Source: Daily_Mail
Sack the boss? These clubs changed bosses - but did change do them good?
When the going gets tough, the manager often gets going. Six Premier League clubs have appointed new bosses so far this season with varying degrees of success, leading Sportsmail to ponder whether a change really is as good as a rest.[LNB]It is no coincidence that the Barclays Premier League's front-runners, Manchester United, have had Sir Alex Ferguson at the helm for 23 seasons. Arsene Wenger (13 seasons) , David Moyes (seven) and Rafa Benitez (five) are all in the top 10 of the longest-serving managers in the Football League, so that's four of the top six clubs in the Premier League who have given their bosses time to make an impact.[LNB] Tough at the top: The pressure shows on the face of Newcastle manager Joe Kinnear[LNB]But lower down the League, it is a different story. Whilst all three of the promoted clubs - Hull City, West Bromwich and Stoke - have persevered with the managers who took them into the top flight, six of the clubs battling to stay out of the drop zone have had a change of direction since August. [LNB] ALL THE WEEKEND PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM NEWS[LNB]EXCLUSIVE: Premier League clubs plea to close the transfer window[LNB]THE LIST: 10-1 of our favourite sports commentators of all-time[LNB]COMPETITION: WIN a fantastic trip to Brazil - spiritual home of the Beautiful Game - courtesy of Soccerex[LNB][LNB]In only two cases, those of Blackburn and Tottenham, the incumbent managers were sacked - the other four clubs have had their hands forced by managerial walk-outs. [LNB]But have the new bosses, whether they got there by accident or appointment, helped their clubs' causes? Sportsmail investigates.[LNB]Gianfranco ZolaPremier League - Played 19; Won 7; Drawn 5; Lost 7; Win % - 37%[LNB]Cups - Played 3; Won 1; Lost 2[LNB]Overall - Played 22; Won 8; Drawn 5; Lost 9; Win % - 36%[LNB]Position on Sep 15 - 7th[LNB]Current position - 8th[LNB] West Ham(appointed September 15)Alan Curbishley was the first managerial departure of the current Premier League season, quitting Upton Park because of a lack of control over transfer policy. [LNB]In came Gianfranco Zola, everybody's favourite foreign import, who smiled his way to his first job as a club manager.[LNB] Happy Hammers: Gianfranco Zola and Carlton Cole embrace[LNB] West Ham beat Newcastle in Zola's first game in charge but then crashed out of the Carling Cup, losing 1-0 to Watford. Victory at Fulham lulled Zola's men into a seven-game run without a win, prompting debates about whether the Italian was ready to be a Premier League boss. Suddenly the little Italian didn't seem to be smiling so much anymore.[LNB]Yet, despite the club's 'For Sale' status, the rumours linking Zola's best players with moves to Spurs and Man City and the former Chelsea man's refusal to celebrate when the Hammers scored at Stamford Bridge, Zola has turned relegation form into mid-table respectability. [LNB]Helped, no doubt, by the steady presence of Steve Clarke, Zola has quietly off-loaded a number of West Ham's fringe players, secured a decent price for Craig Bellamy when he realised the striker's heart (or wallet) lay elsewhere and looks to have inherited a useful loan signing in fellow Italian David di Michele.[LNB]VERDICT: A change will do you good.VIDEO: Sheryl Crow - A change would do you good...[LNB][LNB]Joe KinnearPremier League - Played 17; Won 4; Drawn 7; Lost 6; Win % - 24%[LNB]Cups - Played 2; Drawn 1; Lost 1[LNB]Overall - Played 19; Won 4; Drawn 8; Lost 7; Win % - 21%[LNB]Position on Sep 29 - 17th[LNB]Current position - 16th[LNB] Newcastle (appointed September 29)King Kev walked out - again - and St James' Park was plunged into chaos. Newcastle self-imploded as the Toon Army lost patience with Mike Ashley and Dennis Wise and everyone wondered who would be the man to walk into the mire.[LNB]Step forward Joe Kinnear. Or, actually, don't - the former Wimbledon boss had to serve the rest of his touchline ban before he could direct operations from the dugout. The football world was shocked by the appointment, particularly when Kinnear unleashed his foul-mouthed rant at the media and proceeded to take umbrage with everyone who crossed his path, yet he steadied the ship for a while. [LNB]But Kinnear's luck trickled away as he ran out of people to blame (breaking the unwritten code that you don't criticise the former managers of your current club) and his squad was decimated by injury. Newcastle look out of sorts, out of ideas and could be out of the Premier League if they continue in this sort of form.