by David Triggs
It’s that time of the year again, you know, the one where managers are getting sacked just after the January transfer window and it all turns into swings and roundabouts regarding new managers. I pose the question, is sacking the man in charge always the right answer?
The most high-profile sacking of the past few weeks is obviously AVB getting his p45 at Chelsea. A decision that I for one completely disagree with. AVB has gained one less point in his 40 games at Chelsea, than Mancini’s first 40 at City, and look at him now. Now I don’t know what went on behind the scenes, but the senior Chelsea player’s attitude towards the young former Porto boss, would imply that something wasn’t quite right. I feel that Abrhamovich’s constant yearly change in management is not only seriously damaging to the reputation of Chelsea, but also to the reputation of the Premier League.
And it’s not just the top flight where we’re seeing these bizarre sackings. Simon Grayson at Leeds, Lee Clark at Huddersfield, and most recently, Gary Megson at Sheffeild Wednesday. The latter having just beaten Wednesday’s arch-rivals 3 days prior to his sacking, would indicate that this plague of dismissals is poisoning the English game at all levels. Grayson’s start at Huddersfield following Clark’s sacking hasn’t exactly set the world alight having given away a 2 goal lead at Stevenage and a 3 goal lead at Bury in 2 of his last 3 games; it would indicate yet again that Clark’s sacking was premature.
Cast your mind back to November, and the whole football world is in hysterics at the fact Steve Kean still actually has a job. Yet recently, all the “Kean Out” cries appeared to have died down. No doubt due to their remarkable win at Old Trafford but still, Kean was given a chance, and believe it or not, as I type this, Blackburn are no longer in the relegation zone. Manager’s can be given 3 – 4 – 5 year deals, but they truly aren’t worth the paper they are written on. If a big club comes calling or if they are going through a soggy patch of form, they’re out the door. And I firmly believe that in the majority of situations sacking is most definitely not the best option. My prime example, being the current situation at Wolverhampton Wanderers. McCarthy’s ridiculous sacking appeared to be some sort of impulse reaction following their loss to West Brom, but their failure to appoint a proper manager and their thrashing by Fulham at the weekend means Wolves’ fans are currently cursing their luck at the fact Mick was sacked.
All in all, I’m a firm believer that installing a manger with so few games remaining, and practically no opportunities to bring players in, is an extremely costly manoeuvre, and very rarely results in positive results.
