Managers you like

[David Brent]

Marcello Lippi. Cigar in mouth holding the World Cup. The Don.

Really enjoyed watching Marcelo Bielsa’s Chile team too.

 

[italian dave]

55 minutes ago, big dosser said:

Gareth Ainsworth for me just love his rock and roll vibe and the way he works with peanuts

Yep, me too. I saw a piece on the TV last year after the death of Bill Turnbull, who was a massive Wycombe fan. Ainsworth was so supportive of him and just came across as a really genuine guy with a real passion and affection for Wycombe. 

[Davefevs]

2 hours ago, Dolman_Stand said:

Nathan Jones

[nellie]

Eddie Howe (will be honest a mate from school)

Sean O'Driscoll (best manager i played for) 

 

 

 

[lenred]

Really good question. Bobby Robson for producing the first England team I fell in love with. Terry Cooper for being a lovely bloke and a City hero (although vast majority of his time managing City was before my time).  Simeone for breaking the Spanish monopoly and his shithousery. Pep for his dress sense

Edited January 19, 2023 by lenred

[Fuber]

10 hours ago, Carey 6 said:

Kitson certainly didn't like him.

Watched a couple of Undr the Cosh interviews with Clarke Carlisle & Wilbs - they absolutely loved him. 

By all accounts, my cousin is a Reading fan (poor bastard).

In his own words, "Dave Kitson is a c**k".

[AppyDAZE]

3 hours ago, TSG said:

Bobby Robson and Woy Hodgson 

Robby Bobson, Woy Hodgson and Very Terribles   :laugh:

Three of the best.

[cidercity1987]

I like the majority of our ex managers, not sure why. Especially the likes of Johnson and Cotterill where I felt they saw City as more than a job.

Wilson can f off though cos of Robbored.

[redsquirrel]

i liked adkins at southampton,felt sorry for him getting binned out for that pochinetto bloke after getting them promoted

[Oh Louie louie]

There was a good piece of footage after the forest semi final, Clough says to joe, you were the best team we have played all season, then kisses him! Classy touch.

[AshtonGreat]

21 hours ago, Phileas Fogg said:

Ex-City of course so I’m sure many will feel the same, but I do really like Cotterill as a guy. He’s clearly mad as a fox, very intense and emotive - but he’s someone I’d really like to succeed.

Good manager too!

[Phileas Fogg]

11 hours ago, cidercity1987 said:

I like the majority of our ex managers, not sure why. Especially the likes of Johnson and Cotterill where I felt they saw City as more than a job.

Wilson can f off though cos of Robbored.

I agree re: the majority of our ex-managers.

The ones that were here medium to long term, (Gary J, Cotterill, Lee J), in particular. 

As a fan base, we tend to prefer managers with big personalities who cause a bit of a stir. I think this was one factor as to why people were pretty apathetic towards SO'D (context of where we were as a team also a big factor) and also to an extent Coppell. Pearson is obviously a big personality too and it's a similar situation with him.

I think there may be a bit of psychology behind this. We're in a fairly unique position nationally in that we're probably the biggest City that hasn't had a Prem team in recent history. We've always felt a bit side lined (the irritation of being called "Bristol" and the novel enjoyment of Jonathan Pearce shoehorning in City references wherever possible).

As a fanbase we want a big personality to take pride in our club and bring us the success we feel we deserve given the size of the City and potential catchment area. All of GJ, Cotterill, LJ and Pearson are proud and have big personalities. All of them tend to rub a % of supporters, whether they're ours or opposition fans, up the wrong way and divide opinion.

Compare that to someone like Holden, not as much of a big personality, where there seems to be a consensus opinion that he was a nice guy that was out of his depth. There are still debates some 15 years later as to whether we did the right thing in the 2008 January Transfer window.. and a discussion as to whether Cotterill was adequately backed in 2015 or whether Lee Johnson's tenure can be described as a success would still reach 3/4 pages.

Whether you liked them or not (Pearson too) I think I've felt the most engaged with watching the club when we've had a manager who caused a stir at the helm.

