With this season drawing to a fairly anti-climactic end, we can now look back over the season to analyze what could have been done better and look ahead to next season. The weeks after the end of the season is never a safe time for Premier League managers, with many of the relegating teams choosing to part ways with their managers and several of the big boys looking for a change in direction. This season promises to be no different, especially with several big names available in the market. Below, I will discuss how the managers did this season, giving them a score out of ten based how they did compared to the expectation, and whether or not we believe they will be staying or leaving their respective clubs this summer.
1. Chelsea – Jose Mourinho
Review:
This one should be relatively done and dusted. The top pick of Premier League managers who coasted to the EPL title this season. He won’t get a perfect score, however, simply because the expectation was so high and his team hasn’t looked great at times.
Score:
8/10
Verdict:
100% Staying.
2. Manchester City – Manuel Pellegrini
Review:
We expected Manchester City to really challenge (if not win) the Premier League this season. This simply did not happen. Not only did they not challenge for the title, they are probably going to finish 3rd and looked like falling out of the Top Four at one point. The only reason Pellegrini (who I maintain is a good manager) is keeping his job at City is because the golden calf (Pep Gaurdiola) isn’t available this summer or somehow don’t get Carlo Ancelotti, who may be out at Real Madrid. If they can get either of them to be manager, I’d expect to see Pellegrini out the door.
Score:
6/10
Verdict:
Staying, but only because the manager the club wants isn’t available.
3. Arsenal – Arsene Wenger
Review:
My pick for Premier League manager of the season. His Arsenal have looked great at many points in the season and will probably finish 2nd over Manchester City. There were slips at points but for the most part, they have been punching well above their weight ever since the new year. A lot of this is down to how Wenger has set up his team and the players he’s brought in over the summer.
Score:
9/10
Verdict:
Staying. He wants one more crack at the EPL title before leaving.
4. Manchester United – Louis van Gaal
Review:
As many of you can tell from previous articles I’m not totally sold of van Gaal. That being said, they have been consistently less crap than the other 3 teams vying for that Top Four spot. If blame for poor play goes to the manager, then van Gaal should also receive credit for consistently solid play.
Score:
6/10
Verdict:
Staying, but only because he got Top Four.
5. Liverpool – Brendan Rodgers
Review:
This is probably the hardest one to call on the list. Last season was one of the most exhilarating that most Liverpool fans had ever seen. This season, however, has been nothing but constant heartache. Steven Gerrard’s leaving, Sterling won’t sign a new contract, and my God have they played like crap at times. But on the flip side, there has been some moments of absolute beauty and Henderson and Coutinho have really grown as players (along a few others). I had said to our managing editor, Phil, that whether Rodgers would remain at the club over the summer was entirely down to how the season finished. Unfortunately, this season has been looking like it’s ending with a resounding “Meh”, so no hint towards one side or the other. I genuinely believe, however, that we are only having this discussion because a certain German manager will be available. A German manager who Liverpool have been linked with before and the owners really like. So short of a huge uptick in form, I can see Rodgers leaving the club this summer. But only if the owners can convince Klopp to come to Liverpool though.
Score:
4/10
Verdict:
50/50. I’d love to see Rodgers continue, but fear that the draw of Jurgen Klopp may be too tempting for the owners.
6. Tottenham – Mauricio Pochettino
Review:
A fairly bland season for Spurs. There have been multiple times where they looked like they would overtake Liverpool and weren’t far from Top Four but managed to slip up every time. They’ve had some big losses to Top Four rivals and some shock losses to teams they were expected to beat. That said, they’ve looked good at times and it’s certainly a season to build on with lots of room to grow.
Score:
5/10
Verdict:
Safe, but another season or two like this and that’ll change quickly.
7. Southampton – Ronald Koemon
Review:
Ronald Koemon’s Southampton has made a lot of pundits look a little dumb. Prior to the start of the season, when every team was using the club as their own personal shopping mart, many predicted Southampton would be fighting relegation. Even we predicted that! So for Southampton to have been in the Top Four for a large part of the season and to continue to fight for Top Four even after a dip in form. Looks like that managerial masterclass I said Koemon needed to get above 8th happened.
Score:
9/10
Verdict:
Oh yeah, Koemon is definitely staying unless he gets poached by another team.
8. Swansea – Gary Monk
Review:
Many thought that after Michael Laudrup left Swansea, that it’d be tough for them to continue as they had. Many feared that the Swansealona that we had grown accustomed to would shrivel and die. Step forward, Gary Monk. Sorry, I mix those two up a lot. Step forward, Gary Monk. He’s done really well this season, revitalizing a tired looking team and coping well with the loss of Wilfred Bony. I believe Swansea have now established themselves as a consistent midtable team and will be pushing for Europa League next season.
Score:
7/10
Verdict:
Staying.
9. Stoke City – Mark Hughes
Review:
Mark Hughes has taken a staunchly Tony Pulis side and made them usually enjoyable to watch. This is a side that gets a lot of its creative spark from Charlie Adam. So credit to Mark Hughes, who has led Stoke through some troubled waters and into a very safe midtable finish. They’ve definitely entertained on the way there, too (I won’t link to the Stoke-Spurs game for the sake of our resident Spurs fan).
Score:
6/10
Verdict:
Safe.
10. West Ham United – Sam Allardyce
Review:
Big Sam had a great start to the season that was followed by a steady fall down the table. For almost half the season, it appeared as though they would be fighting for a Champions League spot, or at least end up in the Europa League position. It was not to be so and now West Ham are fighting for a top half finish. With Sam Allardyce’s contract ending in the summer and a managerial search supposedly already starting, we can expect this will be Allardyce’s last season at Upton Park.
Score:
6/10
Verdict:
Leaving. Out of Contract.
