The Managerial Merigoround

So the managerial merigoround has got well and truly under way this week. We have already seen a number moves by clubs and managers alike but how often is it really worth it? It has to be said that in the majority of cases a change in manager can be costly and more often than not fails to bring results in the long or even medium term. There are of course exceptions but I thought it might be fun to have a look at those we have seen so far.

The Sackings

Carlo Ancellotti (Chelsea)

A Series of Unfortunate Events

The Chelsea manager lasted just two seasons having won the Premier league and FA Cup in 2010 he was shown the door for the dishonour of second place and failing to win a single trophy. His main problem was the loss of squad players like Ballack, Cole, Deco and Cavalho and a bench mainly filled with youngsters far from ready for Champions League or Premiership winning campaigns. Also for the first time stalwarts Lampard and Terry, both aging, began to pick up injuries and Drogba got malaria. Carvahlo was replaced by David Luiz for £23 milion but the signing of Fernando Torres for £50 million was probably the ultimate nail in the coffin. The Spanish striker once the toast of Anfield has now been off from and unfit for two seasons. How long can this last before he is considered the next Michael Owen? If it was Ancellotti who made the decision to focus on his younger players instead of securing the squad and if it was his decision to waste £50 million on Torres and not a few players of higher quality then he undoubtedly deserved to be sacked. However, how big that ‘if’ is for a Chelsea club  that has not been happy since the invinsible side of the Special One is for someone else to decide.

Micky Adams (Sheffield United)

The Blunt Blade

A Blades fan Micky Adams was greeted with welcoming arms and joy by their fans as they were languishing perilously close to the bottom of the championship. After Gary Speeds short spell ended when he departed for the Welsh job. Adams has won three promotions and had been doing extremely well in a second season at Port Vale after an interesting pantomime int he first. His appointment this season in December 2010 was not a good one as he failed to win in his first three months and the side ended up relegated Adam’s was rightfully sacked. he somehow seems to be a little out of his depth at the higher echelons with the exception of his promotion with Leicester a few years back.

Billy Davies (Nottingham Forest)

The Boardroom Wars

However, you look at this decision it stinks of a board that does not understand or appreciate the achievements or of the taught board-manager relationship behind the scenes. While Billy Davies has always liked to have a little moan now and again his achievements on the pitch have been excellent. He has twice led his team into the play-offs and yes maybe he has lost in the semi-finals on both occasions. However, his team were desperately unlucky against Swansea in the second leg showing real character as did he by marching through the sea on Swansea fans who had invaded the pitch to clap the Forest supporters this is, in my opinion, a horrible mistake by the Forest board and Billy Davies deserves a chance with a supportive board that perhaps don’t have an over-inflated opinion of themselves because of past glories.

This seasons sackings then are fairly evenly spread with Davies’ seemingly a very poor decision, Adam’s a clear and obvious one and Ancelotti’s somewhere in the middle. It seems then that the majority of clubs are not jumping the gun as in previous seasons although perhaps time will tell.

The Resignations

Mark Robins (Barnsley)

He resigned because of differences with the board apparently….fair enough if that was the case it sometimes just does not work. Although if the boards stated ambition of breaking even is genuine (which is to be applauded) then perhaps he doubts his own ability as a coach….

Mark Hughes (Fulham)

It’s not just board officials who make silly judgements. I felt sorry for Hughes at Manchester City where given the chance and time he could probably have achieved great things. However, he has failed to 1) produce the goods at Fulham 2) taken the time to develop the team and 3) has shown a lack of determination and respect to the team that took a chance on him when he was out of a job. Any self-respecting club is going to take a long hard look before appointing Hughes and he has not proven himself sufficiently for the big club job he wants.

Alex McLeish (Birmingham)

Well their may be rumours of board room disagreements but from the outside this just looks like greed at play. He has seemingly disgraced Birmingham fans who have given him a good deal of support over the years. It may be time for him to move on but if you’re going to dare to cross a divide you better be swift about it and prepared and not get torn up in the middle of a great big row that is going to tarnish your name with everyone. Randy Learner was reportedly unimpressed with Hughes resignation what will he make of this, of indeed that is McLeish’s goal.

