Everton target Hitchen as DoF following departure from Spurs

Anyone have opinions about Steve Hitchen from Spurs?

He's leaving and looking our way.

I'm still not sure what a Director of Football is. Do they mean head scout? I think they should just give me the money.

Oh okay, I should have been over here.

So again I ask, anyone have an opinion? Ndmombele and Lo Celso for the downside and Moura and Højbjerg on the upside.

Dale, I don't believe that a modern Premier League club can manage without a DoF or equivalent to share the massive load that a manager or head coach otherwise has. The fool Benitez thought he was the latest incarnation of Alex Ferguson but that role is gone now.

Hopefully Steve Hitchen will be considered and, if he fits in the pictured structure, joins us.

So he's Itchen for a new job already? :-)

Nah, Derek – he's bitchin' in the kitchen!

Good take, Martin. With Frank's inexperience and our squad, he has plenty to focus on. Hopefully, after getting a couple he specifically wanted, he can kick on and form a partnership with whoever the DoF turns out to be.

I might have missed something (highly likely) but what is Tim Cahill doing with or for Everton? Does he have a role?

There's no way a guy principled enough to give up a contract at a top club because his job's been diminished will ever fit in with the culture in Everton.

Nick #8, it's not officially defined yet. Tim was a part of the final interview team for our manager, along with Moshiri, Barrett-Baxendale, Sharp and Ingles (Kenwright was not there). Moshiri said Tim's advice was of tremendous value.

I hope he'll be named to the Board, or at least join the executive team as a development consultant of some kind. I do not expect him to take a full-time position like DoF, given his business, academy and board commitments in other places.

DK, he's just going to be Hitchen a ride with Everton!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4pArjPVA-8

Mike,

I prefer this version.

Green Day - Hitchin' A Ride (Video)

I still want Monchi.

Listening to a lot of Spurs in a national paper, they are reacting to him, Hitchen, like a lot of Everton fans reacted to Walsh and his time as Everton's DoF. Quite a few are saying he's jumped before he was pushed.

What about that Edwards fella from Mordor? He’s found loads of gems and offloaded lots of fringe players for a ton of dough.

Neil, I like that one too... big Billie Joe fan here. But I needed to post a link that I knew Derek would have heard of!

Dave Abrahams @14

If this goes to form Moshiri will have him installed and on a massive salary + huge payoff clause if sacked.

I'm personally at best neutral about the Dele Alli signing, If this mental malaise he's been in for a while turns out to be not temporary this will be a disaster of a signing considering our financial position.

I've no faith in Moshiri, If he brings in another crap DoF.

Colin (13) Yes! Monchi or Campos.

Tom (17),

Re Alli, he is a very rich man after Spurs gave him a fabulous 6-year contract at a young age... could be a case of too much too soon, I hope not!!

Mike @ 16,

Oi, Oi, my record collection, and memory too, has moved on a bit from Flanagan and Allan. I have Max Bygraves, Des Oconnor, (not) in addition to Pink Floyd, Supertramp, Moody Blues, Queen etc. 😜🤣

Tom,

Actually the Alli deal was quite a brilliant piece of creative accounting.

It won't start showing up until next season; then only £10M over 4 years.

Most regulars here know that I'm a total advocate of the DoF model with the caveat if it is implemented correctly and empowered.

I don't know anything about this individual and I've not done any research, so this is firing from the hip a bit admittedly.

My instinctive first thought is that, having worked for Levy, is he a perfect fit for the manner in which Brands had to operate with one-and-a-half hands tied behind his back, while the Chairman, manager and even owner all went out shopping at different Supermarkets?

So, DoF in name and title only?

I'm not really sure where we are up to with assistants:

Lampard is the main man,
Clement as first-team coach,
Cole defensive coach(?),
Ferguson asked to hang around...

So what exactly is Edwards's job as assistant manager?

Or is it part of Tim Cahill's remit to run the scouting department? Or do they all crowd into the team bus when somebody promising is noted? Perhaps we just need somebody with a video camera and Mr Unsworth sourcing juniors.

Ask Frank, uncle Harry will now on the QT if he's any good. With Conte now seemingly calling the shots on transfers at Spurs he's seemingly not required but is that all the DoF does?

