Kevin Thelwell becomes Everton's Director of Football

Spurs fans had not a good word to say about other proposed DoF, Steve Hitchen, so i hope we dodged a Steve Walsh-esque bullet!

Wolves have recruited extremely well for an extended period and played some very classy football, too.

The Red Bull football empire is obviously doing extraordinary things with the Liefering to Salzburg to Leipzig conveyor belt - with New York and Bragatino in Brazil emerging now too.

He will have seen how clubs organise for success off the pitch.

We have people who appear to know what they're doing in important positions again.

That bodes well. The financial situation is now unclear because Usmanov's Uzbek riches may be subject to sanctions, I'm not sure.

Frank Lampard said he wanted direct input into the DoF decision and Thelwell's football philosophies must align with Frank's.

This passage from the book may just give us an insight into the structure of the future Everton and how the current players and proper targeted future signings will fit in.

It will be a refreshing change that we will have a clear direction and a coherent transfer policy to achieve it. It's a start in terms of being a more organised and professional outfit.

The clip from Thelwell's ‘Coaching the European 3-5-2'

Thelwell describes the formation as a “springboard for compactness” that allows for aggressive team movement on both sides of the ball. He pinpoints the way the entire midfield – playmaker, shuttlers, and wingbacks – are in transition moments at all times and provide numerical advantages in almost all sections of the field. Perhaps most engaging is an entire chapter is dedicated to “defending from the front” and instructing attacking players how to cut off opposition passing.”

I didn’t realise we had a “strategic direction”.

I just hope the other results go for us and we can get something out of this.

A draw would be like a win.
A win would be party time.

2-1 EFC with a double Gordon(s).

COYB
(Norwich stuffed tonight 2-0).

The second part could describe Liverpool with Ian Rush around the same time.

Welcome to the mad house that is Everton Football Club and the very best of luck.

We had similar fanfare with Brands and Walsh, and they were both unmitigated disasters. Regardless of our structure before anyone defends them, their recruitment was piss-poor!!!

Walsh bought 3 Number 10s as well as countless washed up Premier League players – Bolasie, Williams, Sigurdsson, Walcott etc.

Brands brought in a load of cast-offs that were shite and earning top dollar – Bernard, Gomes, Delph, Gbamin etc.

Of course we should have a scouting department doing extensive research about prospective new targets. This team should stay in place, whoever is in charge. But the final decision for recruitment should be left to the manager.

What happens if Lampard wants to sign Connor Gallagher next season but Thelwell doesn't agree? Will we sign another Iwobi??!!

This is absolutely terrible news for us, make no mistake. I look forward to the next strategic review in 3 years time…

Danny #23, I get your point, but don't follow your reasoning. We've had shit recruiting for decades whether we had a DoF or not. Walsh and Brands didn't impress you so the problem is the DoF model? Maybe because your last few Prime Ministers were poor you should go back to an absolute monarchy over there.

Personally I feel it's more about the quality of the person than the job title. If this guy knows what he's doing, it won't matter what the org chart says he's called. And if not, he'll be to blame, not the business model.

I realise your mere namesake made his name as a cartoonist depicting useless fat ponies and horses back in the day but I'm hopeful you can adjust to working with donkeys, especially from above.

You'll need to, and be even more stubborn than those morons who appointed you, if you're to have a hope, with Frank and HIS coaches, of even beginning to halt the decades-long slide of our club into near world-wide obscurity.

Time will tell.

Comes to us at a great age with a decent background and hopefully eyes around the world for future talent.

At least he has what I would consider good experience having worked with NYRB: 

1) Though NYRB has the guidance and support of the RB Football Empire, they are the Tranmere Rovers while NY City (Part of the Man City Empire!) is the Everton/Red Shite in the New York Rivalry Hierarchy (in terms of georgraphically, financially, level of fFanbase, media exposure).  He will know how to work from a disadvantaged starting point in a huge market.

2) RB Football Empire established a food chain with a singular football philosophy where every team is dictated to play a similar pressing style to the Big Brother (RB Leipzig) and recruit a certain group of young players who are strong, quick and have high football IQ with an ultimate goal of grooming them as an eventual first-team player with the Big Brother and/or even selling them to other big European clubs before reaching Leipzig (eg, Red Shite scouted RB Salzburg heavily and bought a lot from them recently). 

