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Iturns out the manager endured a loss to Grimsby. He weathered losing a crucial European final versus one of the worst Tottenham teams for many years. He withstood losing at home against domestic rivals, a lowly league position, an unwavering system, undermining the team's most promising academy products, the 32% win rate, calling the squad the worst the club has ever seen. But there was one adversary with whom the Portuguese coach would not be allowed to tango. You come at Jason Wilcox, you had better succeed.

Unfortunately, like many a Premiership defender in Blackburn’s title-winning campaign, the coach came at the executive and seems to have failed. The most casual observer can see the irony here: a manager who often railed at his players for failing in individual battles crumbling in the face of the intense pressure and formidable presence of one of England's top division's most feared football executives.

And frankly, this whole bruising episode seems to paint Jason Wilcox in a whole new light. Perhaps it might have been easy, given his brief stint of experience with the Saints, to regard Jason Wilcox as merely a drudge in the United exoskeleton: an individual who owed his position largely to his close relationship with his former boss Omar Berrada rather than any demonstrable skill. How mistaken we all were. In brilliantly outmanoeuvring the club's celebrated manager, just as he bested the hapless a previous executive earlier, he has proved himself to be among the sport’s true generals: a tactical intellect that United’s mid-table rivals are now justifiably concerned.

The Tactical Clash Over System & Philosophy

For example, this was the director who being involved in the leadership that hired the 3-4-3 fundamentalist Amorim originally, was instrumental in trying to persuade him to abandon his beloved 3-4-3. Unsurprisingly, these pleas were resisted. But perhaps such directives hold greater authority when delivered by a man of a man the unimpeachable soccer background he possesses, holder of international appearances and a contributor to a championship team from 31 years ago.

Perhaps in time he might agree to outline his thought processes publicly. Perhaps at some point he might be asked regarding why the coach is departing with a full payout, without any penalty clause activated. The director seldom speaks publicly, for excellent reasons. The true intellectuals in football – men like him – simply operate on a plane exceeding our mundane comprehension. If he ever did speak, probably we would perceive is a series of high-frequency signals and complex calculations. Desiring an explanation is not quite the same as being prepared to receive.

An Supreme Authority In Command

But of course, in training our focus on Jason Wilcox we are obscuring the real power behind the club's current leadership. Jason Wilcox is, after all, merely executing the commands of his superior the billionaire owner, who in private has emphasized his desire for a back four. It is reported, Ratcliffe has also suggested playing Bryan Mbeumo in a wing-back role. Ratcliffe is keen for the club to adopt analytics and metrics. Per reports, in an executive meeting soon after his investment, he declared that the team's approach of play “will be decided in this room”.

After all, Ratcliffe is an expert in these intricate footballing stuff, drawing from his background in petrochemicals and sailing. Above all he is incredibly rich, and as we all know, the wealthy are the best of us: more perceptive, more wise, strategically brilliant, simply better. Who else would you trust to oversee an enlightened programme of austerity, the construction of a new stadium that looks a lot like an abstract design, the acquisition of a new striker?

A New Football Hierarchy: Directors Above Coaches

This represents a shift that is becoming prevalent in top-tier football. For decades, clubs foolishly entrusted major sporting choices to subordinate staff such as coaches, scouts – players themselves. Maybe previously feasible for a young, innovative manager with ideas and energy to go into a club and see their vision supported to fruition. But how many companies have such individuals established? What number of mass redundancies have they overseen? Better by far to place genuine authority where it rightly belongs: the leadership tier, the casually dressed executives, the individuals with impressive professional resumes. It is wiser to determine the tactics by the directors and appoint someone who will adapt their offering to suit. If managers were once chefs, they have become more akin to Deliveroo drivers: not responsible for the product, yet finally accountable should it be delivered cold or leaks out to meet standards.

Nowadays, their job is increasingly less about crafting the philosophy and more about selling it: the receptionist on the front desk, the visible figurehead for a club they have minimal power to change. Enzo Maresca leads a team of very young players into Europe and secures two medium-sized trophies, and effectively is dismissed for talking. A manager at Celtic finds his standing damaged while the people who hired him live to blunder indefinitely.

The Neoliberal Football: Accountability Only for the Few

And possibly in a small way this is simply neoliberalism in action: the elevation of a gilded overclass who are infallible, whose choices remain untouchable, whose mistakes can invariably be sacked away without justification. Appoint the system coach only to fire him for playing excessively 3-4-3. Hire the process guy and later discard them for taking excessive time. And above all be grateful; for your modest increases in ticket costs, for your new summer signings, for the reality that the adults – however well qualified – remain in control.