Sport is not only played by the players on the field but also a team that sits in the back rooms and decides tactics and looks after the well being of the players. I don’t have to enumerate the immense importance of a support staff to any football fan. And heading that team is a manager who is responsible for the team functions and performs and thus the manager can make or break a team. So here we have compiled a list of the best managers in the English Premier League so far.
1. Claudio Ranieri
Ranieri and Leicester City’s story is a from rags to riches tale. Caludio Ranieri was given the reigns of the club in July 2015 after the club let go of its former manager Nigel Pearson. Ranieri upon his appointment did not change the core of the team to maintain the familiarity in the fox’s camp. What Raneri did with an already established strong base was to tweak the combination a bit. Tactics and formations were changed to bring out the best from the players. From a 3-3-2-2 style of play Ranieri switched to a 4-4-1-1 approach allowing Vardy to work more freely and there is proof in front of us what great benefits this has reaped the team. From 14th in the last season to 1st after 13 games this season has been a remarkable journey. Leicester City have only lost 1 game in their campaign so far. An important ingredient for the success of Leicester City has been the relationship of the manager with his players. Though Ranieri employs aggression and is hard on his players for any mistakes they make, he also has a more jovial side by virtue of which he calls his player by certain nicknames like Jamie Vardy is affectionately call Jimmy and Drinkwater has been christened Drinky and also celebrates any good performances put up on the field by his boys like the time he took the team out for dinner when they maintained a clean sheet, the 1st of the season against Crystal Palace! (cheers to him!)
2. Slavan Bilic
Taking over the club from Allardyce, Bilic has turned things around for the club, from 12th last season to 6th in 13 games this season. Bilic’s team has been on a dream run defeating the giants of the league like Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea. So far West Ham has won 6 matches and lost only 4. But since the international break the hammers have been unable to register a victory and their journey to White Hart Lane was an expedition that has shaken their confidence. A 4-1 loss to Tottenham and an injury to Payet has been a big blow for West Ham and it makes one question whether it’s the end of the dream run. But a story like that of West Ham is a genius one and Bilic has been an exceptional writer.
3. Alan Pardew
Alan Pardew has been entitled as the only manager who has taken the team out from the depths of relegation to No 10 in the league table which was the best finish for Crystal Palace in the Premier League. Alan Pardew took over from Neil Warnock in the beginning of 2015 and totally changed the scene by taking the club from 18th position to a stupendous 10th position in the end of the 2014/15 campaign in just a matter of months. Currently Crystal Palace sit at No 10 with 19 points in their pockets earned in 6 games. Pardew boasts a win record of 20 wins in 37 games and aims to someday get the England job. (only time will tell)
4. Mauricio Pochettino
At 43 Pochettino breeds young talent at White Hart Lane. Having been incharge of the club for 18 months Ponchettio has adopted a ruthless cutting policy and has let go of average aging players to make room for young talent. Like his time in Southampton, at Tottenham too Pochettino ‘s antics have led Tottenham players like Harry Kane, Eric Dier, Ryan Mason and Dele Alli, all earning the international call. The argentine is said to shower tough love on his players and his tactics are marked with intensive practice sessions that has made Spurs one of the fittest team this season. Also Ponchettino’s addresses the flaws in his team at the right time which has made them such a force this past few months. His timely appointment of Tony Alderweireld has been instrumental is turning around the defensive debacle that plagued Tottenham last season.
5. Louis Van Gaal
Manchester United currently stands at second position with 8 wins and 2 losses and the journey from lst sason to here has been a hectic one. Van Gaal undertook a total revamping of the team and this season the names that were a part of the squad last year have been long forgotten. Angel Di Maria, Januzaj, Robin Van Persie, Radamel Falcao, Rafael, Lindegaard are some among the 11 players who were shown the exit door. Van Gaal has changed the dynamics of the team and from an attacking style the focus has shifted to a more defensive kind of play with Manchester United being the team to have conceded the minimum number of goals. The Dutchman runs a tight ship and is a harsh disciplinarian; it’s his way or the highway (if only Victor Valdes had known!).