If he can bring similar structure and discipline to Finch Farm and have it established down the youngest age group like the U8s, I shall be delighted (IMHO, it is a big ask, considered the huge number of Kenwright's entourage in the club who had a hand undermining Brands's attempt to establish such philosophy, let alone structure & discipline).

In short, I'm cautiously optimistic with his appointment as long as Moshiri and Kenwright are not interfering. (I'm asking for the moon, ain't I?)

I'm sorry but you are wrong. The job title is important. If this Thelwell fella had been recruited as a recruitment coordinator, I wouldn't bat an eyelid. The fact that he is Director of Football places him above the manager when it comes to recruitment. He can veto the manager's choices. He's not just negotiating or getting the job done. He has overall responsibility for recruitment. There are only 3 possible outcomes:

1. He will be weak and simply carry out all of Lampard's wishes when it comes to recruitment (best case scenario, like a recruitment coordinator).

2. He'll lock horns with Lampard. We'll end up with some players Lampard wants, some players the DoF wants, and lots of hesitation and power play any time we want to sign a player.

3. He'll win and buy all the players, in which case Lampard will get what he's given. Lampard will have to use players that probably weren't his first choice.

You say our recruitment had been shit for decades prior to Walsh. Our recruitment was far superior before the DoF model was introduced!! Recruitment was never as bad as this in all my time watching Everton, and that includes Kendall 3 times, Harvey, Royle, Smith and Moyes!

Things didn't always go to plan, but even under Smith we bought some cracking players – the problems lay elsewhere. In the last 5 years, bad recruitment has caused our decline, and this has been completely within the remit of our last two DoFs.

A DoF is like zonal marking at corners. Sounds good, but no one is responsible when the inevitable goals go in.

Some commentary from Red Bulls writer Ross Haley on OnceaMetro.com, a bit peeved that Thelwell left just before kickoff of a new season on Saturday:

There are reports that former New York star Tim Cahill was reportedly involved and “pivotal” in the hire.

Thelwell leaves behind a complicated legacy, a series of actions that waned from the forefront to the backroom throughout the course of his tenure. He made an immediate splash by removing Chris Armas from the manager role and appointing a hot commodity in Gerhard Struber, fresh off a great escape with Barnsley. However, his transfer dealings have progressively leaned toward the future, with many additions appearing unable to provide immediate contributions. While never explicitly stated, the looming influence of Red Bull indicated the drive to establish New York as a self-sustaining conveyor belt for young prospects, matching the financial and silverware output of Salzburg and Bragantino.

Much of his behind-the-scenes toiling – involving everything from infrastructure to rebuilding the sporting and analytics department – will yield future benefits but scarcely be attributed to him, as roses are rarely given to predecessors. Thelwell was perhaps a minor victim of the current shift at Red Bull, as the footballing department searches for meaning and direction following the departure of the talismanic Ralf Rangnick.

The enduring memory of Thelwell will likely be the controversial loan moves thought to be born out of pandemic difficulties. The Red Bulls brought in several key players on a temporary basis during the 2021 season, seen at the time as a “try before you buy” transfer strategy. Many of the key performers would not return and, along with the departure of several other lineup stalwarts, left holes in the roster yet to be filled mere hours from Opening Day.

His move to Everton comes at a highly inopportune time for the Red Bulls, both in the immediate and long-term future. The club is still engaged in transfer dealings, as Struber criticized roster composition and lowered expectations at his first press conference of the season.

"The fact that he is Director of Football places him above the manager when it comes to recruitment. He can veto the manager’s choices."

That's pure speculation. We do not know that to be the case here. A title does not necessarily grant veto power. Thelwell will have been clear on his brief before assuming the job, and you cannot know whether it includes absolute player authority over Lampard. You assume it does. I would tend to doubt it. We shall see.

Interesting that Tim Cahill, operating in an advisory capacity, appears to have been instrumental in the hiring of both men. Whatever his official role with the club will be, I cannot wait for him to assume it.

I'd imagine Thelwell will have accountability. Lampard will have accountability. They will figure out how to work together because it's their job to do that.

Thelwell will be focused on different horizons (I hate that phrase by the way) – he'll have long term in mind, while Lampard's job is very much short- to medium-term focused.

Hopefully you're right. Frank seemed unsure about the whole DoF last week but if it's an amicable division of labour between similar thinking individuals there's no reason it can't work.

Frank manages the squad, tells Kev what he needs and Kev makes it happen. The problem will be Kev and Frank standing up to Bill and Farhad when they try to drop in random signings of their own.

