Rating the new and possible managerial changes in the Premier League
The transfer season has already started buzzing. Never in the recent past have we seen so many managerial changes before a single Premier League season. Now, let us try to analyse and possibly, rate all these moves.
# 5 – Mark Hughes to Stoke City
Can Hughes overcome his failures at QPR?
Status: Confirmed
Who is he replacing: Tony Pulis, the man who made the Britannia Stadium a fortress. Tony Pulis won automatic promotion with Stoke in 2008 and has never finished lower than 14th in league since. He also took his team to a FA Cup Finals against Manchester City in 2010.
Why Mark Hughes: No idea actually. Early reports suggested that Rafael Benitez might be the man for the job. Later, we’ve had rumours that Steve Bould, Arsene Wenger’s no.2 and an ex-Stoke player might take over. But the seat went to Mark Hughes.
When you see what happened with Mark Hughes before 2009, you will be impressed. In the five years he spent managing Wales and the four years at Blackburn Rovers, he was impressive. His Blackburn team was one of the most physical teams that the league had ever seen. And, he was never sacked in either of these spells.
In 2008, he was signed by Manchester City and was given seemingly unlimited funds. He didn’t fare well and was promptly sacked. He had a moderate stay for 11 months at Fulham before moving to QPR. He went twelve games without a win and was sacked.
So, is Mark Hughes the man for Stoke? He has done relatively well with mid-table teams and if he can adapt to Stoke’s long ball style of play, he could be a success.
Rating: C
#4 – Roberto Martinez to Everton
Status: Heavily linked
Who is he replacing: David Moyes, who leaves the club to manage Manchester United.
Why Martinez: He is the logical choice for this job and I would be surprised if they give the seat to anyone else. Wigan Athletic have fended off interest from Liverpool and Aston Villa in the past for Martinez, but now they are not in the Premier League.
Martinez is known by many as the “escape artist”, known for his expertise in avoiding relegation. He has operated with virtually a non-existent budget so far. It would be interesting to see what he can do with a group of more talented players and a little bit higher transfer budget.
Rating: B+
#3 – Manuel Pellegrini to Manchester City
Status: Almost Confirmed.
Who is he replacing: Roberto Mancini, the man who has given Manchester City a FA Cup title and the first league title in 44 years. Mancini, however, didn’t manage to pose a title threat in his third season at the club and was miserable in his two European outings.
Why Pellegrini: Pellegrini obviously has a wealth of experience, having managed 10 teams in his career. He moved to Villareal in 2004 and has been noted for his tactical expertise ever since. He has never won a major trophy in Europe but his tactical presence is amazing.
He had a fateful spell at Real Madrid where he was given no control over team selection and transfers. He then moved to Malaga and despite their financial difficulties, made them progress to the Champions League where they were pegged back in the quarter finals by an offside goal in stoppage time by eventual finalists Borussia Dortmund.
He is tactically strong which would be necessary for a team that has as many superstars at Manchester City. He is a gracious face that Manchester City desperately need.
But he has never been tested at this level. He is new to the Premiership and what he can do with the big budgets of Manchester City is still unclear. He was effective at Villareal and Malaga but not at Real Madrid, who are more apt in a comparison with Manchester City. City could have gone with a manager who would suit their mould.
Rating: B-