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Warning: article extremely galling, read at own risk.

Started by ImperialWhite, May 02, 2010, 09:27:26 AM

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ImperialWhite

Warning: article extremely galling, read at own risk. Put away any sharp objects and count to ten.

"Roy Hodgson for romance and Carlo Ancelotti for logic" (re:manager of the year award).

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2010/may/02/roy-hodgson-manager-of-the-year

Since the Premier League began, only one manager-of-the-year award has been bestowed on an individual whose team did not finish top. In 2001 George Burley was honoured for qualifying for the Uefa Cup with an Ipswich team in their first season back in the top flight, leaving Sir Alex Ferguson scantly rewarded for a then unprecedented third successive title.

The Manchester United manager would not have minded the award going to a fellow Scot. He had already won five of the gongs by that stage, has gone on to pick up another four, and probably felt like everyone else that distinctions handed out by sponsors are of comparatively little merit next to honours won on the pitch. Yet Ferguson is currently chief cheerleader for Roy Hodgson as manager of the year. Even if an official award did not exist, the managerial achievement of the season would still be a topic keenly discussed at every level of the game, precisely because the game has so many levels.

If it is a little disappointing that the official award tracks the destination of the title so closely it is hardly surprising, because any other course would be fiendishly difficult as well as endlessly controversial. David Moyes, for instance, has never won a trophy at Everton, yet there have been several seasons when the results and consistency he has produced on a limited budget have been little short of astonishing. Then there are all the relegation firefighters and the managers down through the divisions who produce small-scale miracles against all expectation. Ian Holloway at Blackpool this season comes to mind, as well as Chris Hughton at Newcastle, Steve Cotterill at Notts County and Keith Hill at Rochdale.

Sticking to the Premier League to simplify the argument, this season alone there have been claims made on behalf of Moyes, Harry Redknapp, Martin O'Neill and Tony Pulis, yet realistically, with their present clubs at least, none of those is'' going to get close to a title. Rafael Benítez, on the other hand, has been agonisingly close to a title. In addition to a major miracle in Istanbul and a thrilling FA Cup final win in previous years, his Liverpool side of last season suffered only two league defeats, positively parsimonious compared to the present situation where everyone has lost at least half a dozen, yet manager of the year passed him by. Benítez ultimately had to face the fact that even beating United home and away could not prevent his rival and adversary picking up a third successive title for the second time in his career. It is hard to argue against success on that scale.

So while Hodgson would be a wonderfully romantic and completely deserving choice as manager of the season for his magnificent feat in guiding Fulham to the Europa League final, logic and precedent are not on his side. Carlo Ancelotti is on course to win a league and Cup Double in his first season in England, and no one has ever done that before. Arsène Wenger managed it in his first full season in England, which was a considerable achievement in its own way and earned him the manager-of-the-year award in 1998, though it felt much more like his second season here as he arrived in September of 1996. José Mourinho won just the league in his first season with Chelsea, repeated the achievement the following year, and was manager of the year both times. So Ancelotti could feel aggrieved, to say the least, were a double in his first season to count for nothing.

Manchester United could still derail Chelsea's title bid today, or to be more exact Liverpool could, and were the title to end up at Old Trafford it would be United's fourth in a row, and no one has done that in the entire history of English football. Were Ferguson to claim such a success at the age of 68, breaking Liverpool's record of 18 titles to boot, Hodgson might have to get on the pitch and score the winning goal in Hamburg to wrest the award from its most regular recipient.

The way Fulham's fairytale has been panning out, however, you wouldn't bet against him doing that. Even Ferguson is behind him, describing Fulham's run to the final as one of the best British performances of all time, though he could simply be playing down Chelsea claims. It amounts to little in the scheme of things: it is only a talking point, a matter of opinion. But Fulham's success is unexpected, Chelsea's more or less demanded. And Hodgson has built a squad, with the help of considerable funds from his owner, whereas Ancelotti inherited an already capable one.

Here's the weird bit, though. Hodgson is definitely getting younger. No one else in football management has ever managed to pull off that trick. Hodgson has not just reinvented the glory game, he appears to have stumbled on an antidote to stress as well as the secret of eternal youth. Why stop at manager of the year? Based on his Thursday performances there is still time to be the next prime minister.

ImperialWhite

I did warn you!

Today I shall mostly be cheering for Liverpool and Manchester United :020:

(and Pompey on May 15th too, of course, but that goes without saying).

Jimpav

Slightly galling but hopefully Roy will have the last laugh. He seems to have a lot of mates in football, plus I can't see the likes of Fergie and Wenger voting for Ancelloti. Arise sir Roy.


NogoodBoyo

"Even Ferguson is behind him, describing Fulham's run to the final as one of the best British performances of all time..."

Nogood "never tiring of reading that line from the reindeer, isit" Boyo

blingo

the to55er who penned that is clearly a dark side supporter. Boycott the Gaurdian I say.

Logicalman

Yet another knuckle-dragger ...


"...And Hodgson has built a squad, with the help of considerable funds from his owner, whereas Ancelotti inherited an already capable one..."

Perhaps he forgot the fact that a month after his arrival, Ancelotti purchased Jerk-off for 18 Million - just one purchase - puts Roy's  "considerable funds" into perspective.


Pata

I'm fat, I'm Scouse

LRCN

Quote from: Pata on May 02, 2010, 02:12:40 PM
How much has Hodgson spent/recouped at Fulham?

Probably spent net 20 million. The wage bill I'm sure has gone up though.

Rambling_Syd_Rumpo

"Even Ferguson is behind him, describing Fulham's run to the final as one of the best British performances of all time..."that's says it all really :59:-if Uncle Woy does not win the manager of the season then the award will lose all credibility what so ever,it will just end up a top four carve up-just like everything else :028: