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Turns out the manager was able to withstand defeat by lower-league opposition. Survive a decisive continental showpiece versus one of the worst Spurs sides in living memory. He could survive losing at home against West Ham and Wolves, a lowly league position, an unwavering system, undermining the team's best homegrown talent, the 32% win rate, calling the squad the worst in Manchester United history. But there was a single opponent against whom Ruben Amorim was not permitted to tango. You come at Jason Wilcox, you had better succeed.

Unfortunately, like many a top-flight defender in Blackburn’s title-winning campaign, Amorim took on Jason Wilcox and appears to have missed. The most casual observer can see the irony here: a coach who frequently berated at his players for losing individual battles succumbing in the face of the white heat and formidable presence of one of England's top division's most intimidating football executives.

In truth, this whole bruising episode appears to portray the director in a whole new light. It may have been tempting, based on his nine months in a similar role with the Saints, to view Jason Wilcox as merely a functionary in the United exoskeleton: an individual who owed his position as much to his close relationship with his former boss Omar Berrada rather than any demonstrable skill. How wrong we all were. In brilliantly outmanoeuvring the club's celebrated manager, just as he bested the hapless Dan Ashworth before him, he has proved himself to be among football's strategic masterminds: a strategic mind that the club's competitors are now justifiably concerned.

A Tactical Clash Regarding Formation & Philosophy

To illustrate, it was the director who having been part of the leadership that hired the 3-4-3 fundamentalist the coach originally, played a key role in trying to persuade him to ditch his favored 3-4-3. Unsurprisingly, these pleas faced pushback. But perhaps these judgements carry more weight when delivered from the mouth with the unimpeachable football pedigree he possesses, holder of international appearances and a role in a title-winning side from 31 years ago.

Maybe eventually Jason Wilcox might agree to explain his reasoning to the rest of us. Maybe one day questions may arise why Amorim is walking away with a full payout, with no penalty clause in place. But Jason Wilcox seldom speaks in public, for excellent reasons. The true intellectuals in football – men like Jason Wilcox – simply operate on a plane exceeding our mundane comprehension. Were he to speak, probably we would perceive is a series of ultrasonic blips and complex calculations. Desiring an explanation is not quite equivalent to being prepared to receive.

The Supreme Authority Behind Command

But of course, in training our focus on Jason Wilcox we overlook the real power behind the club's current leadership. Jason Wilcox is, in reality, simply carrying out the commands of his superior the billionaire owner, who privately has made very clear his preference for a four-man defense. It is reported, Ratcliffe has also suggested playing Bryan Mbeumo as a right wing-back. Ratcliffe is keen for United to adopt analytics and metrics. According to ESPN, in an executive meeting soon after his minority ownership, he announced that the team's approach of play “will be decided by this group”.

After all, Ratcliffe is a specialist in this technical football matters, drawing from his background in industry and sailing. Most importantly he is immensely wealthy, and it is known, the rich are superior: more insightful, more wise, more tactically astute, fundamentally better. Whom else could one trust to oversee a strategic plan of austerity, the building of a modern arena that appears similar to an abstract design, the acquisition of a new striker?

A Modern Football Order: Directors Above Managers

This represents a shift that is becoming prevalent at the elite levels football. Historically, clubs foolishly entrusted big footballing decisions to low-level employees like managers, scouts – even footballers. Perhaps it was once possible for an up-and-coming, innovative manager with ideas and energy to join an organization and see their vision supported to fruition. But how many businesses have such individuals established? How many mass redundancies have they overseen? Better by far to invest the real power where it rightly belongs: the leadership tier, the open-necked shirt brigade, the guys with impressive professional resumes. It is wiser to decide the tactics by the directors and hire someone who can tailor their offering accordingly. If managers were once chefs, they have become more like delivery personnel: not creating the product, but still ultimately answerable if it arrives poorly or leaks out of the box.

In the meantime, their job has become less about crafting the philosophy and more about marketing it: the receptionist on the front desk, the visible figurehead for a club they can do little to change. Enzo Maresca takes a squad of very young players into Europe and secures two medium-sized trophies, and essentially is dismissed for speaking out. Wilfried Nancy sees his reputation ruined whereas the people who appointed him continue to make errors another day.

A Neoliberal Football: Accountability for the Coaches

And perhaps on some microcosmic level this represents neoliberalism in action: the elevation of a privileged overclass who can never be wrong, whose decisions are always sacrosanct, whose errors can always be sacked away without justification. Appoint the system coach only to dismiss him for using too much that system. Bring in the process guy and later bin him for taking excessive time. And above all show gratitude; for the incremental season ticket price rises, for your new player acquisitions, for the reality that the adults – regardless of their expertise – remain in control.