Paul Guardiola? Joe Mourinho? Looking for the next Managerial Star
by Chris
Welcome to the twelfth day of the Sporting Lowdown advent calendar! This will be continued until the 24th December so any requests for my opinion will most likely be included in the 24 and in the future.
The Premier League is well documented to not have many English and British managers, with the highest finishing manager from the British Isles finishing 9th, which was Bournemouth's Eddie Howe. Here are some of the football league's most underrated managers who perhaps deserve a chance in the elite of the Premier League, or at least in a higher position than the position they are in. There will be 2 managers per League, containing the reasons why I think they deserve to be higher and why.
Sky Bet League Two :
Nathan Jones
Luton Town manager and former player Jones was appointed manager at the beginning of last year, guiding Luton from a point away from relegation to 11th place in 2015/16. He made his mark on the squad in that particular summer, releasing 12 and signing 8 in order to boost the optimism of the Hatters supporters. In the entire season they spent 1 week outside the top 7, taking his team all the way to the Playoff Semi-Final only to be knocked out by eventual winners Blackpool. This season though they are echoing the silky football, alike of Manchester City, only in League Two, with a goal difference 17 more than any other team in the division, scoring 13 more than anyone else, and conceding fewer than anyone else. He has also guided his team to the third round of the FA Cup, in which they will face Rafa Benitez's Newcastle at St James's Park. Although a slim chance of progression, attention will surely be put on the Welshman and what a decent job he's currently doing. I would not be surprised at all if they were in League One next season, in fact I'd be more surprised if they weren't, but if I were a Hatter I would be more worried if my manager would still be at the club in the coming seasons.
Paul Tisdale
The longest serving manager in English football excluding Arsene Wenger, the dapper Maltese-born manager has been in charge at St James's Park since 2006, and has led them from the Conference to League One until 2012 then have been in League Two since. Paul Tisdale is the epitome of loyalty and success, bringing stability and consistency to the Grecians. This season they are continuing their excellent form from last season and sit in 4th place behind Luton, Notts County and Accrington Stanley. The good thing for Tisdale is that he potentially has 25-30 years left in his managerial career, even though he's already completed 16 years with Team Bath and Exeter, so he has space to grow, improve and adapt to his surroundings. He did go one step further last season that Jones and Luton and reached the Wembley final, but also lost to the Tangerines. I don't think Exeter will be too concerned, but if a big championship club did come in for Tisdale, then he'd be a fool not to take it. He has such managerial potential and it would be a shame to waste it down in League 2.
Sky Bet League One:
Paul Hurst
Its fair to say Shrewsbury's fantastic start to the 2017/18 season has been well documented. Although a drop in form of late, the Shropshire outfit still occupy 2nd place against all the odds in League One. A lot of this is down to manager Paul Hurst, who was appointed in October last season when they were one of four teams in the relegation places, and steered them to 18th place and a solid foundation, which they've most certainly built on at the beginning of this season. Hurst himself began his managerial career alongside Rob Scott, at non-league clubs Ilkeston Town, Boston United and Grimsby Town, before Scott left for Hurst to pursue his solo managerial career. He stayed at Grimsby till he was appointed manager of The Shrews and he obviously has a style of play which suits multiple leagues. If they manage to make the Playoffs this season, I'm sure there will be takers at higher levels or bigger clubs with bigger budgets.
Paul Cook
A running theme of Paul's here, but the Wigan manager has led them back to the top of League One so far this season. The scouser led Portsmouth to the League Two title last season before heading to the Latics after the season finished. Cook boasts possibly the biggest budget in the League but he's doing perfectly well with it, leading Hurst's Shrews by 4 points after 20 games. Boasting attacking threats such as cult hero Will Grigg, former United wonderkid Nick Powell, and Newcastle loanee Ivan Toney, Wigan should be a huge contender for promotion and I would be surprised if they weren't back in the Championship next season. Cook himself began his managerial career in 2006 when he took the job at local club Southport. He then after a successful season was appointed Sligo Rovers manager, where he remained for 5 years, winning 2 FAI Cups and one league cup under severe financial constraints. He moved to Accrington STanley in 2012, and after impressing in a 6 month spell, joined League two rivals Chesterfield, where he guided them to a title and promotion to League One in his second season at the club. After guiding Chesterfield to 6th in League One and a playoff place, he joined Portsmouth for a compensation fee. After orchestrating their title win, he was appointed Wigan manager and well, the rest is to be seen.
