A Square Peg in a Round Hole.

It's deadline day, 1st September 2014 and Louis Van Gaal has confirmed the signature of Colombian number 9, Radamel Falcao. With a striking force of Falcao, Van Persie, Di Maria and Wayne Rooney, many thought that United would be up there in the title challenge. The four scored a over 50 goals between them last season, with Falcao netting 11. So why has it all gone wrong for Radamel Falcao?

I will be highly amazed if he is signed for the reported €43m in the summer after the loan deal this season worth £6m. Scoring 4 goals in 19 games for The Red Devils has done nothing to inspire Van Gaal to stump up the money to make his signing permanent. Injuries have also hampered his playing time, having been ruled out of the World Cup having got injured in a match for Monaco. Injury worries are probably why he was only signed on loan - a smart move from Louis Van Gaal.

It is evident that Falcao is a confidence player, and right now his morale is rock bottom. This is not helped by the constant bashing he has received in the media. Falcao needs a 5 yard winner and a run of games in the first team. Anytime he has netted, he has either been benched or picks up an injury. He has also had to adapt to the tactics used by Van Gaal in Manchester. Radamel Falcao excels as the front man in a 4-2-3-1 formation with a playmaker in behind. At United it would be Juan Mata or Wayne Rooney, but LVG has been experimenting with a hybrid 3-5-2/5-3-2 or a 4-1-2-1-2 formation. 

Louis Van Gaal doesn't know his best tactic and starting 11 and this is hampering both Falcao and the rest of the squad. Earlier in the season, the Colombian was played in a front two alongside Van Persie. It is safe to say that he didn't enjoy this and prefers to be a lone wolf up front. Van Persie and Falcao are similar types of players, strong and like a traditional centre forward. Both were running into each others space and frustration was apparent in their body language. Van Gaal is obviously going to prefer the Dutchman, with Falcao seemingly moving on to new pastures in the summer.

The media jumped at the chance to hammer Falcao for being substituted in an U21s match where he was largely ineffective. This is the last thing everyone expected to hear when he completed the loan move back in September. Also, Adnan Januzaj was preferred on Monday night when Manchester United were a goal down to Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter final tie. He pretty much sums up El Tigre's career in Manchester when a 20 year old academy graduate gets the nod over a seasoned striker.

Again, Louis Van Gaal overlooked Falcao for his selection to face Spurs on Sunday, in favour of Rooney and Fellaini with Mata in behind. Unlike the Arsenal result, United delivered an accurate, professional performance and comfortably won 3-0, meaning that Falcao's troubles will not be documented as readily as he was over the past week.

On Sunday however, Van Gaal played a 4-3-3 formation, something which could benefit the Colombian. Mata and Ashley Young were the two wide men and both had decent outings. Ashley Young has the ability to whip in a venomous ball and if Di Maria plays on the right, those pesky inswingers are a nightmare for defences to defend. This could be the attacking lineup that sparks a comeback for Falcao, however it doesn't look like he will be able to displace Wayne Rooney anytime soon.

His pickle also asks another question. Is the role of the 'traditional number 9' dying out? Like Falcao, Fernando Torres never excelled at Chelsea, even though he did at Liverpool, and Andy Carroll has failed to make any impact after a one hit wonder season at Newcastle. While Diego Costa shows similar traits to that of the number 9, he tends to like to drift wider in order to bring the midfield of Fabregas, Willian and Hazard into play.

Giroud is probably the closest we have to another Shearer, however it's insulting to Geordie to compare the Frenchman to him. In the modern era, teams are preferring to adopt a playmaking number 10 in the hole. United has Rooney, Chelsea have Hazard, Arsenal have Ozil and Liverpool have Coutinho. This type of player has become more dominant in the modern day and are more of a focal point than the traditional striker.

In the number of appearances he has had this season, I remember the away game in the FA Cup to Cambridge United. He was heavily criticised after a poor team performance from his side, yet he received substandard service from his midfield, and that is being generous. The battering he took from the media, will have done more damage than good to his morale. I don't think anyone can doubt that he has got a dead eye from goal, and is lethal in front of goal, but he needs Mata, Herrera, Rooney to do their job in the centre of the pitch.

