Premier League Managers Mid-Term Report Card - Part I

So, we’re exactly half-way through the Premier League season, and it has been a tight and thoroughly exciting affair.

We’ve seen the maturing of young stars such as Fabregas and the return of old ones like Shevchenko. Man Utd stuttered and then blossomed to lead the way, with the impressive Arsenal just behind, while others like Newcastle and Tottenham have greatly underachieved. Some great games have been played (4-4 draw between Chelsea and Villa springs to mind), and some dour ones too (Fulham vs Newcastle anybody?).

But what about the managers? Have they used their resources available to their best ability? How well have they spent in the transfer market? And do they have the steel and nerve essential to survive and thrive in one of the world’s hardest leagues? Here is Part I of Liquid Football’s mid-term Premier League report card:

Arsenal – Arsene Wenger
Position: 1st place pretty much since the beginning of the season. No room for improvement here.
Use of Resources: Wenger has some fantastic talent at his disposal, and given how they all work together to create wonderful synergy and free-flowing football is testament to the Frenchman’s ability to get the most out of his players.
Strengths: Getting the most out of his team, sticking by his players and giving youngsters a chance. French youngsters but still.
Suggested Improvements: Arsene needs to cut out the hypocrisy and 2-facedness . Saying that the English national team needs an English coach before praising Capello’s appointment seems slightly odd.
Predicted Position: 2nd at the very least.
Overall Grade: A+

Aston Villa – Martin O’Neill
Position: A respectable 7th, Villa’s form will see them challenging for a UEFA cup place.
Use of Resources: O’Neill has a solid squad, and manages to utilise them into a tight unit that is hard to break down. Seems to get the best out of his ex-Celtic underlings.
Strengths: Signing relatively quality players such as Carson, Bouma and Carew on the cheap, as well as slowly building a team over time rather than rushing into the market with chequebooks blazing. Deadpan humour during interviews makes him a favourite with the press too.
Suggested Improvements: On the other hand however, O’Neill perhaps needs to be more ambitious in the transfer market more often. If Lerner is willing to pay, this may be the chance to push Villa forward to more successful territory. Then again, look what happened to Leeds...
Predicted Position: With Everton decimated for the African Cup of Nations, they should leapfrog them for a UEFA cup spot and 6th.
Overall Grade: B+

Birmingham City – Alex McLeish
Position: 16th, although under the form of McLeish they could have been about 14th. Good considering staying up is the main priority.
Use of Resources: McLeish has adapted quickly to his new surroundings and has been able to get the Blues playing some solid stuff. However, the recent defeat to Huddersfield in the FA Cup leaves a nasty stain on this report.
Strengths: From his time with Scotland, McLeish’s ability to take a group of players, gel them and have them playing attractive football is evident. Whether or not he can replicate that with Birmingham remains to be seen.
Suggested Improvements: McLeish left hastily his national team when the opportunity for more money arose, so can his loyalty be questioned?
Predicted Position: Lower mid-table, I’ll take a stab at 14th.
Overall Grade: B-

Blackburn Rovers – Mark Hughes
Position: A good start to the season saw them rise high, but form has dipped and so has their position to 9th. But still in touching distance of UEFA places.
Use of Resources: The front pairing of Santa Cruz and McCarthy has worked a dream from Hughes, and Sparky has managed to use his team’s physical side to good effect.
Strengths: Tells it how it is, you get the feeling that his no-nonsense attitude transfers well to his players. Has managed to turn Bentley into one of the brightest young talents in the Premier League.
Suggested Improvements: He really needs to learn the offside rule. Now. It’s not hard Sparky. If he touches the ball he’s active. If he doesn’t he’s not. Stop moaning.
Predicted Position: Pompey’s home form should return, so I don’t see them reaching any higher than their current position of 9th.
Overall Grade: B-

