You are the board

[Zero dark thirty]

Right. Let's play a hypothetical game called... You are the board!

You are seriously considering parting ways with Chris Wilder, but before you do that, you want to define the characteristics of the ideal replacement so that you can feed that into some new-fangled AI/data system to identify potential candidates.

What attributes should any new manager possess?

If we can come up with a (vaguely) consensual person spec, perhaps some boffin on here can run it through such a system to tell us who the candidates might be. And then the Rumour Mill can run amok.

Here's a starter for ten: the candidate should have a track record of playing progressive, pacey, attacking football.

If the thread doesn't get out of control (fat chance!), I'll have a go at summarising the attributes.

NB I'm probably pissing in the wind, but remember it's hypothetical, so please leave debate on whether Wilder should stay/go to other threads.

You got Internet in Uganda.

 

[Nick Jansky]

You got Internet in Uganda.

Ignorance or alcohol? Sounds like one or the other.

 

[Uganda Blade]

Thanks to Uganda surprisingly having Internet, here's where I think we've got to in terms of criteria:

• track record of progressive, pacey, attacking football
• is willing to manage/coach in the Championship
• qualifies for a work permit
• track record of high player fitness levels (while noting responsibility of fitnes/conditioning staff)
• worked under a head coach who has won a trophy/qualified for Europe in one of the top leagues and has done so before the age of 35
• prepared to work under a DoF
• Possesses humility
• Tactically astute.

Any more?

 

[Nick Jansky]

Thanks to Uganda surprisingly having Internet, here's where I think we've got to in terms of criteria:

• track record of progressive, pacey, attacking football
• is willing to manage/coach in the Championship
• qualifies for a work permit
• track record of high player fitness levels (while noting responsibility of fitnes/conditioning staff)
• worked under a head coach who has won a trophy/qualified for Europe in one of the top leagues and has done so before the age of 35
• prepared to work under a DoF
• Possesses humility
• Tactically astute.

Any more?

I’m not so bothered about humility. I would suggest that emotional intelligence and self awareness are more important.

 

[itsinyerblood]

I’m not so bothered about humility. I would suggest that emotional intelligence and self awareness are more important.

Nicely observed Nick, but I'd add that with emotional intelligence and self-awareness would also allow humility to develop, not the heepish variety but that quality that allows you to remember what's genuinely important and that the world consists of more than just yourself.

 

[Matlock Blade]

If I owned the club I would want the club to be successful. That means having a manager who is good at spending millions of pounds on very good players to get us up to the premier league and stay there. I wouldn't want to stick with a manager who had wasted £10 million of my money on a good striker who doesn't fit the manager's 1 striker formation.

Although I would also consider whether to stick with a manager who got 92 points which would normally win automatic promotion. I would be considering how likely it is the manager would be able to do it again, considering most of the wins were lucky wins by just one goal, hence the vastly inferior goal difference between us and the top 2.

Difficult decision, I suppose it depends if I can get a better manager who can utilise our current squad with a few additions.

 

[tyneblade]

Can I add fashion sense? Inter might have lost last night but their supporters could console themselves in the knowledge that Inzaghi and his management team were very well turned out.

You just know were are going to bottle the Champions League, or indeed any other, final when we get there. We need a crumb of comfort.

 

[Zero dark thirty]

Ignorance or alcohol? Sounds like one or the other.

Sorry bad joke

Apologies Uganda blade

 

[Uganda Blade]

Sorry bad joke

Apologies Uganda blade

Thanks. No problem.

 

[ml1997]

I would back Wilder as a man manager, coach and cheap player spotter. He and his team obviously have an eye for bargains, I’d let him have 2 or 3 of those to fill the squad. However, although his opinion would be considered any transfer above ~£3m would be led by the scouting team and analysts. I’d target youngsters for most transfers but would be flexible and in positions and circumstances that require experience I’d allow that. I’d also outline a percent of the transfer budget each year for Cáceres and Nwachukwu esque players. Low risk, high reward.

The contract situation at the club is good with regard to young players but I’d propose long term deals to important players that have 2 or less years left. This would be Anel, Hamer, Souza and Campbell. If they don’t want to sign them without big wage increases, get rid of them. We can’t fall victim again to losing players for less than market value as a result of only having a year left.

With regards to style of play, throughout the whole club I’d promote positive, flexible football. Attacking full backs who are calm on the ball. Midfielders who are physical and defensively solid. Wingers who work hard and take brave decisions. Clinical forwards with pace. Attacking midfilders who let the game flow. These are the players we should produce and target.

Also, I’d embrace being a selling club. Our fanbase are terrified of selling players. When there was some silly rumours of Oné leaving some fans were asking for £10m. I’d accept anything over £5m with a decent sell on clause. £10m with a decent sell on would be enough for Peck.

Long term, I’d look to be consistently finishing 15th in the prem within 5 years and and challenging for Europe within 10, which is completely manageable (though not assured).

