The Flavour of the Month Ideology in Football

What do Louis Van Gaal and Rafa Benitez have in common? Both have won the European Cup as managers, yet both managers find themselves out of work. 

In football, managers don’t seem to last that long. Indeed, they can be very successful in one season, but if that is followed by a season of failure, this can often lead to the sack. Take Van Gaal at Bayern, the Dutch tactician, won the double in his first season at Bayern, getting to the final of the Champions League.

What’s sad is that a manager can have 5 or 6 years of success, but this past success can be virtually forgotten if the manager falls from the limelight. 

Though in football this flavour of the monthism (if I can call it that) is hilarious. Especially in English football.

When a vacancy opens up at a big club or when a manager is on the ropes, all types of names pop up as managers who could ‘do the job.’ I recall Owen Coyle being touted for Arsenal at one stage. I recall, Neil Warnock being linked with the England job and recently we’ve even had Alan Pardew ruling himself out of the England job. Yes, Alan Pardew. (the same guy who was managing in League One 18 months ago.)

Indeed, hindsight is a wonderful thing, but reading some of these names now are just hilarious. It’s crazy, far more qualified, experienced and better pedigreed managers are often forgotten for managers who are having a good spell at their club during the time a vacancy opens up.

Perhaps this is agents come in handy, especially for those managers who are out of work. The more publicity means the more awareness the manager gets. And the more awareness a manager gets it means fans, press and club boards will remember the manager and his brand as it were.

But often with some fans, and even with the press, if a manager has 5 years of success and two years of failure, this can lead to the manager’s reputation to be crushed. And if a big job comes up, people are quick to dismiss him, and they point to his recent failures, saying he is not up for the job and will ‘destroy the club.’  I feel this is a harsh mentality to take when determining if a manager is good enough to manage a certain club.

After all, failure often leads to learning, a development of a managers skills. Also its basic human desire, when someone fails their desire for redemption is high. Look, managers in ANY sport have a huge competitive streak in them. Why else would they take jobs which such intensity and pressure?

In England, flavour of the month has been dominant for decades. 

But has it really worked? Its seems that most managers are given some jobs as they are going through a great moment with their previous club, rather than being right for the club and the culture of the club.

Take Roy Hodgson’s tenure at Liverpool. Prior to his move to Liverpool, Hodgson had just taken Fulham to the Europa League, and narrowly lost to Athletico Madrid. 

Hogdson a man, with vast experience, as he often tells the world, was linked with all sorts of jobs. He was seen as a bigger contender than Harry Redknapp for the England job during his final season at Fulham.

But Hodgson had a woeful time at Liverpool. And now the West Brom manager is seen as a huge outsider for the England job.

While former England boss, Steve McClaren, is a unique individual in regards to this manager of the monthism in England.

Let's make no bones about it, Steve McClaren transformed Middlesbrough.

He won the club their first major trophy in the club’s history. While he also took the side to the Uefa Cup final. This success inevitably lead him to be linked with the England job. And when he did take the job, he failed.

And now, although he transformed Middlesbrough and made them a solid fixture in the Premier League. Something which the club would crave for now, Steve McLaren is now deemed as highly unfavourable by most English clubs and their fans. 

But what’s more frustrating about the harsh reputation Steve McClaren has is that the former Boro boss  has furthered his career abroad with success at Twente, winning the Dutch title with them.

Yet even with his success across the continent, when McClaren returned to manage in England, he was quickly rejected by Aston Villa fans, who saw him as signs of the club 'lowering their ambition.' And when former Boro boss when he DID get a job back in England, he only managed to get a job in the Championship with Nottingham Forest.

For me this is absurd. 

Yes he isn’t the best manager in the world, but by no means is he the worst. McClaren’s achievements show he is a manager who at the right club, can achieve a fair deal of success.

This manger of the month mentality or perhaps even ideology in England has done the clubs and the national team in England no real favours at all. 

It’s more far more important that a manager is right for the club. In terms of the clubs culture, values and expectations, rather than the manager ‘deserving the chance’ at a certain club.

This mentality is sadly hindering the chances of some of the best managers in the UK or even the world from managing in the Premier League and other top leagues.

Mourinho out! But Replaced with who?

In his debut article for The Football Front, Damian Peters explores the possibilities of who could replace Jose Mourinho at Madrid.

The cries for the head of Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho are so loud after his team suffered another home defeat at the hands of the mighty Barcelona, that even if you had on ear plugs with an ear muff, you would still hear it. This wasn’t helped by the strong reports which revealed last Sunday Jose Mourinho was seriously considering quitting Madrid in the summer.

