man?

[Hugh Janus]

I think I get where he is coming from but please don't negate his posts . Mick has an eye , and is entitled to his honest opinion .Go beyond the lack of punctuation and try to understand the point he is making . It's often a lot better than some of the other , rather predictable posts on here.

Agree.  I wonder if his post were structured differently for the grammar police, if those who always ignore or respond negatively to his post would treat his post differently if it went something like this:

Coaches' Loyalties and Club Affiliation
It appears that most coaches tend to align themselves with the players rather than develop a strong loyalty or affection for the club that employs them. This detachment may be due to the fact that these coaches have not played for the clubs themselves. If they had, perhaps their connection to the club would be stronger.

Player Contracts, Injuries, and Financial Implications[
Several players have recently received pay raises, but this has not necessarily translated into consistent performances. For example, Muniz has secured a higher salary and is now sidelined with an injury, leaving uncertainty about whether he will return to top form. In Tete's case, despite his considerable pay rise and demonstrated talent, he continues to suffer regular injuries. This situation puts additional pressure on his backup, the Belgian player, who now requires replacement—an action that would incur further expense. Meanwhile, Wilson, a player brought in by Silva, took four years to show significant improvement and is now seeking a substantial new contract. With Silva's support, both coach and player may depart in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Youth Development and Squad Building
There is a clear desire for a younger squad and greater reliance on youth players. King is being given opportunities, and both the coach and observers recognize his talent. However, concerns remain about his physical development—if he does not gain strength and size, he may not become a regular starter.

Club Leadership and Recruitment Strategy
With the club lacking hands-on owners, significant responsibility falls to the coach and the chief executive. One is focused on financial matters, while the other is concerned with personal success. In the past, decisions made by this leadership nearly led Everton to financial trouble, particularly due to expensive signings of older players. Despite two decades with this setup, the club's youth development program has not produced as much talent as clubs like Brentford and Crystal Palace. Feedback from scouts suggests the club has a tendency to favor smaller players, and after twenty years, there is a hope that the club can become more competitive in youth recruitment and development.

Need for a Director of Football with Club Affinity
Ultimately, what is needed is a true director of football—preferably someone with a genuine connection to Fulham. However, finding such an individual may prove to be nearly impossible.

Chat GPT?

[Hugh Janus]

Does a director of football have to have masses of experience or training. Could TC take on an assistant DOF with the longer term aim of doing it solely.

In his recent interview he said he couldn't imagine wearing a non Fulham shirt so would fit the bill as being affiliated to the club.

A club legend as DOF. Amazing

Man U have gone through how many "club legends" as middle management. How has that gone?

[love4ffc]

I think I get where he is coming from but please don't negate his posts . Mick has an eye , and is entitled to his honest opinion .Go beyond the lack of punctuation and try to understand the point he is making . It's often a lot better than some of the other , rather predictable posts on here.

Agree.  I wonder if his post were structured differently for the grammar police, if those who always ignore or respond negatively to his post would treat his post differently if it went something like this:

Coaches' Loyalties and Club Affiliation
It appears that most coaches tend to align themselves with the players rather than develop a strong loyalty or affection for the club that employs them. This detachment may be due to the fact that these coaches have not played for the clubs themselves. If they had, perhaps their connection to the club would be stronger.

Player Contracts, Injuries, and Financial Implications[
Several players have recently received pay raises, but this has not necessarily translated into consistent performances. For example, Muniz has secured a higher salary and is now sidelined with an injury, leaving uncertainty about whether he will return to top form. In Tete's case, despite his considerable pay rise and demonstrated talent, he continues to suffer regular injuries. This situation puts additional pressure on his backup, the Belgian player, who now requires replacement—an action that would incur further expense. Meanwhile, Wilson, a player brought in by Silva, took four years to show significant improvement and is now seeking a substantial new contract. With Silva's support, both coach and player may depart in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Youth Development and Squad Building
There is a clear desire for a younger squad and greater reliance on youth players. King is being given opportunities, and both the coach and observers recognize his talent. However, concerns remain about his physical development—if he does not gain strength and size, he may not become a regular starter.

Club Leadership and Recruitment Strategy
With the club lacking hands-on owners, significant responsibility falls to the coach and the chief executive. One is focused on financial matters, while the other is concerned with personal success. In the past, decisions made by this leadership nearly led Everton to financial trouble, particularly due to expensive signings of older players. Despite two decades with this setup, the club's youth development program has not produced as much talent as clubs like Brentford and Crystal Palace. Feedback from scouts suggests the club has a tendency to favor smaller players, and after twenty years, there is a hope that the club can become more competitive in youth recruitment and development.

Need for a Director of Football with Club Affinity
Ultimately, what is needed is a true director of football—preferably someone with a genuine connection to Fulham. However, finding such an individual may prove to be nearly impossible.

Chat GPT?

No.  Microsft Word copilot.  Pretty much the same thing. 

