The Times top 50 managers. Sure to generate some debate. I find some of the selections strange but I can’t disagree on the top two.
The always interesting Simon Kuper on Northern Ireland. This was written before Gillespie and McCartney started to scrap about who was getting the window seat.
The North London derby pits two managers "enjoying" vastly different degrees of job security. While Arsene Wenger has just signed a new contract that should keep him with Arsenal for four more seasons, his opposite number Martin Jol isn’t sure that he will be around for four more games. As far as this game is concerned history is not on Jol’s side. Spurs last win against Arsenal was at White Hart Lane in November 1999 under George Graham and since then David Pleat, Glenn Hoddle, Jacques Santini and the present incumbent have all failed to put one over on Wenger’s Arsenal.
However, draws and late equalizers have been par for the last seven North London derby games at White Hart Lane. Six of the last seven Premiership games between these two teams at White Hart Lane have finished as draws and four of the six have seen equalizing goals coming in the 89th minute or later. Spurs have pulled a rabbit out of the hat three times and Arsenal once.
If you are looking for likely scorers then Robbie Keane might be the man – four goals in 12 appearances against Arsenal. On the other hand Robin van Persie has yet to score against Spurs in five matches.
With a disappointing start and the prospect of Chelsea visiting Old Trafford next weekend three points is a priority for Manchester United when they play Everton at Goodison. Goals – or the lack of goals – have been the major problem for United but they face an Everton side that traditionally does poorly against them.
Everton has only recorded three wins in thirty Premiership matches against United and last seasons collapse must still be a fresh memory. Leading 2-0 and with Ian Turner starting in goal for Tim Howard, Everton gave up four unanswered goals on a day that all but sealed the title for the Red Devils. Ronaldo was thrown into the match with the Everton leading 2-1 and he contributed two helpers to turn the game around. After serving his suspension for a red card against Portsmouth Ferguson will look to Ronaldo once more.
Tim Howard’s availability will depend upon the finger injury he picked up against Brazil last Sunday. Howard has yet to record a shut out this season as Everton has conceded a goal in each of their five matches. In attack the Toffees have scored eight goals but none have come from the normally reliable Andy Johnson. Johnson has now gone ten Premiership games without a goal – his longest unproductive spell in the top league.
When Johnson signed from Crystal Palace Everton fans were hopeful that he would be their first 20 a season goal scorer since Peter Beardsley in the 1991-92 season. The hope may now be shared with new signing Yakubu Aiyegbeni. Twenty a season may be a bit much to hope for (his scoring per season has been 16, 12, 13, and 12) but as the stats show Yakubu has been a consistent scorer since he arrived at Portsmouth for the 2004 season. Fifty-three goals in 138 appearances gives him an average o####oal every 2.60 games.
The Chicago Fire has been blazing a trail to MLS play-offs lately with four wins and a draw in their last seven matches. A haul of 13 points contrasts with only six points picked up in the previous 12 games and it is difficult not to trace the improvement to the arrival of Blanco. However, one of the recent losses did come against the inconsistent New York Red Bulls at the beginning of September in New York. The Red Bulls have not won away from home since July 8 when they beat Colorado and overall their away record is almost a perfect inverse of their home record. At home 12 games, 8 wins, 3 losses and a draw, for 24 against 11; Away record 12 games, 3 wins, 7 losses and 2 draws, for 13 against 24.
In Serie A the visit of Roma to Reggina catches the eye. After only two matches only Roma and Juventus can boast of perfect records. Roma has won only once on their last four trips to Reggina and lost twice. What's more they have been held scoreless in three of those games. However, it will be a different looking Reggina squad that did well to overcome an 11-point penalty last season and survive courtesy of a last day win over Milan. Rolando Bianchi, a source of 18 goals last season, left to sign for Manchester City. Also gone are Coach Walter Mazzarri (Sampdoria), Giacomo Tedesco (Catania), Alessandro Lucarelli (Siena), and Mesto (Udinese).
To compensate Francesco Cozza has returned to the club for his third stint after a short spell with Siena and Icelandic midfielder Emil Hallfredsson took a circuitous route to Reggina. Hallfredsson was sold by Spurs to Lyn of Norway only to be moved to Reggina only two weeks later. It was Hallfredsson who scored against Spain for Iceland last Saturday in a 1-1 draw. Roma’s Alberto Aquilani so far has scored two stunning goals from distance and will be looking to make it three in three games. Roma faces a tough schedule in the next few weeks with games against Juventus, Fiorentina, Inter, Parma, Napoli, Milan and Lazio in succession. Plus they have the Champions League as well.
