Our manager league will hit halfway today, and at the moment we have one clear leader: Unai Emery. The Spaniard has the high score for 6/9 teams he's managed so far, including a particularly handy knack of scoring 'big team scores' with smaller sides.
At the other end of the table this has all been one long disaster for poor Ralph Hasenhuttl, whilst Graham Potter set a record low score at his old club Brighton and hasn't really recovered:
At the other end of the table this has all been one long disaster for poor Ralph Hasenhuttl, whilst Graham Potter set a record low score at his old club Brighton and hasn't really recovered:
Of course, different teams offer different chances for scoring points, and Emery has yet to manage the likes of Brighton and Leeds. So will we see a big change over today's episode?
Season 10
Season 10
Yet more chance for Emery to score big at the helm of Liverpool, who won the last two Manager League seasons. Guardiola has Bournemouth, who are expected to finish bottom, but therefore present the potential for good points just for guiding them to mid-table.
Each season, one manager is in charge of their real-life team, and this time it's Gareth Southgate. This time he did marginally better in the Nations League, finishing 3rd. At the World Cup England cruised to the quarters where they inevitably met France, as in real life. And again it was 2-1... but this time it was England who came out on top, thanks to a stoppage time winner from Tammy Abraham! It was then Marcus Rashford's turn to be a hero, scoring the only goal against Portugal. This set up a final against Netherlands. Harry Kane scored early on, and it was the only goal as Southgate brings football home! He become the third manager to do so after Julen Lopetegui and Jurgen Klopp.
By this point in the season we'd only had one managerial casualty, but it was a big one in terms of the overall ML table, as Roberto De Zerbi had a shocker with Leicester and departed with the club second-bottom. After the World Cup we lost Erik ten Hag (Wolves), Gary O'Neil (Crystal Palace) and Jesse Marsch (Newcastle). Antonio Conte lead Man United to 11th place and went in early March.
The Premier League was set up for a thrilling final day. At the top Emery's Liverpool had forged a two-point lead over Lopetegui's Man City, whilst at the bottom Leicester and Eddie Howe's Fulham had a showdown to see who would be relegated alongside Palace and David Moyes' Brighton. City kept the pressure on Liverpool by beating Bournemouth, but the Reds cruised past Brentford 3-0 to lift the title. The Leicester - Fulham match was decided by a single goal, and it was Kelechi Iheanacho's strike that saved the Foxes.
That was the second time Liverpool had bested City, as they had met in the League Cup final earlier in the season, and again Liverpool won the trophy with a 3-0 win. And it became a three-part rivalry as they both reached the final of the FA Cup, too. This time it was Lopetegui who came out on top, as Luis Díaz's red card helped City to a 2-0 win.
It was not a stellar English season in Europe. The best performers were Man City, who were edged out by Real Madrid in the Champions League semis. Liverpool and Chelsea lost in the quarter finals, whilst Spurs lost in the last 16. Arsenal and Man United both exited the Europa League at that stage, whilst West Ham didn't even qualify for the Conference League group stage.
Each season, one manager is in charge of their real-life team, and this time it's Gareth Southgate. This time he did marginally better in the Nations League, finishing 3rd. At the World Cup England cruised to the quarters where they inevitably met France, as in real life. And again it was 2-1... but this time it was England who came out on top, thanks to a stoppage time winner from Tammy Abraham! It was then Marcus Rashford's turn to be a hero, scoring the only goal against Portugal. This set up a final against Netherlands. Harry Kane scored early on, and it was the only goal as Southgate brings football home! He become the third manager to do so after Julen Lopetegui and Jurgen Klopp.
By this point in the season we'd only had one managerial casualty, but it was a big one in terms of the overall ML table, as Roberto De Zerbi had a shocker with Leicester and departed with the club second-bottom. After the World Cup we lost Erik ten Hag (Wolves), Gary O'Neil (Crystal Palace) and Jesse Marsch (Newcastle). Antonio Conte lead Man United to 11th place and went in early March.