EFL Championship
Lee Johnson
The 36 year old is one of the hottest management prospects in English football, and his Bristol City team are overachieving hugely, finding themselves in 3rd place, 4 points behind Neil Warnock's Cardiff. Boasting Bobby Reid and Famara Diedhiou as a lethal front two, they are the joint second top scorers behind league leaders Wolves. Also, a special mention to Aden Flint, who's scored 35 goals for City in the 4 and a half years, including a remarkable 16 in their title winning season in League One, and he's a centre back! He was wanted by West Ham and West Brom in the summer, but it looks like he could give the Premier League a shot under Johnson at Ashton Gate. Johnson himself however, after retiring in 2013, was immediately handed the job at Oldham Athletic at the age of 31. Famously the son of fellow football league manager Gary Johnson, and beat his dad 1-0 the very same season when he was manager of Yeovil Town. Barnsley quickly noticed the potential of former Kilmarnock midfielder, and snapped him up to replace Danny Wilson at Oakwell. Johnson guided the Tykes to the playoff places until February 2016 where he joined current club Bristol City. Barnsley did win the Playoffs that year, and Johnson won 7 of 16 Championship games to comfortably see the Robins finish twelfth. The next season Bristol City were embroiled in a relegation dogfight, although boasting Chelsea loanee Tammy Abraham who hit 26 league goals for them. Johnson retained his job and it seems to be the correct decision if they continue their excellent form in to the new year and beyond.
Gary Rowett
Another fantastic managerial prospect, Gary Rowett currently manages Derby in the Championship. After somewhat unjustly being sacked by the new owners at Birmingham City where he stably orchestrated them finishing 10th the previous season after being relegation favourites, he was three positions higher in seventh when removed from his job and replaced by Gianfranco Zola. Their magnificent start to this season has been down to a stern defence and a man in-form Matej Vydra, who's scored 13 goals, averaging a goal every 89 minutes. The Czech had seemed to have gone off the rails since he left Watford, but his scintillating form this season must have something to do with the style of Rowett. He began his coaching career at Burton Albion, being appointed assistant to new manager Paul Peschisolido in 2009, and given his first taste of management in a caretaker role later in 2012. He was subsequently given the job, and led them to consecutive playoff places before rejecting the chance to join struggling Blackpool in the Championship. He joined Birmingham that October with Albion in the automatic promotion places. He joined City, guiding them to 10th, with Burton also getting promoted under Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. An unexpected sacking in 2016 has led to him being appointed Derby manager to replace Steve McClaren. Rowett's adaptability is clear to see, playing flamboyant attacking football at times and sometimes being overly sturdy defensively, making it difficult to watch, I certainly think he will be a Premier League manager sooner or later, whether with Derby or another club.
I hope you enjoyed this third of what was meant to be a triple header but now is the first of a double header. Blogger's been weird recently so I do appreciate your patience. Any other managers you wish me to do a review on please let me know
Thanks,
Chris
Welcome to the twelfth day of the Sporting Lowdown advent calendar! This will be continued until the 24th December so any requests for my opinion will most likely be included in the 24 and in the future.
The Premier League is well documented to not have many English and British managers, with the highest finishing manager from the British Isles finishing 9th, which was Bournemouth's Eddie Howe. Here are some of the football league's most underrated managers who perhaps deserve a chance in the elite of the Premier League, or at least in a higher position than the position they are in. There will be 2 managers per League, containing the reasons why I think they deserve to be higher and why.
Sky Bet League Two :
Nathan Jones
Luton Town manager and former player Jones was appointed manager at the beginning of last year, guiding Luton from a point away from relegation to 11th place in 2015/16. He made his mark on the squad in that particular summer, releasing 12 and signing 8 in order to boost the optimism of the Hatters supporters. In the entire season they spent 1 week outside the top 7, taking his team all the way to the Playoff Semi-Final only to be knocked out by eventual winners Blackpool. This season though they are echoing the silky football, alike of Manchester City, only in League Two, with a goal difference 17 more than any other team in the division, scoring 13 more than anyone else, and conceding fewer than anyone else. He has also guided his team to the third round of the FA Cup, in which they will face Rafa Benitez's Newcastle at St James's Park. Although a slim chance of progression, attention will surely be put on the Welshman and what a decent job he's currently doing. I would not be surprised at all if they were in League One next season, in fact I'd be more surprised if they weren't, but if I were a Hatter I would be more worried if my manager would still be at the club in the coming seasons.
Paul Tisdale
The longest serving manager in English football excluding Arsene Wenger, the dapper Maltese-born manager has been in charge at St James's Park since 2006, and has led them from the Conference to League One until 2012 then have been in League Two since. Paul Tisdale is the epitome of loyalty and success, bringing stability and consistency to the Grecians. This season they are continuing their excellent form from last season and sit in 4th place behind Luton, Notts County and Accrington Stanley. The good thing for Tisdale is that he potentially has 25-30 years left in his managerial career, even though he's already completed 16 years with Team Bath and Exeter, so he has space to grow, improve and adapt to his surroundings. He did go one step further last season that Jones and Luton and reached the Wembley final, but also lost to the Tangerines. I don't think Exeter will be too concerned, but if a big championship club did come in for Tisdale, then he'd be a fool not to take it. He has such managerial potential and it would be a shame to waste it down in League 2.