The shock result of round two in Serie A was Napoli’s 5-0 away hammering of Udinese. Napoli hadn't scored five away from home in Serie A since 1929 and they did it against a team that had played well while drawing with champions Inter Milan the week before. The star for Napoli was Ezequiel Lavezzi with a goal and two assists. He was signed from San Lorenzo for around $4M this past summer and he has of course been annointed the new “Maradona”. Also prominent against Udinese was former Juventus striker Marcelo Zalayeta who scored twice. Sampdoria is still with Antonio Cassano and he is expected to be out for a month with a left thigh injury. Cassano was hurt during a friendly with Swiss team that was arranged in order to help get Cassano fit!
In Spain newly promoted side Almeria started with a 3-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna before losing at home to Valencia 2-1. This weekend they travel to the capital to play last season’s champions Real Madrid. Almeria, who finished as runners-up in the second division last year, are in the top flight for only the third time and most pundits have them marked down for one of the three relegation spots. They will not be helped by the fact that striker Alvaro Negredo (a goal in each of the first two games) cannot play as Real Madrid retained an option on his future services before allowing him to join the newly promoted club.
The Bundesliga has the two remaining undefeated teams facing each other this weekend. However, Bayern Munich has won three and drawn the other of their four games; Schalke has drawn three and only won one. What’s more Bayern has yet to concede a goal at home and are the only side to notch double figures in goals scored. After finishing fourth last season - their worst position for 12 years – Bayern has left no doubt that they plan to retake the Bundesliga title by uncharacteristically spending a lot of money.
Ze Roberto is back for a second spell with Bayern Munich and although he used to play on the left side of midfield his is now playing in front of the defense. Other signings Franck Ribery, Luca Toni, Hamit Altintop and Miroslav Klose have also started well as has Hamit Altintop. Altintop will line-up playing against his former club after making a Bosman move this summer. Bayern’s home record against Schalke in Bundesliga play at home is an impressive 27-5-5.
Last but not least the Old Timers play-offs get underway Saturday. It is going to be a painful Sunday and Monday.
Graeme Le Saux ,one of very few ,if not the only ,footballer capable of writing an autobiography!
The first installment was better yet,it showed up Robbie Fowler for the #### that he really is.
Reading the top 50 managers I have few disagreements but to have Rafa Benetiz ranked 33 and have Mourinho 17 spots above him and Wenger 24 is just ridiculous. There was too much weight put into winning the league in England.
Wenger has yet to taste European success with Arsenal, how is he 9? Ditto for Mourinho at Chelsea, how is he 16?
I can't argue with the top 2 because I never saw them manage but from everything I've read Paisley did a much better job and totally dominated an era, even more so than Sir Alex has done thus far.
LGB - you have no idea how bad things where at the Bridge in the late `70s and `80s.
If it where not for Batesy ,RA would not have had a Chelsea to buy.
In which case ,it would be someone like Tottenham that everyone would hate today!
During Euro 1996 I worked at several of the Wembley games as I was (still am) employed by one of the sponsors. Graeme Le Saux, who was injured at the time, was doing some work for us.
One of the most polite and educated professional sports personalities I've ever had the privilege of meeting.
The horrific abuse he endured by other professionals (and I use that term loosely) should not be tolerated in the game. Fowler, was and still is, a ####. As a viewing public we seem quick to look away due to talent, but his behaviour should not be tolerated in sport.
Atleti-
It's interesting that Oleguer is politically active, being a Barca supporter I did not know this story. I have lived in Barcelona so I know what an insular society it is.
I think it's somewhat amusing that he got arrested for throwing stones at the policia. He's an outfield football player. Who knew that he could throw anything?
Look at some of our American sportsmen, they are known for being bible thumpers, praising incompotent congressman and our delusional president in campaign ads, beating their wives, killing pets, murder, drug and alcohol addiction etc.
Oleguer's story is a bit refreshing whether you agree with his politics or not.
That's a funny and spot on anecdote about Espanyol's supporters. Thanks for that.
I know you are a Atletico supporter but if it was allowed in your household and if you are interested there is a
a great historical book about the city of Barcelona and Catalunya.
The Aussie art critic Robert Hughes wrote it. It's called, Barcelona.
Oleguer is a jerk b/c he is taunted at most stadiums? that doesn't make sense. THat article gave me no reason to believe he is a jerk. There must be more to it.
Jerk! Jerk! Jerk! ;) I've never been a fan of Oleguer, I confess: I don't think he's good enough to play for Barcelona (I believe he's still around because he is the one player that represents a lot of what Barcelona are about).
Gongatore, I'm surprised you don't know more about his political activism! Google his name and you'll find a host of information on it. In many ways, he's more known for that than his actual playing ability and performances.
He's so strongly anti-Spain (and pro- Catalunya independence) that he refused a callup a few years ago, saying that he would never play for the national team.
Ringo; Before Abramovich bought Chelsea, he tried to buy Tottenham.
And was thoroughly, even rudely, rebuked. Some say he's set out to punish Spurs every way he can since then, i.e., not selling players to them that want to transfer there.