If Radamel Falcao wants to prolong his stay in Manchester, then he will need to come up with the goods sooner rather than later. However, it looks like he is on borrowed time in Old Trafford, and will be travelling back to the French Riviera once the season concludes. I don't think United are suited to him, and there definitely will be plenty of suitors in the summer if he is looking to part from Monaco. 

Manchester United v Liverpool

With memories of that night in March fresh in the heads of the United players, they managed to reverse the scoreline and win 3-0 through goals from Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata and Robin Van Persie.

Pre-match, both clubs knew that this was a must win, for both confidence and the bragging rights. In terms of selection, it was surprising to see Brendan Rodgers drop Simon Mignolet in favour of Brad Jones even though he was in a bad rut of form. It was a bold decision, but in the end, I don't see it as a contributing factor to the final result. For the home side, Louis van Gaal favoured the youngster, James Wilson over the injury prone Radamel Falcao. This was nice to see, as a local lad, he would have grown up in the thick of the rivalry so the victory would have meant a bit more to him than a signing who joined in the summer. 

If we look at the game, Liverpool dominated the opening exchanges and Raheem Sterling had a perfect opening to give Liverpool the lead, but David de Gea remained on his feet to foil the attempt. No more than 25 seconds later, Antonio Valencia found himself one on one with Joe Allen, he pegged him before pulling the ball back to the edge of the area for captain Wayne Rooney to fire it past Jones in nets. This goal could have been prvented if a holding midfielder had tracked the run of Wayne Rooney, marking him outside the box and making it a lot more difficult to get the shot off.

The second goal was dubious to say the least. A cross on the left from Ashley Young met the head of Van Persie who flicked it too Juan Mata who nodded it into the back of the net. Juan Mata was at least a yard offside when Van Persie flicked the ball on, so I'm assuming that Mike Mallarky did not believe it touched the Dutchman. I firmly believe that if Martin Skrtel had got closer to Van Persie, then he could have headed the ball to safety.

Liverpool could have easily had at least 3 goals but for the efforts of man of the match David de Gea, Mario Balotelli could have had a hat trick when he came on at half time for Adam Lallana and Sterling squandered a glorious one on one opportunity against the United keeper. The score line was complete when a swift counter attack from United resulted in Rooney drilling a low cross into the box before a poor clearance from Dejan Lovren allowed Juan Mata to free Van Persie who applied the finish. While the move should never have materialised, if Lovren had cleared properly, a tracking holding midfielder may have halted it and sweeped up the poor clearance. 

As for individual performances, Sterling was getting into positions but couldn't handle the finish. He created more chances than anyone else and did cause problems for a uninspiring defence but was unable to beat De Gea who was in fine form. On another day, Sterling could have had a hat trick. With goals being a worry for Liverpool of late, Brendan is encouraged that Sterling is getting into scoring positions. He just needs to be composed, then the goals will eventually come. 

As for half time substitute, Mario Balotelli, he is in a similar pickle. I felt he didn't contribute as much as he could have in open play, but, like Sterling, was getting in goal scoring opportunities but was not able to beat inform de Gea. We saw a few bits of frustration from the Italian, and I get the sense that the fans are running out of patience with him. Philipe Coutinho tried to get the odd moves initiated but like most of the Liverpool midfield, he was restricted and well marshalled by Marouane Fellaini.

The midfield for Liverpool had plenty of the ball, but they were unable to beat Marouane Fellaini, who had a very good performance. He stifled they play and was used as a defensive ball winning midfielder, a role which he performed with aplomb. It was up in the air as to whether he was going to remain a United player in the summer as nobody saw where he fitted into LVG's technical strategy, but if his performances become more consistent then nobody will have any qualms about him remaining.

I thought that the wing-backs for United, particularly Valencia, operated and got joy down the flanks as so amply demonstrated in the build up to the first goal. Valencia got the better of his man on countless occasions and this possibly could have warranted more goals for his side. In defence, I also thought Michael Carrick was a standout performer. Playing out of position, he did have hairy situations, but with 94% passing, his distribution from the back was textbook. If United's injury tally remains at a critical level, then this positional change for Carrick may be employed more regularly. 

