Dyche snub shows it’s all gong wrong
SEAN SHOULD BE ON LIST
AWARDS time in the world of football leads to many debates. Here’s another.
Where are Sean Dyche and Gary O’Neil on the Premier League manager of the year shortlist?
It couldn’t be more lacking in creativity if it tried.
Yes, Mikel Arteta should be in that list. If the Gunners win the Premier League title, then he is hands down the winner for eclipsing Manchester City.
But if Arsenal fall short, then, should a manager who has had the ability to spend a fortune last summer and still come up short in the title race be considered ‘manager of the year’?
Anyway, Arteta (inset, top) has to be on the list, considering he can still pull off a gigantic success.
Pep Guardiola is there and he’s a great manager but yet again in control of the best squad in the world.
I am not really sure Jurgen Klopp leading Liverpool to third is worthy of inclusion. He’s had a fine season turning the Reds around but they’ve fallen short in the title race. Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has led the Cherries to their record Premier League points tally, so fair play.
But has he done more than Dyche (above) at Everton?
The Toffees manager has somehow guided the Blues to safety despite two points deductions and amid takeover chaos and with very little budget. And they did it with three games to spare, too.
Dyche can be a character who rubs people up the wrong way and he’s not shy in singing his own praises.
But to get Everton out of the mire has to be worthy of some credit. Particularly how much further they’d be up the table if they didn’t have a points deduction.
Wolves have wavered in recent weeks which may be why O’Neil (inset, bottom)
has fallen out of people’s thoughts. But from the first game of the season, when his side totally outplayed Manchester United at Old Trafford, he has been doing something impressive at Molineux.
They also lost over £100m in talent last summer as Julen Lopetegui walked out on the job over the finances.
Wolves have an outside chance of finishing in the top half and they’ve never been in bother of relegation.
Anyway, it’s all for a prize that is barely remembered. The real trophies are handed out to the team at the top of the table and the cup winners.
But for clubs who can’t get close to that, these smaller gongs matter.