It did seem as if Brands and Silva were on the same page — albeit a Steve Ferns wet dream page detached from reality — but Moshiri's picks, like Iwobi, made matters worse.

Brian @ 3, "Hope his tentacles spread far and wide". Aye, Aye, a bit personal and painful, and would be a real ball-acher too! :-)

Terrible Timmy is a human conglomerate. He has business interests and/or homes in Australia, Dubai, England, China and the US, and he's on the board of directors at Eupen in Belgium.

Probably not in the market for a full-time job at Everton. If he decides to join our board, hallelujah, we'll take it.

Maybe Tim can be our Jedi counterpoint to the Sith unofficial advisors like Kia and Philip Green?

My fear is we still have broadly the same regime in place that has not allowed this to happen with our previous two dabbles at it.

Dennis @6 and Tony @8, I've said a few times that 3-5-2 is arguably the most attacking formation. But you need the players to be able to execute effectively and not leave yourself exposed on the flanks when possession is lost.

We don't have the players. Certainly not the defenders. Not yet and please, not today.

As for wing-backs, there's a French fella at Villa who would be perfect for the left side…

I have given up on Holgate, his decision making is terrible, passing awful and defending average.

Chelsea are probably best equipped to play that system. All of their centre-backs are good on the ball that's why Zouma couldn't get a game for them.

In all honesty, we haven't got the defence to play a flat back 4. For various reasons, none of them are fit for purpose.

Let's hope our new DoF can identify some bright young defenders and get them in the team.

I wish you every success and hope you can strengthen Everton FC.

It is difficult for many Evertonians to be optimistic in these times but any positive input to our playing side would be a positive.
COYB.

All of the appointments are part of a strategic plan with no public details which was reviewed because it was not working.

According to Tony @8, Thelwell's 3-5-2 philosophy is based on a system that Everton have singularly failed to implement with any consistency, which means he needs new players. With no budget and a reported mixed success in recruitment strategy, with a high loan content as a test strategy before purchase with questionable results at Red Bulls, Thelwell is going to find it difficult at Everton.

IMO, the Board has continued via the strategic review in building a permanent structure, the aim of the permanent strategic plan with questionable performance criteria. In the meantime, the relegation dogfight beckons.

As for issues with the DoF model and formations etc, I do feel like a lot of fans cannot envision success other than through the route taken in the 1980s. We are a very old-fashioned club on and off the pitch, having allowed ourselves to fall well off the pace in the process.

Football, in terms of organisational structures and commercial operations, is now unrecognisable from the start of the Premier League era. Player quality at the top end of the division and tactics too.

We have to participate in the innovation and change on and off the pitch to stop falling even further behind – and hopefully claw back some of the ground lost over the last 30 years.

Totally, Robert. We stood still many years ago. Standing still is effectively walking backwards as others walk past you and get further away.

New Stadium plans; tick.
Finch Farm (the facility); tick.

But, aside from a lick of paint and a cheap stand at the Park End, which itself lacked ambition at the time. Upper tier, opportunity for corporate boxes? Could have been done on the same plot if built steeper and with an overhang. No, not Everton. I love Goodison, but it's still pretty much the Goodison of my childhood and the club hasn't really changed.

I love tradition and history. Respect it, but don't live or wallow in it.

Limp over the line this season, dust ourselves down and look forward to the next one, the stadium and hopefully a new empowered structure being implemented throughout the club.

Just filled out the survey for the fan advisory board.

He went on to say it's a big step for him and, from what he's heard, Lampard will have had some input. Fingers crossed he's a successful appointment as others have said.

I'm with your thinking on his one, ie, is the DoF strategy the right one for Everton ? and do so many people buy into it because that's what those with the loudest voices insist is the correct way.

I have no insights as to how a football club is run, especially Everton nor seemingly do the "loudest voices". I have however worked on several multi-billion $ projects and am familiar with the role of a Project Management Contractor (PMC) and see the similarities with a DoF.

The Owner / Company / Client will consider engaging a PMC to oversee / manage a project when it doesn't have the resources. Sometimes the PMC is simply a bodyshop supplying management and consultants, other times the PMC will also provide management systems, controls etc.

Rarely, if ever, have I seen this strategy work. Reasons why it fails: conflicts of interest, adverserial relationships, confusion re: responsibilities / interfaces. Also, the PMC has no 'skin in the game' and will always prioritise its own financial wellbeing.