[LNB]VERDICT: No change. Down in the dumps: Shay Given is fed up of life at Newcastle[LNB]Harry Redknapp Premier League - Played 15; Won 6; Drawn 4; Lost 5; Win % - 40%[LNB]Cups - Played 9; Won 6; Drawn 1; Lost 2[LNB]Overall - Played 24; Won 12; Drawn 5; Lost 7; Win % - 50%[LNB]Position on Oct 25 - 20th[LNB]Current position - 13th[LNB] Tottenham (appointed October 25)Well, it couldn't get any worse, could it? Spurs were beyond dire under former boss Juande Ramos - a bunch of over-paid, under-performing tippy-tappers who couldn't communicate with their Spanish-speaking manager and languished at the bottom of the league on two points.[LNB]But it seemed Spurs' prayers were answered when Harry Redknapp finally took up the challenge of managing a 'big club'. He turned things round at White Hart Lane but a magnificent initial spell has petered out into mediocrity. [LNB]Despite this, Tottenham have reached the Carling Cup final and the club finds itself with more than a fighting chance of survival in this season's highly congested Premier League. The signings of Jermain Defoe and Wilson Palacios can only help Spurs in their quest to stay in the top flight.[LNB]VERDICT: A change will do you good. Changing fortunes: Harry Redknapp has given Spurs a boost, while Tony Adams (right), in his old job at Portsmouth, has struggled[LNB]Tony AdamsPremier League - Played 14; Won 2; Drawn 5; Lost 7; Win % - 14%[LNB]Cups - Played 6; Won 2; Drawn 2; Lost 2[LNB]Overall - Played 20; Won 4; Drawn 7; Lost 9; Win % - 20%[LNB]Position on Oct 25 - 7th[LNB]Current position - 15th[LNB] Portsmouth (appointed Oct 25)'No running' said Tony Adams last week. Portsmouth fans will consider this a shame - Adams has made a dismal start to life as a Premier League manager.[LNB]Pompey were beginning to enjoy the good times under Harry Redknapp. As FA Cup holders they could look forward to a run in the UEFA Cup and had the likes of Jermain Defoe and Lassana Diarra on their books. [LNB]But it's all gone wrong under Adams, who is floundering in the Premier League limelight. Portsmouth are in trouble but, thankfully for them, so are a number of other clubs.[LNB]VERDICT: Bad change.Ricky SbragiaPremier League - Played 8; Won 3; Drawn 2; Lost 3; Win % - 38% Cups - Played 2; Won 1; Drawn 1 Overall - Played 10; Won 4; Drawn 3; Lost 3; Win % - 40% Position on Dec 5 - 18th Current position - 12th Sunderland(appointed Dec 5)When Roy Keane's dog, Triggs, decided he could not possibly be taken for any more walks as the Irishman contemplated his Sunderland future, Ricky Sbragia stepped in to steady the ship.[LNB]The former York City man was unlikely to get a result at his old club, Manchester United, but Sunderland picked up seven points against West Brom, Hull and Blackburn and scored eight goals in the process. Sbragia decided to take the job on a permanent basis, the Black Cats' results have been absolutely fine, if unspectacular, whilst the club have held on to Kenwyne Jones so far in the transfer window.[LNB] VERDICT: A change will do you good. Happy viewing: A relaxed Ricky Sbragia looks on from the Sunderland dugout[LNB]Sam Allardyce Premier League - Played 5; Won 2; Drawn 3; Lost 0; Win % - 40% Cups - Played 2; Won 1; Drawn 1 Overall - Played 7; Won 3; Drawn 4; Lost 0; Win % - 43% Position on Dec 17 - 19th Current position - 17th Blackburn (appointed Dec 17)Paul Ince's inevitable departure was like a ticking bomb as the young manager blamed everyone but himself and failed to back up his criticism with results on the field. [LNB]'He needs more time' said pundits eager to see a young English manager develop his trade, but Blackburn ran out of patience and sacked the former MK Dons boss.[LNB] Look who's back: Sam Allardyce is presented as Blackburn boss[LNB]Step in Sam Allardyce, making his return to management after an 11-month exodus. Back came defensive surety, Pro-Zone analysis and authority. Blackburn have gained points against clubs they are expected to do well against and have performed well in games against superior opposition. Experience appears to have won the day over youthful enthusiasm at Ewood Park.[LNB] VERDICT: A change will do you good. ALL THE WEEKEND PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM NEWS[LNB]EXCLUSIVE: Premier League clubs plea to close the transfer window[LNB]THE LIST: 10-1 of our favourite sports commentators of all-time[LNB]COMPETITION: WIN a fantastic trip to Brazil - spiritual home of the Beautiful Game - courtesy of Soccerex[LNB] [LNB]