Sky Bet League One:
Paul Hurst
Its fair to say Shrewsbury's fantastic start to the 2017/18 season has been well documented. Although a drop in form of late, the Shropshire outfit still occupy 2nd place against all the odds in League One. A lot of this is down to manager Paul Hurst, who was appointed in October last season when they were one of four teams in the relegation places, and steered them to 18th place and a solid foundation, which they've most certainly built on at the beginning of this season. Hurst himself began his managerial career alongside Rob Scott, at non-league clubs Ilkeston Town, Boston United and Grimsby Town, before Scott left for Hurst to pursue his solo managerial career. He stayed at Grimsby till he was appointed manager of The Shrews and he obviously has a style of play which suits multiple leagues. If they manage to make the Playoffs this season, I'm sure there will be takers at higher levels or bigger clubs with bigger budgets.
Paul Cook
A running theme of Paul's here, but the Wigan manager has led them back to the top of League One so far this season. The scouser led Portsmouth to the League Two title last season before heading to the Latics after the season finished. Cook boasts possibly the biggest budget in the League but he's doing perfectly well with it, leading Hurst's Shrews by 4 points after 20 games. Boasting attacking threats such as cult hero Will Grigg, former United wonderkid Nick Powell, and Newcastle loanee Ivan Toney, Wigan should be a huge contender for promotion and I would be surprised if they weren't back in the Championship next season. Cook himself began his managerial career in 2006 when he took the job at local club Southport. He then after a successful season was appointed Sligo Rovers manager, where he remained for 5 years, winning 2 FAI Cups and one league cup under severe financial constraints. He moved to Accrington STanley in 2012, and after impressing in a 6 month spell, joined League two rivals Chesterfield, where he guided them to a title and promotion to League One in his second season at the club. After guiding Chesterfield to 6th in League One and a playoff place, he joined Portsmouth for a compensation fee. After orchestrating their title win, he was appointed Wigan manager and well, the rest is to be seen.
EFL Championship
Lee Johnson
The 36 year old is one of the hottest management prospects in English football, and his Bristol City team are overachieving hugely, finding themselves in 3rd place, 4 points behind Neil Warnock's Cardiff. Boasting Bobby Reid and Famara Diedhiou as a lethal front two, they are the joint second top scorers behind league leaders Wolves. Also, a special mention to Aden Flint, who's scored 35 goals for City in the 4 and a half years, including a remarkable 16 in their title winning season in League One, and he's a centre back! He was wanted by West Ham and West Brom in the summer, but it looks like he could give the Premier League a shot under Johnson at Ashton Gate. Johnson himself however, after retiring in 2013, was immediately handed the job at Oldham Athletic at the age of 31. Famously the son of fellow football league manager Gary Johnson, and beat his dad 1-0 the very same season when he was manager of Yeovil Town. Barnsley quickly noticed the potential of former Kilmarnock midfielder, and snapped him up to replace Danny Wilson at Oakwell. Johnson guided the Tykes to the playoff places until February 2016 where he joined current club Bristol City. Barnsley did win the Playoffs that year, and Johnson won 7 of 16 Championship games to comfortably see the Robins finish twelfth. The next season Bristol City were embroiled in a relegation dogfight, although boasting Chelsea loanee Tammy Abraham who hit 26 league goals for them. Johnson retained his job and it seems to be the correct decision if they continue their excellent form in to the new year and beyond.
Gary Rowett
Another fantastic managerial prospect, Gary Rowett currently manages Derby in the Championship. After somewhat unjustly being sacked by the new owners at Birmingham City where he stably orchestrated them finishing 10th the previous season after being relegation favourites, he was three positions higher in seventh when removed from his job and replaced by Gianfranco Zola. Their magnificent start to this season has been down to a stern defence and a man in-form Matej Vydra, who's scored 13 goals, averaging a goal every 89 minutes. The Czech had seemed to have gone off the rails since he left Watford, but his scintillating form this season must have something to do with the style of Rowett. He began his coaching career at Burton Albion, being appointed assistant to new manager Paul Peschisolido in 2009, and given his first taste of management in a caretaker role later in 2012. He was subsequently given the job, and led them to consecutive playoff places before rejecting the chance to join struggling Blackpool in the Championship. He joined Birmingham that October with Albion in the automatic promotion places. He joined City, guiding them to 10th, with Burton also getting promoted under Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. An unexpected sacking in 2016 has led to him being appointed Derby manager to replace Steve McClaren. Rowett's adaptability is clear to see, playing flamboyant attacking football at times and sometimes being overly sturdy defensively, making it difficult to watch, I certainly think he will be a Premier League manager sooner or later, whether with Derby or another club.
I hope you enjoyed this third of what was meant to be a triple header but now is the first of a double header. Blogger's been weird recently so I do appreciate your patience. Any other managers you wish me to do a review on please let me know
Thanks,
Chris
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