I'd not like to be a West Brom fan if this is true. What has the guy done to allow this upgrade?
QPR had finished 20th the year before, and when he came in they had only 8 points from 14 games. They'd lost 10 of those 14 games and then he only lost 10 of the remaining 32, he kept them up and this year has them in 15th so he's done a fairly good job there.
Whether he's the man to get WBA promoted (as i'm sure is their aim) is another question.
While not surprising and probably the fans were calling for it. I always find it ridiculous when rookie ‘project’ managers aren’t even given a pre season and summer window to get in their players and to implement their ideas. I think about Edwards at Milwall and Jacko here.
A 10 year plus experienced manager, through that experience, will be able to hit the ground running far quicker.
Mousinho at Portsmouth and Powell here really didn’t have that much of an impact on performances and results in their first ‘half’ season, but with a full summer behind them they both lead their clubs to promotion.
If you get a rookie manager mid season, prepare to have an underwhelming start but trust your process that they’re the right man going forward.
I thought Calderon was an interesting appointment and I didn't think they were too bad at The Valley (Josh Griffiths probably stopped it being a cricket score but they looked decent in possession) but he was the wrong man to try and save them whilst completely overhauling their style of play.
One of the finest managers this country has produced. He basically won the champions league with Chelsea and I would love to see him manage us one day
I’m not sure I agree with the one of the finest managers but I never got why he got so much stick as a manager I think he has done a decent job wherever he has been. And the clubs he manages don’t need to change their name unlike Rooney
Think it's the most I've been impressed with him as a manager.
Before this season he'd:
- Taken Derby from 6th to... 6th. Despite having decent backing for good loans using his Chelsea contacts etc.
- Took Chelsea from 3rd to 4th. Got cut a lot of slack because of the transfer ban but they still had a CL squad, signed Kovacic, and had years of heavy academy investment to fall back on.
- Got sacked halfway through the next season with the club in 9th.
- Took over Everton mid-season with the club in 16th. Finished 16th.
- Got sacked the next season with the club in 19th.
- Won 1 in 11 as caretaker at Chelsea.
It was, at best, a very average record, and I wasn't particularly expecting much at Coventry given they were struggling under Mark Robins who had up until then don't very well.
He's done very well though - given none of the 4 teams in the playoffs go into them in good form, Coventry have as good a chance as any to win them.
Impressed they lasted that long before giving him the boot. Third longest manager since 2008. Which may not sound that impressive, but he's their 23rd manager in that time period.
John Eustace left Blackburn when they were in the play offs because the Board refused to back him with purchases (players sold for £30m and next to nothing spent by comparison) or extend his contract beyond the 12 months and joined Derby who were in the relegation zone and heading for League 2. Blackburn finished 7th and missed out on the play offs by two points, having picked up 15 points in 12 matches post Eustace (51 points in 34 games before he left). Derby, with Eustace at the helm, took 21 points from the same 12 matches (29 points in 34 games before he joined), finished 17th and two points above relegation.
We can argue about loyalty but that cuts both ways. Remember how Birmingham replaced Eustace with Wayne Rooney (two wins from 15 matches and career win percentage of 24.41%) and when the signs are that a club won't back a manager then the writing is on the wall. Both Blackburn and Derby will be in the Championship next season and it will be interesting to compare the summer purchases and success or failure of those clubs respective managers.
Comments
Whether he's the man to get WBA promoted (as i'm sure is their aim) is another question.
https://www.swanseacity.com/news/alan-sheehan-appointed-head-coach-swansea-city
Shrewsbury Town are thrilled to announce head coach Michael Appleton has signed a new contract at the Croud Meadow.
Michael will now build on the impressive work he has done as interim boss after putting pen to paper on a new two-year deal.
Assistant head coach Richard O’Donnell has also committed his future to the club.
https://www.shrewsburytown.com/news/2025/may/02/michael-appleton-signs-new-shrewsbury-deal/
Not great but they were already doomed and 14 points from safety when he came in.
Bristol Rovers can confirm that Iñigo Calderón has departed his position as Men’s first team Head Coach.
Miguel Llera, who has been assisting in the coaching department since March, has also left the Club.
https://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/news/club-statement-inigo-calderon
Mousinho at Portsmouth and Powell here really didn’t have that much of an impact on performances and results in their first ‘half’ season, but with a full summer behind them they both lead their clubs to promotion.
If you get a rookie manager mid season, prepare to have an underwhelming start but trust your process that they’re the right man going forward.
Rant over.
One of the finest managers this country has produced. He basically won the champions league with Chelsea and I would love to see him manage us one day
Before this season he'd:
- Taken Derby from 6th to... 6th. Despite having decent backing for good loans using his Chelsea contacts etc.
- Took Chelsea from 3rd to 4th. Got cut a lot of slack because of the transfer ban but they still had a CL squad, signed Kovacic, and had years of heavy academy investment to fall back on.
- Got sacked halfway through the next season with the club in 9th.
- Took over Everton mid-season with the club in 16th. Finished 16th.
- Got sacked the next season with the club in 19th.
- Won 1 in 11 as caretaker at Chelsea.
It was, at best, a very average record, and I wasn't particularly expecting much at Coventry given they were struggling under Mark Robins who had up until then don't very well.
He's done very well though - given none of the 4 teams in the playoffs go into them in good form, Coventry have as good a chance as any to win them.
Watford sack Tom Cleverley
We can argue about loyalty but that cuts both ways. Remember how Birmingham replaced Eustace with Wayne Rooney (two wins from 15 matches and career win percentage of 24.41%) and when the signs are that a club won't back a manager then the writing is on the wall. Both Blackburn and Derby will be in the Championship next season and it will be interesting to compare the summer purchases and success or failure of those clubs respective managers.
(One for the oldies)
Tom Cleverley was in charge of Watford for 14 months including an interim period and received a Rolex for recognition of his long service.