While the entire focus of the football world is now on which player makes it big in the BPL transfer market as the deadline period slowly winds down to the end of August, a very interesting story is playing out at the managerial level among the top clubs of the Barclays Premier League. Gone are the days when managers and support staff were firmly entrenched in the background quietly going about doing their stuff – today’s managerial talent is no less powerful than the players and owners themselves and this season some of them are worthy of a closer look as they tinker with their final squad before the season kicks off this weekend.
Jose Mourinho and Chelsea
Defending champions Chelsea, led by that fascinating personality called Jose Mourinho, have been remarkably quiet so far. Jose, who delivered the League for his team owner Roman Abramovich last year after a splendid run, is banking on his stars to deliver yet again. This season, however, the bar will definitely be set higher as Abramovich will harbour strong ambitions for Europe as well.
But Mourinho is playing a cautious waiting game, with a few pick-ups like Radamel Falcao, who was quite average at United last year, Asmir Begovic from Stoke City, and a strong interest in Everton’s young defender John Stones who is yet to make a decision at this point in time. In fact, Mourinho has created a bigger media stir by letting go of Didier Drogba, that old Chelsea war horse, as well as allowing Chelsea legend and shot stopper Petr Cech to cross over to rivals Arsenal.
With Diego Costa injured (hamstring) and Loic Remy looking indifferent during the pre-season tours, Mourinho will have to keep his eyes and ears open for a few late smash and grab runs as he knows only too well what it takes to sustain a lead through a full season while nursing European ambitions.
Manuel Pellegrini and Manchester City
After the stop-start season last year, Pellegrini did well to hold on to the second spot even as his team showed a lack of application, momentum and creativity during key stages. From being champions one year, Pellegrini and his men had to dig deep into their reserves to stay in the top three and that too was not considered good enough as the Abu Dhabi owners of the club purportedly did not like losing the top spot.
Rumours have been swirling about Pellegrini’s future and names like Pep Guardiola are constantly being bandied about as immediate choices needed to resuscitate this cash rich club. To give him his due, Pellegrini has managed to hold his nerve so far and has picked up Raheem Sterling from Liverpool after a soap opera style transfer process, as well as Fabian Delph from Aston Villa, as he grapples with injury worries to the likes of Kompany and Aguero. He has let go of Dzeko, Milner and Sinclair this season as City gear up to present a much stronger and consistent line-up.
Arsene Wenger and Arsenal
The French Guru, true to his style, has decided to stick to his guns and is corralling his vast array of young talent in time for the season start. Other than the acquisition of Petr Cech, who can play a very important part, I believe, in Arsenal’s progress if he can stay injury free, he is yet to splash around the cash this year.
He could probably be looking for one extra bit of fire power upfront, and Karim Benzema is supposedly in his cross hairs at the moment. He has let go of Podolski, Jenkinson, Diaby and Szczesny without much fanfare and Gunners fans will be hopeful that this season he extracts another rollicking performance out of his special wards. The hard-fought victory over Chelsea in the Community Shield did showcase his grit and steely resolve, but a key area where everyone will wait and watch is how he plans his European campaign.
Louis Van Gaal and Manchester United
LGV at United has been the exception to the rule of caution this season, with an enviable spending spree right through the summer. After the recovery process was kicked off last season with a creditable fourth place finish in spite of many ordinary performances, LVG has been quietly pushing his agenda right through the summer. He has looked at the lacunae from last year and started plugging holes and getting injury covers in right earnest.
United has been boosted by the influx of key players like Memphis Depay, Morgan Schneiderlin, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Matteo Darmian and Sergio Romero. And he has shown no remorse in a carefully crafted session of blood-letting where he took the call of releasing United stalwarts like Di Maria, Van Persie, Falcao, Nani and Rafael. United will field a very different outfit this season.
Perhaps his biggest disappointment has been the long-drawn-out battle to keep last year’s stand out stopper David De Gea, who will probably leave now much to his chagrin. But LVG is not stopping to take a breath just yet – he is still on the hunt for a creative and attacking option and media reports are hinting towards Pedro from Barca if things fall into place for him. Rooney will get a more forward role this year, and with Ashley Young about to sign a renewal his link-up with Blind sets up mouth-watering prospects for the Red Army.
Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool
After a particularly difficult season last year, Rodgers, who saw his fortunes and reputation take a simultaneous nose-dive, is probably on a slightly sticky wicket unless he delivers a strong performance. No one doubts his ability as a manager but the Kop has seen enough last season to start making a few rumbling noises about when he will finally turn things around.
A tight sixth-place finish – after missing the title by a whisker the previous year – just about kept Liverpool afloat, but if the new season does not start off well, Rodgers could be in very serious trouble. This summer he has let go of Sterling for a bit of cash and spent it quite astutely so far in picking up Benteke from Aston Villa as well as last year’s find Danny Ings from Burnley. Nathaniel Clyne comes in from Southampton and Firmino has joined from Hoffenheim, but Rodgers has to harness this talent into a well knit force this season to make an effective impact. Not an easy job but then cometh the hour, Rodgers could be Liverpool’s man this time.
As these five make their last minute changes, there are others like Tottenham’s Pochettino, Swansea’s Monk, Crystal Palace’s Pardew and Southampton’s Koeman who will again strive to impress by knocking over the top teams and muscling their way into European contention. As the managerial seats get hotter and hotter, it will be worth a watch to see who can manage to rise to the top and who slips down to oblivion in the world’s premier football league.