I've worked with major Iranian & Iraqi companies where the PMC strategy failed miserably and honestly feel the same factors for those failures are at play in Everton.

I also think you make a valid point re: Everton enjoyed greater success before they began following the trend and appointed a DoF. If Moshiri had not chosen the DoF route yet Everton had eventually enjoyed great success, does that model then become the go-to strategy?

I don't know the man or his reputation but good luck.

Good to see Poland refuse to play Russia in the World Cup qualifier. We need to get through to ordinary Russians what their crazed leader is doing. Our club can help.

Usmanov needs to come out and denounce Putin in the strongest possible terms. Will he?

Either way, Everton has failed to win a trophy in nearly 27 years.

Whichever way we look at it, the club is long overdue modernising and has stood still.

It is not part of ToffeeWeb's remit. Even Paul the Esk confines himself to Everton finances. The Board has stated that sponsorship is from USM Holdings and not USM LLC which is the subject of sanctions. Apparently Usmanov is not associated with USM LLC, and Usmanov has no legal connection with Everton.

USM Holdings also owns 100% of a company called Megafon which sponsors Everton ladies.

It's completely disingenuous to state Usmanov has no connection to Everton. Unless you use the word ‘direct' to play a semantics game. Sure he's not an Everton shareholder but his companies are sponsors. Man Utd just chucked out Aeroflot as one of their sponsors. MPs are right now calling for Usmanov and Abramovich to make statements about Putin.

We have a responsibility as a club to make our position clear.

I am curious to find out if the club sees 3-5-2 as the future template for success. I have mixed feelings about that as, whilst it does free up development space for Branthwaite next season (ie, to learn alongside two others who can hopefully cover for mistakes) and the two new fullbacks we've purchased who both suit playing slightly further up the pitch.

Another plus is that it will allow 3 in the middle of the park (something we all know we need). The downside is where this potentially leaves Gray and Gordon? I can see us selling Richarlison in the summer and replacing him with an out-and-out striker.

My belief is that the structure at the club was so dysfunctional with all and sundry sticking their oar in (manager, coaches, Board members, owner etc) that he wasn't allowed to do the job he was recruited for – hence he did the honourable thing and walked.

Every club has a Head of Football Operations or Director of Football, it's just they don't necessarily call them that. The better clubs entrust that person and allow them the space to carry out those duties. I don't think we have.

The big thing now is will we let Kevin Thelwell and Frank Lampard get on with their jobs without interference? If we do, then they've got a chance of moving us forward; if not then there's no chance.

Of course for it to work the DOF has to have talent, be allowed to do their job and probably have a portion of luck. With Brands and especially Walsh all three of those conditions may have been missing.

I don’t know a great deal about Thelwell but Red Bull usually recruit very well which bodes well. Certainly sounds a better option than the bloke from Spurs.

I'll repeat myself again.

We have a modern stadium on the way.

We have a fantastic modern training facility.

Now modernise the structure and running of the club.

George, We can do our best, according to our own outlook, and position in life. Unless we have power we can argue the case re the fuiture of this club, but our options are stay a supporter, or leave.

George, I did once when I was a kid, I boycotted the club for a while when Catterick was in charge... didn't last long though!

I admire your short-lived stand of principle. You're a better man than me. I'm a fool when it comes to all things Everton.

Whereas that Prince of Saudi Arabia was directly responsible for a foul murder. Our Premier League blessed that ownership. So morals is a quicksand and we can support our club, or take an option.

My personal opinion is that Moshiri is a very poor office boy and Usmanov robbed his country and people – like many of the oligarchs and such. But, as much as I dislike it, they will not stop me supporting Everton.

I would prefer football free of these vultures but such is the world and we live in it. Now I am getting myself ready to leave for TDH and on to the game.

You are right that he is the majority shareholder in USM Holding,but the Club does not seem worried about this, since USM is not on any sanctions list and is a different identity than Everton.

I would prefer the Stadium was called the Johnny Scott Stadium and acknowledged Liverpools seafaring heritage, but now Stadiums are named after sponsors that have paid for the naming rights.

As a supporter the only interest to me is the team and how they play.I maybe speculate on why they play as they do and seek reasons within Everton.But ultimately it is not up to me, but whoever owns and runs the Club.

