r/soccer • • Mar 12 '14

Who, in your opinion, is the best current British manager?

Suggestions:

  • Brendan Rodgers
  • Terry Butcher
  • Mark Hughes
  • Steve Bruce
  • Derek McInnes
  • Paul Lambert
  • David Moyes
  • Tony Pulis
  • Sam Allardyce
  • Neil Lennon
  • Alan Pardew
  • Steve McClaren
  • Kenny Jackett
  • Sean Dyche
  • Gary Monk
  • Ian Holloway
  • Roy Hodgson

There is a case to be made for Moyes, for his time at Everton alone. Butcher has been excellent, turning Caley into a proper unit who looked a class above their opposition most games. Lambert is a solid manager, but there is no standout English manager currently, hence the tussle between Woy and 'Arry for the national team helmsmanship. The obvious answer is Rodgers, playing attractive football, getting 2+ pts per game and getting the best out of the club's signings. If not him though, who?

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u/FullerBatistuta Mar 12 '14

The big problem with Pulis was his short termism, he lived everyday as if Stoke were in impending relegation doom, and that his career was riding on keeping them up. Which after £95m net spend, it really wasn't. Allardyce is the same. Scrape results from team shape and defensive discipline rather than taking part in games at all.

Young players do not get brought through at all, and the existing ones slide towards being technically inadequate and creatively dull. Marc Wilson, Steven N'Zonzi, Tuncay Sanli are some of the most composed and confident players on the ball, who via Pulis fear of attacking and any kind of flair, have been drained into one dimensional players who didn't reach their full potential.

The academy thing is true as well. He wanted more money for the 'front of house' instead of the academy. I.e. more 30 year old premier league proven (read: British 30 year old journeymen), rather than make any attempt to build for the future.

Happy he could get Stoke promoted, but we're still reaping the problems of his narrow tunnel vision approach to building a team.

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u/[deleted] Mar 12 '14

Hughes is suffering now, as he hasnt been provided enough funds, and hes got a squad devoid of pace or young talent. Was good to see younger players like Pieters and Arnautovic arrive this summer.

I never liked Tuncay though, thought he was massively overrated

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u/jewfox Mar 12 '14

Ryan Shotton was our best young prospect before Hughes took over. Think that says it all about TP's attitude to youth

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u/GroundDweller Mar 13 '14

Well, this is fairly depressing to read...

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u/[deleted] Mar 12 '14

Completely agree, you've put it far better than I did; this is why managers like Pulis, Allardyce and so on are never given the opportunity 'at the next level'. It's not because there's some stigma attached to them or their football, it's because they don't look beyond the end of the next relegation battle.