Edited January 20, 2023 by Phileas Fogg

[Marina's Rolls Royce]

21 hours ago, shelts said:

Always liked Neil Warnock . His teams were always hard to play against and I loved his passion for the game and the successes he had . Loved the antics/ street smart his teams had , never seen it at the gate and at times could’ve done with it . 
Not everyone’s cup of tea I grant you . 

Never thought I liked the guy and never wanted him here even when previously a possibility.

Having dais that, I listened to his interview with Adrain Childs on 5 live yesterday and couldn't help but admire him and thoroughly enjoyed a fascinating interview.

I loved his comment about his time as a pro footballer " I made a success of being a constant failure". 

And his manager at Chesterfield who roughly said " Neil, I see Sunday League players every week who have more talent and ability than you but they dont have your heart, your desire and that's why you're here and not them" 

[Davefevs]

52 minutes ago, Marina's Rolls Royce said:

Never thought I liked the guy and never wanted him here even when previously a possibility.

Having dais that, I listened to his interview with Adrain Childs on 5 live yesterday and couldn't help but admire him and thoroughly enjoyed a fascinating interview.

I loved his comment about his time as a pro footballer " I made a success of being a constant failure". 

And his manager at Chesterfield who roughly said " Neil, I see Sunday League players every week who have more talent and ability than you but they dont have your heart, your desire and that's why you're here and not them" 

I‘ve always liked Warnock, apart from when he’s in the opposition dugout.  I think he’s a canny manager, sometimes goes a bit OTT, but a good example of a fairly undistinguished playing career who found a niche in management.

I don’t think I ever wanted him here, but would’ve been interesting times had he ever got the job.

[Marina's Rolls Royce]

17 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

I‘ve always liked Warnock, apart from when he’s in the opposition dugout.  I think he’s a canny manager, sometimes goes a bit OTT, but a good example of a fairly undistinguished playing career who found a niche in management.

I don’t think I ever wanted him here, but would’ve been interesting times had he ever got the job.

It was never going to happen here, Dave. By utter coincidence in the evening after the Palace match when the 'non goal' was scored and Warnock accused GJ of being a cheat- I was at a small gathering with Steve and Maggie being there. I talked to him about the match and he clearly didnt like Colin. When I specifically asked him about that 'goal', he just said absolutely dead pan ( in reference to NW) "It couldn't have happened to a nicer person". After that, to my mind, Colin would never make Steve's manager short list.

People have often said that Steve would never appoint Colin because he wasn't a 'yes man' but I think that it was simply a case that he didn't like him or perhaps could never forgive the cheat reference? I don't think an owner has to be friends with their manager or even necessarily like them but they're never going to employ someone in that position if they dislike them.

[robinforlife2]

26 minutes ago, Marina's Rolls Royce said:

It was never going to happen here, Dave. By utter coincidence in the evening after the Palace match when the 'non goal' was scored and Warnock accused GJ of being a cheat- I was at a small gathering with Steve and Maggie being there. I talked to him about the match and he clearly didnt like Colin. When I specifically asked him about that 'goal', he just said absolutely dead pan ( in reference to NW) "It couldn't have happened to a nicer person". After that, to my mind, Colin would never make Steve's manager short list.

People have often said that Steve would never appoint Colin because he wasn't a 'yes man' but I think that it was simply a case that he didn't like him or perhaps could never forgive the cheat reference? I don't think an owner has to be friends with their manager or even necessarily like them but they're never going to employ someone in that position if they dislike them.

I actually think that's a really good point, and often you find in a business people who are promoted are those who are known or friendly with those in charge, whilst the better man rarely gets the job for the opposite reasons. I personally think when you own a club, you shouldn't have a say on who the manager is, that's why you employ a recruitment team. If you don't trust the team to make the recruitment you want, why have a recruitment team in the first place. 

[Red-Robbo]

2 hours ago, Davefevs said:

I‘ve always liked Warnock, apart from when he’s in the opposition dugout.  I think he’s a canny manager, sometimes goes a bit OTT, but a good example of a fairly undistinguished playing career who found a niche in management.

I don’t think I ever wanted him here, but would’ve been interesting times had he ever got the job.

