The Brit pack.
For some time now I’ve been banging the drum for British coaching. Despite the usual hysterical reactions, mostly from people who half read what I write and immediately jump on their keyboards, I have no intention of stopping. Let me say it again - in my view British coaches are every bit as good as their foreign counter-parts.
Now let’s qualify that statement. Nothing about it is ‘anti’ foreign. Nothing at all. Where would we have been without the entertainment Mourinho has given us down the years? Granted, more off the pitch than on!
It’s an absolute pleasure to watch Guardiola’s City. After a difficult first season when he completely under-estimated the PL, Guardiola has produced something very special for all the neutrals to enjoy. He’s had a few quid to do it with mind you!
Klopp has given us the ‘Fab 4’ and believes in entertainment. Wenger wants his teams to ‘play’. Pochettino went close over the past two seasons and his Spurs were a terrific to watch as well. And a small army of foreign coaches have delivered a steady flow of trophies at Chelsea.
Of course I get it that foreign owners want what they perceive to be the best that European coaching has to offer. Football is business these days and the ‘Super Coaches’ are instantly recognisable around the world. They are very ‘saleable’. Everything has to be now.
The guys are good, but there’s a common denominator - they all get the very best to work with and they get shed loads of money to buy the very best players - again, thank goodness they do because we want the best in our league.
So I get it that the ‘showbusiness’ that comes with the ‘Super Coaches’ is both welcome and understandable. Thank goodness these guys have gravitated to the PL. They’re needed if we’re to remain the best league in the world.
It’s when foreign coaches start filling jobs lower down the league that I have a problem. Why do Leicester and Southampton feel the need to go abroad for a coach? Why do Watford or Huddersfield?
Here’s an inconvenient truth - the three Brits who’ve taken charge at Palace, West Ham and Everton have lifted those clubs 16 places since taking over. Not bad eh? Moyes is fast becoming a hero at West Ham, Allardyce has got Everton moving and Hodgson has got Palace off the bottom and out of trouble.
By the way, if Allardyce can deliver Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in January then its ‘lift-off’ at Goodison.
But I’ve often wondered how a ‘Super Coach’ would manage at the wrong end of our league - and it looks like I might be getting my answer. I’ve said before - great credit to Benitez for the job he did getting Newcastle up. It was every bit as good as the job Chris Hughton did the last time they got promoted from the Championship. To get the job done Benitez spent £102m and took 17 players to St James’ Park. Hughton didn’t.
Now the Toon languish in the bottom 3 - having taken just one point from 27. I’ll say that again - one point from 27. Benitez wants more money to correct the problem. Of course he does. I’m sure Alan Pardew does at West Brom. I’m sure Paul Clement does. I’m sure David Moyes, Eddie Howe and Roy Hodgson do. I sure Mark Hughes does. Will they get it? I don’t think so. No, I’m sorry Rafa, it’s a different game at the other end of the table isn’t it? The run Newcastle are on is NOTHING to do with Mike Ashley and EVERYTHING to do with what’s happening ON the pitch - or rather isn’t happening on the pitch. No Rafa, this one is down to you.
Sean Dyche hasn’t had anything like £102m to spend at Burnley. In fact, last summer he traded at a profit -again. The Brits are obviously doing something right.
Long may it be the case that we attract the best of the best to England - but let’s accept the notion that that might just include our own coaching talent. If not, as I said recently RIP British coaching - and what then would’ve been the point of St. George’s Park?
The argument that British coaches can only pick up the breadcrumbs and fight relegation battles is puerile. These are the only jobs they can get for the reasons I’ve stayed above.