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Iturns out he could survive defeat by lower-league opposition. He weathered losing a crucial continental showpiece against one of the worst Spurs sides for many years. He could survive home defeats against West Ham and Wolves, a lowly league position, an unwavering system, undermining the team's most promising academy products, a poor winning percentage, calling the squad the worst in Manchester United history. Yet, there existed a single opponent against whom the Portuguese coach would not be allowed to tango. You come at Jason Wilcox, and you best not miss.

Regrettably, similar to numerous Premiership right-back in Blackburn’s title-winning 1994-95 season, Amorim took on Jason Wilcox and seems to have failed. Even the most casual observer will notice the irony here: a manager who often railed his squad for failing in individual battles succumbing in the face of the intense pressure and formidable presence of a the Premier League’s most feared sporting directors.

In truth, this entire bruising episode seems to paint the director in a different perspective. It may have been easy, based on his brief stint of experience with the Saints, to view Jason Wilcox as merely a drudge in the United exoskeleton: a man who owed his position as much to his close relationship with his former boss a fellow executive rather than any verifiable talent. How mistaken everyone was. In brilliantly outmanoeuvring United’s feted manager, just as he bested the hapless Dan Ashworth earlier, he has proved himself to be among the sport’s true generals: a tactical intellect of which the club's mid-table rivals are now justifiably concerned.

The Tactical Conflict Regarding Formation & Ideology

For example, this was Jason Wilcox who being involved in the hierarchy that appointed the rigid 3-4-3 advocate Amorim originally, played a key role in trying to persuade him to ditch his favored 3-4-3. Unsurprisingly, these entreaties were resisted. However, these judgements hold greater authority when issued by a man of a man the impeccable soccer background he possesses, a veteran of three England caps and a role in a championship team from 31 years ago.

Maybe eventually Jason Wilcox may be persuaded to explain his reasoning to the rest of us. Maybe one day questions may arise why Amorim is walking away with full compensation, with no penalty clause activated. The director seldom speaks in public, and with very good reason. The real thinkers in football – men like Jason Wilcox – simply operate at a level exceeding our prosaic understanding. If he ever did speak, most likely we would perceive would be ultrasonic blips and four-dimensional whirring. Desiring an explanation is not quite equivalent to being prepared to comprehend it.

The Ultimate Authority In the Throne

But of course, by focusing our attention on Jason Wilcox we overlook the real power behind the club's current leadership. The director is, in reality, simply carrying out the directives of his ultimate line manager Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who privately has emphasized his preference for a back four. It is reported, Ratcliffe has also suggested deploying the forward as a right wing-back. Ratcliffe is keen for the club to adopt data science and analytics. Per reports, during a leadership summit early in his minority ownership, he declared that the team's approach to football “shall be decided by this group”.

Ultimately, Ratcliffe is an expert in these intricate football matters, drawing from his background in petrochemicals and yachting. Above all he is incredibly rich, and it is known, the wealthy are the best of us: more perceptive, more wise, strategically brilliant, fundamentally better. Who else would you trust to manage an enlightened programme of cost-cutting, the building of a modern arena that looks similar to someone’s leftover knitting, the acquisition of a new striker?

The Modern Soccer Order: Directors Over Coaches

This is a trend we are increasingly seeing in top-tier of the game. For decades, teams mistakenly entrusted big footballing decisions to subordinate staff such as coaches, talent spotters – even footballers. Maybe previously possible for an up-and-coming, innovative manager with ideas and energy to go into a club and implement their plan supported to fruition. But how many businesses have these guys established? What number of large-scale layoffs have they managed? Far preferable to place genuine authority where it rightly belongs: the executive class, the open-necked shirt brigade, the individuals with impressive LinkedIn profiles. It is wiser to decide the strategy by the directors and hire someone who will adapt their offering accordingly. If coaches were once chefs, they have become more akin to delivery personnel: not really responsible for the food, yet finally accountable should it be delivered cold or fails to meet standards.

Nowadays, a coach's role is increasingly not about defining the vision and more about marketing it: the front-facing representative of the operation, the visible figurehead for a club they can do little to influence. A coach at Chelsea takes a squad of literal children into Europe and wins domestic cups, and effectively gets sacked for talking. Wilfried Nancy sees his reputation ruined while the people who hired him live to blunder another day.

The Modern Corporate Football: Accountability for the Coaches

And possibly on some microcosmic level this is simply neoliberalism at work: the rise of a privileged elite who can never be wrong, whose choices remain untouchable, whose mistakes can invariably be sacked away without explanation. Hire the system coach only to dismiss them for playing excessively that system. Hire the process guy and later bin them for taking excessive time. And most importantly be grateful; for your modest season ticket price rises, for your new summer signings, for the fact that the grownups – regardless of their expertise – are in charge.