New sporting director

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I like the sound of this appointment, coming from a club who have done an excellent job of graduating academy players to the first team, with a background in performance analysis and scouting. Orderly hand-over process is important too.

And if he can help us get the odd Arsenal player on loan, that won't be a bad thing either!
 
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Young as well, at just 36. Thirteen years at Arsenal in various posts says a lot about his standing with them. Starts on 27th November, so I assume from reading the story that Webber will stay until the end of his notice period to bed him in. Seems to be an excellent appointment.
 
I wonder whether this appointment was influenced at all by the Attanasio takeover. The change in direction this summer, recruiting players over 30, was such a contrast to previous recruitment as it focused on immediate needs and free transfers after the money lost on Rashica and Tzolis. There was a clear 'moneyball' orientation to 'undervalued players' available at bargain rates.

People are turning against Duffy now, but he has filled the gap left by Hanley for a sign on fee and the same can be said for Batth. By comparison, Ben Gibson cost us £8m. It's also amazing how consistent Jack Stacey has been - so much so, we've hardly noticed the departure of Aarons. The jury is still out on Hwang Ui-Jo, but he's had a difficult challenge coming in after the season started. The fact that none of these new players as well as Forshaw, Sainz and Long, have cost us a transfer fee is quite amazing and once Barnes and Sargent return we'll have a squad comparable to most other teams in this league.
 
The Pink Un have done a podcast on the appointment of Ben Knapper as Sporting Director, which provides some insight into his history and perhaps why he was chosen.

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Considering so many people were so desperate to get Webber out of the club in suprised there hasn’t been more excitement or general chat about our new sporting director
 
SuffolkCanary said:
Considering so many people were so desperate to get Webber out of the club in suprised there hasn’t been more excitement or general chat about our new sporting director
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Struck speechless by the appointment of someone who doesn't think xG is total rubbish? ;)
 
SuffolkCanary said:
Considering so many people were so desperate to get Webber out of the club in suprised there hasn’t been more excitement or general chat about our new sporting director
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It's hard to chat about someone we don't know that much about. I can remember Webber's first video after taking the job as he outlined where he wanted the club to go. Knapper looks good on paper, but that's all we have so far and all we will have until after 27 November. An hours worth of podcast chat from Paddy and Connor adds very little to that, just more speculation.
 
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RiverEndRick said:
It's hard to chat about someone we don't know that much about. I can remember Webber's first video after taking the job as he outlined where he wanted the club to go. Knapper looks good on paper, but that's all we have so far and all we will have until after 27 November. An hours worth of podcast chat from Paddy and Connor adds very little to that, just more speculation.
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Fair points RER, I just thought people may have been digging into his history a bit more. He seems to have been highly rated at Arsenal
 
A lot rides on Knapper's ability to elevate those skills to the next level at another club where there is a similar system working. His first priority would seem to be getting to know Wagner and his team and tactics as well as all of our players, including the U21s. It's doubtful much recruitment will take place in January, though at least one loan could be possible.
 
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I would not be surprised if we did not have an incoming loanee from Arsenal in January. I lived in the Highbury area for several years thirty odd years ago and watched them quite a lot, so I have an affinity with them. Technically they could be considered my second team, if such a thing exists.
 
Think you have a double negative there GE. I'm guessing you mean we are likely to have a loan from Arsenal. Presumably it was Knapper who arranged the Marquinhos loan last year.
 
Can't help but feel the board are only making this decision so that Knapper owns any decision on Wagner's future.
 
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