Chief Scout

[INTERUNITED]

Thanks for clarifying, your earlier post. Seemed odd that you’d demand a CEO removed for Chief scout concerns that you have.

Given that the board sets a number of non-financial and financial targets, which target set by the board has Bettis failed to achieve?

My original post was written in anger after the result/performance on Tuesday, so apologies for not articulating my point very well (even if I believe my point stands).
With regards to your question about which targets haven't been achieved, as I don't know what these targets are, I can't answer that (I'd be happy for you to inform me what his targets for the season were?). Maybe my anger should be directed at the board/owner, but as Betis will be in charge of the running of the club, surely he is responsible for the scouting network/player identification/contract negotiations?

 

[SwissBlade]

My original post was written in anger after the result/performance on Tuesday, so apologies for not articulating my point very well (even if I believe my point stands).
With regards to your question about which targets haven't been achieved, as I don't know what these targets are, I can't answer that (I'd be happy for you to inform me what his targets for the season were?). Maybe my anger should be directed at the board/owner, but as Betis will be in charge of the running of the club, surely he is responsible for the scouting network/player identification/contract negotiations?

I don’t know the detailed targets and the criteria to reach those, but the 2020 financial accounts list some of them. I presumed you’d read them based on your first comment.

I don’t necessarily believe that the CEO should be removed, like the team manager, it’s sometimes better to have a consistent management of the club to get out of a slide, but sometimes not.

I don’t know how Bettis is doing day to day but Based on the club taking out a loan against parachute payments, I’d think that the non financial performance target is to finish top 6, attendances 25k+ average. Financial targets will be interesting, Id guess that whilst in contradiction to meeting the top 6 target, the board will want to see wages reduced and fees coming in for players we’ve sold…. And we’ve sold Ramsdale. A jan sale of perhaps Berge (if he gets fit) would then be an assumption that this financial target will have been met

As I highlighted earlier, the board will want to see Bettis deliver a new structured playing management team with back room staff to find suitable targets - so I’d guess that this is in transition at present

 

[Blade56]

Needs sacking

Sack Bear Grills, why?








I’ve not read all the replies but assumed no one else thought of this nugget

 

[Snowflake]

There isn't a scouting system

We've got something we call a scouting system, but it isn't a scouting system.

It's as cheap and chucked together a department as every single other department within the club.

And then an expensive manager to make it all look normal.

But normal it isn't

The startling numbers of supposed professional footballers that haven't got the most simple and basic football technique from the second they've arrived here over the last 50 years suggests the club is mentally retarded.

There’s a long list of players who have arrived here in the last 50 years with the requisite skills and many have been outstanding.
Just because some have been poor should not detract from the successes

 

[JJBlade]

There’s a long list of players who have arrived here in the last 50 years with the requisite skills and many have been outstanding.
Just because some have been poor should not detract from the successes

Ahhh ok
The conveyor belt of skill, talent, ability, flamboyance, entertainment.

It's truly amazing

Even the very, very best that have ever played for us are functional, nothing more.

 

[Champagneblade]

Bettis as CEO is responsible for the running of the club. Bearing in mind he will be in charge of how the finances are distributed, I'd say the fact we have a bloated, highly paid unbalanced squad, training facilities of a division one side (despite this being promised to be addressed by Bettis) and a summer transfer window where very few of the positions the manager wanted to strengthen where achieved, is enough to warrant the replacement of the CEO. We spent 2 seasons in the premier league, with an estimated 200/300 million income, and have somehow ended up in a worse position than when we were last in the championship. Bearing in mind the owner doesn't have large funds to invest in the club, we couldn't afford to make as many financial mistakes as we have done. If any other company has results like this, the CEO would be out.

For a CEO I don't get why Bettis doesn't communicate far more.

What are our current off field objectives? How are we tracking against them? How are the revenue streams looking? What did we budget towards?

Unless we sack the manager we don't hear from him.

The new training complex is a fine example. We seem to want to improve the training complex yet there is no definitive date set. How is this a way to run a business?

I just don't get how he is a CEO yet has such low visibility.

Same with Jan. He seems to be heavily involved in player recruitment yet in about 4 years we've not heard a word from him.

 

[Snowflake]

Ahhh ok
The conveyor belt of skill, talent, ability, flamboyance, entertainment.

It's truly amazing

Even the very, very best that have ever played for us are functional, nothing more.

You have much higher standards and expectations than I !

 

[JJBlade]

You have much higher standards and expectations than I !

Yes,
I just think that even by some fluke somebody with those attributes would have arrived at the club at some point, unless it is deliberately ignored.

