My understanding ;

* Manager / PV - has a requirement for a player in eg defensive midfield
* Parish approves budget
* Freedman sources potentials
* Player/s that fits profile ( age, fee, wages ) identified and recommended
* Parish, Freedman and PV agree to proceed

The bit that I am missing is how empowered the manager is at end part of the process. I say that after the Hodgson era in which he didn't use some of the signings that were made.

I suspect that feels about right.

As well as helping facilitate what the manager wants, the club also have to look at things like longevity and profile, that the manager may be less interested with. e.g. if Pat said he wanted Danny Ings, I'd assume Parish and Dougie would say no, we're not buying players with no sell on potential etc.

I'm sure the manager makes his suggestions (whether that is a particular player, a position, or a player type) but ultimately the main point of a DOF model is that the club makes signings, sales and attends to contracts, not the manager.

The DOF model has risen in prominence as the lifespan of a manager (or head coach) has reduced, and as handling transfers and contracts has become more complex and time-consuming. Martin O'Neill was interviewed the other day and mentioned that almost no 'manager' actually runs the club anymore, certainly not in respect of signings and contacts.

Palace are no different to most, in that we have changed managers quite often under the current ownership (albeit for a variety of reasons), and simply cannot make significant changes to the playing staff every time we appoint a new manager (as used to be the case). Otherwise, if (when) the manager leaves after the usual two or three years, the club would have to start all over again building a new side to suit the new mans preferences.

Also, as you say, a manager will press for ready-made players (as Allardyce did), which will help him achieve his short term goals but leave the club with almost no saleable assets and limited room to work the market (as was the case at Palace). A DOF will be signing players with the clubs short, medium and long term in mind.

All of which leads back to Vieira, and how to assess his work. I think you've got to judge him on the strength of the squad he has. It's a decent group of players, but no more than decent. The points tally and league position is, as things stand, probably OK for what he's got overall, although the team has looked shabby in places this year, especially in comparison to the first half of last year, and especially at home, which is hard to accept.

Ultimately, I think that both the points tally and the standard of play would improve noticeably with a good forward. If one is signed and we still look stodgy then fair enough, that would rest on the manager's shoulders. Until that time I find it hard to be very critical.

Edited by TheBigToePunt (21 Feb 2023 11.33am)

You certainly do have the capacity to post some very good reading on here TBTP and, for me anyway, this qualifies as another excellent post.

I would add that whilst I do agree to apropos a Striker I don't think it absolves PV completely of any of the fair and usual 'football manager criticisms' he will/is receiving.

As things stand, I think the true test of Vieira will be pulling us out of this winless run. If we do limp through as we have been doing, and all starts to pick up as the fixtures soften (this is actually my forecast) I think the 'no real/poor striker' argument will come more to the fore.

However, if we do start to drop towards the relegation places (only 6 points), continue to struggle scoring and putting in soft/abject/weak performances, with bizarre substitutions etc. I think the heat may turn up on him.

On a completely useless tangent, I do like seeing the DOF acronym used as despite knowing exactly what it means my brain still convinces me this is some sort of short-hand code for 'Dougie Freedman' every time

Anyway, after the recent discovery of poor Nicola Bulleys Body, Very sad news and condolences to here family, it appears a spiritual Medium, Jason Rothwell, Helped the Police find her,
I payed a visit yesterday to Juan Jacobo Gonzalez, a well known Spiritualist on my beloved island, to see if he could predict PVs and Palaces future, So, he predicted the PV would be relieved of his duties on April 3rd, after our home defeat by Leicester, putting us 4th from bottom, 2 points above the relegation zone, spooky stuff, make of it what you will

Sure "I wanted Nuno Pat but he was a bit of a snake so you can have the job. There's fvck all money after the first year and you'll have to revert to Royball"