As Gary Neville pointed out in commentary, it's a rarity that a keeper gets the man of the match award when his team wins 3-0, but that's David de Gea for you. He pulled off several truly magnificent saves to keep Liverpool at bay. I was particularly impressed with his one on one save against Sterling when the Liverpool tried to take it around him. Plenty of keepers would have rushed out and gone to ground leaving an easy goal for the attacker. Without him today, United could have conceded at least 3 goals leaving a completely different outcome on the game. I am really not surprised that Real Madrid are in the market for him, as he would be the perfect heir to the Casillas throne.

Manchester United increase their winning run to 6 games while Liverpool aim to start a run having gone out of the Champions League midweek. Pressure must be building on Rodgers while Van Gaal must be quietly confident about a successful season.

LVG v David Moyes

We're 6 games into Louis Van Gaal's tenure at Old Trafford and it has not been all plain sailing for the Dutchman. However if we rewind 12 months, David Moyes endured a similar sticky spell, yet statistics show that he has gathered more points than the Dutchman in the first 5 league games. With this being the case, why did Moyes come under a barrage of abuse from the media and fans alike?

Quite simply, Van Gaal has the glossy credentials to support a claim as to why he can be considered one of the top managers at this present moment in time. The accolades to his name include league titles in Germany,  Spain and most notably in Holland with Ajax. His Ajax team of the 90s was driven on promoting youth and playing with pace and flair, all emphasised through a very effective 4-3-3 formation - something which I would love to see implemented at Manchester United.

In comparison, David Moyes did not have the glittering CV, nor did he have the quality of personnel that Louis Van Gaal did. Instead he has a solitary Division Two title that he achieved with Preston North End in 1999-2000 plus several Manager of the Month Awards. His lack of silverware in his managerial career made him an easy target for the press and fans. From the day his appointment was announced, the pressure was on the Glaswegian.

Hand-picked by Sir Alex Ferguson himself, the weight of expectation from a club that is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, fell on the shoulders of the former Everton man and it did not look like he could cope with it. He guided Everton to solid finishes each year and reached the preliminary stages of the Champions League in 2005. Moyes often seemed nervous during the press conferences and often said the wrong thing at the same time. The sharp media that we have in our country picked up on that immediately and twisted it and yes I am referencing the comments made after the home game against Manchester City.

In contrast, LVG, walked into his first press conference with confidence and rebuked any journalist that asked any ludicrous and naïve questions. The media jumped on this and portrayed him as 'United's Saviour' and now they look ridiculous when David Moyes, a man who was cheered by Liverpool and Manchester City fans, has a better record than the World Cup semi finalist. That wasn't in Ed Woodward's script.

In terms of where I stand on this comparison of Moyes and Van Gaal, I share my opinion now, particularly if you missed my article for @FourFourTweet in April (http://fourfourtweet.co.uk/where-has-it-gone-wrong-for-manchester-united/). In that article I stated that I thought Moyes was used as a scapegoat and that others had to stand up and take the responsibility. As for Van Gaal, he has dodged bullets by talking about his 'philosophy' and if I got a pound for every time he mentioned that word, I reckon I could afford a ticket to the Emirates Stadium. Also, LVG made it crystal clear to everyone should not expect fireworks from the off, it will take a while until United are restored. An attempt to insure himself if United's season goes down the gutter? It looks like it. 

 

On the other hand, if we look at the results, David Moyes takes the points on this occasion. As you can see the respective starts from both managers, LVG was handed the easier of the two. Moyes picked up 2 victories against LVG's 1, while the former Bayern man achieved an extra draw. It will be interesting to see how LVG's United fares against the 'Top 4.' Van Gaal will likely play on the counter, particularly with an under-par defence coupled with injuries. I do think that United will alleviate their performances against the other challenging sides  and that they will have a better record under Van Gaal than they did under Moyes a year previous.

A major score for LVG is that he was able to sign quality players in an attempt to address problematic areas for the Old Trafford club. The signatures of Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao in particular have pleased United fans. For David Moyes, he was only able to muster a panic buy from his former club for Marouane Fellaini in the summer. To say that Fellaini's performances were substandard would be an understatement. In the winter window, he acquired the services of Chelsea playmaker, Juan Mata. The midfielder was signed when United were apparently going through a midfield crisis due to supposedly not having a creative midfielder. This signing rejuvenated hope in the Old Trafford faithful, particularly with the thought that a major overhaul was going to take place. With Mata having scored 8 goals in 19 United appearances, this signing is a success.

