The fact that it is selling, for increasingly more each time it is sold, will be taken that the answer to that is a yes It would be interesting to see Sean Dyche have a run of insane luck in the stock market, become the richest man in the world, and buy a Prem club that he wanted to play his way, how quickly other clubs would pivot when they realised producing the next no nonsense centre back, or giant target man was the most profitable source of income, or how soon before "hoofball" was described as "the right way to play"

I genuinely don't know how to answer that other than it helps the players and coaches involved at whatever level get their next job/role higher up the level, which again comes down to money. If you are asking why this particular brand of football over (to put an extreme) Allardyce or Dycheball... because that is what the clubs at the top of the ladder want, as it sells more merch, subscriptions, foreign audiences, etc, which again is purely finance driven, supply and demand. None of it is with any thought to fans of middling or lower league teams.

money/finances is the why, not the how

The why is because of finances, nothing more. Right through the 90s we heard the line trotted out by various individuals that "football is now a business", and that becomes more and more true with each passing year. Clubs feel that having a long term director of football who steers the club in the same direction under a procession of vaguely similar head coaches to be more sustainable, and more profitable than employing managers who may want entirely different squads and players in different system. Coupled with this, training players to play in this style means that they are more attractive to clubs higher up the ladder, so they can be sold at a profit and reinvested Please note I am talking about "the model" here, not how basket case clubs operate. If a club was to constantly change their director of football/head of football operations/whatever term they decide to use then they are also potentially throwing just as much money away as a club changing manager for someone with a different philosophy as happened in the past

It produces players and coaches that can be sold to clubs higher up the ladder Sadly, it is all about profit and sustainability (from the clubs perspective at least)

I would envisage that Eustace's & JDTs remit would be/have been something like Produce/coach a team that is able to play out from the back and able to play expansive football Increase the value of the current squad for future sales to contribute to profit & sustainability Not get relegated The head coach can then do whatever he wants as long as he stays within the previously agreed "Overton window"

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/24122446.eustace-sends-clear-message-blackburn-style-play/ This would imply that it was mentioned, maybe not as a short term thing (as I am sure avoiding relegation was the priority), but certainly going forwards Also, I am fairly surely most managers/head coaches (obviously there are some exceptions, but they are getting fewer in number, and tend to comprise of already established managers rather than those just starting out) would prefer to (try to) play an expansive style of football, as even if they fail (Kompany/Martin etc) they fail upwards into better paid, more high profile jobs, so it is not as though they are being forced, kicking and screaming into playing a certain style of football.

In fairness, the head coach would be asked in his interview before he accepted the job if he can deliver "x brand of football" etc, and he will have replied that he could. I do have some sympathy with managers/head coaches who are already in situ when a Director of Football is brought in by the club.

Gary Bowyer is the new manager/head coach at league one Burton

came back from 2-0 down (great equaliser from Vare), but lost late on

Edmondson started for Macclesfield v Bamber Bridge, who did not name Mullarkey-Matthews in their match day squad Edmondson was withdrawn with 20 mins to go whilst Macclesfield were 2-0 up, the game finished 2-0 to Macclesfield.

Live stream on Sheff Utds YouTube, kick off at 7pm

Sadly I would imagine Leicester's main consideration is how big of a loan fee (and how much of his wages) a club would be paying. And Stoke will be paying more than Rovers (apparently his full wage is close to £40K/week and Stoke are currently paying about 75% of that) That's assuming Van Nistelrooy doesn't recall him and give him a go in the Prem

U18s are away to Sheff Utd this evening. Apparently Tyjon has been injured recently, although no mention of what the injury is https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2024/december/17/preview--sheffield-united-under-18s-v-rovers-under-18s/ This article states "Darragh Tuffy's youngsters". I was under the impression that Ryan Kidd was in charge of the U18s? Kidd's LinkedIn states that he is lead U18 PDP coach https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-kidd-1895366b/?originalSubdomain=uk Tuffy's LinkedIn states that he has recently (October) changed to be Lead U18 Coach https://www.linkedin.com/in/darragh-tuffy-84819094/ Rovers site states Tuffy is U18s lead coach, and contains no mention of Kidd (pretty sure he used to be included here) https://www.rovers.co.uk/club/staff/ Tuffy was named as the "U18 assistant boss" after the previous game with Sheff Utd was postponed recently https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2024/december/06/tuffy--we-re-all-gutted/ Is Kidd still with us? Has he moved on? Or has his role been changed?

Batty not involved for Accrington drew 1-1 Batty was mentioned a month ago as having to undergo a late fitness test (a comment from the Accrington manager about him feeling the back of his knee). However, he has not featured since, and I have not seen any further mention of the extent of his injury Edmondson (probably) & Mullarkey-Matthews (unlikely as he hasn't featured for Bamber Bridge since August) may be in action against each other tomorrow night

If anything can be read into it, Garrett has "liked" Bristol Rovers' Instagram post about their manager being sacked https://www.instagram.com/p/DDojVvqvb0w/?hl=en

He has played both wide right (*) and as a 10 for Chesterfield, not as a central striker. They rotate Grigg and Madden as the lone forward. Yesterday he played wide right (*) * not as a winger, but as in inside forward

This might change Garretts situation considerably https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bristol-rovers-set-sack-manager-9793762 Might be worth holding off on recalling him until we see if whoever replaces the manager has Garrett in his plans

Highlights from Chesterfield and Macclesfield games in case anyone wants to see the Markanday and Edmondson goals

Starts this weekend for Markanday won 2-0, Markanday scored the opener Olson won 1-0 Powell lost 1-0 Edmondson scored the third in a 4-1 win Eastham won 4-1 Honor lost 3-1 Michalski & Ramwell lost 3-1 Saadi won 1-0 On the bench Gamble drew 2-2 Atcheson was a late sub as they lost 2-1 Not involved in matchday squad Vale won 4-3 Garrett lost 2-0 O'Riordan drew 2-2 Montgomery lost 2-1 Wood won 5-1 Mullarkey-Matthews won 2-1 Accrington (Batty) play on Monday

I think he has played the last few weeks mostly as a centre forward, rather than in his usual deeper role as a 10. I am fairly sure he hasn't played wide this season

U18s won 3-1 away at Boro, Boggan & Joseph (2) with the goals

I don't personally see him breaking through here. He does take a good set piece though

From the Leeds site, sounds like Biniek had a good game https://www.leedsunited.com/en/news/u21s-report-leeds-united-2-4-blackburn-rovers

U21s won 4-2 away at Leeds this evening, O'Grady-Macken, Biniek & A.Doherty (2) with the goals