You win some games and you lose some. And when you lose it has to be someone’s fault. In football, the manager is the face of the team. Earlier we came up with a list of the best managers in the premier league so far. Now we have conjured a list of the most underperforming managers of the EPL till now.
1. Jose Mourinho
This name and his fortunes this summer need no enumeration. From the epitome of success to the depths of loserville, the journey of Mourinho and Chelsea has been a tumultuous roller coaster ride. Mourinho came back to the club where he is most ‘loved’ in 2013 with the aim to take Chelsea to new heights. And that he surely did! Chelsea won the 2014-15 season with an amazing performance with everyone counting on them to be favourites to win and regain their title next year. Now in November, that famous Premier League win seems like a dream as the fortunes have turned so drastically that it is hard to believe that the same team that won the league a few months ago now occupies the No 15th position on the league table. For Mourinho, this season has been marred with problems on and off the pitch. From Carneiro’s case to the shoddy performance by his players, and what adds to the mix is Mourinho’s regular slap and kiss with his players. Though the team is coming together with two wins back to back one wonders whether this is the Mourinho third season curse! I guess we will have to just wait and watch!
2. Tim Sherwood
Sherwood’s sacking by Aston Villa is a sad tale. With most of his star performers from Benteke to Delph shipped off Sherwood was left with a roster of average players to show some good results. In Sherwood’s defense, when he joined Villa in February 2014 he took the team to the FA cup final and ended the season with Villa finishing 17th. But now in the absence of key players Sherwood experimented too much just to put up points on the board. In the end trying too much was the murderer of Sherwood’s time at Villa and led to that shortest stint for Villa by a permanent manager. With only one win of the season, Tim Sherwood was sacked in the end of October and replaced by Remi Garde
3. Steve McLaren
Newcastle currently sits at the 17th position in the league table with 2 wins to account for 7 losses and 4 draws. After John Carver, McLaren was awarded with the task of steering a sinking ship and things haven’t been very bright since his appointment. Despite summer signings that appeared to be good on paper, conversely haven’t shown their worth on the field. Also because of the club’s buying policy McLaren has missed out on a young player like Cabaye who is doing wonders for Pardew and Crystal Palace. Everything combined together has provided a leeway for frustration to seep into the camps at Newcastle. The manager has been voicing his frustration too openly. Will the situation get worse or tough love will win?
4. Dick Advocaat
Dick Advocaat quit as Sunderland manager after the promises of big signings failed to follow through. Advocaat was instrumental in getting Sunderland out of relegation on the last day of the 2014-15 season. But the club failed to provide Advocaat the arsenal that he asked for and a policy giving less importance to the quality of players was adopted by the management which led to a roster comprising of average players. In that light how was he supposed to give results? Thus having no control over the club’s recruitment strategy, Advocaat bid adieu to the Stadium of Light leaving behind a note of caution for Allardyce- Beware!
5. Garry Monk
After his appointment in February 2014, Garry Monk led Swansea to their best Premier League finish of 8th. But now the tables have totally turned. Currently, Swansea stands at the 14th position with 14 points earned in 3 wins and 5 draws. This season has been marked by a poor display of performance by the Swans with them winning a single match in their last 9 encounters. The players are behind the manager, with defender Neil Taylor saying “It’s easier to blame managers, obviously. And everything normally falls on their head. But we have to look at ourselves first as footballers – we haven’t performed well enough the last few weeks and when that happens people will have to point the finger at somebody”, so only time will tell what comes to be of Garry Monk!