QotW: Can a manager be out of form?

[Mandieta6]

This debate illuminates the fact that form is a poor label to attribute to what is ultimately a complex network of factors.

I think the issue with many managers ia that theu reach a dead-end with their approach. They can't extract better results becaude they've reached the limits of the squad. The only thing left to do is revolutionise the squad but they are normally fired before that can bear fruit. Sir Alex was one of the few who was allowed to do that, but I don't think his poor periods were ever 'poor form'.

 

[Mandieta6]

Simeone has done with Atleti what Mou has done twice in the past - to better results. Neither he nor Pep have much advantage over Mou in terms of titles won in the past 3 years. Your choices also demonstrate the fallacy that managers are weighed based on titles when we've already seen that good managers can manage relegation candidates and poor managers can win the CL.

 

[Arnau]

Simeone won stuff and almost the champions league with a far inferior squad than his competitors.

 

[Mandieta6]

But Mou's Inter and Porto were the Avengers?

 

[Arnau]

Impressive achievement indeed (in Europe)

 

[chygry]

Inter won treble with Mou and they miserably failed after he left ...

But to be honest Inter was left with a really aging squad with most players past their best after Mourinho left. They didn't really make any important signings the following summer either. Benitez didn't get the players he wanted and was quite out of control of the situation at the club.

Mourinho has always been great at getting the best out of aging players who are class, while their age is not doing them any good. Like Diego Milito, Cambiasso, Zanetti, Maicon etc during that season. Maybe Terry during last season at Chelsea etc. There are so many examples.

The club falling out with Sneijder didn't do them any good either, since he was the best player in the world in 2010 in my opinion. He didn't play much at all during that season, and when he did, he didn't play at his best level, clearly wanting to leave.

Agreed with what everything else you said, though.

 

[Arnau]

Benitez also found a locker room very loyal to his former coach. Similar to Brian Clough when he joined Leeds United.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

All very good points.

No I don't think managers can be out of form, at least as we understand form. Managers can absolutely coast or rest on their laurels, continue doing things based on an outdated model, and lose the squad often through little fault of their own, but when managing like a professional to the best of one's abilities, there's no such thing as form for a manager.

Plus, so much in football is random. A strange bounce can be the difference between 1 and 3 points, which can be the difference between winning the league or a cup and losing. With players you can at least see "his touch is off" and things like that to judge poor form, but with managers it's just not their fault if a player plays a stupid back pass and gives away the title.

 

[Arnau]

Fatspanish waiter iscleraely out of form

 

[Arnau]

Luisbenrique is fit

 

[Arnau]

0/. Fat

 

[Xaviesta]

@ArnauSG, still celebrating the treble.

 

[Tom]

Plus, so much in football is random. A strange bounce can be the difference between 1 and 3 points, which can be the difference between winning the league or a cup and losing. With players you can at least see "his touch is off" and things like that to judge poor form, but with managers it's just not their fault if a player plays a stupid back pass and gives away the title.

You ever read this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0670922242

Fantastic book I bought my Dad concerning the maths of football. Talks a lot about the importance of blind luck.