The Premier League was set up for a thrilling final day. At the top Emery's Liverpool had forged a two-point lead over Lopetegui's Man City, whilst at the bottom Leicester and Eddie Howe's Fulham had a showdown to see who would be relegated alongside Palace and David Moyes' Brighton. City kept the pressure on Liverpool by beating Bournemouth, but the Reds cruised past Brentford 3-0 to lift the title. The Leicester - Fulham match was decided by a single goal, and it was Kelechi Iheanacho's strike that saved the Foxes.
That was the second time Liverpool had bested City, as they had met in the League Cup final earlier in the season, and again Liverpool won the trophy with a 3-0 win. And it became a three-part rivalry as they both reached the final of the FA Cup, too. This time it was Lopetegui who came out on top, as Luis Díaz's red card helped City to a 2-0 win.
It was not a stellar English season in Europe. The best performers were Man City, who were edged out by Real Madrid in the Champions League semis. Liverpool and Chelsea lost in the quarter finals, whilst Spurs lost in the last 16. Arsenal and Man United both exited the Europa League at that stage, whilst West Ham didn't even qualify for the Conference League group stage.
I think David Moyes' anti-achievement may be a first for the Manager League, as he didn't get sacked but still recorded a negative points haul. Emery soars past 10,000pts with his score here, the fourth-highest overall.
Season 11
If the chasing pack are ever going to reel in Emery, here is their chance as the leader has to take on the poisoned chalice at Brighton. Hasenhuttl could reverse his recent slump as he controls City.
Mikel Arteta has had a tough time of it so far, and he is the first manager sacked this season, leaving Wolves in 18th place. Another job which has become very difficult is West Ham: Emery (inevitably) was the last boss to manage them into the knockout stages of the Conference League, and Jurgen Klopp became the latest to fail with them. Frank Lampard replicated his real-life Everton sacking, and other managerial departures included Gareth Southgate and Jesse Marsch, who wasted their chance to score points with Spurs and Man United respectively.
Thomas Frank may have avoided the sack, but he couldn't prevent Forest securing bottom spot. On the bottom day they were joined by Wolves - who also sacked Javier Aguirre during the season - and Patrick Vieira's Southampton, who were leapfrogged by Everton on the final day. At the top of the table we had another Man City - Liverpool final-day decider, and it was Roberto De Zerbi's Reds who came out on top by beating Leicester 4-1 to hold off Hasenhuttl's City. Third place went to Newcastle United, a great achievement for Pep Guardiola.
Julen Lopetegui guided Fulham to a top-half finish, and backed it up with a fine run to the FA Cup final. They met City, where they couldn't prevent their opponents triumphing 2-0. Earlier in the season Liverpool met Ange Postecoglou's West Ham in the League Cup final. The Hammers scored twice late on to earn a 2-2 draw, and when it went to penalties Fabinho's miss allowed Declan Rice to score the winning kick.
It doesn't matter for the Manager League, but Big Ange's West Ham capped a wondrous year by winning the Conference League by beating Villarreal 1-0 in the final. And it was a sensational hat trick of English triumph in Europe. Eddie Howe's Arsenal won the Europa League final 3-2 against Villarreal thanks to a late winner from Eddie Nketiah. In the Champions League Liverpool had a shock group stage exit and Spurs lost in the last 16. Chelsea and Man City made the last four, where David Moyes' charges lost to Barcelona, who in turn were defeated by City in the final with Julián Álvarez the hero.
Finally, Gary O'Neil's England finished third in the Nations League and suffered the standard quarter final defeat to France in the World Cup.
Mikel Arteta has had a tough time of it so far, and he is the first manager sacked this season, leaving Wolves in 18th place. Another job which has become very difficult is West Ham: Emery (inevitably) was the last boss to manage them into the knockout stages of the Conference League, and Jurgen Klopp became the latest to fail with them. Frank Lampard replicated his real-life Everton sacking, and other managerial departures included Gareth Southgate and Jesse Marsch, who wasted their chance to score points with Spurs and Man United respectively.
Thomas Frank may have avoided the sack, but he couldn't prevent Forest securing bottom spot. On the bottom day they were joined by Wolves - who also sacked Javier Aguirre during the season - and Patrick Vieira's Southampton, who were leapfrogged by Everton on the final day. At the top of the table we had another Man City - Liverpool final-day decider, and it was Roberto De Zerbi's Reds who came out on top by beating Leicester 4-1 to hold off Hasenhuttl's City. Third place went to Newcastle United, a great achievement for Pep Guardiola.
