Managerial Stability

Paul Wilson, in the Observer this morning, has written about the managerial instability at Real Madrid and how it is hindering their chances of success:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2010/mar/14/real-madrid-champions-league

He uses the European success of United and Arsenal this week to contrast with Real. The answer, he says, comes down to managerial stability. After their exit to Lyon at the first-knockout phase of the Champions league - the sixth year running they have fallen out at this stage of the competition - the Spanish papers were screaming for Pellegrini's head. Real have had 24 managers in the last 24 seasons and as such resemble a group of the world's most gifted players but by no means a team. Never has one manager in their recent history been allowed to develop his vision for the team. Nor really have a set of players been able to develop partnerships and relationships with each other. And this shows. With the talent available at that team, you'd imagine a settled year would produce a more competitive team next season. But it is highly unlikely that will happen, even though they look on course to win La Liga.

The same goes for QPR, as mentioned in a previous post. Despite being the richest club in the Championship, they have been struggling for the past few seasons precisely because of this instability. Neil Warnock is their fifth manager of this season. Newcastle too have suffered through this type of mismanagement.

Even if City finish a very disappointing seventh this season, Mancini should be allowed to stay and develop what he started, just as Hughes argued he should have been allowed time to see through his plan for his burgeoning 'project'.

Just as Real Madrid have proved this week, money is incredibly important in football nowadays, but people (fans and media) should differentiate between money and what makes a winning team. Money is never enough on its own and a manager, with very few exceptions, can never be expected to produce the pinnacle of his work in his first view months in charge - in any profession. Although money breeds an impatience for success, that success won't be attained without a little patience.