IMO it is two earlier to speculate on the rights and wrongs of what is happening in Ukraine, since the truth will be somewhere in between.It is guaranteed though that the innocent and vulnerable will suffer.

ToffeeWeb as a Everton Supporters website will not get involved.It will be edited to project football content and will correctly remove any other content, as it has done in my own case with content that was not relevant in the recent past.

Any posts that have been raised where regarding financial funding concerns for the New Stadium, which is natural enough.

This point completely ignores the morality of what is happening in Europe right now and the fact we have a Ukrainian player in our first team squad. People may argue these are the softer issues, compared to finance, but that depends on our own personal perspectives and values.

Mike, Directors tend to be at the top of the chain. That is why they are Directors! If you implement this model correctly, that is how it works. The DoF looks after the long-term interests of the club as managers come and go.

The problem you have got is when the DoFs don't know their arse from their elbow when it comes to player recruitment, like Brands and Walsh clearly didn't. Or if the waters get muddied and the manager doesn't want the players offered by the DoF.

The DoF system can only work if everyone sings from the same hymn sheet. Youth coaches, first team, scouts, recruitment, owners etc. In my opinion, this is rarely the case…

Top to bottom / bottom to top system in place. The manager can disappear to the other side of the world with the first team and leave a deputy in charge of the kids to knock Everton out of the cup.

Because they have installed an institution and priciple of playimg throughout the club. Everyone knows what is expected at all levels. The step up is much easier.

That's what a truly empowered DoF / Sporting Diector can implement with the support of the first team coach. To reiterate, I think Lampard will benefit from this. If our board stands back and let's them get on with it.

I think - think with VERY limited knowledge - we just unearthed a gem?

Mike Gaynes - isn't this the dude that worked wonder at NYRB and had that team playing (admittedly MLS brand) beautiful footy??

Mike - enlighten me. My memory is that this fella was really, really good in NY.

For a Red Bulls writer's perspective on the guy, read my post #33.

I respect your opinion on the DoF model -- you know waaayyy more about football club management structures than I do. I'm just not willing to write this guy off as a disastrous hire on Day 1 simply because of his job title.

In your post #32, you lay out "only 3 possible outcomes": Thelwell weakly accedes to Lampard's wishes, he locks horns with Lampard over players, or he dominates and forces Lampard to accept his chosen players. I'd like to suggest a 4th possibility -- he and Lampard work together on choosing and signing players they agree on.

I'm off right now to have a meet-and-greet with a new puppy (missing the game, will watch it back later). My wife and I have agreed that we will only buy the dog if we both love him. If only one or the other loves him, we move on to the next canine candidate.

I bring this up not just because it could be an example of the way the manager and DoF could work together, but because this particular puppy's name is...

Danny.

I swear.

I like that Mike!!

Right, let's get behind the boys.

I once coached a cricket team where the Vice Captain complained that the Captain rarely listened to his ideas. Now, we had a very good Captain and, as I advised the Vice Captain, he had to have a very persuasive argument as the Skipper knew that nobody ever shouted, "Sack the Vice Captain!"

I see projects fail all the time because they think they're just delivering a project. Then they bug out when the 'project' is done. Operations need to take a lead because it's they who actually need the asset, product or service.

Everton Football Club isn't a project, we're an ongoing concern. We might have some short- to medium-term aims and they are best handled by Frank with the playing squad and his own team. The Director of Football ensures that whatever we do is aligned to proper long-term planning.

Mike (83),

Did you get the dog???!!! Great story!!

The position he was given is fairly new in the Premier League and raises questions on will it work at Everton. He seemed very positive with the relationship with the manager and his staff and the direction the club wishes to go, so the only thing to say is, Welcome to Everton, and hope that this position is as much a benefit to the club as he outlines it.

Time will tell.

'The academy has to be a very important part of the club going forward. I always work hard to give young players opportunities where we can. Because young players can surprise you. The less you give them that opportunity, they you will never know what can happen. We should look internally first before even starting to think of the market place.'

I'm quite sure a few academy watchers can come up with a list of names from the last 10 years that have them wondering 'what if...?' those players had been given more opportunities with the first team.

Together with what he said about getting everybody on board, striving to achieve the same 'best' objectives, an encouraging interview.

He may still be a fine DOF.

He also said he already knew people in the club before taking the job. Did his dad call his former Boys Pen mate to get his lad this job?

If this is all part of the old Boys Pen network, then we are in trouble. Moshiri has been duped again!