To be or not to be: A Manager in the Premier League

29 May 2015 09:17

Who would want to be a manager in the Premier League at the moment? What a dangerous role to undertake! With the departure of Big Sam Allardyce from West Ham and the sacking of both Steve McClaren from Derby and Nigel Clough from Sheffield United in the Championship, there are some curious questions that can be asked by fans across the country, especially those who live to the north east of England where the departure of Dick Advocaat to retirement and the uneasiness that is being experienced by Newcastle’s John Carver mean that new Managers may be finding their way to the windswept edges of the northern footballing hemisphere before too long.

From each of these clubs’ point of view, the best thing to do would be to get the best manager in that they can find, especially someone from abroad who has maybe been let go by their clubs and would relish a chance to shine in the Premier League, the best footballing league in the world, but there are owners to contend with as well, who want to get someone and not spend a lot doing it. So who will go where and will it work for the team?

One possibility that fires the imagination is that Newcastle could hire Steve McClaren. His signing would be a good one, a sound investment. He has experience at the highest levels, the desire to be the best and the credibility one needs in a man for the job, but there are so many reasons why he may not be the right choice. He could do very well there and be the good choice, but not the right one, because what Mike Ashley needs to do is give the role permanently to John Carver; the fans adore the man. The team can get right behind him. His reaction after the first goal last week that secured PL survival said it all. The commentator said he looked fifteen all over again. That passion can change that team for the better, should wise investment be made.

So possibly, Sam Allardyce for Sunderland? Could that work? Big Sam is, or should be known as, a National Treasure of the Premier League. His passion and style of leadership works. It is the sort of relationship with players that make them want to perform week in week out. His bluster and ability to light up the screen, especially when on the touchline is something I for one would miss should he not be given another PL role. But will the team at Sunderland get behind him? Well, I think they would for in him they would have someone who they could rely on to lead them and that is something that they have been sadly lacking in recent times.

But those Newcastle and Sunderland fans are notoriously hard to please. They have the passion by the bucketload. And it is to their teams that the next managerial decisions will be made which may shape them for the future, not just the next year but in the years to come. But there is a dark horse in the flanks who could just be the most interesting of them all and that is Nigel Clough. Son of the late and very great Brian, he should be given a chance to manage a Premier League side. Greatness rubs off and I am sure he has it by the barrow full. He has the knowledge, the guile, the passion and the ability to take a team on and make them something spectacular. But will the high flying Premier League owners give him the time of day with him being from the lower leagues in terms of management? I think not. Now what a shame that would be!

So, who will be the next managers at West Ham, Sunderland and [possibly] Newcastle? My prediction, or what I would love to see, is Carver for Newcastle, Big Sam at Sunderland and McClaren at West Ham, because I think that the Hammers’ owners have got the kahunas to take the risk.

Who would you appoint for each position?

Source: DSG