 

Can't ever forgive him for that diabolical performance from Rotherham in 2016 where, from the dugout and in full view of the clueless officials, he encouraged his side to cheat, dive, feign head injuries, give out kicks and pushes off the ball and generally waste time in order to scrape at 0-0 draw.

It was not what anyone pays to see at football. It was anti-football. 

[Davefevs]

14 minutes ago, Red-Robbo said:

 

Can't ever forgive him for that diabolical performance from Rotherham in 2016 where, from the dugout and in full view of the clueless officials, he encouraged his side to cheat, dive, feign head injuries, give out kicks and pushes off the ball and generally waste time in order to scrape at 0-0 draw.

It was not what anyone pays to see at football. It was anti-football. 

Yep, that’s the big reason I didn’t want him here…even though I like / respect him (for 99% of stuff).

[lenred]

52 minutes ago, Red-Robbo said:

 

Can't ever forgive him for that diabolical performance from Rotherham in 2016 where, from the dugout and in full view of the clueless officials, he encouraged his side to cheat, dive, feign head injuries, give out kicks and pushes off the ball and generally waste time in order to scrape at 0-0 draw.

It was not what anyone pays to see at football. It was anti-football. 

Whilst I agree it was diabolical, and Halford’s ‘head injury’ nearly made me commit an offence worthy of a sentence it was so bad, you have to admire what he did that year overall - kept them up when they were dead and buried including 11 unbeaten. An amazing achievement  

 

[Red-Robbo]

9 minutes ago, lenred said:

Whilst I agree it was diabolical, and Halford’s ‘head injury’ nearly made me commit an offence worthy of a sentence it was so bad, you have to admire what he did that year overall - kept them up when they were dead and buried including 11 unbeaten. An amazing achievement  

 

 

I admire it if he did that by getting them to play out of their skin, rather than cheat out of their skin.

[lenred]

29 minutes ago, Red-Robbo said:

 

I admire it if he did that by getting them to play out of their skin, rather than cheat out of their skin.

Got to work with what you have though. Id’ve been very happy as a Rotherham fan for that season.   Think his football overall is much maligned and unfairly so (not at Rotherham!).  When he had decent players at QPR especially and Cardiff to a lesser extent in their early years together they played some really decent stuff.  He worked with what he had to get results.   Can’t blame him for that.  

[The Journalist]

On 19/01/2023 at 13:42, GrahamC said:

Only spending £210m in the process, an incredible achievement with such limited resources.

Not sure if you're being sarcastic or not - £210m in today's market doesn't get you much if you're trying to build a team to get into the Champions League!

Genuinely, their recruitment has been excellent and building a team - and bearing in mind they were absolute relegation fodder for a sustained period time - in that short space of time is much, much easier said than done. You only need to look at the sort of money other clubs/managers have wasted to appreciate that.

(Apologies if you're being genuine!).

[GrahamC]

16 minutes ago, The Journalist said:

Not sure if you're being sarcastic or not - £210m in today's market doesn't get you much if you're trying to build a team to get into the Champions League!

Genuinely, their recruitment has been excellent and building a team - and bearing in mind they were absolute relegation fodder for a sustained period time - in that short space of time is much, much easier said than done. You only need to look at the sort of money other clubs/managers have wasted to appreciate that.

(Apologies if you're being genuine!).

I was being sarcastic but to honest I know very little about the Prem, apart from the fact Newcastle have some pretty odious owners, & I’m quite happy with that.

[Lanterne Rouge]

3 hours ago, lenred said:

Got to work with what you have though. Id’ve been very happy as a Rotherham fan for that season.   Think his football overall is much maligned and unfairly so (not at Rotherham!).  When he had decent players at QPR especially and Cardiff to a lesser extent in their early years together they played some really decent stuff.  He worked with what he had to get results.   Can’t blame him for that.  

TBF he did get the absolute best out of Adel Taraabt. He was a joy to watch.

[Keepers Ball]

I have a little obsession with Brian Clough. Ive a lot of books on him.