I was once in the company of Mel Sterland, as basic a footballer as you could get.

He said his plan during his trials with SWFC was to shout and bawl and scream louder than everybody else on the pitch so that he got noticed.

Wendy were known for their hoofball during this period

I'm sure some pretty good players got overlooked in favour of him

 

[vas borbokis]

All businesses I've ever worked in (now retired) have had a company vision statement, a 5 year plan, and a set of policies and procedures to drive business behaviours in all areas to meet these high level goals.
The high level goals can evolve as circs change e.g. unexpected over-performance getting to PL or knock backs like a pandemic.
It may be such things are in place at Utd. and people are accountable for their parts in it all, and that the fan base has no idea, because the club to fan comms are not considered important by the owners...
I'd be amazed if the club doesnt have these internal drivers but it would be nice as a fan to see some joined up comms from the club to give us all some reassurance, and to manage our expectations. In the comms void that exists, we get fans expecting us to compete with established Premier, and high end Championship clubs who if they were more aware of our financial position may be more tolerant... see Norwich fans'expectations...
Time to bring back a Mr. Phipps approach perchance?

 

[Snowflake]

All businesses I've ever worked in (now retired) have had a company vision statement, a 5 year plan, and a set of policies and procedures to drive business behaviours in all areas to meet these high level goals.
The high level goals can evolve as circs change e.g. unexpected over-performance getting to PL or knock backs like a pandemic.
It may be such things are in place at Utd. and people are accountable for their parts in it all, and that the fan base has no idea, because the club to fan comms are not considered important by the owners...
I'd be amazed if the club doesnt have these internal drivers but it would be nice as a fan to see some joined up comms from the club to give us all some reassurance, and to manage our expectations. In the comms void that exists, we get fans expecting us to compete with established Premier, and high end Championship clubs who if they were more aware of our financial position may be more tolerant... see Norwich fans'expectations...
Time to bring back a Mr. Phipps approach perchance?

Whilst I would welcome more information from the club, I think if they indicated the basic content of their 5 year plan many fans would take the intended goals as absolute targets to be achieved come what may and shout “failure” if not achieved in the timescale.

 

[SwissBlade]

For a CEO I don't get why Bettis doesn't communicate far more.

What are our current off field objectives? How are we tracking against them? How are the revenue streams looking? What did we budget towards?

Unless we sack the manager we don't hear from him.

The new training complex is a fine example. We seem to want to improve the training complex yet there is no definitive date set. How is this a way to run a business?

I just don't get how he is a CEO yet has such low visibility.

Same with Jan. He seems to be heavily involved in player recruitment yet in about 4 years we've not heard a word from him.

All businesses I've ever worked in (now retired) have had a company vision statement, a 5 year plan, and a set of policies and procedures to drive business behaviours in all areas to meet these high level goals.
The high level goals can evolve as circs change e.g. unexpected over-performance getting to PL or knock backs like a pandemic.
It may be such things are in place at Utd. and people are accountable for their parts in it all, and that the fan base has no idea, because the club to fan comms are not considered important by the owners...
I'd be amazed if the club doesnt have these internal drivers but it would be nice as a fan to see some joined up comms from the club to give us all some reassurance, and to manage our expectations. In the comms void that exists, we get fans expecting us to compete with established Premier, and high end Championship clubs who if they were more aware of our financial position may be more tolerant... see Norwich fans'expectations...
Time to bring back a Mr. Phipps approach perchance?

Jan is a director, I wouldn't expect to hear from him. The CEO or Owner would generally be the people to speak, but it seems that under the Princes ownership he doesn't take the opportunity to speak publicly very often.

I think you both touch on a similar point regarding communication and future plans. Recent history tells us that if you're the owner of Sheffield United, you'd be wise not to talk to much about grand plans, especially when we're doing well. McCabe made statements in the Premier league that we planned to be in Europe within 5 years... and god ridiculed for it as we sunk down through the years. Even making statements that we're paying the highest wages in League one were challenged with comments like "why aren't we doing better then". So I think sometimes communication of fluffy plans is often better left until they're a reality and we're breaking ground.

Football is not like any other normal business, there isn't steady growth from sales, its based on success on the pitch and that can differ from year to year by hundreds of Millions... The Financial accounts give a little bit of a snap shot resume of where we are, what our performance indicators are and what the short term plans are.

The thing to remember is that Sheffield United FC is privately owned and as such, they don't have to communicate the internal goals of the business in detail, yes as fans we're stakeholders, but we're treated as an external

I think the reduction in revenue from £90-100Million dropping with Parachute payments, whereas we have a huge wage bill, should suggest that we'd be sensible to start cutting back quickly.

