From the Guardian
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Blog home Manager of the season: Premier League 2010-11 reviewFrom Sir Alex Ferguson to Roy Hodgson, scan through our suggestions and make your own nominations below the line
Welcome to guardian.co.uk's review of the 2010-11 Premier League season. As the campaign draws to a close, we want you to help us find the most spectacular goal, biggest flop and best signing, as well as the winner in seven other categories. Our writers have nominated some contenders, but this is just the starting point for the conversation: we would like your suggestions so that we can compile the best into final polls that you can vote on. As the season obviously doesn't finish until Sunday afternoon, the nomination blogs will be open until later that evening, with the polls then open from Monday 23 May. Thanks.
Sir Alex Ferguson
The Manchester United manager has stamped his name all over this record 19th title. He jumped on Wayne Rooney's transfer request in October and got the sulky striker firing again. He took United to 29 games unbeaten in the Premier League with an average midfield. He motivated Dimitar Berbatov. He rotated his squad to perfection. He used his FA charge to foster a sense of being embattled and further fuelled his team. And while on the road United were nothing special, at home he ensured his side steamrollered the teams that Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs and the rest could not beat. And when it really mattered – against Chelsea in the title decider and against Blackburn away – his players did exactly what they had to. He also made the signing of the season in Javier Hernández.
Ian Holloway
Blackpool should already be relegated. Only one professional club – Stockport County who are bottom of League Two – have conceded more than Blackpool's average of two goals a game. The fact that at the time of writing they have got to the final game and have a chance of staying up with a squad assembled for around £5m, is a miracle of sorts. Ian Holloway's team has played with a carefree spirit seldom seen from newcomers to the top flight (just look at the 4-3 win against Bolton for evidence), where survival is often synonymous with physicality and Neanderthal tactics. Without Charlie Adam the Seasiders would have hit the rocks and sunk into the second tier many games ago, but Holloway's resolve in keeping his captain when Liverpool came knocking with £12m in January, may yet be his greatest feat. Even if Blackpool go down, Holloway is more than a worthy contender.
Kenny Dalglish
Liverpool were languishing only four points off the relegation zone in January when Kenny Dalglish received a call while entertaining guests on a cruise in Dubai asking him if he'd come back to Anfield as caretaker manager. After 11 years out of the game, the sceptics believed his expertise lay in selecting golf clubs, not footballers. But after overseeing a defeat at Blackpool in his first league match in charge, Liverpool have lost only two games, scoring more goals than any other club and ranking third in the form table since the turn of the year. He has played the role of returning legend to perfection. The negative tactics employed by Roy Hodgson have been cast aside. Replacing a moody, misfiring Fernando Torres with Luis Suárez and Andy Carroll looks to be a masterstroke. Previously maligned players such as Lucas Leiva, Jay Spearing and Dirk Kuyt are now lauded. Liverpool are no longer reliant on two players and local youngsters can see a path into the first team once more. There was only really one man capable of uniting a club torn asunder by the mismanagement of George Gillett and Tom Hicks, but Dalglish has done much more than that. In five months he has got a train wreck back on the rails and given it momentum.
Roy Hodgson
If Dalglish can be nominated for his effectiveness in half a season, then it's only fair that the man whose mess he swept up be recognised for his impact at West Brom since 11 February. After wearing the look of a condemned man for much of his time at Anfield – where fans never really wanted him in the first place – it is testament to Hodgson's strength of character that he was willing to take the job, and the pressure, at the Hawthorns. West Brom were joint-third bottom with Wigan when he took over. Five wins, five draws and only two defeats later the Baggies have bounced back up to 11th in the league and fifth in the form table since his appointment, with the highlight being the victory over Liverpool, which probably gave him more personal satisfaction than his politeness would allow him to admit. Some people are better at driving hatchbacks than fancy saloons. Hodgson is clearly one of those men.
Tony Pulis
In their third season in the top flight it says much for Stoke's consistency that they have never really been considered serious contenders to go down. Tony Pulis still uses the long-throw tactic to good effect at home, but they are not only about physicality and set pieces anymore – Rory Delap is no longer a guaranteed starter for example. From the flanks they have been as dangerous as any other team except Manchester United. A rejuvenated Jermaine Pennant looks to be a steal at £1.7m. His prolific crosses, allied with those of Matthew Etherington, enjoying one of his best ever seasons on the left wing, have utilised the aerial prowess of Kenwyne Jones (another shrewd signing at £8m), Ricardo Fuller and Jon Walters to great effect. Stoke's strength has been their ability to beat the teams around, not above them. Roberth Huth and Ryan Shawcross are a formidable obstacle at the back. Pulis's evolution is a slow one, but by playing on their known strengths, and slowly improving the team in areas where they previously lacked, he is establishing Stoke as a fixture in the Premier League. And for that, he deserves high praise.