Has he unearthed any gems or signed anyone really good for Spurs, I can't see any unless he signed Son?

Could just be Lichen looking for a money tree to grow on.

I agree Alan 23, 'Too many cooks spoil the broth' is an old adage.

I can see where a manager can't do it all nowadays, what with the media side of it and negotiating contacts etc, but all these positions created seems overkill to me.

Young players are over-coached if you ask me.

John Keating @ 21

"Actually the Alli deal was quite a brilliant piece of creative accounting. It won't start showing up until next season; then only £10M over 4 years."

Final fee £10M?

Absolutely every article I've seen is quoting £30-40M, for us to only pay £10m he'd have to play as often as Gbamin.

Dele Alli: Everton sign Spurs midfielder permanently in a deal that could cost £40M

What we know about the Dele Alli transfer fee Everton will pay Tottenham

If the “strategic review” recommends just plonking a new DoF into the existing structure, it will solve nothing. Reporting to the same clowns and with the same interference will just repeat the cycle of ineptitude we've seen over the past 6 years.

There is not much wiggle room or money to spend at Everton. What has been and would be the remit of a DoF job at Everton?

Derek, I have seen your record collection and Flanagan and Allen are in the cool section that is for the benefit of visitors!

Mike G, I guess you have never heard of Andy Stewart or the White Heather Club?

Tom #27.

No, we could spread the cost, balance sheet-wise, across the 4 years, but it's not as simple as £10M per year, it's based on when, or if, the appearances are made.

I would also argue that we would still need to accrue this year though, based on the number of pro-rata appearances Dele makes. I'm not privy to the machinations of the deal though, so I may stand corrected.

What you will notice in the media is that we have bought Dele for £40M, but United bought Lukaku for £75M – when in reality an initial fee of £0M for Dele and £75M for Lukaku, or £40M for Dele and £92M for Lukaku are comparing apples with apples.

I suppose that, if we play Alli in the remaining league matches this season and decide that he's not the player we need moving forward, we could sell him on this summer and never have to pay even the first £10m, unless there's some other clause in the deal that we haven't heard about yet.

Most of those players that he did sign are either leaving in the summer, or left on Monday.

Appoint Tim the DOF.

Go get Louis Campos. He is available.

In an interview situation Moshiri and probably Kenwright have only got one question for any potential DoF and that is:

"Will you keep quiet when I interfere by bringing in players and managers of my own choice?"

Decent article on Hitchen here

Steve Hitchen's heartfelt email to Tottenham staff after exit and his difficult decision

One of the key points:

“His role was to try to provide the managers with the players that they wanted, while also negotiating deals for the scouting department's top targets and all of them then had to get the green light from both the manager and finally Levy.”

I think we all understand that despite this being a “Free Transfer” Alli will have received a signing on fee plus his wages at Spurs were just over £5M a year and he will continue to receive at least the same here.

Hopefully he will justify the signing on fee and the wages. If he does and we stay up, then he will be worth the money we have started to pay for him, including the first £10M at the start of next season.

I believe he's fairly decent with the financial elements of the club. An article on his approach at Spurs summersied

“Spurs have had a business model rather than a trophy-winning model.”

My guess is he'd come in to improve our financial model and stop us leaking money at every angle. Spurs have actually done that really well, minus a few high cost signings that haven't worked out. No worse than some of the others in the league and significantly better handled than ours.

From other rumours, it seems Tim Cahill has been supporting the club on a consultancy basis, so maybe it's Hitchen to steady the book and Timmy will rebuild the talent-scouting network.

Derek #20, I am a bit disappointed there is no mention of Val Doonican

Sounds like Hitchen may have been Stitchin' Spurs up then!

Peter # 36, that's a helpful comment. I think we (myself included) often lose sight of what a DoF actually does (or can do).

Hitchen seems to perform a fairly limited role – which he might well be very good at – being to secure deals with players the manager and scouts have identified.

I'd personally like a bigger role, like that performed by Rangnick at the clubs he has transformed. But I guess there aren't many Rangnicks out there.

But, more than anything, we just need a bit of stability for a bit. So, if Hitchen can do his job, and support Lampard in doing his job, then that makes sense.