Robins, seems to have some justification after being placed on probation but in my opinion the two managers above have resigned without good reason and shown themselves to be weak in resolve that will only harm their prospects with potential new employers. Simply leaving your post having failed to achieve is not good enough and while McLeish has done an excellent job at Birmingham despite the relegation he is going to find it very hard to get a club to buy out his contract which is according to the news today a minumum of £3 million pounds!

The Appointments

Danny Wilson (Sheffield United)

Danny Wilson has been appointed the new blades manager following Adam’s exit. Danny Wilson does know this level well and had an excellent season with Swindon last season. However, after failing in the play-offs his team were poached left right and centre. Although they still had quality Swindon struggled and Wilson resigned under great pressure. Things only got worse there and given time I think Wilson would have been ok. He has also experience of managing at Sheffield Wednesday in the Premiership. It will be interesting to see his reception at Hillsborough. He has been a bit up and down but probably a good appointment and I imagine they will be sniffing around the play-offs.

Micky Adams (Port Vale)

Back at Port Vale he did the trick there this season before he left and Vale dropped off. Twice promoted from this level I expect he will do well again although Vale are now struggling with Stoke’s success (Port Vale is in the middle of Stoke and is not a port!).

Paul Buckle (Bristol Rovers)

Buckle as I said the other day is a good appointment and has already got busy with transfer dealings. Signing Matt Gill and Craig Stanley who will ma an excellent partnership in the centre of midfield at that level and also goalkeeper Bevan from hs old club Torquay. he has also seen the departure of Danny Coles to Exeter as one of the clubs higher earners to free up budget. It might be hard as they have to rebuild but I see them at least reaching play-offs.

Keith Hill (Barnsley)

He has been a magician at Rochdale and Barnsley have a real talent on their hands. It might not be an immediate impact but given him three years and they will be knocking on the door of the Premiership if they’re not already there is my guess.

Steve Mclaren (Nottingham Forest)

Forest the good old joker in the pack. Steve Mclaren is not a good signing because the majority of fans will not take to him. With Billy Davies two play-offs in a row if Mclaren fails to better it he will be considered a failure. He may have a good club record with Middlesbrough and Twenty but was not good enough in Germany and that fact is it will take some time for everyone to get over the poor man’s Sven (and Sven was rubbish anyway at that point).

Steve Eyre (Rochdale)

i saw this yesterday and was really impressed to find the successor to Keith Hill Rochdale could not go about appointing a conventional manner and the Eyre has been very successful at Man City youth set up. Rochdale need to focus on developing young players as Hill did with the likes of Ricky Lambert who was sold for £200k after only one season at Spotlands. I’m not saying it will work but its a though out positive and respectable gamble.

Martin Ling (Torquay)

The former Grecian player was initially successful as manager of Leyton Orient securing promotion from the basement division and establishing in the league above. He left after four and half years by mutual consent after six years. Appointed manager of Cambridge United avoiding a relegation battle with 9 in 14 at the end of the 09-10 season he was not so lucky this season and after a 4-0 thrashing to Bath City was sacked. despite this he has managed well t this level before and perhaps struggled with less able players. He is local to the area which for some reason we the fans always think well of. A depleted squad and a tightened budget will mean a very difficult job time will be the judge of this appointment but as a former Grecian I hope he success in at least finishing above the Scum in 23rd or better.

Generally then clubs have so far been making good appointments as I wrote about the other day there seems to be a new breed of manager that clubs are looking to develop and support. Martin Ling is perhaps not part of this and I would say the jury is out on that one, while Mclaren, Wilson and Adams are the more traditional lower league appointments of experienced managers with relatively big names but Hill, Eyre (potentially) and Buckle are part of this elite group.