Following on from Jackās (@myWHUopinion) blog it got me thinking about our current manager David Moyes and if he has done enough to warrant a new / extended contract.
I had the exact same thoughts as Jack regarding his previous managerial CV. However lately I am beginning to think he is perhaps limited in his managerial ability.
There is no doubting he turned things around after Slaven, he got the team working and has definitely brought out the best in Arnautovic. But the fact that he is keeping the bench warm with our second top goal scorer and one of our most creative players at a time when we need to score goals and win games is beyond me. These are players that have made a difference when introduced from the bench, only to find themselves back on it the following game. Worryingly his comments after Sundays defeat to Arsenal would appear they will be back there again this weekend as he felt we were too attacking in personnel!
Personally, I think we will avoid relegation, albeit by the skin of our teeth! I donāt want more of the same next season though. I feel we must progress next season and I donāt see that happening under Moyes.
Who do I think it should be? There have been a few names being touted about – Pellegrini, Silva, Benitez, Rodgers, even some fans have said Wenger!
Out of that list there is probably only two who really appeal to me ā Rafa Benitez or Brendan Rodgers. I want a manager who can potentially spend a number of years building and improving on their team to finally get us challenging for the European places, so that rules out Pellegrini and Wenger. Silva is an option but how long until he gets his head turned by another club again?
In Brendan Rodgers you have a young enthusiastic manager who likes his teams to play football. He has a win percentage of 52.67% in his managerial career.
His first mangerial positionwas Watford, taking them from relegation to a 13th place finish.
He then went to Reading where things didnāt work out so well and he left after 6 months in the job.
Swansea was his next managerial position and he took them to the Premiership via the Play Offs after beating his previous club Reading in the final. He managed to lead them to a 11th place finish and was lauded for the attractive style of football he had them playing which lead to him being appointed by Liverpool.
In his first season at Liverpool he improved their league position on the previous year. The following year he took them to the Runners Up spot in the Premiership following the infamous Steven Gerrard slip.
Currently he is managing Celtic where he has had an amazing record. He won the domestic treble in his first year and took the team on a run of 63 games unbeaten.
He is currently being linked with the Arsenal job following Wengerās resignation. Apparently he has said it would take an unbelievable offer for him to leave Celtic. So I think that rules him out of becoming our next manager!
With Rafa Benitez you have a more experienced and a very successful manager who has managed some of the top sides in Europe despite still only being 58. His win percentage is 50.7%, slightly less than Rodgers, however he has not had the benefit of managing a team in such a one-sided league as the Scottish Premiership. (Rodgers win percentage without the Celtic games is 45.88% for all you stats people!)
In the early part of his managerial career Rafa managed Real Madrid B, Real Valladolid, Osasuna and Extremadura. Not the most successful of times but he did manage to take Extremadura to the Primera Division.
His first managerial position following some time out from football was with Tenerife who he also got promoted to the Primera Division.
He has managed Valencia where he won La Liga twice and the UEFA Cup.
His first appointment in England was at Liverpool where he spent 6 years and won the FA Cup, Charity Shield, Champions League and the Super Cup.
He left Liverpool by mutual consent and immediately was appointed at Inter Milan. At Inter he won the Supercoppa Italiana and the FIFA Club World Cup.
Next was a return to England where he became Interim manager of Chelsea much to the discontent of Chelsea fans. Despite this he managed to win the Europa League and finished 3rd in the Premier League.
Upon completion of his Interim position at Chelsea, he found himself back in Italy, this time with Napoli. There he won the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana. He also just missed out on qualification for the following years Champions League in his last game in charge.
Following his resignation from Napoli, Rafa was appointed manager of Real Madrid. His spell at Real was short lived. He was sacked after 25 games despite having won 17 and drawn 5.
It wasnāt long before Benitez was employed again, this time with Newcastle. He couldnāt keep them in the Premiership but managed an immediate return in his first full season having won the Championship.
Currently he has Newcastle in the top half of the table with 41 points. Would he leave Newcastle to come to West Ham? Possibly. It appears his relationship with owner Mike Ashley is becoming more strained following comments in the media regarding ambition.
As you can see both managers are very attractive prospects. Strangely enough, prior to writing this blog Rodgers was top of my list but seeing the success Benitez has, I’m swaying towards him. He has won silverware at every club he has managed although bizarrely enough not Real Madrid!
What would any West Ham fan not give to have a manager who can possibly win them a trophy?
And Iām not talking about the Championship next season!
COYI
Tony Close
I think most people are being totally unrealistic, Moyes will be here next year, because none of the others mentioned would want to work for our owners and that’s the key factor that everyone seems to be overlooking!
[…] a lot of you read my last blog on Moyes and his potential replacements to which I feel even more strongly about after yesterday. […]