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Turns out Ruben Amorim could survive losing against Grimsby. Survive an important continental showpiece versus one of the worst Spurs sides for many years. He withstood home defeats against domestic rivals, finishing 15th, the tactical inflexibility, undermining some of the club’s most promising homegrown talent, a poor winning percentage, calling the squad the poorest the club has ever seen. Yet, there existed one adversary with whom Ruben Amorim would not be allowed to engage. If you challenge Jason Wilcox, you had better succeed.

Regrettably, like many a Premiership defender during Blackburn Rovers' title-winning 1994-95 season, Amorim took on Jason Wilcox and seems to have failed. Even the most distracted of readers can see the irony here: a manager who frequently berated at his players for losing one-on-one duels succumbing in the face of the white heat and formidable presence of one of the Premier League’s most intimidating football executives.

And frankly, this entire bruising episode seems to paint the director in a whole new light. It may have been easy, given his nine months in a similar role with the Saints, to view him as little more than a functionary within the club's structure: an individual whose appointment was due largely to his close relationship with his former boss Omar Berrada as any demonstrable skill. How wrong we all were. In brilliantly outmanoeuvring the club's celebrated manager, as he outmanoeuvred the unfortunate Dan Ashworth earlier, he has demonstrated to be among football's true generals: a tactical intellect of which United’s mid-table rivals will now be justifiably concerned.

A Strategic Clash Over System & Philosophy

For example, this was the director who having been part of the leadership that appointed the 3-4-3 fundamentalist the coach originally, was instrumental in trying to persuade him to abandon his favored 3-4-3. Unsurprisingly, these entreaties met a certain resistance. But perhaps these judgements carry more weight when issued by a man of a man the impeccable football pedigree he possesses, a veteran of international appearances and a contributor to a title-winning side from 31 years ago.

Maybe eventually Jason Wilcox may be persuaded to explain his reasoning publicly. Maybe one day he might be asked why Amorim is departing with full compensation, with no compensation reduction clause activated. The director seldom speaks publicly, and with very good reason. The real thinkers in football – men like Jason Wilcox – function on a plane beyond our own prosaic understanding. If he ever did speak, most likely we would perceive is a series of high-frequency signals and complex calculations. Desiring an explanation is not the same as being ready to receive.

The Supreme Power In the Throne

Naturally, by focusing our attention on Jason Wilcox we overlook the true genius behind the modern United throne. Jason Wilcox is, after all, merely executing the commands of his superior the billionaire owner, who privately has made very clear his preference for a back four. It is reported, the owner has also suggested playing Bryan Mbeumo as a right wing-back. Ratcliffe is keen for the club to adopt data science and metrics. Per reports, during a leadership summit early in his minority ownership, he declared that United’s style to football “will be decided by this group”.

After all, Sir Jim is a specialist in these intricate footballing stuff, leveraging his background in petrochemicals and sailing. Most importantly he is immensely wealthy, and it is known, the rich are superior: more perceptive, sagacious, more tactically astute, simply superior. Whom else would you trust to manage a strategic plan of cost-cutting, the building of a new stadium that appears a lot like someone’s leftover knitting, the acquisition of Benjamin Sesko?

A New Soccer Order: Executives Over Coaches

This is a trend that is becoming prevalent at the elite levels football. For decades, clubs foolishly entrusted major sporting choices to subordinate staff such as coaches, scouts – players themselves. Perhaps it was once possible for a young, innovative manager with ideas and energy to join an organization and see their vision supported to fruition. Yet how many companies have these guys established? What number of large-scale layoffs have they overseen? Better by far to place the real power where it belongs: the executive class, the open-necked shirt brigade, the individuals with impressive LinkedIn profiles. Better by far to determine the tactics in the boardroom and appoint someone who can tailor their offering accordingly. If managers were formerly chefs, they have become more akin to delivery personnel: not responsible for the product, but still finally accountable should it be delivered cold or fails to meet standards.

In the meantime, their job has become less about crafting the philosophy and more about selling it: the front-facing representative on the front desk, the visible figurehead for a club they can do little to change. Enzo Maresca takes a squad of literal children into Europe and secures domestic cups, and essentially gets sacked for speaking out. Wilfried Nancy finds his standing damaged while those individuals who appointed him continue to make errors indefinitely.

The Modern Corporate Football: Responsibility for the Few

And possibly in a small way this is simply neoliberalism at work: the rise of a gilded elite who can never be wrong, whose decisions are always untouchable, whose mistakes can always be resolved by sacking without explanation. Appoint the system coach and then fire him for using excessively that system. Bring in the process guy and later bin them for taking excessive time. And most importantly show gratitude; for your modest season ticket price rises, for your new summer signings, for the reality that the adults – regardless of their expertise – are in charge.