Post by yenilira on Mar 9, 2011 1:43:23 GMT 1
We all know that there have been 32 different managers installed at Bloomfield Road over the years, and all have been from the UK, which, in itself, it could be said, is another record. Only Bolton, Blackburn, and Birmingham, of the present Premier teams could be included in that category, I believe.
If we were to quantify a ‘best ever manager’ by one who has won the most league games, you wouldn’t go wrong in saying that Jimmy Mullen (1989) with 45.45%, comes out tops, with Sam Allardyce next on 44.57% from July 1994 to May 1996.
It will be noted that when we didn’t have a manager from November 1972 to January 1973, we played a total of seven games with a win percentage of 57.14.
On the other hand, if it were down to league titles and/or trophies won – well, that’s another completely different ball-game altogether.
But this thread is to look at managers overall to consider who would be worthy of the OP’s title, and, taking into account the fact that, on average, Blackpool has appointed a new manager every three+ years since its inauguration in July 1887……...
JOE SMITH (August 1935-April 1958) The ‘Pool’s longest serving manager with 23 years in the hot-seat, and although he never played for the club his record of 306 wins from 714 league games (42.86%) is only bettered by three others – Bill Norman, Jimmy Mullen, and Sam Allardyce.
He got the club promoted to Division 1 in his second season, ‘constructed’ the 1950s ‘Three Ms’ forward line, and made several unsuccessful challenges for the league title.
During his tenure, Blackpool spent 21 of those 23 years in the old First Division.
He will be forever remembered for guiding the club to the 1953 FA Cup Final, beating his former club Bolton, in one of his three visits to Wembley.
He resigned due to ill-heath, at the age of 68, but the club rewarded his services with a ‘Golden Handshake’ and bought him a house in the town.
STEVE MACMAHON (Jan 2000-June 2004) Although he won only 35% of matches (played 206, won 72), he was instrumental in the club gaining promotion to Division 2 in his first season via the play-offs, after the club had been relegated to the third tier.
Two League Trophies (now the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy) were picked up along the way - 2001/02 and 2003/04, one of six clubs to win it more than once.
He left after arguments with Chairman Karl Oyston over funding .
BOB STOKOE (Dec 1970-June 1972, 1978-79) Replacing Jimmy Meadows as the 9th official manager, one of a few who have been in charge twice.
With ‘Pool in the Second Division, he had the task of pruning the playing staff, and will always be known as “the man who sold Tony Green to Newcastle.”
Before Green’s departure, however, the club won the 1971 Anglo-Italian Cup, beating Bologna, and the following year, they again reached the Final, only to lose to Roma.
His league record first time round: he lost 28 out of his 80 games in charge, with 24 draws, which equates to 35% wins, but fared slightly better in his second spell six years later – out of 46 games, he won 39.13%. In mid-1972, he abruptly left the Seasiders for Sunderland.
BILLY AYRE (Nov 1990-June 1994) Guided the club to two successive Play-Off Finals, in 1991 and 1992, after spending a short while as Assistant-Manager to Graham Carr, who left the club in the Fourth Division. Out of 164 games, he lost only 59, giving a win percentage of 41.46.
There are no other managers who had a high win-percentage and collected a trophy, although the following are worthy of mention:
JIMMY MULLEN In his first period, as Caretaker Manager, in 1989, gained a highly impressive 44.45% winning ratio from eleven games, which helped prevent relegation to Division 4.
But this dropped to just over 22% in the two years following.
SAM ALLARDYCE Despite having a very good played-won ratio over his 92 games, (44.57%), he just missed out on going up to the First Division thru automatic promotion, then lost the Play-Off Semis to Bradford in 1996. His departure a few weeks later could be described as acrimonious.
STAN MORTENSEN In the hot-seat for two years and two months, (Feb 1967-April 1969) he was one of the few who both played for and managed the club.
Of his 99 games in charge, the ‘Pool won 40 which gives 41%.
BILL NORMAN The Club’s first Full-Time Manager (1918-1923) with a 44% winning ratio in 168 games whilst in the Second Division. He led them to challenge seriously for promotion on three occasions.
HARRY EVANS who was ‘Honorary Manager’ from 1928 to 1933, when the club won the Division 2 championship in the 1929-30 season. 39.52% of the matches during his time there were won.
SANDY MACFARLANE (July 1933 to July 1935) A Scottish International inside-forward, he took over the reins from Harry Evans, but the club remained in the Second Division during his years there, although they finished fourth in 1934-35. His league record was better than most – 42.86% from a total of 84 games.
LES SHANNON (May 1969-Oct 1970) had instant success taking Blackpool up to Division 1 after finishing as runners-up to Huddersfield . With 22 wins in 56 games, just over 39%.
SAM ELLIS (1982-89) Got Blackpool, the first team he managed, promoted to Division 3 in 1984/85, despite having to re-apply for re-election to the Football League in his first season.
In the seven years at the helm, he amassed 311 games, of which 117 were won – 37.62%.
Of course, for the younger of our members, I have to include –
SIMON GRAYSON previously Caretaker-Manager on the departure of Colin Hendry in November 2005, he took the club from Division 1 into the Championship (the old Division 2) in 2007 beating Yeovil in the Play-Off Final at Wembley and to 19th place the following season.
He was the receiptant of at least two ‘Manager of the Month’ Awards. 37% wins.
IAN HOLLOWAY Under his guidance, Blackpool won the Championship Play-Off Final against Cardiff City* at Wembley in May 2010, becoming only the second manager to win promotion to the top division in his first full season. The club was also the first Premier team to take part in the Joma SW Cup, and win it.
So there you have it.
Who do you think would lay claim to the title of ’Best Ever Blackpool Manager’ from the above?
Or is there someone I’ve missed who has, in your opinion, done better?