As for bringing back Phipps, please no! There was little to no benefit to that approach

 

[bongleblade]

OP bit unfair imo

Olsen: played for Everton last season and displaced the England No. 1, he is also Sweden's national keeper who has been lauded by pundits, motm vs Spain not long ago. Every Blade i spoke to said an amazing signing at the time, the scouting dept mustve said the same, so to blame them for signing the best keeper available, and a signing many would consider a coup, is a bit rich!

Hourihane: Plenty of Championship and PL experience, Villa fans absolutely love him still, he is still a top Championship player imo. Again, great signing on paper, my one criticism to the scouting dept would be that I think he is carbon copy of Norwood (just better!), but otherwise a justified signing at our level

 

[vas borbokis]

OP bit unfair imo

Olsen: played for Everton last season and displaced the England No. 1, he is also Sweden's national keeper who has been lauded by pundits, motm vs Spain not long ago. Every Blade i spoke to said an amazing signing at the time, the scouting dept mustve said the same, so to blame them for signing the best keeper available, and a signing many would consider a coup, is a bit rich!

Hourihane: Plenty of Championship and PL experience, Villa fans absolutely love him still, he is still a top Championship player imo. Again, great signing on paper, my one criticism to the scouting dept would be that I think he is carbon copy of Norwood (just better!), but otherwise a justified signing at our level

Opinions differ clearly.
After Hourihane's completely effortless no-show on Tuesday night he isn't fit to lace Norwood's boots.
My opinion only!

 

[247Blade]

Olsen was No1 choice

Pity you can't play 2 keepers

 

[bongleblade]

Opinions differ clearly.
After Hourihane's completely effortless no-show on Tuesday night he isn't fit to lace Norwood's boots.
My opinion only!

his performance tuesday was shocking granted, but what im saying is at the beginning of the season Hourihane looked a quality signing, nothing to blame on the scouts! And I still think he’s a better Norwood despite that shocker tues

 

[SwissBlade]

Champagneblade & vas borbokis so at least one positive from today is a clarification on roles and communication lines. Yusuf Giansiracusa basically saying that there are now two persons that will speak on behalf of United:
Football Matters - Paul Heckingbottom
Sheffield United Business - Stephen Bettis

The directors and the Chairman won't be speaking, going forward and there is lots of focus on player development... which brings the recruitment process into focus (Paul Mitchell)

​

 

[Champagneblade]

Champagneblade & vas borbokis so at least one positive from today is a clarification on roles and communication lines. Yusuf Giansiracusa basically saying that there are now two persons that will speak on behalf of United:
Football Matters - Paul Heckingbottom
Sheffield United Business - Stephen Bettis

The directors and the Chairman won't be speaking, going forward and there is lots of focus on player development... which brings the recruitment process into focus (Paul Mitchell)

​

Also pretty much confirmed we didn't have a plan!

 

[Yogi]

Champagneblade & vas borbokis so at least one positive from today is a clarification on roles and communication lines. Yusuf Giansiracusa basically saying that there are now two persons that will speak on behalf of United:
Football Matters - Paul Heckingbottom
Sheffield United Business - Stephen Bettis

The directors and the Chairman won't be speaking, going forward and there is lots of focus on player development... which brings the recruitment process into focus (Paul Mitchell)

​

Confirmed the club will be built or rather rebuilt now in hecky, Lester and Mitchell’s image let’s see how it goes it’ll be interesting

 

[SwissBlade]

Also pretty much confirmed we didn't have a plan!

Yeah that was a shocking admission from any business leader, but something so public it’s just shambolic

 

[247Blade]

Also pretty much confirmed we didn't have a plan!

Baldrick has a cunning plan

 

[robbiez666]

Champagneblade & vas borbokis so at least one positive from today is a clarification on roles and communication lines. Yusuf Giansiracusa basically saying that there are now two persons that will speak on behalf of United:
Football Matters - Paul Heckingbottom
Sheffield United Business - Stephen Bettis

The directors and the Chairman won't be speaking, going forward and there is lots of focus on player development... which brings the recruitment process into focus (Paul Mitchell)

​

One of the big plusses, for me. I don't think Slav had much guidance or say in who we brought in. Doesn't really work that kind of relationship for me unless you've got mega money and a huge agent on your side.

Said it several times but I'd much rather we brought in permanent players with potential in summer, but we didn't really bring in enough of the right players for what the club wanted to do then. Hopefully, going forward, there will be promotion from the U-23s, youth players being brought into the development squad and the odd young player signed for small fees or brought in on frees.

That strongly depends on the club improving our facilities and the Academy. Without that it doesn't really work.