The Managers Merry-Go-Round

Now the Premiership Circus has finally rolled into town after a rather entertaining but disappointing (for all those who aren't Spanish) World Cup, plenty of Pundits and experts, otherwise put back into storage, are back to give their two-pence worth over the coming Season. One particular topic is the annual "Race for the Sack" which is basically who the hallowed experts believe will lose their job's first amongst the 20 men given the often demeaning task of leading their club to glory. More often than not, the freshly promoted clubs, such as; Blackpool, Newcastle and West Brom are the favourites to jettison their beleaguered leaders, while other pretenders such as Stoke, Bolton, Sunderland and West Ham make up the typical clubs who get nervous in or around Christmas Time, with the highly volatile Man City thrown in for good measure.

However, why is it that this rather unfortunate supporting act is often made as big a story as the actual games which provide us with so much weekly entertainment? Usually, it can be deduced that it is either the rather schizophrenic Boards of the aforementioned Clubs or the Managers capitulation in the face of high pressure expectations from the Media, Fans and, indeed, their employers. More often than not any club who is bottom at Christmas faces the abyss of Championship football, with only one club; West Brom, ever surviving this fate. Therefore, it is often the case a Manager will lose their job if they are on the end of too many losses so their Club can attempt to survive with a different Manager at the helm. Does this strategy work? Often is exacerbates the poor form of the Club, as who can turn-around the fortunes of an ailing club who are destined for relegation with so few games?

This is the focus of my thoughts today, as it is surprising how shallow the pool of "Managerial Hero's" actually is, and how the same mediocre Managers are given the task of saving a Club from relegation from the Promised Land. So far this summer, Martin O'Neill and Steve Coppell have suddenly resigned as Aston Villa and Bristol City Managers respectively, while Roberto Manchini is never guaranteed to stay on at Man City unless they win the Double. In addition, Roy Hodgson, tempted by the lure of a struggling Liverpool FC has allowed Mark Hughes another chance to prolong Craig Bellamy's career at Fulham. So far, the Premier League seems a little incestuous when it comes to Managers, constantly changing hands with little discernible success. But who are these riders of the Managers Merry-Go-Round?



1) Bryan Robson. Although, quite rightly, credited with saving West Brom from the drop in 2005, Robson has never convinced as a top-flight Manager. After a series of successes with Middlesborough, a highly ambitious club after promotion to the Premier League in 1997, eventually relieved Robson of his post after struggling to lead them to higher than 9th position in the table. Bradford City came calling and appointed Robson to save them from the drop from Division 1, which, even after taking 22 points from 27 games, he failed to do so and was subsequently sacked. Returning to the top flight with West Brom, he steered the club to safety on the final day of the Premier League season with a 2-0 win over Pompey, however the following year after a series of dreadful results, Robson was once again sacked after relegating the club back to the Championship.
The final nail in the coffin of Robson's career came with Sheffield United. Appointed in May 2007, Robson would eventually be sacked after a string of poor results and uninspiring displays, with massive pressure to quit, he was put out of his misery in February 2008 and eventually left to become an Ambassador for Manchester United.



2) Iain Dowie. Described once as the "most ugly man in football", Dowie has also had a rather petulant Managerial career. Beginning at Oldham Athletic, Dowie lead the club into the play-offs after spending heavily on new talent. However, financial trouble subsequently meant Dowie could no longer continue and left for "family reasons".
Then, in 2003, Dowie took the helm at Crystal Palace, the 19th placed Division 1 club in dire straights. After implementing a tough and disciplined regime and spending on new players, Dowie secured promotion to the Premier League after a 1-0 win over West Ham. However, the hang-over continued into next season, as the club suffered relegation back from whence they came. After losing to Watford in the following seasons Play-Offs, Dowie contentiously jumped ship to Charlton, much to Simon Jordan's dismay. However, Jordan's fury was short lived as Dowie, after a horrific 15 games in charge, left Charlton in November 2006.
Then, with additional unsuccessful spells at Coventry, Queens Park Rangers, Newcastle United and eventually Hull in 2010, Dowie became a Sky Sports pundit. As the phrase goes; "Those who can't Manage, join Sky Sports".



3) Gary Megson. After notional spells at Norwich City, Blackpool, Stockport County and Stoke City, all with rather poor ends to each spell, Megson is most remembered for his stint at West Brom (them again!).
Megson took over in March 2000, and after securing safety for the club in the First Division, lead the club to the play-offs, while picking up a November Manager of the Month award, but unfortunately lost out to Bolton Wanderers. However, the following season brought glory to the West-Midlanders after overcoming an 11 point deficit to Wolverhampton Wanderers and securing promotion to the Premier League and Megson a Manager of the Year award.
After a public falling out with then chairman Paul Thompson during the 2001-2002 Season, Megson suffered relegation back to the Championship in 2003 after one season in the Premier League. After a further promotion in 2004, Megson eventually resigned after falling out with Thompson and a string of poor results in October 2004.
In January 2005, Megson took over at Nottingham Forest, however his reign would end after further relegation and a poor subsequent season after a target to reach the Championship eluded him. Megson eventually resigned and was reported to have said his spell in Nottingham cost him c£500k.
After a brief 41 days at the wheel in Leicester, Megson joined Bolton in October 2007. After a poor to intermittent season, Megson finally saved a club from relegation after a desperate 1-1 against Chelsea on the final day of the Season. The 2009 campaign began with almost 50 days without a win which resulted in Megson losing his job in December 2009.