What are your views?
YL.
* Cardiff C - thanks Pete.
Must have Wee Ollie on the brain, him coming from Bristol!
If we were to quantify a ‘best ever manager’ by one who has won the most league games, you wouldn’t go wrong in saying that Jimmy Mullen (1989) with 45.45%, comes out tops, with Sam Allardyce next on 44.57% from July 1994 to May 1996.
It will be noted that when we didn’t have a manager from November 1972 to January 1973, we played a total of seven games with a win percentage of 57.14.
On the other hand, if it were down to league titles and/or trophies won – well, that’s another completely different ball-game altogether.
But this thread is to look at managers overall to consider who would be worthy of the OP’s title, and, taking into account the fact that, on average, Blackpool has appointed a new manager every three+ years since its inauguration in July 1887……...
JOE SMITH (August 1935-April 1958) The ‘Pool’s longest serving manager with 23 years in the hot-seat, and although he never played for the club his record of 306 wins from 714 league games (42.86%) is only bettered by three others – Bill Norman, Jimmy Mullen, and Sam Allardyce.
He got the club promoted to Division 1 in his second season, ‘constructed’ the 1950s ‘Three Ms’ forward line, and made several unsuccessful challenges for the league title.
During his tenure, Blackpool spent 21 of those 23 years in the old First Division.
He will be forever remembered for guiding the club to the 1953 FA Cup Final, beating his former club Bolton, in one of his three visits to Wembley.
He resigned due to ill-heath, at the age of 68, but the club rewarded his services with a ‘Golden Handshake’ and bought him a house in the town.
STEVE MACMAHON (Jan 2000-June 2004) Although he won only 35% of matches (played 206, won 72), he was instrumental in the club gaining promotion to Division 2 in his first season via the play-offs, after the club had been relegated to the third tier.
Two League Trophies (now the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy) were picked up along the way - 2001/02 and 2003/04, one of six clubs to win it more than once.
He left after arguments with Chairman Karl Oyston over funding .
BOB STOKOE (Dec 1970-June 1972, 1978-79) Replacing Jimmy Meadows as the 9th official manager, one of a few who have been in charge twice.
With ‘Pool in the Second Division, he had the task of pruning the playing staff, and will always be known as “the man who sold Tony Green to Newcastle.”
Before Green’s departure, however, the club won the 1971 Anglo-Italian Cup, beating Bologna, and the following year, they again reached the Final, only to lose to Roma.
His league record first time round: he lost 28 out of his 80 games in charge, with 24 draws, which equates to 35% wins, but fared slightly better in his second spell six years later – out of 46 games, he won 39.13%. In mid-1972, he abruptly left the Seasiders for Sunderland.
BILLY AYRE (Nov 1990-June 1994) Guided the club to two successive Play-Off Finals, in 1991 and 1992, after spending a short while as Assistant-Manager to Graham Carr, who left the club in the Fourth Division. Out of 164 games, he lost only 59, giving a win percentage of 41.46.
There are no other managers who had a high win-percentage and collected a trophy, although the following are worthy of mention:
JIMMY MULLEN In his first period, as Caretaker Manager, in 1989, gained a highly impressive 44.45% winning ratio from eleven games, which helped prevent relegation to Division 4.
But this dropped to just over 22% in the two years following.
SAM ALLARDYCE Despite having a very good played-won ratio over his 92 games, (44.57%), he just missed out on going up to the First Division thru automatic promotion, then lost the Play-Off Semis to Bradford in 1996. His departure a few weeks later could be described as acrimonious.
STAN MORTENSEN In the hot-seat for two years and two months, (Feb 1967-April 1969) he was one of the few who both played for and managed the club.
Of his 99 games in charge, the ‘Pool won 40 which gives 41%.
BILL NORMAN The Club’s first Full-Time Manager (1918-1923) with a 44% winning ratio in 168 games whilst in the Second Division. He led them to challenge seriously for promotion on three occasions.
HARRY EVANS who was ‘Honorary Manager’ from 1928 to 1933, when the club won the Division 2 championship in the 1929-30 season. 39.52% of the matches during his time there were won.
SANDY MACFARLANE (July 1933 to July 1935) A Scottish International inside-forward, he took over the reins from Harry Evans, but the club remained in the Second Division during his years there, although they finished fourth in 1934-35. His league record was better than most – 42.86% from a total of 84 games.
LES SHANNON (May 1969-Oct 1970) had instant success taking Blackpool up to Division 1 after finishing as runners-up to Huddersfield . With 22 wins in 56 games, just over 39%.
SAM ELLIS (1982-89) Got Blackpool, the first team he managed, promoted to Division 3 in 1984/85, despite having to re-apply for re-election to the Football League in his first season.
In the seven years at the helm, he amassed 311 games, of which 117 were won – 37.62%.
Of course, for the younger of our members, I have to include –
SIMON GRAYSON previously Caretaker-Manager on the departure of Colin Hendry in November 2005, he took the club from Division 1 into the Championship (the old Division 2) in 2007 beating Yeovil in the Play-Off Final at Wembley and to 19th place the following season.
He was the receiptant of at least two ‘Manager of the Month’ Awards. 37% wins.
IAN HOLLOWAY Under his guidance, Blackpool won the Championship Play-Off Final against Cardiff City* at Wembley in May 2010, becoming only the second manager to win promotion to the top division in his first full season. The club was also the first Premier team to take part in the Joma SW Cup, and win it.
So there you have it.
Who do you think would lay claim to the title of ’Best Ever Blackpool Manager’ from the above?
Or is there someone I’ve missed who has, in your opinion, done better?
What are your views?
YL.
* Cardiff C - thanks Pete.
Must have Wee Ollie on the brain, him coming from Bristol!