Managerial Report Cards: Part 2

Here is the second half of our feature on the Premiership managers, focussing on the bottom half of the table. You can read the first half here.

11. Wigan – Steve Bruce
Arguably the most inconsistent team in the Premiership – blessed with talent such as Zaki, Heskey, Palacios and Valencia, Wigan blow hot and cold like no other. In some sort of form having won their past two games (for the first time in Bruce’s reign) – if it wasn’t for that they would be in the relegation zone. None of the teams in the bottom half are remotely safe as its so, so tight – but Wigan are at least the best placed of them.
Overall: 7/10. Its the points rather than the position you have to look at. Bruce has made some good signings, but you wonder where the goals will come from if, as expected, Zaki leaves in January.

12. Middlesbrough – Gareth Southgate
Southgate has assembled a young, exciting Boro side who, if they can keep the nucleus of the team together, could be one to watch over the next few seasons. However, they also suffer hugely from inconsistency, not helped by the erratic performances of their strikers Alves, Mido and Tuncay. As always Steve Gibson will give Southgate time, and lots of it – and the portents are good. A young squad and prolific youth system bode well, as long as they can stay out of trouble this season.
Overall: 7.5/10. Southgate is still learning the managerial game but signs are promising.

13. West Ham – Gianfranco Zola
Zola’s promise to bring pretty football to the Boleyn Ground has not really been realised. Somewhat surprisingly he has instilled some defensive solidity, with their third consecutive clean sheet in the 0-0 draw with Liverpool. Mark Noble is quoted saying it will take two years for West Ham to learn to play in Zola’s image – but does he have that long? Needs to score some goals and get some wins to bring some security.
Overall: 6.5/10. Slightly disappointing, but has sorted the defence out which deserves credit. His first managerial job and will surely be given time by the board.

14. Stoke – Tony Pulis
Rory Delap has been the revelation of the season with his rocket launched throw-ins – and Tony Pulis makes no excuses for the physical style Stoke adopt. They have won their last 5 home games and are formidable at the Britannia; away from home it is a rather different story. Without Delap’s throws Stoke would be bottom, so that is a cause for concern.
Overall: 8/10. As a promoted side, they have done well. Though there are concerns if their home form slips or sides figure out Delap, which must happen at some point…

15. Man City – Mark Hughes.
Positionally, desperately disappointing, but Hughes will point out they are only one win away from the top 10, two wins from the top 6, and three wins from the Champions League places! However, compared to last season progress has most definitely been backward (they sat second). With the addition of Jo, Robinho, SWP, Kompany et al that must be hugely concerning for the owners. Yes, signings need time to bed in, but if you spend that much you want some instant results. Hughes needs to turn things around, and fast, if he is not to be out on his ear. January signings may help – but they will take time to adapt, as the close season ones have.
Overall 4/10. Spending £75m and being nine places below Hull is inexcusable. Hughes is in desperate need of results. But with them, everything could so soon look so different.

16. Tottenham – Harry Redknapp.
His honeymoon period appears now to be over after consecutive defeats, but his rip-roaring start will remain long in the memory. Spurs are undoubtedly in a far better position that when he took over – but are only out of the relegation zone on goal difference. Redknapp, and the fans, must remember that the first target is to avoid going down. A top 10 finish, with a good cup run, would be an excellent season considering the start they had.
Overall: 9/10. Despite recent defeats, an excellent start. If he can turn around the recent setbacks they will shoot up the table.

17. Newcastle – Joe Kinnear.
A wholly uninspiring appointment, but he has brought some sense of stability to St James. A couple of draws, a win or two – and he was given the job until the end of the season. The best moment of his tenure was his outburst at journalists – ‘Which one of you is Simon Bird?’ will live long in the memory. Newcastle probably won’t go down, probably won’t finish above 12th, and Kinnear probably won’t have a job next season.
Overall: 6.5/10. Meh.

18. Sunderland – Roy Keane.
Until the last six games Sunderland would have been higher in the table and the outlook would be totally different. But five defeats in six, and losing their last four at home including the shambolic 1-4 defeat to Bolton, have heaped the pressure on. You would not bet against Keane walking away if he didn’t feel he was the right man for the job (he has said as much) – and surely he would walk before he he was pushed. That is not yet a possibility (remember they were bottom of the Championship only a couple of years ago) but board and fans will want Keane to turn things round, and fast.
Overall: 5/10. But a good run of results will push it back up to a 7/8, where he was earlier in the season.

19. Blackburn – Paul Ince.
Second favourite in the sack race (behind Keane) Ince is reported to have asked for six games to turn things around for a struggling Blackburn side. It was always going to be difficult to continue the great work Mark Hughes did, but under him they were consistently top 10 and board and fans will want, at the very minimum, safety. 19th is not good enough, and unless Ince can engineer a change in fortunes, he will not be there at the end of the season.
Overall: 3/10. Has done nothing to suggest he is up to the job. But, with things so tight, again a few wins and the outlook will be very different.

20. West Brom – Tony Mowbray.
Admirably steadfastly sticking to his principles of pretty football – unfortunately its only proved to be pretty ineffective. Stone bottom and favourites for relegation, West Brom desperately need their backwards and sideways passing to produce results. The most disappointing aspect will be the defeats to Stoke and Hull – West Brom finished comfortably above them last season, and if they cannot beat those sides, what chance do they have?
Overall: 4/10. You cannot rate someone too highly who is bottom of the league. Deserves respect for his footballing mantra but that will cut short shrift if results don’t improve.