Neil #41,

Not a pullover fan.

Might I suggest whoever our DOF is in the future he check out the following players - all available on a free in the summer.

Boubacar Kamara age 22 - can play DM and either CB role. Stays fit ! and usually plays whole 90m. French U21 int. Marseille.

Randal Kolo Muaniage 23 CF who has scored 9 goals plus 8 assists in last 37 games. French U21 Int. FC Nantes

Noussair Mazraoui age 24 RB. Can also play DM and CM. Full Morocco Int. Ajax.

John Swift age 26. CM. 27 games for Reading this season. 8 goals 11 assists. Reading are rank this season so those stats are ridiculously good. Was on Chelsea's books but given a free transfer in 2016. Former England U21. Deffo worth a look. Can play AM too.

David #2

A director of football operations often works behind the scenes of a team. They help recruit and manage players as well as network and communicate with the other staff and coaches. They often spend as much time in the office coordinating with players as they do out on the field talking with coaches.
Like my Norwegian team, FK Bodø/Glimt, there is DoF the top dog. He is the one who run all the sporting side off a football club. Glimt does employ a first team coach, not a manager.
But it is a bit easier in Glimt, because there is a very old board decision that say the team SHALL always play 433. That means the DoF already know before he lose a player, where he can find replacement that fit at least 80% with the team and philosophy. Also the next coach. The DoF only answer to the board. In Norway the clubs are owned by the supporters, so there is no single rich owner.
But as I understand that Moshiri is very reluctant to give the DoF full control of the sporting aspect, therefor will we still in the future see chaos and stupid decisions made bye the leadership off the club. I have often said Moshiri should take a study trip to Bodø, to learn how a football club is supposed to be run. The club was 1 hour from bankruptcy in 2010, and now ten years later they have won the league two years in the row and they also sent Mouriniho home to Rome packing 1-6 in his luggage.

Repetition alert & warning but Robert has triggered my Rangnick obsession!

He is the almost perfect model of how the DoF / Sporting Director model can and should work.

He has enough coaching & management experience to be respected by his coaching staff and players, but also the strategic nous to influence the board and allow them to trust his judgement. We should have got him when linked as Moyes's replacement.

Read the Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig stories. From regional (non-league effectively) to established Bundesliga & European football in several years.

Make a cheeky move for him in the summer. He won't want to be in the dugout and I don't know what this alleged consultant role is. Man Utd is not a good fit for him. He builds clubs top to bottom over time rather than taking on established clubs of that stature.

Again, read Hoffenheim & RB Leipzig. Yes, they were heavily invested in by rich benefactors & sponsors. But they also had someone (Rangnick) who knew how to use that investment and spend wisely. And Michael will like this, but he's the last Schalke manager to win a trophy and got them to a Champion's League semi-final!!

Everton would be much more his thing, albeit from a better start point.

Spurs have just sent out on loan £100m worth of players they signed on his watch: Tanguy Ndombele, Giovani Lo Celso and Bryan Gil. Added to the reports that he will sign who the managers and Levy wanted, it all sounds a bit too familiar.

Downbeat assessment of Hitchen in the link below:

Opinion: Why Steve Hitchen is the biggest problem at Spurs

Hire who you will... and this guy doesn't sound too bad. But if Moshiri – and to an extent Bill, still keep on interfering, it will just be a re-run of the last highly rated DoF.

Still persisting with this "emperor's new clothes" bollocks I do wonder if Mosh will ever stop chucking money down the toilet?

No idea what a DOF actually does – speculation they oversee everything from recruitment to playing style so manager(s) concentrate solely on coaching to be sacked with impunity seems utter make believe. I can't think of a single club where this happens. Moreover our attempts involved 2 of the reputed best and still it turned to ploppy-plop doo-dads.

Massively overpaid scout and schmoozer seems the actual deal, proving money for old rope still exists particularly on the Everton payroll.

It might be interesting news to Everton fans that Dan Ashworth has resigned as Technical Director of Brighton Hove Albion, might be more interesting to Frank Lampard if he doesn’t already know!!

You're not wrong, Barry, but we are apparently one of the two clubs in the Premier League who don't have it. We just haven't implemented it correctly when we've tried.

