Yes, I also thought of this. When talking about rebuilding we need a clear direction and a coach to lead it. The current board, management nor coach are trustable in this regard.
Exactly. It's very logical and simple in terms of structure, but hard to implement, because it takes balls and cynical management to phase out legends.
Basically the logical path is this one.
Board decide to rejuvenate the team and make drastic changes -> Choosing a manager to invest him with this task (key) ->
manager implements the program and makes decisions about players who need replacing -> Board implement the changes.
The manager might decide players can't follow his vision if:
- they are not good enough technically or tactically
- they are simply too old, and need to be phased out
- they are undisciplined, and don't really want to follow the program
Deco and Ronaldinho were the third case. They were still technically good enough, but they were undisciplined and were't really with their head in the game at that point, and were immediately removed. Eto'o was also seen as undisciplined and was cut off as well. Now, Eto'o was a wrong call, by the right manager. And these will happen.
That is the sort of backing a manager needs for a full rebuild. Every decision which is explained, needs backing by the board, simply because the board chose the manager and trust him with this project.
For example, what if the new manager comes and says 'I can't count on Messi anymore. I want to have a high pressing team. And Messi, because his off the ball movement is not good enough, causes my team to be unable to press properly. Because the player in Messi's zone is always free to receive the ball, and this makes my pressing tactics useless'. You can't really argue with that. You need to allow the manager to bench Messi.
Can you really as a board say to the manager, 'Sorry man, you have to ditch your pressing tactic and choose something else. Messi is Messi'. No, you can't. That would be really bad. You chose the manager you trust after becoming convinced he is the man you need for the job. Then, you back the manager by helping him implement his vision. You can't really hire a manager and then condition what he can or can't do. He can and should be able to take any decision a normal manager can do. Any manager we get under the new board must have 100% full powers associated with his profession.