Other old school who was entertaining was Ron Atkinson

Current times? Without question Steve Cotterill. He brought me my club, winners

Others I go with Neil Warnock, Bollocks to what people say about him. Blokes a determined winner and whatever club he managed , he wore that badge as if he were as passionate as the supporters. The bloke cared about his teams. Away from the pitch he always comes across as a decent bloke with good stories

Like others I have to include Mick McCarthy and Tony Mowbray. No bullshit and say it as it is

Jose Mourinho. I miss having him in the Premier League

 

[ExiledAjax]

Has anyone said Pep yet? Absolute pervert of football and surely one of the best of our time.

[joe jordans teeth]

On 19/01/2023 at 18:47, maxjak said:

Mikel Arteta...........has taken Arsenal in just 3 years to dizzying heights, with astute signings and outstanding tactics.  At just 40, he is the manager i admire   the most.     As for Eddie Howe, I admire him as a manager, and can fully appreciate his ambition and talent..........but anyone who goes near Saudi Arabia FC must lack a conscience........IMHO?

Is that the same Arteta who worked at Man City under their owners,his conscience must be lacking as well 

[joe jordans teeth]

12 hours ago, Marina's Rolls Royce said:

It was never going to happen here, Dave. By utter coincidence in the evening after the Palace match when the 'non goal' was scored and Warnock accused GJ of being a cheat- I was at a small gathering with Steve and Maggie being there. I talked to him about the match and he clearly didnt like Colin. When I specifically asked him about that 'goal', he just said absolutely dead pan ( in reference to NW) "It couldn't have happened to a nicer person". After that, to my mind, Colin would never make Steve's manager short list.

People have often said that Steve would never appoint Colin because he wasn't a 'yes man' but I think that it was simply a case that he didn't like him or perhaps could never forgive the cheat reference? I don't think an owner has to be friends with their manager or even necessarily like them but they're never going to employ someone in that position if they dislike them.

They should appoint the best man for the job simple as if they like them or not,and you will never convince me a warnock in charge wouldn’t have got us promoted,it’s what has held us back for so many years with our owner 

[joe jordans teeth]

51 minutes ago, ExiledAjax said:

Has anyone said Pep yet? Absolute pervert of football and surely one of the best of our time.

It’s a interesting one that,at Barcelona he had Messi xavi and inesta then went to Bayern and Man City,I’m not saying he’s a lucky manager but I’m sure even Tony Pullis would be successful being in charge of those clubs 

[Mr Popodopolous]

8 hours ago, lenred said:

Got to work with what you have though. Id’ve been very happy as a Rotherham fan for that season.   Think his football overall is much maligned and unfairly so (not at Rotherham!).  When he had decent players at QPR especially and Cardiff to a lesser extent in their early years together they played some really decent stuff.  He worked with what he had to get results.   Can’t blame him for that.  

 

5 hours ago, Lanterne Rouge said:

TBF he did get the absolute best out of Adel Taraabt. He was a joy to watch.

Agreed.

Would add his Sheffield United and QPR side were not bad at times too but it might depend on whether his remit was a short term or a longer term one. Survival, well it's dig in etc.

[Oh Louie louie]

The team Howard Kendall put together at Everton, what a job he did,

[ExiledAjax]

6 hours ago, joe jordans teeth said:

It’s a interesting one that,at Barcelona he had Messi xavi and inesta then went to Bayern and Man City,I’m not saying he’s a lucky manager but I’m sure even Tony Pullis would be successful being in charge of those clubs 

True he's worked with exceptional players. However I do admire his passion. To have won so much and still be hungry for success is quite something. I'd have retired years ago.

[Show Me The Money!]

Even as an Everton fan I do like Klopp. He just comes across as the kind of manager who knows how to get the best out of his players and as I player you’d play your guts out for.

 You get some managers that are quite dull or wingie and moany like Conte and Mourinho who you imagine can’t be much fun as players to work for.

i remember watching that series on Salford when they were first taken over by Neville and co and they appointed a pair of managers who basically just shouted at the players. For a good manager needs to inspire players. Not just bawl at them

Maybe I’m just a softie!

[Keepers Ball]

How can I forget Bobby Robson? A decent genuine football man 

[Offside]

I often wonder how top managers like Pep, who get the best out of world class players, would get on in charge of lower division teams struggling to make ends meet. 

[Lordofthebling]

Weirdly Steve Bruce and Dean Smith