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Iturns out Ruben Amorim endured defeat by lower-league opposition. Survive a decisive continental showpiece against a particularly poor Tottenham teams for many years. He withstood home defeats against domestic rivals, a lowly league position, an unwavering system, laying waste to the team's most promising academy products, a poor winning percentage, calling the squad the poorest in Manchester United history. But there was a single opponent with whom Ruben Amorim would not be allowed to engage. You come at Jason Wilcox, you had better succeed.

Regrettably, like many a Premiership defender during Blackburn Rovers' title-winning 1994-95 season, Amorim took on Jason Wilcox and seems to have failed. The most casual observer will notice the paradoxical situation: a manager who frequently berated at his players for failing in one-on-one duels crumbling when confronted by the white heat and animal charisma of a England's top division's most intimidating football executives.

And frankly, this whole bruising episode seems to paint Jason Wilcox in a whole new light. It may have been tempting, given his nine months of experience with the Saints, to regard him as merely a drudge within the club's structure: an individual whose appointment was due as much to his friendship with his former boss a fellow executive rather than any demonstrable skill. How wrong we all were. In brilliantly outmanoeuvring the club's celebrated head coach, just as he bested the unfortunate Dan Ashworth earlier, Jason Wilcox has proved himself as one of the sport’s true generals: a strategic mind of which United’s mid-table rivals are now rightly wary.

A Tactical Clash Over System & Ideology

For example, this was Jason Wilcox who being involved in the hierarchy that hired the rigid 3-4-3 advocate the coach originally, played a key role in trying to persuade him to abandon his beloved formation. Unsurprisingly, these entreaties were resisted. But perhaps these judgements carry more weight when issued by a man of a man the impeccable football pedigree of Jason Wilcox, a veteran of international appearances and a contributor to a championship team from 31 years ago.

Maybe eventually Jason Wilcox might agree to explain his reasoning to the rest of us. Perhaps at some point questions may arise why Amorim is departing with full compensation, with no penalty clause activated. But Jason Wilcox seldom speaks publicly, and with very good reason. The true intellectuals in football – men like him – simply operate at a level exceeding our mundane comprehension. Were he to speak, most likely we would perceive is a series of high-frequency signals and four-dimensional whirring. Desiring an explanation is not quite equivalent to being prepared to comprehend it.

The Ultimate Authority Behind Command

Naturally, by focusing our attention on Jason Wilcox we overlook the real power behind the modern United throne. The director is, after all, merely executing the directives of his ultimate superior the billionaire owner, who privately has emphasized his preference for a four-man defense. It is reported, the owner has also proposed deploying the forward in a wing-back role. Ratcliffe is keen for United to adopt analytics and metrics. According to ESPN, during a leadership summit early in his investment, he declared that United’s style of play “will be decided in this room”.

Ultimately, Ratcliffe is an expert in these intricate footballing stuff, drawing from his background in petrochemicals and yachting. Above all he remains immensely wealthy, and it is known, the rich are superior: more insightful, more wise, more tactically astute, simply better. Whom else would you trust to manage a strategic plan of austerity, the building of a new stadium that looks similar to an abstract design, the signing of Benjamin Sesko?

The Modern Soccer Hierarchy: Executives Above Managers

This is a trend that is becoming prevalent at the elite levels football. Historically, clubs foolishly entrusted major sporting choices to low-level employees such as coaches, talent spotters – players themselves. Perhaps it was once feasible for a young, visionary coach with a philosophy and energy to go into a club and see their vision supported to fruition. But how many companies have such individuals established? How many mass redundancies have they managed? Better by far to place genuine authority where it belongs: the leadership tier, the open-necked shirt brigade, the guys with the jaw-dropping professional resumes. Better by far to decide the strategy by the directors and hire a coach who will adapt their offering accordingly. If coaches were once chefs, they are now more akin to Deliveroo drivers: not creating the product, but still finally accountable if it arrives cold or leaks out to meet standards.

Nowadays, their job has become less about defining the vision and more about selling it: the front-facing representative of the operation, the visible figurehead of an organisation they can do little to influence. Enzo Maresca takes a squad of very young players into the Champions League and secures domestic cups, and effectively is dismissed for speaking out. Wilfried Nancy finds his reputation ruined whereas the people who appointed him continue to make errors another day.

The Modern Corporate Football: Accountability Only for the Few

And possibly on some microcosmic level this is simply corporate governance at work: the rise of a privileged overclass who can never be wrong, whose choices are always untouchable, whose errors can invariably be sacked away without explanation. Hire the 3-4-3 coach and then dismiss him for using too much 3-4-3. Hire the process guy and then bin him for requiring excessive time. And most importantly be grateful; for the incremental season ticket price rises, for your new summer signings, for the fact that the grownups – however well qualified – remain in control.