Again, I'd recommend you read Rangnick's achievements at Hoffenheim and Leipzig. That's what a properly structured and implemented DoF model can do. His last 30-something-year-old first team coach at Leipzig landed the Bayern Munich gig. In the modern game, it works if you do it properly. We've failed miserably.

Seen that, Dave. I think Lampard will work brilliantly under a DoF model at Everton. And Brighton haven't faired too badly in recent seasons considering where they came from. I still remember when they didn't even have a ground. But they totally restructured and reinvented themselves.

Even though it was a shit day for me, I enjoyed talking with the Brighton fans on the train back to Euston after that debacle. Humbling and encouraging for supporters who kept the faith.

Danny @45

I know you are a strong advocate of having a DoF, and I know you were hoping that we appointed Ralf Rangnick. Well I can tell you I know quite a few Man Utd supporters and they all reckon he is worse than OGS.

As you know I am totally opposed to a DOF having the power to hire managers, buy players and dictate a pattern of play. Now I am in favour of someone coming in and he should be appointed by the manager, who would run the scouting system and make sure all the coaches not involved with the first team are playing in the same style as the first team.

Just going back to Rangnick if as seems likely Man Utd appoint a first-team manager at the end of the season, do you really believe that Rangnick can have any input in who they choose as manager and what style they will play.

Also if you have a DOF that has full control of buying players and defining style then surely he should be the first out the door if it goes pear-shaped. But he usually isn't the blame is all heaped on the manager who might not have wanted some of the players the DOF bought and wasn't happy with the style of football the DOF wanted to play.

Brian, that last paragraph is well put. That's the challenge. Do it and go all in, but accept it will take years to see the benefit.

Or don't do it.

Everton half-baked it. We got caught in limbo. It's that age old adage of making a decision and seeing it through.

I'm not against the traditional British manager approach, but do feel we've been left behind by not restructuring the football management model at the club.

Maybe we will see that now with a younger progressive coach.

And I can be quoted as "on the fence Danny" with regards to Lampard when he succeeds just as I was "disappointed Danny" with the last appointment.

When Seamus goes up to lift the FA Cup, we'll be there.

We'll be there!!

Well, Danny, I am not sitting on the fence when it comes to Lampard, I think he comes here with a lot more experience than did Howard Kendall or David Moyes.

And for me, he has assembled a backroom staff that is as good as any in the Premier League. To have got Paul Clement and Ashley Cole is mighty impressive, and for our players to have a young manager who most can relate to, and all will have seen him and Ashley play at the highest level. So our players know their history and will know that they are learning from players who have won everything in the game bar a World Cup.

I would imagine, after the dour regime of Benitez, it must be like steeping into a whole new universe having a manager who wants to play on the front foot, who wants them to have plenty of possession. Yes, there will be bumps along the road – even the best Guardiola came to Goodison and got trounced in his early days, but his players knew his philosophy was the right one and totally believed in him.

I think Frank will have that same belief from our players that he wants to play the game the right way. I thought his interview after the game was very clever when he praised the fans for their brilliant support, but went on to say he wants his players to be brave on the ball and sometimes that can lead to mistakes, and asked the fans to be patient if everything doesn't go according to plan.

So I might end up with egg all over my face but I totally believe that we have a manager who I believe in 100%. Even though I thought Ancelotti would do a good job, and I think, with the 3rd best win rate of all of our managers, he did to a degree, but I think he was the wrong age to try and rebuild this club. Whereas Frank is the right age with all the tools to do just that.

Can't argue with that Brian. In hindsight, Ancelotti was a gamble but at the the wrong club at the wrong time with the wrong players for his skill set.

It's only one game in, but this one could work.

I say that every time, so take no notice of me! I agree though, Clement is a very astute appointment.

You highlight a great point that Lampard calls out. Patience. Let's give this one time, even when the inevitable dips happen.

And that's one for the board as much as the supporters like you and I.

The board. Let's leave that for now, but it still needs addressing.

The DOF model works well if properly implemented IMO. Manager and DOF need to communicate effectively and be singing from the same hymn sheet, something I fear did not happen at Everton in the past.

