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Itranspired Ruben Amorim could survive defeat by lower-league opposition. He weathered a decisive continental showpiece versus one of the worst Spurs sides in living memory. He withstood losing at home to domestic rivals, a lowly league position, an unwavering system, undermining some of the club’s most promising homegrown talent, a poor winning percentage, calling his team the worst the club has ever seen. But there was one adversary with whom Ruben Amorim was not permitted to dance. You come at the sporting director, and you best not miss.

Unfortunately, similar to numerous Premiership right-back in Blackburn’s title-winning campaign, the coach took on Jason Wilcox and appears to have missed. The most casual observer can see the irony here: a coach who often railed at his players for losing one-on-one duels crumbling in the face of the white heat and animal charisma of one of England's top division's most feared football executives.

In truth, this entire bruising episode seems to paint the director in a whole new light. Perhaps it might have been easy, given his brief stint of experience with the Saints, to view Jason Wilcox as little more than a functionary within the club's structure: a man who owed his position as much to his close relationship with ex-colleague Omar Berrada rather than any demonstrable skill. How mistaken we all were. In brilliantly outmanoeuvring United’s feted manager, just as he bested the unfortunate Dan Ashworth earlier, he has demonstrated as one of the sport’s strategic masterminds: a strategic mind that the club's mid-table rivals are now rightly wary.

The Tactical Conflict Regarding System & Ideology

To illustrate, it was the director , after having been part of the hierarchy that appointed the rigid 3-4-3 advocate the coach in the first place, was instrumental in attempting to convince him to ditch his favored 3-4-3. Unsurprisingly, these entreaties met a certain resistance. However, such directives carry more weight when delivered from the mouth with the impeccable soccer background of Jason Wilcox, holder of three England caps and a contributor to a title-winning side from 31 years ago.

Perhaps in time Jason Wilcox may be persuaded to outline his reasoning publicly. Maybe one day questions may arise regarding why the coach is departing with full compensation, without any penalty clause in place. The director speaks rarely publicly, for excellent reasons. The real thinkers of this sport – individuals such as Jason Wilcox – simply operate at a level beyond our own mundane comprehension. Were he to speak, probably we would perceive would be high-frequency signals and complex calculations. Desiring an explanation is not the same as being prepared to receive.

An Supreme Authority Behind the Throne

But of course, in training our focus on Jason Wilcox we overlook the true genius behind the modern United throne. The director is, after all, merely executing the commands of his line manager the billionaire owner, who in private has made very clear his desire for a four-man defense. According to reports, Ratcliffe has also proposed deploying the forward in a wing-back role. Ratcliffe is keen for the club to adopt data science and metrics. According to ESPN, in an executive meeting early in his investment, he declared that the team's approach of play “shall be decided in this room”.

After all, Sir Jim is an expert in this technical footballing stuff, drawing from his previous experience in industry and sailing. Most importantly he remains immensely wealthy, and it is known, the wealthy are the best of us: more insightful, sagacious, strategically brilliant, simply superior. Who else could one trust to oversee a strategic plan of cost-cutting, the building of a new stadium that looks similar to someone’s leftover knitting, the acquisition of Benjamin Sesko?

A New Soccer Order: Executives Above Managers

This is a trend we are increasingly seeing at the elite levels of the game. For decades, teams mistakenly entrusted big footballing decisions to subordinate staff such as coaches, talent spotters – even footballers. Perhaps it was once possible for an up-and-coming, visionary coach with a philosophy and energy to join an organization and see their vision supported to fruition. Yet how many businesses have these guys established? How many large-scale layoffs have they overseen? Better by far to place genuine authority where it rightly belongs: the leadership tier, the open-necked shirt brigade, the individuals with the jaw-dropping professional resumes. Better by far to determine the tactics in the boardroom and hire a coach who will adapt their methods accordingly. If managers were formerly chefs, they are now more akin to delivery personnel: not creating the food, but still finally accountable should it be delivered cold or fails of the box.

Nowadays, their job has become less about defining the vision and more about marketing it: the receptionist of the operation, the public face of an organisation they have minimal power to influence. A coach at Chelsea takes a squad of literal children into the Champions League and wins domestic cups, and essentially gets sacked for talking. Wilfried Nancy sees his reputation ruined whereas those individuals who appointed him live to blunder indefinitely.

The Neoliberal Football: Accountability for the Few

And perhaps on some microcosmic level this is simply corporate governance at work: the elevation of a gilded overclass who can never be wrong, whose decisions remain untouchable, whose errors can always be resolved by sacking without justification. Appoint the system coach and then dismiss him for using too much that system. Bring in the process guy and then discard them for requiring excessive time. And most importantly show gratitude; for your modest increases in ticket costs, for your new player acquisitions, for the reality that the adults – however well qualified – remain in control.