This season has been a crazy one in the Premier League. But with just 4 games to go there are still outcomes to be decided up and down the table, but there are clear managers who have stood out and deserve to be named manager of the year. We are going to review them below:
Pep Guardiola – The man is a genius. He has revolutionised football in this country and across the world. This season he has developed an inverted wing back system, then changed to 3 at the back and moved John Stones into a roaming midfield role. They are in the Fa cup final against bitter rivals Manchester United. They are now top of the league and favourites to win the premier league title for the 5th time in 6 seasons. They are also favourites for the Champions League with their Champions League final coming against Real Madrid over two legs in the Semis. But does he deserve to win the award? Or is this all expected from a juggernaut of a team?
Mikel Arteta – So close! There has been a massive change in performance this season, recruitment has been amazing and they haven’t made a mistake in the market. They are on track to get 90 points which would win the majority of league titles, just ask Sir Alex Ferguson, he’d usually win with between 78-86 points. Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool have gone off the boil and Peps former apprentice Arteta has taken his place to give us an exciting race. The youngest team in the league and great credit, but ultimately won nothing and were poor in Europe and cup competitions.
Eddie Howe – Newcastle look nailed on for a top 4 place and Champions League football next season. They have one of the best defences in the league, St James Park is a fortress and there is a feel good factor around the place. The transformation started last season, but this season has been remarkable. With the riches the Saudi owners have, there is potential for some massive star names coming through the doors, but I think they will continue to steadily build and Howe has arguably a tougher job sustaining it, but exceptional from Eddie and he always carries himself well.
Roberto De Zerbi – Brighton as a club are quite remarkable, they play some of the best football in the league, and they use an advanced statistical base to sign players, rarely does that not pay off. They get the most out of every single player at the club and they seem to sell at the right time for the highest transfer fee and it doesn’t seem to affect the quality of play. How much is is down to the role Graham Potter played the seasons before or Tony Bloom and Paul Barber at the top of the house? That’s difficult to say but De Zerbi has taken them on to a new level. An outside chance of a top 4 place but I think the top 6 is looking solid for them and what a season.
Unai Emery – The man is so underrated it’s unreal! He’s taken Villa from relegation candidates to European candidates. Steven Gerrard should be credited for some of the recruitment, I actually think that was decent. Coutinho made an impact but quite predictably tailed off when he got settled at the club and knew what he could get away with. The improvement though can be tracked in the same way Ollie Watkins’ form has changed. He looks like scoring every single game now, and Emery made the bold decision of getting rid of Ings in January. He only brought in Alex Moreno but he’s been a shrewd signing, Villa have become more solid defensively, and very effective in transition and if Villa get Europe they are guaranteed a trophy, Emery and the Europa League are wedded it seems, he’s won it a remarkable 4 times!
Gary O’Neill – I mean what a job this man has done. Scott Parker threw his toys out of the pram and a 9-0 result earlier in the season didn’t help. It looked like Bournemouth were going to have a long hard season. Lowest attendance in the league and limited budget but my god what a turnaround. Gary O’Neill has got Bournemouth defensively solid while maintaining a big threat on the break. Ouattara, the January signing has given them pace and invention going forward, Billing just off Solanke has been a master stroke and they look hard to deal with, pace and power always is! In recent weeks they have been winning games and are comfortably safe and may finish as high as 12th. What a season.
Honourable mentions would be Marco Silva, Fulham were going so well and might have made Europe but injuries and Mitrovic’s ban have derailed that. Brentford are always solid and will finish top half again, but the winner for me would be Howe, followed extremely closely by De Zerbi but I think Pep will win it especially if he lifts the Premier League trophy, Fa Cup and the much-desired Champions League, the holy grail for Man Citys owners.
