Where it’s gone wrong

Leicester’s dubious sacking of Claudio Ranieri

When Leicester City hired Claudio Ranieri in the summer of 2015, no one would have expected that he would win in his first season, after all, the Premier League is one of the most competitive leagues in the world. However, fast forward to the end of that season, and he did, surprising everyone and defying the 5000/1 odds of them winning the league. Fast forward to January 2017 and Leicester City are struggling, creeping into the relegation zone and finding it difficult to score goals. Following their dip in form, the board sack Claudio Ranieri, despite achieving what no previous manager of Leicester City had managed: winning the Premier League.

Leicester’s Premier League triumph clouded the board’s belief, believing that now they must run a club like the top teams in the league. However, what others had, they lacked: consistency. With the money flooding in due to TV deals and other causes, the board felt that they needed to have higher expectations for the team. But Leicester fell in the trap of the modern game and sacked him.

But why would they fall into that trap? Because that’s the way football is. There’s very few top football clubs nowadays that even have a manager at a club for longer than 5 years. Football has become a game of profits, and even if finishing in 6th place is part of the process to becoming a top side, the board will most likely sack that manager, because of the fact that the team missed out on lucrative amounts of revenue. Football is very much a sport of profit, and no matter how well or how poorly you’re doing, if there’s no profit, than you’re out of the door.

Crystal Palace and total football: A mismatch from the beginning

When Crystal Palace hired Frank de Boer, many were surprised. While many were optimistic that he would be pivotal in shaping the style of football that Crystal Palace would play in the many years to come, other were not. Fast forward to match-day 4, Crystal Palace have just lost their 4 match on the run and have sacked Frank De Boer. Well why did it not work out?

Because Crystal Palace is a club with players that aren’t particularly equipped to play “total football” and also a club that doesn’t necessarily have the patience to wait for such a certain system to work. While Leicester’s hiring of Ranieri turned out to massively benefit, Ranieri also had previous Premier League managing experience, unlike De Boer. Frank De Boer tried to play a certain brand of football that hardly suited anyone’s strengths, and failed to build a team around players that suited his system.

Crystal Palace are another classic case of the traps of the modern game. Apart from profits, football has also become a game all about short-term success. After 4 games had passed, Crystal Palace were in deep trouble and the board had started to realise that maybe they’re not the club that they hope they would be. They failed to give a top-tier manager the foundation to build his team on and also like Leicester, believed that they could simply elevate themselves onto the next level despite not having the right players to do so.

The nightmare job: Watford

Even when Slaviša Jokanović managed to secure promotion for Watford the Premier League, the board dismissed him. Even when Quique Sánchez Flores steered Watford clear of the drop, he was sacked. The Watford managerial job is the worst job to have in football, because no matter how well you do, the board will always find some way to sack you. Despite the fact that Watford aren’t exactly one of the richest sides in the Premier League, the board has this irrational belief that Watford can compete with the top teams.

The Watford board’s expectations have been clouded by the money coming into the game, and the idea that you can do better. Even when top manager Walter Mazzari decided to take the job, they finished 17th, which is fairly indicative of the challenge that’s ahead when managing a team like Watford.

Defying the modern game

Burnley

With 2 points off behind and European football all but confirmed, Sean Dyche and his players have had an incredible season. Despite finishing in the lower end of the table, Burnley are now on course for Europa League football, despite limited spending during the summer and the sale of one of their best players, Michael Keane. Following the departures of Keane and Gray, players such as Tarkowski & Chris Wood have definitely stepped up, while Nick Pope is also someone that should be credited for Burnley’s success. But it hasn’t always been this smooth for Burnley.

During the 2014/15 Premier League season, Burnley got relegated, and unlike any other team, the board decided to keep Sean Dyche. Why? Because of rational expectations. The Burnley board knew that they have the best man for the job and know that they were not Premier League regulars. Furthermore, what also makes Burnley one of the main defiers of modern football is the fact that they’ve put a lot of trust into a manager and given him time, despite not having a lot of money. While most football clubs would spend more money and would be more ruthless in terms of sacking managers, what Burnley has proven is that there’s nothing wrong with giving the manager time, because eventually they’ll flourish.

Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid are currently in 2nd place and will be competing in their 3rd European final in 5 years. However, what Simeone has done at Atletico Madrid has been nothing short of incredible. With a board that’s put in a lot of trust into him and limited finances, he’s been able to work wonders at Atletico Madrid, and as been able to compete with the top teams, without spending too much money.

Much of the success also has to do with the fact that the board knows what the club is and the expectations of the club. Atletico Madrid aren’t necessarily a side that’s expected to win the league every season. The board’s expectations have never gotten out of their sights, and because of that, they’ve been able to build stability at the club while spending limited amounts of money.