As for the Spurs DOF leaving... everyone knows Levy is a knobhead, what he wants he usually gets mostly to the detriment of past managers and not himself.

Frank will know how this shit works and hopefully work with him, if he comes.

I'm with Danny on the DoF. I don't think that either Walsh or Brands were ever allowed to do the jobs they were employed to do. The interference from above was immense and as has been endlessly discussed, we have or had no integrated plan.

I see that Marc Overmars has 'left' Ajax over the weekend and he would be ideal, as someone of the same age as Lampard similar football ethos, if they could work together and be strong enough to stand up to pressure from above they would be my dream team.

I think the job title is too grandiose for what it is.

DoF essentially translates as manager's batman in real terms – "gofer" would be more apt.

Stephen @56,

Overmars ‘left' as you put it, due to some ‘inappropriate messages' to female colleagues.
The fact that he left immediately makes you think it could be more than saying someone's hair looks nice.

We don't need anymore bad eggs in our basket in my opinion.

Re my post @ (49), Ashworth has gone to Newcastle United.

Ray, you are probably correct, and probably not the time to consider it in view of the recent events at Raith Rovers, albeit that was more serious and I suppose we also have our own situation with he who cannot be named.

Would have been nice though.

Without the baggage, Stephen, you’re right. He’d have been a good addition but only the likes of Newcastle will want him now I imagine.

Stephen and Ray, I heard that Raith Rovers (not far from my home town) will accept any Good Willie these days !

A week or so later and The Mail pick up on this story:

Everton identify former Tottenham transfer chief Steven Hitchen as their first-choice target to become their new director of football after impressing the Toffees hierarchy, Everton have placed Steve Hitchen as their lead target for director of football

Nothing new that I could see...

As it's reported he had minimal autonomy at Spurs and simply helped to supply the managers and chairman's targets, he'd probably fit in well. Looks like a direct replacement for Brands with no change in the authority of a DoF so same old hash. Conte has been scathing of Spurs wastefulness in transfers under Hitchen:

Conte criticises Spurs' transfer history after offloading four high-profile players

Have a look at what he has done and review the offences. Perhaps give him a second chance. Overmars has been a good egg up until now. Clean slate perhaps.

Mark @ 65, I tend to agree really, we all have fantasies over women and if you work with them even more so. He should have been more reserved agreed, and responsible, but he didn't rape anybody, (maybe in his mind). Is this another case of PC'ness gone too far again ?

It's taking over, and in many cases ruining peoples lives, because what would have been accepted as a joke some time ago, and generally accepted as such, is now viewed as a heinous verbal assault.

Think Overmars would be the ideal candidate, just stick some Bromide in his Tea and make him wear Blinkers-Sorted !

I won't go into the politics or speculation.

But to get a DoF from Ajax who was a fantastic footballer himself would be a coup.

And maybe he could bring Pienaar with him to coach the academy?

DK and Danny, whatever you think of "PC-ness" or "speculation", Everton Football Club cannot hire a man who was just forced out of his previous job for behavior that he himself called unacceptable, inappropriate and shameful.

Who oversaw a "culture of sexual misconduct."

Who apparently wrote things so ugly that he could be banned for life from Dutch football.

That would fly in the face of every social value that makes Everton the club it is.

It's not about PC or non-PC. It's about right and wrong.

No. Absolutely not.

Always about right and wrong Mike.

Like innocent until proven guilty. If he is guilty then I'm with you.

I was more talking about the prospect of getting an individual from a club like Ajax, renowned for building young teams and then either going onto success or make money from it.

He openly admitted his guilt, Danny. He's not a "good egg" who made a mistake, as Mark describes him at #65. His behavior was abhorrent and longstanding. We shouldn't even be talking about him as a possibility, and I assume the club are not. Hiring him would be a shameful repudiation of the club's entire community-forward philosophy and would justifiably outrage every female fan, plus more than a few of us men.

With regards to your point about a business model, getting someone from a place like Ajax or Dortmund or Nice or Lyon who is accustomed to building as you describe is pointless unless the entire organization is committed to that model. Juninho from Lyon or Zorc from Dortmund would have no more chance of success than Brands did unless the entire Everton structure, from the owner on down, was to be revamped to lay the groundwork for him to succeed.

