Top level managers and football tactics - Page 2

Redknapp isn't what I'd define as a successful manager. He's only ever won the FA Cup and that was on borrowed money and a blank cheque book. Not a dig at Pompey either, it's the truth lol

Main thing about being a manager for me is being able to motivate the players. You have to have some tactical sense, or you'd be like Adkins and just chuck players anywhere to make sure all the best ones are on the pitch.

I'd say the best managers tactically are In Italy, Spain or Germany personally....

It's all good having the technical and tactical knowledge or awareness, but for that to get across to the players when they go on the park , that's where the charisma and motivational qualities come in. The best managers have a combination of both.

I wouldn't call Pulis a good tactical manager though, he just has one gameplan, it's why they're shit away from home. I'd say the most tactically minded manager in the Premier League is probably someone like Martinez or Mancini.

Brisbane are a case study for this debate with examples on both sides. We had Ange Postecoglou who took us to back to back championships with his ability to man manage, motivate and foster culture. It was widely reported that he took less interest in tactical specifics and let his underlings implement the details of his overarching philosophy. In this case possession football. He was not necessarily brilliant football wise. He just had a strong vision and great man management skills.

When he left Rado Vidosic took over. Rado had been assistant at Brisbane since it's inception and is widely credited as the man with the tactical brilliance who implemented Ange's vision. He is a perfect example of how a manager who is tactically brilliant but terrible at everything else will fail utterly and miserably. We bombed hardcore this season and half way through Rado was moved from head coach to a technical director role. The man is a football genius. He is a terrible manager.

So yeah, basically it's all well and good knowing the game and being a tactical wizard. It's nothing without the ability to make the players actually do what you want to the best of their ability.

Gumdrop Fields

simpler is better r.e. tactics/formations etc

managers who try and overcomplicate it or try too much to look different so as to seem tactically advance will moretime fall flat on their arse

its something i had doubts about when we got villas-boas, i thought he'd be one of these nobs who spends 5 hours making pretty patterns on the whiteboard but thankfully he's kept it pretty straightforward

KISS (keep it simple stupid)

I don't believe some managers are sooo much better than others. It comes down to how well suited your players are for your system and tactics, and some managers are better at different size clubs than others. I think roy hodgson for example, is far more suited to having to make do with what he's got at a smaller club like West Brom, than trying to cope with liverpool where he had no clue. Some managers like brendan prefer to have certain players to fit their ideal systems, and he's currently building a team for that.

Look at guardiola..... But how well do you reckon he'd do if he was in charge of someone like Stoke? Or do you think he could have done what harry did and kept Portsmouth up?

A lot of things have to be considered for a manager, the whole package really. Transfers, man management, motivating, decisions, tactical ideas. Some more inspirational than others, not just because of what they say, but their reputation & presence too- who would you rather get a passionate team talk from, mourinho, ferg, or mccarthy or woy?

I do believe a manager is only as good as the players he has at his disposal, but in some cases you have to give a lot of credit to the manager. Look what clough achieved, brilliant. And swans wouldn't be where they are today without Martinez and his different tactics and system. Obviously taken forward by brendan too.... And what would have happened if someone like allardyce took over instead? Suited to another team.