Spurs might be eager(deshperate, shurely. ed.) to get back into the top flight, but not enough to accept the money from a modern-day fortune with too many dirty secrets and uncomfortable questions behind its creation.
AND, since I mentioned it earlier, what a fun night it must have been for the Tartan Army in Paris. Didn't read ONE report of trouble that night. God's Own Supporters.
McFadden's goal is something else, straight into the Route One Hall of Fame - Gordon to McFadden, McFadden to GOOOAL! Checkmate.
I wonder in amazement at what some journos and sports writers write!
Busby is not considered better than SAF at Old Trafford to the best of my knowldege, and based on performance and achievement, how can anyone rate SAF worse than Busby?
Which sums up really what this artical is worth.
If it is a Europe wide pool one considers for the top 50, then European tournaments should be a measure within the decision making process. All of which, in my humble opinion, leaves us with 'Sir' Bob third at least and SAF 4th or 5th (I allow for those among my fellow red diehards who would rate Sir Bill a better coach than SAF).
The `geezer' who wrote that top 50 artical should maybe read a little on the subject and watch a few archived games. Definitely a sandwich short of a picnic.
Nuff said.
I can rate Busby higher than Ferguson because he was the original. Busby took a team that had no history and a bombed stadium and turned it into a team known throughout the world. Without Busby there would not have been a Manchester United for Fergie to take over. If you are just going to rank managers by how many trophies they have won then that is a very straight forward list. If you factor in legacy and impact on the game then it more challenging. I guess that you don't think much of Rinus Michels either considering that is trophy haul was reasonably limited to a dozen or so?
Great article on Norn Iron. While the fans at Windsor are almost all from the loyalist community, some wins might begin to change that. If NI were to make Euro it could make it easier for Catholics to get behind the team: how do you start supporting a team that loses more than the one you currently hold dear? (Northern Irish of all creeds could be called masochistic but there are limits).
We have called our local team, the Shore Road "Brazilians" for years and the run down stadium they play in the "Theater of Dreams". The sense of humor of the citizenry may be the best salve to bring them all to the same park, Windsor or any other.
I know of three mixed marriages!! As unheard of 15 years ago as a win at Windsor.
Thanks for the article Bobby.
Last edited by ulsterson on September 16th at 4:09 PM.
I have no problem with the top two on the list, which is why I put BP as my 3rd in the list as is and only commented on the 3rd thru 5th. I think `Sir` Bob Paisley is certainly Britain's best ever manager by a mile.
When one compares and discusses any manager's achievemnts then 'Sir' Bob Paisley, the man who never wanted to manage Liverpool, has the following unparalled CV of achievements for his spell as gaffer 1974 -83:
Honours: 6 LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS 1975-76, 1976-77, 1978-79, 1979-80, 1981-82, 1982-83
3 EUROPEAN CUPS 1976-77, 1977-78, 1980-81
3 LEAGUE CUPS 1980-81, 1981-82, 1982-83
1 UEFA CUP 1975-76
1 EUROPEAN SUPER CUP 1976-77
5 CHARITY SHIELDS 1974, 1976, 1977 (shared), 1980, 1982
6 MANAGER OF THE YEAR AWARDS 1975-76, 1976-77, 1978-79, 1979-80, 1981-82, 1982-83
RUNNERS UP League Championship - 1974-75, 1977-78 FA Cup - 1976-77 League Cup - 1977-78 European Super Cup - 1978 World Club Championship - 1981
HONOURS AS PLAYER:1 LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP 1946-47
1 FA CUP 1949-50*
There is no space to place the other top contenders CVs but no other British manager can compare to this in my humble opinion, hence 3rd on the list.
Last edited by redfan2000 on September 16th at 4:09 PM.
Re the point about rebuilding: so much of what is laid as a foundation to build upon is due to a given board or chairman. Look at how money has changed the fortunes so many clubs now. JM would not even be at Chelsea but for Abramovich.
Sir Matt Busby had huge support in what he achieved yet it took how many years after him for that to produce what the 90's saw? How many managers after Sir Matt did Utd have before SAF arrived??
Had Sir Matt's immediate successors done the business SAF has, you could argue what you do. I think SAF is better and should be ranked above Sir Matt.
Bob Paisley - Liverpool - 6 League Titles, 3 European Cups, 1 UEFA Cup, 5 Shields,
3 League Cups, 1 European Super Cup
Sir Alex Ferguson - Manchester United - 9 League Titles, 1 European Cup, 5 FA Cups, 5 Shields, 2 League Cups, 1 Cup Winners Cup, 1 Intercontinetal Cup, 1 European Super Cup
Aberdeen - 3 League Titles, 4 Scottish Cups, 1 Scottish League Cup,
1 Cup Winners Cup, 1 European Super Cup
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