FLMAO
Blog home Manager of the season: Premier League 2010-11 reviewFrom Sir Alex Ferguson to Roy Hodgson, scan through our suggestions and make your own nominations below the line
Welcome to guardian.co.uk's review of the 2010-11 Premier League season. As the campaign draws to a close, we want you to help us find the most spectacular goal, biggest flop and best signing, as well as the winner in seven other categories. Our writers have nominated some contenders, but this is just the starting point for the conversation: we would like your suggestions so that we can compile the best into final polls that you can vote on. As the season obviously doesn't finish until Sunday afternoon, the nomination blogs will be open until later that evening, with the polls then open from Monday 23 May. Thanks.
Sir Alex Ferguson
The Manchester United manager has stamped his name all over this record 19th title. He jumped on Wayne Rooney's transfer request in October and got the sulky striker firing again. He took United to 29 games unbeaten in the Premier League with an average midfield. He motivated Dimitar Berbatov. He rotated his squad to perfection. He used his FA charge to foster a sense of being embattled and further fuelled his team. And while on the road United were nothing special, at home he ensured his side steamrollered the teams that Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs and the rest could not beat. And when it really mattered – against Chelsea in the title decider and against Blackburn away – his players did exactly what they had to. He also made the signing of the season in Javier Hernández.
Ian Holloway
Blackpool should already be relegated. Only one professional club – Stockport County who are bottom of League Two – have conceded more than Blackpool's average of two goals a game. The fact that at the time of writing they have got to the final game and have a chance of staying up with a squad assembled for around £5m, is a miracle of sorts. Ian Holloway's team has played with a carefree spirit seldom seen from newcomers to the top flight (just look at the 4-3 win against Bolton for evidence), where survival is often synonymous with physicality and Neanderthal tactics. Without Charlie Adam the Seasiders would have hit the rocks and sunk into the second tier many games ago, but Holloway's resolve in keeping his captain when Liverpool came knocking with £12m in January, may yet be his greatest feat. Even if Blackpool go down, Holloway is more than a worthy contender.
Kenny Dalglish
Liverpool were languishing only four points off the relegation zone in January when Kenny Dalglish received a call while entertaining guests on a cruise in Dubai asking him if he'd come back to Anfield as caretaker manager. After 11 years out of the game, the sceptics believed his expertise lay in selecting golf clubs, not footballers. But after overseeing a defeat at Blackpool in his first league match in charge, Liverpool have lost only two games, scoring more goals than any other club and ranking third in the form table since the turn of the year. He has played the role of returning legend to perfection. The negative tactics employed by Roy Hodgson have been cast aside. Replacing a moody, misfiring Fernando Torres with Luis Suárez and Andy Carroll looks to be a masterstroke. Previously maligned players such as Lucas Leiva, Jay Spearing and Dirk Kuyt are now lauded. Liverpool are no longer reliant on two players and local youngsters can see a path into the first team once more. There was only really one man capable of uniting a club torn asunder by the mismanagement of George Gillett and Tom Hicks, but Dalglish has done much more than that. In five months he has got a train wreck back on the rails and given it momentum.
Roy Hodgson
If Dalglish can be nominated for his effectiveness in half a season, then it's only fair that the man whose mess he swept up be recognised for his impact at West Brom since 11 February. After wearing the look of a condemned man for much of his time at Anfield – where fans never really wanted him in the first place – it is testament to Hodgson's strength of character that he was willing to take the job, and the pressure, at the Hawthorns. West Brom were joint-third bottom with Wigan when he took over. Five wins, five draws and only two defeats later the Baggies have bounced back up to 11th in the league and fifth in the form table since his appointment, with the highlight being the victory over Liverpool, which probably gave him more personal satisfaction than his politeness would allow him to admit. Some people are better at driving hatchbacks than fancy saloons. Hodgson is clearly one of those men.
Tony Pulis
In their third season in the top flight it says much for Stoke's consistency that they have never really been considered serious contenders to go down. Tony Pulis still uses the long-throw tactic to good effect at home, but they are not only about physicality and set pieces anymore – Rory Delap is no longer a guaranteed starter for example. From the flanks they have been as dangerous as any other team except Manchester United. A rejuvenated Jermaine Pennant looks to be a steal at £1.7m. His prolific crosses, allied with those of Matthew Etherington, enjoying one of his best ever seasons on the left wing, have utilised the aerial prowess of Kenwyne Jones (another shrewd signing at £8m), Ricardo Fuller and Jon Walters to great effect. Stoke's strength has been their ability to beat the teams around, not above them. Roberth Huth and Ryan Shawcross are a formidable obstacle at the back. Pulis's evolution is a slow one, but by playing on their known strengths, and slowly improving the team in areas where they previously lacked, he is establishing Stoke as a fixture in the Premier League. And for that, he deserves high praise.
but still, Kenny wins it for me.
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