Rathindra Basu lives, breathes, sleeps sports and is forever waiting for the next Indian sporting triumph. Since this usually takes much time and infinite patience he also listens to music, reads voraciously and eats almost anything that moves.
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Jose Mourinho and Chelsea
Defending champions Chelsea, led by that fascinating personality called Jose Mourinho, have been remarkably quiet so far. Jose, who delivered the League for his team owner Roman Abramovich last year after a splendid run, is banking on his stars to deliver yet again. This season, however, the bar will definitely be set higher as Abramovich will harbour strong ambitions for Europe as well.
But Mourinho is playing a cautious waiting game, with a few pick-ups like Radamel Falcao, who was quite average at United last year, Asmir Begovic from Stoke City, and a strong interest in Everton’s young defender John Stones who is yet to make a decision at this point in time. In fact, Mourinho has created a bigger media stir by letting go of Didier Drogba, that old Chelsea war horse, as well as allowing Chelsea legend and shot stopper Petr Cech to cross over to rivals Arsenal.
With Diego Costa injured (hamstring) and Loic Remy looking indifferent during the pre-season tours, Mourinho will have to keep his eyes and ears open for a few late smash and grab runs as he knows only too well what it takes to sustain a lead through a full season while nursing European ambitions.
Manuel Pellegrini and Manchester City
After the stop-start season last year, Pellegrini did well to hold on to the second spot even as his team showed a lack of application, momentum and creativity during key stages. From being champions one year, Pellegrini and his men had to dig deep into their reserves to stay in the top three and that too was not considered good enough as the Abu Dhabi owners of the club purportedly did not like losing the top spot.
Rumours have been swirling about Pellegrini’s future and names like Pep Guardiola are constantly being bandied about as immediate choices needed to resuscitate this cash rich club. To give him his due, Pellegrini has managed to hold his nerve so far and has picked up Raheem Sterling from Liverpool after a soap opera style transfer process, as well as Fabian Delph from Aston Villa, as he grapples with injury worries to the likes of Kompany and Aguero. He has let go of Dzeko, Milner and Sinclair this season as City gear up to present a much stronger and consistent line-up.
Arsene Wenger and Arsenal
The French Guru, true to his style, has decided to stick to his guns and is corralling his vast array of young talent in time for the season start. Other than the acquisition of Petr Cech, who can play a very important part, I believe, in Arsenal’s progress if he can stay injury free, he is yet to splash around the cash this year.
He could probably be looking for one extra bit of fire power upfront, and Karim Benzema is supposedly in his cross hairs at the moment. He has let go of Podolski, Jenkinson, Diaby and Szczesny without much fanfare and Gunners fans will be hopeful that this season he extracts another rollicking performance out of his special wards. The hard-fought victory over Chelsea in the Community Shield did showcase his grit and steely resolve, but a key area where everyone will wait and watch is how he plans his European campaign.
Louis Van Gaal and Manchester United
LGV at United has been the exception to the rule of caution this season, with an enviable spending spree right through the summer. After the recovery process was kicked off last season with a creditable fourth place finish in spite of many ordinary performances, LVG has been quietly pushing his agenda right through the summer. He has looked at the lacunae from last year and started plugging holes and getting injury covers in right earnest.
United has been boosted by the influx of key players like Memphis Depay, Morgan Schneiderlin, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Matteo Darmian and Sergio Romero. And he has shown no remorse in a carefully crafted session of blood-letting where he took the call of releasing United stalwarts like Di Maria, Van Persie, Falcao, Nani and Rafael. United will field a very different outfit this season.
Perhaps his biggest disappointment has been the long-drawn-out battle to keep last year’s stand out stopper David De Gea, who will probably leave now much to his chagrin. But LVG is not stopping to take a breath just yet – he is still on the hunt for a creative and attacking option and media reports are hinting towards Pedro from Barca if things fall into place for him. Rooney will get a more forward role this year, and with Ashley Young about to sign a renewal his link-up with Blind sets up mouth-watering prospects for the Red Army.
Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool
After a particularly difficult season last year, Rodgers, who saw his fortunes and reputation take a simultaneous nose-dive, is probably on a slightly sticky wicket unless he delivers a strong performance. No one doubts his ability as a manager but the Kop has seen enough last season to start making a few rumbling noises about when he will finally turn things around.
A tight sixth-place finish – after missing the title by a whisker the previous year – just about kept Liverpool afloat, but if the new season does not start off well, Rodgers could be in very serious trouble. This summer he has let go of Sterling for a bit of cash and spent it quite astutely so far in picking up Benteke from Aston Villa as well as last year’s find Danny Ings from Burnley. Nathaniel Clyne comes in from Southampton and Firmino has joined from Hoffenheim, but Rodgers has to harness this talent into a well knit force this season to make an effective impact. Not an easy job but then cometh the hour, Rodgers could be Liverpool’s man this time.
As these five make their last minute changes, there are others like Tottenham’s Pochettino, Swansea’s Monk, Crystal Palace’s Pardew and Southampton’s Koeman who will again strive to impress by knocking over the top teams and muscling their way into European contention. As the managerial seats get hotter and hotter, it will be worth a watch to see who can manage to rise to the top and who slips down to oblivion in the world’s premier football league.
Rathindra Basu lives, breathes, sleeps sports and is forever waiting for the next Indian sporting triumph. Since this usually takes much time and infinite patience he also listens to music, reads voraciously and eats almost anything that moves.
