This stage of the season, just before the FA Cup semi-finals and with the top and bottom placings in the
Premier League
still to be resolved, seems as good a time as any to look at which
managers have enhanced their reputations over the last few months. Or
the last few weeks in the cases of Dick Advocaat and Tim Sherwood.
This is not a precise science. The league table at the end of the
season ought to show exactly who has done well and who needs to do
better, but while the table might never lie it does not always tell the
full story.
Last year, for example, the Premier League manager of the season did
not actually win anything, did not even finish in the top half of the
table, and you would be hard pressed to work out from the final
standings alone why Tony Pulis was considered to have had a more
impressive season than, say,
Manuel Pellegrini or Brendan Rodgers.
So purely as a hypothetical exercise before the actual gongs are
handed out – or the contract is terminated, whatever the case may be –
let us reorganise the league table a little in terms of managerial
performance so far. The criterion here is improvement, both at a club
level and a personal one. Which managers are sitting prettier now than
they were at the start of the season, in other words.
There is an enormous disparity within Premier League clubs in terms
of finance, experience and aspiration, but based simply on whether
supporters are happy with the way their season has gone or fed up with
the bloke in charge it ought to be possible to draw up a ranking list.
So here goes, starting from the top …
1 Garry Monk
Has got to be the most enhanced managerial reputation because this
time last year he had no managerial reputation. People feared he might
be a the wrong choice or a suspiciously cheap one, yet with six games to
go
Swansea are sitting in their highest ever Premier League position,
have matched their record points total, and have coped with losing
their main striker. Impressive from a manager in his first full season.
2 Alan Pardew
Many would argue the
Crystal Palace
manager ought to be in top spot, after a defining season that seems to
have elevated him from the safe-pair-of-hands category to the go-to man
for instant results. Clearly a good fit at Palace, and the much-quoted
stat that reveals his points total for both his clubs this season stands
at 51 would put a combined Newcastle-Palace above Swansea in the table.
3 Arsène Wenger
Yes, above José Mourinho.
Arsenal have won their past eight matches in the league
– one more would equal a record set in their Invincible season – and
are in the last four of the FA Cup. European progress is still a problem
and Chelsea are still favourites for the league, but the fans are not
on Wenger’s back any more. The manager has dug himself out of a hole
(again) and should that ninth win in a row be achieved it could be even
more interesting, because the opponents are Chelsea.
4 José Mourinho
Not doing anything particularly wrong, apart from going out of Europe
at an unexpectedly early stage, but not pulling up many trees, either.
This might be unfair on the manager who is top of the league but it is
what happens when you set such brilliantly high standards for yourself.
No one at Chelsea is moaning but a bit more excitement would not go
amiss. Mourinho taking another title in his stride, along with the
Capital One Cup, is simply what people expected. Par for the course.
5 Louis van Gaal
Definitely an improvement on last season but much more important a
huge improvement in the past few weeks on what was going on at
Manchester United in the first half of the season. From chaos and
confusion have come order, elegance and channelled excitement.
United look better now than they did in the last couple of seasons under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Money doubtless helps but how many other managers would have the bottle
to leave Ángel Di María and Radamel Falcao out of the side?
6 Ronald Koeman
Remember the Southampton supporters refusing to buy season tickets at
the start of the season? Enough said, and the Saints’ season could
still get better.
7 Brendan Rodgers
Still signs of tactical nous but unless Liverpool can squeeze into
the top four not even winning the FA Cup would match last season’s
highs. Mario Balotelli, anyone?
8 Sean Dyche
Little known outside east Lancashire this time last season, now
Burnley’s manager is admired for producing gutsy performances every week
from everyone’s second-favourite team.
9 Sam Allardyce
Sorry, West Ham fans, but the table suggests you are still improving.
Have a chat with a few Bolton supporters and be careful what you wish
for.
10 Mauricio Pochettino
Seems to have slotted easily into the Tottenham template, which is to
do all right most of the time but nothing too dramatic or
game-changing.
Good work with Harry Kane, if saying so is all right with Tim Sherwood.
11 Mark Hughes
Not quite pushed on this year as noticeably as he did last. Stoke
probably need an inspired signing or two to climb out of their mid-table
comfort zone.
12 Tim Sherwood
Agreed, the number of games is too small a sample to be representative. And Aston Villa are not quite safe yet. But
they are at Wembley this weekend,
scoring goals at last and beginning to enjoy themselves. It may prove
only to be a mini upturn, but upturn it is, so well done the new man.
13 Tony Pulis
Could do no wrong last season and West Brom may have made the mistake
of thinking his mere presence would keep them out of trouble. Still
look likely to be safe but the
last couple of results would blot any copybook.
14 Roberto Martínez
Everton are no longer in relegation trouble, but the fact they were
ever worried speaks volumes about their uneven season. Goodison faithful
yet to be convinced Martínez can organise a defence or be trusted in
the transfer market.
15 Nigel Pearson
Spent much of the season digging a hole for himself, now
showing signs he may be able to climb out. Leicester may, too, but they have left it very late.
16 Dick Advocaat
Not bottom of this list because that would be rude when the guy has
only just arrived in the country. Not enough games to judge, anyway, and
Sunderland’s last two performances have been
wildly inconsistent.
17 Steve Bruce
Signed a new contract, photographed on the beach in the international break, Hull have not won in five games. Not looking great.
18 John Carver
Probably not going to get the job permanently on the basis of what Newcastle have shown since Pardew’s departure. That said,
Newcastle could easily have taken a point or more from Anfield on Monday.
19 Chris Ramsey
See above. Another nice guy in a difficult situation, but improvement
from QPR? Only in the last couple of weeks and that might not be
enough.
20 Manuel Pellegrini
Not a great week, not a great season.
Manchester City
will now be linked with Jürgen Klopp, or anyone else who becomes
available, even as Pellegrini prepares to win the remaining six games
that will ensure Champions League football next season, presumably for
his successor. Improvement is City’s buzzword and it has been
conspicuous by its absence all season. Pellegrini is by no means the
worst manager on this list but he took on the job with his eyes open and
can see it has not gone to plan. When you dream big and spend big, when
you fail you fail big.
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