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Transpired the manager was able to withstand losing against lower-league opposition. Survive losing a crucial continental showpiece against a particularly poor Spurs sides in living memory. He withstood home defeats to West Ham and Wolves, finishing 15th, his rigid approach, laying waste to some of the club’s most promising academy products, the 32% win rate, labeling the squad the worst in Manchester United history. But there was a single opponent against whom Ruben Amorim would not be allowed to engage. You come at Jason Wilcox, and you best not miss.

Regrettably, like many a Premiership right-back in Blackburn’s championship campaign, the coach took on Jason Wilcox and seems to have failed. The most casual observer can see the irony here: a coach who often railed at his players for failing in individual battles crumbling in the face of the intense pressure and formidable presence of one of England's top division's most feared sporting directors.

In truth, this whole bruising episode appears to portray Jason Wilcox in a different perspective. Perhaps it might have been tempting, given his brief stint in a similar role with the Saints, to view him as little more than a drudge within the club's structure: a man who owed his position as much to his friendship with his former boss Omar Berrada rather than any verifiable talent. How mistaken we all were. In brilliantly outsmarting the club's celebrated manager, as he outmanoeuvred the unfortunate Dan Ashworth earlier, he has proved himself as one of the sport’s true generals: a tactical intellect that United’s competitors will now be rightly wary.

A Strategic Conflict Over Formation & Philosophy

For example, this was the director who having been part of the hierarchy that appointed the rigid 3-4-3 advocate Amorim originally, was instrumental in attempting to convince him to ditch his beloved formation. Unsurprisingly, these pleas faced pushback. However, these judgements hold greater authority when issued from the mouth with the impeccable football pedigree of Jason Wilcox, a veteran of international appearances and a contributor to a title-winning side from 31 years ago.

Maybe eventually he might agree to outline his reasoning publicly. Perhaps at some point he might be asked why Amorim is departing with full compensation, with no penalty clause in place. The director speaks rarely in public, for excellent reasons. The real thinkers of this sport – individuals such as Jason Wilcox – simply operate on a plane exceeding our prosaic understanding. Were he to speak, most likely we would perceive is a series of ultrasonic blips and complex calculations. Desiring an explanation is not quite equivalent to being ready to receive.

The Supreme Authority In the Throne

But of course, by focusing our attention on the sporting director we are obscuring the true genius behind the modern United throne. Jason Wilcox is, in reality, merely executing the directives of his ultimate superior Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who privately has emphasized his desire for a back four. It is reported, the owner has also suggested deploying the forward in a wing-back role. The owner is eager for United to adopt data science and analytics. Per reports, in an executive meeting soon after his investment, he announced that the team's approach of play “shall be determined by this group”.

After all, Ratcliffe is a specialist in these intricate football matters, drawing from his background in petrochemicals and yachting. Above all he is immensely wealthy, and as we all know, the wealthy are the best of us: more insightful, sagacious, strategically brilliant, simply better. Who else could one trust to oversee a strategic plan of cost-cutting, the building of a modern arena that looks a lot like an abstract design, the signing of a new striker?

The New Football Order: Directors Above Coaches

This is a trend that is becoming prevalent in top-tier football. For decades, teams mistakenly delegated big footballing decisions to subordinate staff such as coaches, talent spotters – players themselves. Maybe previously possible for a young, innovative manager with ideas and drive to join a club and see their vision through to completion. Yet how many companies have such individuals established? How many mass redundancies have they overseen? Far preferable to invest the real power where it belongs: the executive class, the open-necked shirt brigade, the guys with impressive LinkedIn profiles. Better by far to decide the tactics in the boardroom and hire someone who can tailor their methods accordingly. If managers were once chefs, they have become more akin to delivery personnel: not responsible for the product, yet finally accountable if it arrives cold or leaks out of the box.

In the meantime, a coach's role is increasingly not about defining the vision and more about marketing it: the front-facing representative on the front desk, the public face of an organisation they can do little to influence. Enzo Maresca takes a squad of literal children into Europe and wins domestic cups, and effectively is dismissed for talking. A manager at Celtic sees his standing damaged while those individuals who appointed him continue to make errors indefinitely.

The Modern Corporate Football: Accountability for the Few

And perhaps in a small way this represents corporate governance in action: the elevation of a gilded overclass who are infallible, whose decisions are always sacrosanct, whose mistakes can invariably be sacked away without justification. Appoint the system coach only to fire him for playing too much 3-4-3. Hire the process guy and later discard them for requiring too long. And above all be grateful; for your modest increases in ticket costs, for the latest summer signings, for the reality that the grownups – however well qualified – are in charge.