So Alan Pardew is back in the EPL. So too is Sam Allardyce, who’s just joined Everton. What a revolving door of mediocrity it is. Is this really all the “best league in the world” can do? To recycle these awful managers, over and over and over again?
At the top level, the EPL can attract big names.
The high wages on offer from the likes of the Manchester clubs have bought great managers, arguably the best in the world. Klopp is a top drawer coach. If Wegner was anywhere but England, with their focus on physical football and bling, that guy would have more trophies than Alex Ferguson.
But go down the leagues and what does their wealth buy them? Strict second raters. And we wonder why Sevco can’t find a manager; perhaps we should give them more credit. Because the lack of imagination and ambition south of the border is paralysing.
Why should West Brown expect more from Pardew than the last half dozen bosses have delivered? Why should Everton expect to climb the table under a guy who is known as a direct ball specialist who’s primary role is to avoid relegation? Guys like this have got rich on the madness down there.
Which is why I find the condescending attitude about Brendan particularly hard to stomach. He might not have won a major honour down there but he came far closer to winning a title than Pardew or Allardyce or Bruce or McLaren or the other assorted losers ever did.
A journalist at Football Espana tweeted an horrendous statistic; there are now nine British managers in the EPL. Including at all of the clubs in the bottom seven. None are in the top six. They have won exactly zero trophies between them.
Brendan stands head and shoulders about that lot. He has now won four trophies in under 18 months, and his team has an Invincible domestic record. For those who say that those achievements are worthless, keep it up. Keep on touting the likes of these two, and clubs should feel free to keep on hiring them. Those who think Brendan couldn’t walk into an EPL job, with his eyes shut, are frankly too dumb for words.
Celtic has one of the best coaches on this island, and one of the most progressive in Europe. If he had the resources of a Manchester United, far less a PSG, I genuinely believe we would be contenders for any competition we entered.
The sneering at him is laughable when you look at the managerial ranks down there. For all the hype, for all the money, it hasn’t bought quality.
Quality is exactly what Brendan Rodgers brings to Celtic, in spades.
And I think their attitude is a product of envy, because they know it full well.
They know he would choose Celtic over any club in their league.
That is who Brendan is. That is who we are.