Premier League Manager of the Season - Your choice?
We are just 10 games away from the conclusion of a brilliant season of Barclays Premier League. With the title yet to be decided, Champions League places up for grabs and the last team to be relegated not confirmed, this has surely been a tantazingly dramatic battle for nine long months. There have been some real success stories and a few abysmal ones,which is what made this edition all the more exciting. And for all the good football that we have had to witness, not just the men in shorts but equal credit goes to the man in the dark suit standing by the touchline. As it draws to a close, we look at three of the managers who could have won the Manager of the Season award. They are in no specific order.
Roy Hodgson will be in charge of the Baggies till season end
1. Roy Hodgson- The current Baggies manager and newly appointed England manager has quietly done a wonderful job with this limited West Brom squad. After being sacked from Liverpool, Hodgson has gone on to engineer a truly historic campaign for the club. If they hold onto their league position come the end of final gameweek, that will be West Brom’s highest finish in the Premier League in three decades. Hodgson did some really shrewd business in the summer, their marquee signing being Shane Long for an undisclosed fee. The goalkeeping crisis was sorted out immediately by bringing in former United shot stopper Ben Foster on loan from Birmingham. Foster has been a key figure in the Baggies’ side and has performed brilliantly over the course of season, most recent being against Liverpool winning himself the man of the match. Hodgson also added to his squad defender Gareth McAuley and Zoltan Gera on free transfers. Peter Odemwingie, their top striker was much expected to leave the club but Roy ensured that he stays on, knowing very well how key he was to the club’s fight for survival. Hodgson’s most prized scalps this season would be win against Chelsea and draw against Man City, but nothing would have been sweeter than the win against his former employers Liverpool. With just 5 points separating the two teams, this man has certainly made a point to the Merseyside club.
Champions League calling?
2. Alan Pardew- Alan Pardew became the manager of Newcastle United amidst great skepticism among fans. But he has ever since then he has done precious enough to have the fans chanting his name, a clear favorite among the Geordies. The Magpies finished their last season in 12thmeaning very few expected them to be contesting for Europe this season. But the manager made some terrific signings over the transfer markets to instantly transforming the Tyneside club to a formidable force in England. Former West Ham striker Demba Ba joined the club on a free transfer in the beginning of the season. Davide Santon joined from Inter and frenchman Gabriel Obertan was signed from United. Yohann Cabaye and Sylvain Marveaux was added to the midfield and to the list of a large french contingent in the squad. Cabaye,an integral part of Newcastle’s team, has proved to be a great signing for them forming what could be a very balanced central midfield partnership alongside Cheik Tiote. Tim Krul had no more benchwarming to do this season and became Newcastle’s numero uno under the bar, another top move by the boss. Krul has been a player to watch this season, going to head to head with Joe Hart in the race to win the Golden Glove award. Then the masterstroke came in the winter transfer window, when Papiss Demba Cisse joined them from Bundesliga side SC Freiburg. Having just been for half a season,the Senegalese striker has set the Premier League alight by scoring 13 goals 13 appearances which includes a ‘goal of the season’ strike against Chelsea.
If Newcastle can finish off the season in style and secure a top four finish that would mean guaranteed European football for them next term, Champions League or Europa League depending on the outcome of the final on 19th May. But having defeated and drawn United this season, getting the better of Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea as well, Pardew has surely done a brilliant job with the side. Although Graham Carr deserves special mention for doing a fantastic job scouting players, Pardew deserves all the plaudits.
Here to stay
3. Brendan Rodgers- Swansea City has been a real surprise package this season. Under their boss Brendan Rodgers, not only have they managed to get points against top sides but also played some real free flowing football. Few would have trusted Rodgers when he said that Swansea would continue their passing style football into the top flight but they have indeed done that much to the delight of Swansea fans and neutrals. Rodgers had to add to his squad to be competitive after securing promotion and so he did by roping in goalkeeper Michel Vorm, who has grabbed enough eye balls this season with his spectacular saves. He also signed striker Leroy Lita and Wayne Routledge to bring some pace into the wide areas. But the decision to sign Danny Graham from Watford, the Championship’s top scorer for the 2010-11 season, for a paltry sum of £3.5m proved to be a masterstroke as he went onto be the club’s top goal scorer this season netting 11 league goals. Rodgers’ greatest moments this season must have come against Man City and Arsenal, getting the better of both of them once. Besides, they also managed draws against Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle and Tottenham rounding off a good season for the club. After January,Swansea did suffer a slump in form but thanks to their brilliant first half of the season they managed to stay safe and steer clear from relegation fight. Rodgers’ deserves the attention coming his way for being brave,not many managers can try to pass the ball against top sides in Premier League. Rodgers’ has been tied down at the club with a three and a half year deal and here is hoping him to lead Swansea to higher achievements in future.
Special mention for Norwich manager Paul Lambert. He missed out narrowly. Looking forward to more additions from the readers.