New Managers Have Mixed Experience

Posted by Logan Holmes Dec 3, 2007

A new football manager is expected to bring an immediate turn around in the club’s fortunes. When a team is struggling, directors invariably look to a new manager to bring an end to a poor series of results and on many occasions there is an immediate improvement. Players who had fully supported the previous boss suddenly put in that extra effort to impress their new coach and such collective endeavour brings an instant improvement in fortune and results.

Alex McLeish

On Sunday, Alex McLeish took his Birmingham City team to play Tottenham Hotspur who had benefited from the introduction of a new coach a few weeks earlier. Under Juande Ramos, Spurs were undefeated in six games and were looking to continue that run against Birmingham who had lost their last four games.

McLeish saw his team win a five goal thriller, coming from a goal behind to win with a late spectacular thirty five yard strike from Sebastian Larsson in added time. McLeish’s new team showed the endeavour and effort that had previously been missing.

Steve Bruce

At Wigan Athletic, Steve Bruce’s team were a goal down after a minute of his home debut as manager. However, they showed the fighting qualities Bruce will be demanding by coming back with a first half equaliser and earned a point against Manchester City.

Paul Jewell

Derby County’s new manager, Paul Jewell, was the unluckiest coach as his team conceded a last minute goal to lose to fellow strugglers, Sunderland.

Gary Megson

The new manager syndrome didn’t help Gary Megson or Bolton at Liverpool where they lost by four goals but Avram Grant had no worries with Chelsea defeating West Ham United by the only goal at Stamford Bridge.