 

[Old Programme seller]

Perhaps with AI player scouting we may be in with more luck when selecting transfer targets as apposed to the no luck when we’ve spent good money

 

[Tony_Kaufman]

I would back Wilder as a man manager, coach and cheap player spotter. He and his team obviously have an eye for bargains, I’d let him have 2 or 3 of those to fill the squad. However, although his opinion would be considered any transfer above ~£3m would be led by the scouting team and analysts. I’d target youngsters for most transfers but would be flexible and in positions and circumstances that require experience I’d allow that. I’d also outline a percent of the transfer budget each year for Cáceres and Nwachukwu esque players. Low risk, high reward.

The contract situation at the club is good with regard to young players but I’d propose long term deals to important players that have 2 or less years left. This would be Anel, Hamer, Souza and Campbell. If they don’t want to sign them without big wage increases, get rid of them. We can’t fall victim again to losing players for less than market value as a result of only having a year left.

With regards to style of play, throughout the whole club I’d promote positive, flexible football. Attacking full backs who are calm on the ball. Midfielders who are physical and defensively solid. Wingers who work hard and take brave decisions. Clinical forwards with pace. Attacking midfilders who let the game flow. These are the players we should produce and target.

Also, I’d embrace being a selling club. Our fanbase are terrified of selling players. When there was some silly rumours of Oné leaving some fans were asking for £10m. I’d accept anything over £5m with a decent sell on clause. £10m with a decent sell on would be enough for Peck.

Long term, I’d look to be consistently finishing 15th in the prem within 5 years and and challenging for Europe within 10, which is completely manageable (though not assured).

I agree with you about not being scared of being a selling club. It's the way modern recruitment is going. Look at how well Coventry did with Hamer and Gyokeres. Or Brentford with Toney and Watkins.

In our second season in the Premier League under Wilder we signed too many back up players instead of replacing first team players and forcing them to the bench. Part of that is because we lacked the funds to adequately do that, though arguably these were wasted on Brewster. We didn't have a player to sell who could help bankroll our summer.

We did this well last summer with the sales of Trusty and Osula, which surprised everyone with the fees we received for them.

If we buy a player for £5mil and sell them a season or two later for £15-20mil, what's the problem. We can replace them and still have money left over to go towards other signings.

 

[ml1997]

I agree with you about not being scared of being a selling club. It's the way modern recruitment is going. Look at how well Coventry did with Hamer and Gyokeres. Or Brentford with Toney and Watkins.

In our second season in the Premier League under Wilder we signed too many back up players instead of replacing first team players and forcing them to the bench. Part of that is because we lacked the funds to adequately do that, though arguably these were wasted on Brewster. We didn't have a player to sell who could help bankroll our summer.

We did this well last summer with the sales of Trusty and Osula, which surprised everyone with the fees we received for them.

If we buy a player for £5mil and sell them a season or two later for £15-20mil, what's the problem. We can replace them and still have money left over to go towards other signings.

Exactly, it’s one of the things our fanbase is so bad at. Some are incredibly archaic with regards to fees and how clubs need to be run, especially with how unsustainable football is.

 

[Sportbilly /Detroit Blade]

Can I add fashion sense? Inter might have lost last night but their supporters could console themselves in the knowledge that Inzaghi and his management team were very well turned out.

You just know were are going to bottle the Champions League, or indeed any other, final when we get there. We need a crumb of comfort.

I think this is what you mean?

 

[Tony_Kaufman]

I think this is what you mean?View attachment 212380

 

[Tom Bott]

Yep, that’s a great reason to completely dismiss any use of AI for the rest of time.

I asked Chat LGBTQ if Hamer would be fit for the game against Leeds at the lane, just for giggles.

It said there was no game forthcoming against Leeds United and referred back to the game at Elland road, this was the week before the game with 30,000 tickets sold.

AI responses may include mistakes.

As it now says on every Google search.

 

[Nick Jansky]

I asked Chat LGBTQ

And here is exactly your problem. Your knowledge of AI seems to extend no further than ChatGPT. It pretty well discredits anything you might have to say about it.

 

[Danetheblade]

And here is exactly your problem. Your knowledge of AI seems to extend no further than ChatGPT. It pretty well discredits anything you might have to say about it.

This. Tom Bott , try and find the thread on here that were posted over the weekend. That report has been done on Gemini. Which isn’t even tailored to football or sports.

 

[Alex Cheeseright]

If I'm the Board then I'm only bringing in players that can progress to the next level i.e. The Prem. I'm not sanctioning money for players just to get us out if the Championship and for them to be bench warmers or let go the following season. Is this realistic, probably not, but then I'm The Board and it's my money.
Maybe I'll bring in some experience players for the younger lads. Maybe!! I haven't decided yet. This Board thing is going to my head!!

 

[jt64]

If I owned the club I would want the club to be successful. That means having a manager who is good at spending millions of pounds on very good players to get us up to the premier league and stay there.

I'm genuinely curious as to which clubs you think are successful which are still holding on to the outdated model of the "manager" having massive involvement in player recruitment. Or do you not think that player coaching and game planning is more than a full time job on its own, and the "manager" has time to do a bunch of player scouting and contract/transfer negotiations as well?

 

[Uganda Blade]

I know it's not going to find us a new manager, but there's some serious research going into football data: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/jun/03/soccer-analytics-jesse-davis-leuven

 

[Gin&Juice]

Build the Chansiri statue.