Bolton Wanderers – Gary Megson
Position: 14th
Use of Resources: Megson has done brilliantly to take a down-hearted, underperforming and frankly rubbish team out of the relegation zone. The question is, will Bolton be able to stay out of danger?
Strengths: Motivating and organising. Wanderers appear to have a bit of get up and go about them, and even managed to hold Bayern Munich to a 2-2 draw in Germany. No mean feat.
Suggested Improvements: When they lose Anelka (sorry, if), they’ll have a serious hole up front. Megson needs to get a quality striker in, and fast.
Predicted Position: Bolton have stuttered recently after the honeymoon period, and I can only see them going down come the business end of the season. 18th.
Overall Grade: C+

Chelsea – Avram Grant
Position: 3rd. Has admirably steadied the Stamford Ship after Jose’s departure, and has set his sights on the top 2.
Use of Resources: With the talent available to him at Chelsea, Grant has done well, but should really be aiming to be top. Room for improvement.
Strengths: Contrary to his dour expression and exterior, ‘The Normal One’ has rejuvenated Chelsea with some free-flowing attacking football as well as being solid at the back. Seems to also excel at silencing critics who gave him no hope before he was given a chance (I’ll hold my hands up here).
Suggested Improvements: Needs to tell his players to calm down when decisions go against them. The behaviour of some of his squad has at times been unacceptable and unprofessional. Results against other members of the big 4 have let him down also.
Predicted Position: They’ll be 3rd at least, but at the most as well barring a massive slip up from Arsenal or Man Utd.
Overall Grade: B+

Derby County – Paul Jewell
Position: 20th. Rock bottom and not getting out fast enough. Hardly Jewell’s fault considering he’s only been in the job for a month.
Use of Resources: To be honest, the quality of Derby’s players is not enough to survive in the Premier League. Therefore, Jewell can be forgiven for not improving results of late.
Strengths: Very good when it comes to relegation scraps, saving Wigan and Bradford from the drop previously. He has made some positive signings already this month (Robert, Savage and perhaps Carroll) but time will tell if this is enough to save them.
Suggested Improvements: Derby need to stop conceding last minute goals, get a central defensive partnership who can defend, and some passing skills wouldn’t go amiss.
Predicted Position: Sorry Paul, I can’t see your team reaching 10 points by the end of the season, let alone making up 10 points.
Overall Grade: C

Everton – David Moyes
Position: 6th. Just goes to show what can happen when you stick with a manager.
Use of Resources: Defensively, Moyes has done very well to create a solid unit comprising of players not many other teams would bother to sign. The same goes for his midfield, but up front only Yakubu really takes the eye.
Strengths: Building a team over time, and making it clear what he wants from each man. Has an eye for a good youngster/signing.
Suggested Improvements: Find players that are good but not African! Everton won’t possess the same quality without Yobo, Yakubu and Pienaar.
Predicted Position: I see them slipping down a place to Aston Villa. 7th.
Overall Grade: A-

Fulham – Roy Hodgson
Position: 19th, although more Sanchez’s fault really.
Use of Resources: Hard to tell, given that he’s only been in charge for 2 games.
Strengths: Again hard to tell. From past experience it’s clear that he can make a solid unit from pretty much any side.
Suggested Improvements: Again from looking at his previous clubs, attacking and scoring goals doesn’t appear to be Hodgson’s forte.
Predicted Position: 16th. Hodgson’s vast experience with all sorts of footballing situations should guide Fulham to safety.
Overall Grade: ?

Liverpool – Rafael Benitez
Position: 4th
Use of Resources: Not too sharp. With the amount that Rafa spent over the summer and the huge squad available to him, Liverpool should be higher than 5th. Full stop.
Strengths: Playing well in Europe suits Benitez’s continental style of play, and the Spanish signings that he’s made seem to play well under him.
Suggested Improvements: A bit more bite and consistency needed, and less spats with the owners would probably help inter-club relationships... and the odds that he’ll be still be manager come the end of the season.
Predicted Position: Liverpool will overtake Man City, but may not find the consistency required to get past Chelsea. 4th.
Overall Grade: C-

What do you think of the grades I’ve given out? Too harsh, too lenient, or spot on? Leave your comments below.