Julen Lopetegui guided Fulham to a top-half finish, and backed it up with a fine run to the FA Cup final. They met City, where they couldn't prevent their opponents triumphing 2-0. Earlier in the season Liverpool met Ange Postecoglou's West Ham in the League Cup final. The Hammers scored twice late on to earn a 2-2 draw, and when it went to penalties Fabinho's miss allowed Declan Rice to score the winning kick.
It doesn't matter for the Manager League, but Big Ange's West Ham capped a wondrous year by winning the Conference League by beating Villarreal 1-0 in the final. And it was a sensational hat trick of English triumph in Europe. Eddie Howe's Arsenal won the Europa League final 3-2 against Villarreal thanks to a late winner from Eddie Nketiah. In the Champions League Liverpool had a shock group stage exit and Spurs lost in the last 16. Chelsea and Man City made the last four, where David Moyes' charges lost to Barcelona, who in turn were defeated by City in the final with Julián Álvarez the hero.
Finally, Gary O'Neil's England finished third in the Nations League and suffered the standard quarter final defeat to France in the World Cup.
O'Neil's score is actually the lowest England total so far, despite a passable season. Meanwhile, Emery scored pretty well with Brighton, but the chasing pack all had excellent years. Hasenhuttl, meanwhile, managed to get City's second-biggest points haul despite the lack of a title.
Season 12
A severely ailing Klopp needs a good performance with his real club's rivals Man City to belatedly kick-start his campaign. Speaking of Liverpool, they face a reunion with Brendan Rodgers this season. After a slow start Rodgers he got himself into the top 6 in the table, and here's a chance to climb higher.
After a great points haul with Fulham last time, it was a disaster for Lopetegui, who left Spurs in October with the club in 13th place. Graham Potter lasted until December before being relieved of his duties by bottom-placed Palace, and soon after we had the unsurprising news that Mikel Arteta had left Brighton. There followed a period of calm, but in the run-in we lost David Moyes from Forest, despite their 19th position being in line with expectations. Neither they nor Palace were able to save themselves, and they were joined in relegation by Steve Cooper's Bournemouth, who could only draw with Brighton in their final game when they needed a win to leapfrog Marco Silva's Leeds.
At the top end of the table Klopp took to City like a duck to water, and they comfortably held off Ralph Hasenhuttl's Chelsea to win the title by 12 points. This ended a run of four consecutive titles for Liverpool, but Rodgers did lead his side to the final of the FA Cup, where Roberto Firmino scored the only goal to overcome Pep Guardiola's Manchester United. In the League Cup Thomas Frank lead his real-life team to the final, but lost the final to Gary O'Neil's Arsenal.
Lopetegui had been replaced by Diego Simeone, who lead Spurs to a rare Champions League quarter final, which is the same stage Man City reached, before they were knocked out by Chelsea. They, in turn, lost to Liverpool in the semi finals, who faced usual foes Real Madrid in the final. Like the FA Cup it was settled by a single goal, and like the FA Cup it went to Liverpool, as Luis Díaz etched his name into folklore. In the other competitions Arsenal and West Ham had disappointing last 16 exits, whilst Man United only went one stage further.
Patrick Vieira had the same experience as O'Neil before him with England, as they finished 3rd in the Nations League and lost to France in the World Cup quarter finals.
After a great points haul with Fulham last time, it was a disaster for Lopetegui, who left Spurs in October with the club in 13th place. Graham Potter lasted until December before being relieved of his duties by bottom-placed Palace, and soon after we had the unsurprising news that Mikel Arteta had left Brighton. There followed a period of calm, but in the run-in we lost David Moyes from Forest, despite their 19th position being in line with expectations. Neither they nor Palace were able to save themselves, and they were joined in relegation by Steve Cooper's Bournemouth, who could only draw with Brighton in their final game when they needed a win to leapfrog Marco Silva's Leeds.
