Comments on: English Premier League Manager Rankings for 2007/8

By: Jordan

Jordan — Sun, 18 May 2008 14:36:05 +0000

Paul Jewell didnt win a single game!

By: Nathan

Nathan — Sat, 17 May 2008 22:53:48 +0000

Are you joking your telling me that Alex McLeish is worse than Steve Bruce? Do you want to have a look at the statistics its obvious that McLeish got more points for Birmingham this season than Bruce did and Bruce managed in more matches. If Alex McLeish had been with Birmingham from the start they’d have finished much higher than Wigan, Wigan got lucky!

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 15 May 2008 16:37:33 +0000

Though I am not particularly fond of him, I think Curbs deserve to be higher. Look at that injured list and he still brought them in mid table?

By: Sheps

Sheps — Thu, 15 May 2008 16:04:35 +0000

What I mean is, better managers have their teams already in front after the first hour. Ramos had to constantly rely on his substitutes and the last 30 to turn around games, which indicates his tactics and team selections at the start of the game were inadequate.

By: Sam

Sam — Thu, 15 May 2008 15:42:53 +0000

Well yeah, they should. Stuff happens during the first hour or so of the match, and they need to adapt. They’re not mind readers.

By: Sheps

Sheps — Thu, 15 May 2008 15:20:04 +0000

The best managers shouldn’t need to rely on subs in the first place though…

By: Sam

Sam — Thu, 15 May 2008 14:44:19 +0000

Ramos, tenth? What the hell? He’s gotta be in the top 5. No one can sub like Juande can.

By: Sheps

Sheps — Thu, 15 May 2008 14:09:48 +0000

Wow, I disagree with quite a few placings there – Benitez on the Premiership should be way, way, way lower. Southgate and Hodgson should be higher as well. Megson number 2? Really?!!

And I know this is an American blog but…
“I’d argue that the biggest factor in Fulham’s turnaround was the return of Brian McBride. It doesn’t matter how good a manager you are or not. Sometimes you just need your star striker to get fit.”
I think it way more to do with the return of Bullard and his partnership with Murphy. Looking at the four key games that got them safe:
1-0 vs. P’mouth – Bullard fk, Murphy header
2-0 vs. B’Ham – 1 McBride, but again a Bullard fk
3-2 vs. M City – Kamara show, but a Murphy pen
2-0 vs. Reading – a McBride goal from a good Davies cross
McBride was important, but without Bullard’s assists he would have been useless, where as lesser strikers may still have got the goals from the quality delivery you get from Bullard. See: vs. Portsmouth and the small D. Murphy still heading home.

Still was an interesting read and some very good points made!