Louis Van Gaal has got away with a lot of abuse that David Moyes would have received if he was in the Dutchman's shoes. Two points better off than LVG, Moyes would have been crucified in the media after the Leicester City game. It's a cruel world, with the media paid to separate the wheat from the chaff in the papers, especially after a disheartening performance. If this article has proved one thing, it's that life is not fair.

Transfer Target #11 - Daley Blind

It has been a considerable length of time since my last transfer target, and to kick the new season off, I'll give you a profile of World Cup hotshot Daley Blind.

 

Similar to most Dutch stars, past and present, he came through the fabled Ajax youth academy and made his senior debut for the Amsterdam side aged 18 in an away match against FC Volendam in 2008, where he made an immediate contribution by setting up the first goal. For the remainder of that season he was utilised sparingly, only making another 4 appearances in the league and another 1 in the UEFA Cup. 

Blind was to remain patient and was loaned out to FC Groningen for the remainder of the 2009/2010 season. Up until the end of the 2011/2012 season, Blind has made a total of 68 appearances for both clubs. 

All of Blind's hard work finally paid off in the 2012/2013 season where he helped Ajax to their third Eredivisie title in a row and was also named AFC Ajax Player of the Year. His impressive performances for the Amsterdam outfit sparked interest from Dutch national coach Louis Van Gaal and he received his first cap for his country aged 22 in a friendly draw against Italy.

Last season was possibly the Dutchman's most memorable. Playing in a holding midfield role, he aided Ajax in their push for a fourth consecutive Eredivisie title, and in doing so, was named Dutch Footballer of the Year. To top a successful season off, he was named in Van Gaal's Dutch World Cup Squad, and scored his first international goal against Brazil in the third place play off.

It has been highly documented about recent activities in the transfer market with relation to Blind. Reports are appearing that Ajax and Manchester United have agreed a fee for the 24 year old. For a team in transition the signing of Blind will add security to a leaky defence. I am thinking that he may rotate with Luke Shaw, or if another wing back is signed, then he will play in front of the defence and will try to break opposition play up.

Daley Blind burst onto the football scene after splendid performances in the World Cup and I would be delighted if Louis Van Gaal brought him into the Premier League. No matter where he goes, I am sure that he will have a glittering career.

Louis Van Gaal: The Man with a Plan?

 

Much of the Old Trafford faithful were excited for the new era under Louis Van Gaal, but concerns were raised after a disappointing defeat to Swansea on the opening day of the season. Now after more dropped points, and humiliation in the Capital One Cup, LVG has broke the bank in order to land a player with the calibre of Angel Di Maria.

The prospect of signing one of Real Madrid's stand out performers last season is very exciting and it certainly is a statement of intent from the Dutchman. Rumour has it that LVG's preferred formation is the 4-3-3, but is playing with his adaptable 3-5-2 until he gets the players that he believes fits his philosophy. Until then, Di Maria is likely to rotate in the central position with Mata and Kagawa, or could even be played in the wing-back role. In the 4-3-3, it is evident to every soul that he will play on the right or the left with Rooney/Van Persie central.

I admire Di Maria a lot, but there is one problem. I seriously believe that LVG has overpaid in order to capture a marquee signing and to keep the supporters happy. £59m is a lot of money to be throwing about and even more so for a club with massive debts and no Champions League income. There is always the chance that Di Maria could flop become another Marouane Fellaini, but I think this is more of a safe buy as the Argentine will be suited to the Premier League. If United don't secure European football for a second consecutive year, then it could spell financial trouble for the Manchester club, particularly if we continue to throw money at the problem.

Another worry, is that attacking players weren't a major concern. Certainly Di Maria is a massive upgrade from Valencia and Young but should the £59m have been spent improving a very ordinary defence? Central defence is a concern, and one that could have been rectified easily through the signature of Mats Hummels, but with no Champions League, and uninspiring performances in the opening weeks, why would he leave a team sailing high in the Bundesliga with almost guaranteed European football every season, for a team struggling through a time of major upheaval? He wouldn't, and even if he would, it would take a hell of a lot of money to sign for the Red Devils. 