While Robson, Dowie and Megson are my favourite examples of Managerial flops, despite intermittent achievement, it remains that many top-flight clubs choose the same faces with the same consequences. Why is this? Many news reports cite the "vast experience" of these men as a benefit to turning a club around. Other reasons could be that these were the only men available, the cheapest candidates or simply that a desperate appointment was needed.

Despite my rather scathing evaluation of these three Managers careers, I do profess that it is the somewhat unrealistic targets set by their respective employers which put their achievements into context, thus it is unfair to ask an individual to take their club to the Champions League places in 2 years if their previous positions have been mid-tier and with little funds to achieve the aim. In the end it is the Manager who is made scapegoat while the Board avoid the blame.

Therefore, I believe we are destined to continue this roundabout of failed marriages between Manager and Club, as there will always be a club to save or an unrealistic Board to serve. I have always maintained that a Managers job is extremely tough, due to the heavy expectation set my Fans and their Boards and with the growing gulf in financial prowess between the Sky Four and the chasing pack. Perhaps if we could have a situation were we could sack the board we would have less Managerial flops and more stable clubs? But then Turkeys have never voted for Christmas and they won't start now.

Should he stay or should Cesc go?

Being an Arsenal fan, there are 3 things that we can set our watches by every year; (1) the “experts” writing us off pre-season before a ball is kicked, (2) Wenger stating that “this year is our year” (it will be at some point but…) and (3) Barcelona’s rather perverse pursuit of Cesc Fabregas.

Like an absent father who’s long-lost son has hit the big time and is now a famous (and wealthy) footballer, they are now suddenly interested in their former player who is now one of the most coveted midfield players in the modern game. It is known that Fabregas played in their youth team and has his routes in Catalonia, however, in footballing terms, Cesc was one of a number of outcasts from the great La Masia academy and, sporting a very 80’s haircut, came to Arsenal and blossomed into the maestro he is today. To rephrase, Arsenal made Cesc who he is.

Today (at time of writing), the ever distasteful (but arguably one of the best players around – Euro/World Champion) Xavi has stated Arsenal have Cesc “on loan” and he will return to Barca to continue his career. In addition, the Neanderthal Puyol has also stated that Arsenal are disrespecting Cesc and forcing him to stay. I may be wrong, and naïve, however there are such things as contracts in football and even though a Players ego may transcend the legal paper they sign when they desire a pay-rise, they must be respected and not thrown about like toys to a spoilt child.


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While I believe Cesc’s time at Arsenal is indeed short – with a potential move next year or the year after – when a Club wishes to acquire the services of another Clubs player, they must show respect and follow the regulations laid down by FIFA to purchase the player, who ever that player may be. It is fact that Barcelona are a great club, their trophy cabinet speaks for itself. Moreover, the Spanish are now World Champions, therefore Spain (or Barcelona) do command respect as the best in their profession. However, self indulgent arrogance simply shows that however great a player you are, you are judged as a man, an individual – think John Terry as a case in point. That follows as a Club, despite being the best in Europe, Barcelona must show they respect their fellow competitors and cant go around throwing cash and attitude at Clubs and demand their players, such arrogance damages the Clubs reputation and makes the vendor Club reluctant to sell.

However, instead of throwing our toys out the pram, it is easier to understand this saga if we break it down into constituent parts; Barcelona, Cesc and Arsenal.

Barcelona - As Barcelona elect presidents every 3-4 years, clubs like Arsenal are pulled into a circus of promises and innuendo when a prospective candidate, such as one Joan Laporta and (recently appointed) Sandro Rosell, are in the race to take the hot seat. Similar to our British Politics, a lot of big promises are made, many come to nothing. However, in recent years, Laporta has been aggressive in having the acquisition of Cesc as his crown jewel, “promising” his signature if he is re-elected.

Despite that claim being a kick in the teeth for Arsenal (and massively disrespectful), how can a club promise to sign a player without first discussing with the selling club? In addition, recent reports of Barcelona’s financial troubles show that not all is rosy in the rose garden. I will leave the financial analysis for better men, however when a Football Club takes out a c£130m bridging facility, it doesn’t look good. The lesson here is that despite your success and wealth, you must spend within your means, therefore the Catalans pursuit of Cesc’s signature is a matter of vanity and little else.