Many Spanish tabloids echoed what was supposedly are the cries of the fed up Real Madrid fans asking for a change from the negative tactics often deployed by Mourinho against Barcelona, which still most of the time still resulted in his team losing to the Catalan giants.

The aftermath of the game against Barcelona was a PR disaster, with Marca publishing an article which contained an argument between Mourinho, Sergio Ramos and captain Iker Casillas. Indeed, Madrid, Mourinho and the players denied what was printed in the paper, only saying when questioned about it, that they wasn't here to talk about that incident.

Madrid’s home game against Athletic Bilbao was amusing as Jose Mourinho was whistled by some sections of the Bernabeau faithful, though the other sections chanted his name, an accomplishment that no other manager of the club can boast.

For the first time in his reign as coach Los Blancos there was clear discontent among the fans with his tactics and an antics, with many fans asking for him to be replaced as coach. Replaced? Fine, but with who? Which available coach is capable of replacing a man who is a proven winner, with a track record of winning trophies in four different countries and leagues. Not only this he is a leader strong enough to take charge of a dressing room filled with multi-millionaires, each with an ego as huge as the Eiffel Tower.

One such candidate to replace him would be Guus Hiddink, he himself a former coach of Madrid, and currently out of work after leaving his post as coach of the Turkish national team. But his time there was marred by bad results and off-field comments criticising the board and the club, which ultimately led to him being sacked.

Another Candidate would be Arsenal's boss Arsene Wenger. The Arsenal manager is continuously linked with the Madrid jobs. Certain media sources will tell you he turned down The Galacticos to stay at Arsenal. But with Arsenal failing to win a trophy in over six years, is Arsene Wenger the kind of manager the hierarchy at the club wants to bring in? I doubt it. Wenger also might not be interested in ever taking the Madrid job.

Then there is Rafa Benitez, the man who lead Liverpool to Champions League glory in 2005. Benitez has being out of work for over a year and a half now and is presently doing guest punditry on TV. Benitez, without a doubt is a good coach, but his coaching style has being questioned at time, with former players saying that he was distant and cold towards them and that they hardly had a relationship with him. His tactics has also come under fire in the past, his insistence on using a zonal marking system when defending corners even though Liverpool was shipping goal after goal using the system. His activities in the transfer market also ceases to flatter, he was notorious for bringing in very average players and placing them on massive salaries, that is something that the Madrid faithful will not want to see, not with Barcelona threatening to win every title until thy kingdom comes.Yes, some Madrid fans might want Mourinho replaced, but can the available candidates do a better job than he's doing now? Considering how prominent Barcelona are? And do the other candidates even want the job at the moment?

Real Madrid have lacked continuity for a long time, maybe Mourinho is the man to manage the club over a extended period and it would only make sense considering his track record and the amount of money that they invested in the current squad that he wanted assembled.

This article was written by Damian Peters you can find more of his work at http://futbaldisciple.wordpress.com/ . Make sure you follow him on Twitter too: @futbal_disciple

How Rafa Benitez is intelligently using the media to increase his chances of getting a job

‘Congratulations to Chelsea, I think the best team won and the best manager.’

These were the last words said by Rafa Benitez in his final press conference for Liverpool. Some may read Rafa Benitez’s final words as a final subtle attack on Sir Alex Ferguson.

But one thing is clear. Rafa Benitez is a very intelligent man. His intelligence comes across in his perceptions and comments. Benitez has the ability to in- directly attack or scrutinise his opponents. Take his final words as Liverpool boss. It’s a prime example of Benitez subtly using the media to attack his opposition.

A problem with Rafa Benitez, is that he is not well received by other football fans, especially in England. He is often labelled as a ‘fat Spanish waiter,’ or something of this nature. This was not really an issue when he was the Liverpool boss, as the Liverpool fans absolutely adored Rafa Benitez.

But times have changed, of course the Liverpool fans still love Benitez. But Rafa Benitez now finds himself out of a job.

Rafa Benitez has emphasised his desire to manage again in the Premier League. Benitez states, 'the priority is the Premier League, because the style is better for me.'

However, Benitez is knowledgeable enough to know that people’s perceptions of him need to change. Benitez knows that if he is to be given an opportunity to manage again in the Premier League, he needs the supporter’s faith and respect. One would argue, this is what kept him at Liverpool for so long. The Liverpool fans strong faith and trust in Benitez made him almost untouchable during certain periods.

Its apparent Rafa Benitez has looked to overcome this problem. He has tried to beat this problem by appearing on TV far more often than ever before.

Benitez has appeared on many football related shows. Sometimes he giving an interview – on his thoughts of his Liverpool and Inter Milan experience. While at other times he is given the role as a pundit analysing games. In the past 6 months Benitez has appeared in the BBC's Football Focus and Sky Sports news coverage for the Champions League and La Liga.