In fairness to LVG, he has spotted our defensive weaknesses and set about repairing them with the first step of signing of Marcos Rojo. On first impressions, he seems like a player who always gets his way, after the debacle at the Sporting Lisbon training facilities. On the pitch, I can't really comment on his performances from last season and searching him on YouTube, doesn't give you the full picture. Having watched him at the World Cup with Argentina, where he played on the left, he appeared determined to get forward as often as possible and he prioritised this over his defensive duties, something which I am not overly convinced by. At £16m it isn't an extortionate amount like several other transfers, but he still have to live up to his transfer fee. Hopefully Rojo proves me wrong and grows to become our next Jaap Stam or Nemanja Vidic.

LVG is rumoured to be interested in fellow Dutchman, Daley Blind and he is also someone whom I hold in high regard, particularly after his exemplary World Cup. The Ajax man can play in numerous roles including, defensive midfield, centre half and wing back. He would make a great signing particularly after the teasing crosses he delivered in Brazil. With it looking very probable that £16m buy Marcos Rojo will slot in as a ball-playing centre-back, I think that Blind will rotate with Luke Shaw in the wing-back position, that is if he signs.

In addition to the defensive dilemma's we need to sort out their midfield. Ever since wrecking-ball Roy retired, our midfield has needed a replacement. These cracks became craters once Paul Scholes retired leaving us without a leader and without a ball winning midfielder who can cut up the opponents possession and is not afraid to tackle. It is a struggle to find any a player that fits that persona, so no doubt we will pay over the odds for Juventus' Arturo Vidal. He boasts all of the attributes of an accomplished ball winning midfielder and would add a bit of that long awaited bite to a distinctly average midfield. Again, this transfer poses the same problem as the Mats Hummels saga: Why would he join a club without European football when he is already at a club with it?

On a final note, rumours have being hurtling around the internet that Danny Welbeck could be out the door of Old Trafford, with North London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham interested in his signature. I would be very disappointed if Welbeck was to leave the club and I'm sure there are other players who should be sold before the 23 year old. His scoring record for the club is what lets him down, 29 goals in 139 appearances is not good enough, particularly if Manchester United have any aspirations of challenging for trophies again. Time after time Welbeck finds himself in the correct position, but a moment of madness means that he scuffs the shot. At the same time, I struggle to find where he would fit in LVG's tactics, as Van Persie and Rooney are likely to be playing as the front two and Hernandez as the substitute. If he wants to further his career as a Premier League footballer, then perhaps a move away from Old Trafford would probably be better for the Englishman and I know he can become a decent goal scorer eventually.

Louis Van Gaal is almost 2 months into his tenure at Old Trafford and already are we seeing his mark being left on the club. Hopefully he can sort the wheat from the chaff and get rid of the dead wood, so that United fans don't have to endure another season that was behold us last year.

Does Van Gaal Fit The Mould?

Yesterday we were informed of the sacking of David Moyes from Manchester United after just 10 months in the job. As well as leaving the board in a pickle over who to appoint, those pesky ITK accounts on Twitter had a field day, linking every manager from under the sun to the vacant post, one of which was Louis Van Gaal. Ladbrokes tip the Dutchman as the favourite to succeed Moyes at 8/11 but until the permanent manager is announced, United man Ryan Giggs remains as interim manager.

All these rumours whether Louis Van Gaal will be United manager or Spurs manager next season must not be aiding his preparations for the upcoming World Cup. Currently with the Dutch National side, it has been reported that he will be resigning at the end of the competition in June. Tutored under the philosophy of Total Football, surely the Dutchman will be able to restore flair and speed to United's game? 

Throughout his illustrious career, Van Gaal has remained devout to the idea of playing attractive attacking football, using a 4-3-3 formation. I am positive that his appointment will excite many of the United faithful, and it too gets me on the edge of my seat thinking about it. However, is playing 3 in the midfield a good idea? I would not want to risk playing 3 in midfield against the might of City or Chelsea, they would overpower us, particularly if the are unable to strengthen due to the Glazer's incompetence. However Liverpool showed us that beating City is possible with a 4-3-3 counter attack formation

If the Dutchman were to deploy this tactic, the 2 wide-men will need to track back and help the midfield out. Antonio Valencia would thrive under this formation due to his high defensive and offensive work rate. With this strategy, I am struggling to find out a position in the team for Rooney, Mata or Kagawa - neither of which are as effective out wide than through the middle. One of this trio could be leaving in the summer because of this. It is evident that there are both positives and negatives to this argument.