[H4usuallysitting]

I have no dislike whatsoever of Tony Khan. I have never felt it was right to appoint him as DoF and I think he made plenty of mistakes in that role. However, never having met him how can I like or dislike the man?

No idea... I stated anti Tony Khan...

Strangely you don't think it's right to appoint him, but you've never met him... I'm assuming he was appointed by somebody that knows him very well - his Father....

I haven't really got an opinion other than have we improved or not..my opinion is yes we've improved

[sunburywhite]

Do you think Richard Branson flies every one of his planes every day as well as driving all his trains?

No, the secret to success in any business is to have a good team around you which spreads down into the business

Tony Khan is merely a figurehead with people below him who make it happen whatever business he is in
His job is to manage the managers
I am the face of our company with many of our customers. Do I paick, pack and deliver the order
No way, but I manage my managers to make sure it is done how I want it done

Same as TK, he makes sure Silva does his job properly and if he wants more resource then he (Silva) has to justify why

[Arthur]

I wonder if his post were structured differently for the grammar police, if those who always ignore or respond negatively to his post would treat his post differently if it went something like this:

Coaches' Loyalties and Club Affiliation
Etc.

No, my opinion would still be the same: No strand of thought is sustained and there is no theme to bring it together.

In spite of the best efforts of AI, sentences such as 'Muniz has secured a higher salary and is now sidelined with an injury, leaving uncertainty about whether he will return to top form' or 'Meanwhile, Wilson, a player brought in by Silva, took four years to show significant improvement and is now seeking a substantial new contract. With Silva's support, both coach and player may depart in the upcoming summer transfer window' merely beg the question: And your point is... ?

[Somerset Fulham]

I don't think that is Lofe4FFC's view, Arthur.  He ran Mick's initial post through AI and it spat that out.

[Arthur]

Personally I think Mick can make some interesting observations. His knowledge of our youth set up is deeper than any other poster I have seen on here, including those on here who disparage him, fall asleep or read him in depth but don't understand his points.

Ok, he does tend to the negative and has been consistently critical of TK but not all his posts are of that ilk. Disagree with him by all means but sweeping and patronising dismissals reflect more poorly on the poster than on Mick imo.

Seeing as you've referenced me indirectly, I would add that because Mick attends Academy matches, this doesn't make his opinion as to how well the Club is running it correct - any more than my attending our P.L. games automatically makes my opinion on first XI matters the right one. I have tried to engage in earnest discussions with Mick about his views on the Academy and Tony Khan. He has never bothered to respond.

[Arthur]

I don't think that is Lofe4FFC's view, Arthur.  He ran Mick's initial post through AI and it spat that out.

Yes, I know. My post refers to the fact he ran it through AI. What is his view, however, is that I might treat Mick's post differently. I was merely explaining why my opinion of it does not need to change.

[Andrew]

I am not sure i have followed this thread totally but my opinion based soley on wgat I have witnessed is TK was an awful DoF. Transfers only improved when Marco turned up and we got players he had worked with or Portugese or had mostly a connection.

Mr K snr spoke directly to Marco before appointing him cutting out TK and said things would be different. And they were for a while, but in the last little while our transfer policy has been poor and we have underachieved based on poor late arrivals.

We achieve what we do because of Marco's skill.

If the owner is content to tick along then that is what we are doing and I used to dream of prem mid tabke mediocrity when watching a pointless away game in...pick a far flungcaway ground in the lower league.

But we have had a chance to kick on and it has been missed again. If you aim for mediocre  then in the end you will fail, and that is what worries me.

[Willham]

I am not sure i have followed this thread totally but my opinion based soley on wgat I have witnessed is TK was an awful DoF. Transfers only improved when Marco turned up and we got players he had worked with or Portugese or had mostly a connection.

Mr K snr spoke directly to Marco before appointing him cutting out TK and said things would be different. And they were for a while, but in the last little while our transfer policy has been poor and we have underachieved based on poor late arrivals.

We achieve what we do because of Marco's skill.

If the owner is content to tick along then that is what we are doing and I used to dream of prem mid tabke mediocrity when watching a pointless away game in...pick a far flungcaway ground in the lower league.

But we have had a chance to kick on and it has been missed again. If you aim for mediocre  then in the end you will fail, and that is what worries me.

I tend to agree with your final point, but I feel we havent 'recruited poorly' as youve put it but we are trying to look at a bigger and longer term plan based off the crippling financial rules.

I watch a youtuber who goes through different teams, his/my favourite are his 'what is going on at *****'

And frequently in them videos, usually containing clubs with bad owners, there's graphs showing something like 'owner investments' and we are generally always just outside of the top 4, placing around 5th to 7th place, the youtuber himself supports hull city, and Fulham are often referenced in the bracket of Brighton, Brentford and palace for having 'great owners'

I think many of us are falling for the classic 'grass is always greener'

We have it good and lets not wish it away.