I am sure if I won the lottery, I would purchase 5 Omega Seamaster watches, however I can’t possibly wear them all, therefore I can acquire all the toys I want, but I can only use a few at a time, the same goes for Clubs buying players.

Cesc – As discussed, when Arsenal purchased Cesc for (reported) c£650k as a compensation fee, no-one had heard of his name and assumed it was another young star plucked from obscurity by Le Professor. With his mullet in tow, Cesc quickly began to stamp his reputation as a gifted and intelligent player, committed and passionate. By 19 years old, he had played more games than his colleagues at that age and was quickly installed at the key component in the Arsenal midfield. Like Henry before, Cesc had become indispensible.

Therefore the question is; would Cesc have become the player he is if he had stayed at Barcelona? I am sure he wouldn’t have. If we assume he stayed at La Masia, Cesc would have played a few games in the Barcelona B Team and gained a small reputation as being a good player in Spain. He may then, after a few years, been promoted to Barcelona first team and been benched for a few games. Then by his mid-20’s he may have become a great player, however all this would have taken time and he wouldn’t have made a similar impact on the footballing world.
I am aware that this is pure conjecture; however Barcelona let him leave as they obviously didn’t see the potential Wenger did. When a team is over-populated with midfielders, such as Barcelona’s squad, he wouldn’t have had a look-in.

Another case in point is Matthieu Flamini. A great player and a key part of the (somehow) great back 4 which took the Gunners to the Champions League Final in 2006, however he was a mercenary. After a much publicised exit from Marseille, in which manager Jose Anigo reportedly promised to “get him back”, he became a fringe player and a utility man. However, Flamini grew into a great player during that season and, unfortunately, realised it. Then, in an act of pure self indulgence, left for AC Milan for a c£5m contract claiming to be “an Arsenal fan” – as if that softens the blow for his departing supporters. However, he left for a team over populated with defensive midfielders, therefore in his Milan career he has only played 51 Seria A games (starts and sub appearances), 3 domestic cup games and a paltry 12 Champions League games. Benchwarmer he is.


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Arsenal – Since Wenger arrived in 1996, he has been building a team made of home-grown players and experience. While the recent incarnation of his dream is yet to bear fruit – and it will – he has relied on youth and a small transfer budget to keep Arsenal competitive. While the Emirates Stadium was under construction and now being repaid, Wenger has purchased the odd player to compliment the team and otherwise acquired youth players and promoted academy players. While the trophy cabinet is bare – this is a bigger achievement than most managers can boast. However, Wenger saw the potential in Cesc and took the gamble in allowing him to play. This is the reason why Cesc is Cesc, why he is a great player and coveted by teams in all countries.

The club itself has always maintained an air of silence around transfers, to protect the player and prevent other clubs gazumping them with overpriced offers and unrealistic wage demands. In stark contrast to Barcelona who have prostituted themselves around buying players such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic for €69m (?) and the unknown Alexandr Hleb for €17m – which either haven’t played or have been shipped off a season later. Anyone who has played Championship Manager knows that you can cheat and spend pots of money building a squad but it doesn’t guarantee success, the irony being that Barcelona have succeeded with talent grown from their academy and not really due to the players they have purchased.

However the key point is that when a player is purchased, they sign a contract. Cesc signed a contract to 2014 stating his commitment to the club and has demonstrated this on the field. He is intelligent and experienced and should know that, like in Spain’s victorious World Cup campaign; he will be a bit-part player, an Omega watch on the Barcelona bed-side table. He wont play as much as will be forced to play in a team of ego’s who only want Cesc for his talent and will drop him like a stone when they can. However, it remains to be seen if this comes to fruition.

So, should Cesc go? I think he should. When a player wishes to leave, a portion of their desire, commitment and indeed form goes with them. Think Henry and Ronaldo in their respective final seasons, they were a shadow of their former greatness and were just a bit-part in a good season. Although having a player like Cesc leave will be a blow in terms of his absence, he won’t be missed in footballing terms.
Luckily, the old adage that Clubs become less prolific when a great player leaves is nonsense. When Henry and Ronaldo left, it made no difference to the quality of Arsenal or Man Utd, Even when Van Nistelrooy left Man Utd; there was no difference to their quality and ability to win trophies or titles.

For Arsenal, if Cesc were to leave, it would leave a void happily filled by the talented Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere and Denilson amongst others. In addition, when Cesc was absent during the 2009-2010 season through injury, he was barely missed. This is due to Wengers ability to adapt and change a squad around a player, if one is absent, another compensates. Therefore, despite being a loyal servant to Arsenal and being a great addition to the squad, if Cesc were to go, it would mean another c£40m in the Bank and the opportunity for a “future Cesc” to take over. However, I am sure we can use him for one final season before he drinks from the poison chalice in Spain….