"If they're good enough, then they're old enough" is a cliché that Van Gaal places his faith in. On this sole reason alone, it gives Van Gaal a good chance of being awarded the post. At Ajax, Van Gaal was responsible for the rise of figures such as Edwin Van Der Sar, Edgar Davids and Patrick Kluivert. It is safe to say that the Dutchman has the evidence to suggest that the empty post at Old Trafford. Adnan Januzaj has proved that United do have fresh talent within their youth ranks, and with the correct treatment, they could be nurtured into future first team players. The U-18s sit 6th in their league while the the U-21s are 4th showing that there is potential among them.

As well as possessing some of the most prized traits in a football manager, he also has a glittering CV to add to it. Van Gaal has 7 league titles over 3 countries including Holland, Germany and Spain. He was a cog in the wheel behind a successful Ajax team of the 90s which won 2 European titles, showing that he is more than capable of competing among Europe's elite. While on paper it seems that he had an enjoyable time at the Blaugrana, the Spanish media and Barca fans never warmed to the Dutchman, and he left after just 2 seasons in charge. It was Jose Mourinho's Internazionale that prevented Van Gaal from completing a famous treble with Bayern Munich after they defeated the Germans in the Champions League Final. He can do it in 3 European countries, so why can't he do it in England?

The colourful Dutchman is known to lose his temper

While at Bayern, comparisons were made between Van Gaal and Felix Magath, who rules with an iron fist. This may be what is needed in the United dressing room as they fight to control the growing egos inside. Having read some crazy stories about the Dutch manager, it would be of no surprise to me if Louis Van Gaal is they type of person to stand in front of the mirror every morning with an approving look upon his face. Adjectives used to describe him can range from egotistical to narcissistic - two words in which I would associate with Mr. Mourinho. Van Gaal seems to be a character in the dressing room and will stand for no nonsense from the players.

Overall, Louis Van Gaal, appears to be a good shout for the next manager of Manchester United. However, the few character descriptions I have implied, could turn the tables against him, and a parallel situation as to what happened at Barcelona. At 63 years old, he will not have many more years left in him and this could be his final club, particularly if it goes well. While the board knuckle down to appoint a new manager, we have Ryan Giggs at the helm, and a solid conclusion to the season is imperative at Old Trafford.

Top 10 Managers

The following managers contained in this blog are, who I think, the best managers in the world. They are not ranked in any particular order.

Carlo Ancelotti

Whoever says great players don't make great managers is lying. Carlo Ancelotti has won the league in France, Italy and England during his career and is art of a unique club of players that have won the Champions League as a player and a manager. He will be most known for his success at AC Milan from 2001-2009.  During his 8 years at the Milan club, Ancelotti won 8 trophies, most notably a 2007 Champions League victory over Liverpool. Now at Real Madrid, I expect him to be able to knock rivals Barcelona off their perch and reclaim the number 1 spot of Barcelona in the long run. A man that always instructs his team to play attacking football and forbids his team to take the foot off the gas deserves to be named in my top 10 managers.

Jose Mourinho

No top 10 managers list is complete without the self-proclaimed 'Special One'. Jose Mourinho's record speaks for itself. Arguably one of the most influencial managers in history, Mourinho has notched up no less than 20 titles and countless individual honours throughout his career. His finest hour would likely be the treble winning year of 2009/2010 at Inter Milan. At only 51 years of age, the man from Setubal is expected to gather even more titles. Personally, I will admit that he is one of the best managers in the world, even though I have a low opinion of him. Already, I would expect Mourinho to have his eyes on accumulating numerous trophies, in an attempt to surpass Sir Alex. 

                         

       

Jurgen Klopp

Nobody can forget the anger vented at the officials by Dortmund manager, Jurgen Klopp in a 2-1 defeat to Napoli, and the leaps and bounds he has brought the North Rhine side is incredible. He guided Dortmund to their first Bundesliga title in 9 years back during the 2010/2011 and followed that up with a league double the following season. Always instructing his team to play fast flowing, attractive football, Klopp has been a giant of the managing world over the past year, and deserves to be on my list as hopes to string together a run of good results in order to challenge Leverkusen for the second place.