And that ain't happening. If Everton's current executive team had any intentions of building a model like that, we'd have seen it by now.

If that's the case then case closed Mike.

On the point about business model. Absolutely. We still need change and let's not let a feel good factor result and positive manager get in the way of that.

This club of ours needs changing and rebuilding.

Danny

I know you are a strong advocate of the DOF role, and you and I disagree on this subject. I think Rangwick is the ideal reason why you cant hand all the key decisions to a man who hasnt got the ability to take on that role. I know you are a big fan of Rangwick and I think you suggested he would be good for Everton.

But its no secret the players don't rate him or his methods and has now become a figure of fun amongst the players, while I certainly don't condone any group of players mocking the manager, he has certainly caused more division than was there when OGS was manager. Also the results have been far worse under him, and they are disorganised at the back and in midfield. I know quite a few match going Utd supporters and they just want him out of the club completely and no DOF role for him.

I think the problem at Utd is that they're temporarily deploying a DoF as a manager / coach because they haven't found a better candidate.

Rangnick has found that he has a really badly assembled squad to manage / coach that, in particular, doesn't have the energy / physicality to play his style of football.

In short they're a total mess, but Rangnick isn't the problem as such, it goes much wider than that.

They are a bit like a richer version of us at the moment.

Kenwright wouldn’t know how a DoF model works if it tap danced naked on one of his stages!

He’s old school, of the boys pen variety! DoF? No need! We’ve got the biggest, bestest and most brilliant Evertonian running the show…the club in his vision!

Slightly off-topic, Tranmere has a youthful new sporting director.

Fella named James Vaughan, 33 years old.

He will undoubtedly have a recruiting bias towards extremely young, extremely speedy forwards.

The players don’t rate him or his methods, and he has become a figure of fun amongst the United players. How very sad if this is true.

I once read that John Terry, turned around to Benitez, after he was blaming the Chelsea players for a lack of intensity after losing a big game, and said “don’t blame the players, without looking at yourself first”

I now hope that this is something that has been inbuilt into players, who have spent a few seasons at Stamford Bridge, for obvious reasons!

With the same old heads in charge there’s no way a DoF will be productive unless Moshiri demands change and hands real authority to the role. Without that it’s just another Brands like/lite appointment. Like stone cladding to look modern while all the hidden faults remain.

I would love us to poach Rangnick as our DOF - given full control he would sort us out from top to bottom. Or Campos? I can dream.

Mike Gaynes

I saw that. Good for him and I wish him well in his new role. Good place to start the next stage of his career.

I know Brian and difference of opinion is healthy. I like Pinot Grigio, you're more a Savuignon Blanc man!! I don't believe that for one minute by the way. A guess!

I agree with Robert. United have put a DoF in the dugout. That's not Rangnick now. And he's at the wrong club as well.

He's a builder of clubs that need re-building and establishing.

Sorry to hit the repeat button, but read Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig and where he took them to from where they were.

He's almost the counter to what some criticised Ancelotti of in that he could only manage elite players at elite clubs. He builds and develops rather than manage big egotistical players who think they know better. And has often done so with a younger first team coach operating alongside him.

A DoF is a position that has been used with some European clubs successfully and has been introduced into clubs in the premier. Like any positions that are not the norm, with some supporters it is viewed with some skepticism, which is not wrong, as it may work for some clubs but not others.

Things change all the time and it seems that the DoF position is becoming more popular with the advances in the media, communications, changes in the laws of the game, negotiating with agents and their lawyers and scouting plus training and medical advances.

I think that a DoF would be good for Everton as long as he was given the control without interference from the owner or the board. This position is starting to come into the league so it would be better to get into this position early, and not wait to see how successful it is with other clubs,

Things change all the time it is no use staying in the past.

He seems to be more renowned for the recommendations he made at Spurs that weren't signed rather than a number of expensive acquisitions who the fans have found lacking in quality.

His track record seems no better than our previous Directors of Football (DOFs). We could all have a CV as a DOF if we just had to list a number of players that have been a success elsewhere as the players who should have been signed with benefit of great hindsight.