The Spanish tactician knows that if he can get his personality, knowledge and charisma effectively portrayed on Television. It will make him far more favoured to football fans and potential bosses. The increasing positive publicity will make Benitez far more appealing and respected.

Rafa Benitez has always been given a negative perception by national journalists and football writers. This was often the case throughout his time in England. Many complained about Benitez’ transfer policy, his strategies and one mustn’t forget, his zonal marking system.

The harsh criticisms often led to Benitez being represented as calamitous manger to the British public. Even though the facts prove different. In Benitez’s last press conference for Liverpool, it’s clear that he feels certain journalists and writers have over inflated and misrepresented his ideas.

However, Rafa Benitez with his charisma and knowledge often caught the press out. The video below demonstrates how Benitez embarrassed some sections of the press.




Benitez has approached the problem in the correct way. He knows that if he can appeal to football fans in England through television it will give a better representation of him. Furthemore, occasionally coming onto a media form such as the Television, it makes football fans and potential bosses aware that Benitez is available.

In the past, Benitez was often represented through newspapers and pundits. This mostly portrayed him in a negative light. However, Benitez being on football programs giving his thoughts directly, without journalists intervening. It gives the Spaniard a better representation and a more personal depiction.

However, as much as it’s debatable. Rafa Benitez is a great football strategist. He clearly is a man who reads the game well and has an in-depth knowledge.

Most Premier League clubs would be lucky to have Benitez as their manager. Perhaps, this view isn’t shared by many football fans.

But Benitez is passionate enough about the game to know that the perceptions associated with him need to change.

Once these perceptions have changed.

People will view him as an incredibly intelligent football manager.

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Why the appointment of King Kenny Dalglish is the right move by Liverpool

The appointment of Kenny Dalglish is probably the appointment most Liverpool fans would have wanted to see in the summer of 2010. This was fuelled by the fact Dalglish made it clear that he was seriously interested in taking the reigns left by Rafa Benitez. However, the board opted to pick the LMA manager of the year, Roy Hodgson. And in hindsight this saw the club take to another level of decline. Within 6 months, Hodgson was kindly shown the door.

To most fans Dalglish is the perfect appointment. He is a man who cares so dearly about the club. He is a man who has won virtually every trophy with the club. And a man who has and knows how to inspire both players and fans. Fenway Sports Group have made an incredibly logical decision in their appointment. The continuous chanting of ‘dalgish’ a chant which foreshadowed the beginning of the end of Roy Hodgsons stint as the Liverpool manager. However, the chant clearly showed John Henry and Thomas Werner what the Liverpool fans wanted. And that was King Kenny Dalglish. This was the right move by the owners. As the owners in various interviews have spoken of the importance to listen to the Liverpool fans. The appointment clearly shows to the Liverpool fans they are listening to the demands of the fans. Even though the owners reportedly feel Dalglish has been away from the game for too long. Kenny Dalglish symbolises to the Liverpool fans that they have their club back. After all the turmoil with the two fools of Hicks and Gillett and the failure of Hodgson’s tenure, the fans feel that the individual at the helm cares and will do anything to see the club being successful.

One word which sums up the last two years of Liverpool Football Club is ‘insecure.’ The tensional battles off the field regarding the debt leveraged against the club and the brittle displays shown by the team have seriously hurt the Liverpool fans. The fans felt they were losing grip on their club, as the club was becoming a shadow of its former self. However, the appointment of Kenny Dalglish makes the fans feel a sense of security. As they know that the club is in the right hands. Dalglish offers the Liverpool fans a certain expectation. The fans know Dalglish is deeply embedded in everything that was right during Liverpool’s glory days in the 70’s and 80’s. Dalgish is fully aware of the dna which makes Liverpool successful. He understands the club and the fans understand him. This will motivate fans, and get them behind the team.

The Fenway Sports Group (FSG) has gained a lot of credibility by their decision to appoint Dalglish. Ive discussed the idea of the owners listening to the fans demands, but the group have taken an intelligent gamble. If Dalglish actually improves the fortunes of the club it could pave the way for Dalglish to have a period as Liverpool boss. After all, Damien Comolli confirmed he is a candidate for the permant role. And it seems apparent the club are unwilling to spend this January. If Dalglish can get this underachieving squad to fulfil its potential, he surely has to be a strong contender for the job- for the long term. Which im sure the fans would be more than happy to back. However, if Dalglish is unable to progress the team the owners can look to appoint someone who they feel is suitable for the permanent role. The fans would be far more supportive than they were of Roy Hodgson’s tenure. As they know that their first choice was given the chance at the helm.