       

Rudi Garcia

If anyone reading this post is a Serie A lover, then you will know why he is on this list. Out of nowhere, he has announced himself on managerial scene with aplomb by sending Roma to a 17 match unbeaten run. The Giallorossi have found themselves a surprise package this year lying in a respectable 2nd position behind Juventus. As for Garcia, his managerial success began at French club Lille when he claimed the domestic double in the 2010/2011 season as well as bagging the French Manager of the Year Award in 2011 and 2013. He has remodelled a team from the brink of turmoil to one challenging Juve for the Serie A title.

      

Diego Simeone

A highly decorated player and also a highly decorated manager. Renowned for his time in Atletico Madrid, he has delivered a myriad of trophies to a club that has been living in the shadow of their Real neighbours. A manager who utilizes his wingers to great effect, finds himself touted as the manager for the Argentinian National team. I rate Simeone exceedingly highly, as, although he doesn't have the finances or manpower as Barcelona or Real Madrid, he is adding another team to the short list of contenders for the Liga BBVA title.

       

Antonio Conte

A fantastic player and now a fantastic manager. At the age of 44, Antonio Conte is trying to replicate his illustrious playing career in the dugout as a manager. Currently working with the best team in Italy, Juventus, he has guided the 'Old Lady' to the last 2 Serie A titles and is on course to record a 3rd consecutive one. He has created a formidable Juventus side, using talented players Carlos Tevez and Paul Pogba to name a few, that has every possibility of mimicking the days when the Old Lady was Champions of Europe. Juve through and through, the Italian is heading for a long time managing the Italian giants.

        

Louis Van Gaal

Having been educated in possibly the best traditions of the 'Total Football' by Ajax and the Netherlands in the 70s, it is to no surprise that he is a fanatical advocate of the fast, free-flowing football that we all love to watch. While being generally labelled a slow starter, he managed the all-conquering Ajax team of the early 90s. Often described as blunt towards the press, the Dutchman deserves recognition on my list of top 10 managers due to the numerous titles he has won at Barcelona, Ajax and Bayern Munich. Currently in hi second spell as manager of the Netherlands, Van Gaal will be hoping for a better run in the World Cup compared to Euro 2012 and their failure to qualify for the 2002 World Cup.

       

Arsene Wenger

A terrific servant to Arsenal FC, Arsene Wenger is the longest manager in charge of a club, currently in the Premier League. During his 17 years at Arsenal, he has amassed 3 Premier League titles, 4 FA Cups and 4 Community Shields. Although regularly overlooked, he holds a Ligue One title and One Coupe de France trophy from his time at Monaco. Over the past few years, I feel his has been wrongly on the end of abuse from Arsenal fans at the lack of money spent. Even when he has not been spending money, the Gunners always find themselves in the Champions League positions, come the end of the season. Famed for his advocating of youth, Wenger now possesses a strong Arsenal team poised to challenge for the title.

       

Luis Felipe Scolari

While Luiz Felipe Scolari may not be on most people's top 10 managers list but he is definitely on mine. Famous for his short fuse and tantrums on the sideline, the 65 year old has managed a list of clubs and nations the length of my arm. 'Big Phil' has enjoyed success all over the world most notably, Kuwait, Uzbekistan and Brazil. Internationally, Scolari has enjoyed an array of success - and upsets. In 2002, he led a team with characters such as Kaka, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Roberto Carlos, to a World Cup, before enduring the shock of the century with Portugal, losing in the Euro 2004 final to Greece. At a club level, Scolari has won the Copa do Brasil on numerous occasions and also the Brazilian equivalent to the Champions League, the Copa Libertadores.

      

Fabio Capello

A manager that is almost forgotten about on Top 10s, is the Russian National team manager, Fabio Capello. A proven player and manager, Capello holds a trophy cabinet that most fans would die for. Managing no less than 5 clubs, the 67 year old has won numerous Serie A titles, La Liga titles, Supercoppa Italiana and the prized UEFA Champions League with AC Milan. In addition to this, he won the Serie A Coach of the Year in 2005 and BBC Sports Personality Coach of the Year award in 2009.

Those are my opinions on the best managers in the world currently. Another manager that gets a glowing report from myself is fellow Ulsterman Brendan Rodgers. Rodgers honed his skills under the wing of Jose Mourinho and will no doubt feature on this list eventually, if he has a long, distinguished career on Merseyside.