Barely two months into this English Premier League season, Liverpool and Sunderland have lost their managers — we give coaching grades for the campaign so far
In the end, Brendan Rodgers talked a much better game than he coached. In fact, in my opinion, he talked too much, often putting a positive spin on dire performances.
As a consequence, he was shown the door after last Sunday’s Merseyside derby against Everton.
Liverpool: Rodgers More for TV than Hot Seat?
Was his sacking harsh? Yes. But based purely on results, Rodgers failed to deliver despite the rhetoric that began with the ill-advised “Being: Liverpool” documentary that was produced soon after his arrival in 2012. He was a media natural and is likely to be in high demand on the TV pundit’s couch for the rest of the season.
Rodgers found himself out of his depth at Anfield. He’ll point to an impressive runners-up finish in 2013-2014 but the reality is that he was the first Liverpool manager since the 1950s to fail to win a trophy after three years in charge.
After his disappointing third season in which Liverpool finished sixth, the team has shown few signs of improvement in the first two months of the current campaign in spite of a massive spending spree. In all competitions, the Reds had won just one of their last nine matches.
Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Everton — which, in all fairness, was a decent performance — was the last straw.
Rodgers will be remembered for his positivity and attack-mindedness but also for his poor recruitment and inability to provide a solid defensive structure. Even his biggest supporters would have to concede that he had failed in what he set out to achieve.
Coaching Grade: F
Manchester United: Jury Still Out on Abrasive Boss
Louis van Gaal is a strong and successful manager, cut from the same cloth as legendary club manager Sir Alex Ferguson. But the inconsistency of his Manchester United side continues to baffle him, and raises questions about his own longevity in the Old Trafford hot seat.
After the Red Devils were knocked off their perch, being beaten 3-0 by Arsenal on Sunday night, the Dutchman confessed that he was amazed by his team’s poor performance and failure to follow the game plan.
Truth-be-told, United is a long way from being the finished product so he shouldn’t be too surprised that many of the new additions are taking time to find their feet.
Their rise to the top of the table wasn’t so much down to their amazing form but the unexpected slump of Manchester City. United didn’t really deserve to be the leader, based on the patchy and sometimes unconvincing start to the season.
Van Gaal knows what he’s doing and will ensure another solid top-four finish. But, despite massive spending and promising teenager Anthony Martial, the Red Devils won’t be champions this season.
Coaching Grade: B
Chelsea: The Un-Special One?
Jose Mourinho must feel that he should wake up soon and find that the last eight weeks have been some kind of nightmare. He began the season as manager of the all-conquering champions but now sees Chelsea in 16th position in the table, with twice the number of defeats — four — than victories.
Mourinho even saw the Blues beaten by his former club, Porto, in the Champions League last week.
But Mourinho is right when he says that he can turn things around. He is also correct in his belief that Chelsea can still finish in the top four.
This week’s international break provides Mourinho time to plot a new strategy.
For a start, he must bench underperforming players such as Branislav Ivanovic and Cesc Fabregas.
Coaching Grade: D-
Arsenal: The Professor Produces Another Timely Result
Arsenal’s UEFA Champions League campaign so far has been a disaster, so the 3-0 home victory over Manchester United came at the perfect time for manager Arsene Wenger.
There’s a familiar trend when it comes to Arsenal. After optimistic, early-season signs, the Gunners will fall into a mid-campaign slump where disgruntled supporters will ask questions of their French boss.
Then Wenger will quieten them down with the type of performance that Arsenal turned on at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, with Alexis Sanchez breaking United with a first-half brace.
This doesn’t mean Wenger hasn’t made some serious mistakes or has earned any kind of lengthy reprieve. But, overall, Arsene knows best and will keep Arsenal near the top.
Coaching Grade: B-
Manchester City: Chilean has Argentine & Spaniard to Thank
Like Wenger, Manuel Pellegrini has been feeling the heat in Europe, while having some inconsistent domestic performances. But all was right again in the Chilean’s world last weekend when fit-again Spaniard David Silva combined with five-goal Argentine Sergio Aguero, as Manchester City ripped Newcastle United apart.
Pellegrini probably wishes that he isn’t so reliant on Silva and Aguero in the attacking third — as well as on Yaya Toure in midfield and Vincent Kompany in defence. He seems to be doing his best to come up with Plan B — indeed, recent arrival Kevin de Bruyne has added a much-needed new dimension — but Plan A may be the one that will win
him a second Premier League title in three years.
Coaching Grade: B-
By Jason Dasey
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About Jason Dasey
Jason Dasey is Senior Editor for ESPN FC in Singapore, Southeast Asia’s No. 1 football website.[/su_note]
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