At the top end of the table Klopp took to City like a duck to water, and they comfortably held off Ralph Hasenhuttl's Chelsea to win the title by 12 points. This ended a run of four consecutive titles for Liverpool, but Rodgers did lead his side to the final of the FA Cup, where Roberto Firmino scored the only goal to overcome Pep Guardiola's Manchester United. In the League Cup Thomas Frank lead his real-life team to the final, but lost the final to Gary O'Neil's Arsenal.
Lopetegui had been replaced by Diego Simeone, who lead Spurs to a rare Champions League quarter final, which is the same stage Man City reached, before they were knocked out by Chelsea. They, in turn, lost to Liverpool in the semi finals, who faced usual foes Real Madrid in the final. Like the FA Cup it was settled by a single goal, and like the FA Cup it went to Liverpool, as Luis Díaz etched his name into folklore. In the other competitions Arsenal and West Ham had disappointing last 16 exits, whilst Man United only went one stage further.
Patrick Vieira had the same experience as O'Neil before him with England, as they finished 3rd in the Nations League and lost to France in the World Cup quarter finals.
It's a good season for Rodgers, whose cup successes sees him out-score his real-life Liverpool successor. Lopetegui's bad season at Spurs translates to a pretty catastrophic blow for his title hopes, whilst Lampard's creditable season with Wolves sees him get off the bottom of the table at the expense of poor Potter.
Season 13
Whilst it seems that Lampard has been having a very bad time of it in the Manager League, it needs to be pointed out that in the opening 12 seasons the only side in Europe he's managed is Man United. He now has a chance to start scoring big and moving up the table as he takes control of City for today's final season.
The only pre-World Cup casualty was Gareth Southgate, who paid the price for leading Leicester to the relegation zone. After yet another quarter final loss to France for Steve Cooper's England there were a couple more, with David Moyes (Crystal Palace) and Pep Guardiola (Brighton) both leaving on Boxing Day. At the start of March we lost Julen Lopetegui (Wolves) and Thomas Frank (Leeds), leading to a fairly low total of 5 sackings for the season.
Gennaro Gattuso and Ange Postecoglou were unable to save Palace and Leeds respectively, whilst Paulo Sousa's Wolves reign saw them slip into a final-day relegation scrap. A draw with Brentford wasn't enough to guarantee survival, but they were saved by Eddie Howe's Nottingham Forest's failure to overcome Bournemouth on the final day.
It was less close at the top, as Ralph Hasenhuttl's Liverpool comfortably won the league ahead of Antonio Conte's second spell at Chelsea. It was not good for Lampard, who lead Man City to 4th, their lowest position during the Manager League. His season was improved with some decent cup performances, mainly reaching the Champions League semis and the final of the FA Cup, where they overcame city rivals Man United 3-1. Unai Emery's Red Devils had an unwanted double of domestic cup losses, as Erik ten Hag's Arsenal had bested them in the League Cup final.
City's semi final appearance was the best English performance in the Champions League, as they had beaten Chelsea in the quarter final and Liverpool and Spurs had lost difficult last 16 ties. In the Europa League Man United lost in the quarter finals but Arsenal went all the way and beat Atlético Madrid in the final. Brendan Rodgers' West Ham were upset by Antwerp in the semis of the Conference League.
The only pre-World Cup casualty was Gareth Southgate, who paid the price for leading Leicester to the relegation zone. After yet another quarter final loss to France for Steve Cooper's England there were a couple more, with David Moyes (Crystal Palace) and Pep Guardiola (Brighton) both leaving on Boxing Day. At the start of March we lost Julen Lopetegui (Wolves) and Thomas Frank (Leeds), leading to a fairly low total of 5 sackings for the season.
Gennaro Gattuso and Ange Postecoglou were unable to save Palace and Leeds respectively, whilst Paulo Sousa's Wolves reign saw them slip into a final-day relegation scrap. A draw with Brentford wasn't enough to guarantee survival, but they were saved by Eddie Howe's Nottingham Forest's failure to overcome Bournemouth on the final day.
It was less close at the top, as Ralph Hasenhuttl's Liverpool comfortably won the league ahead of Antonio Conte's second spell at Chelsea. It was not good for Lampard, who lead Man City to 4th, their lowest position during the Manager League. His season was improved with some decent cup performances, mainly reaching the Champions League semis and the final of the FA Cup, where they overcame city rivals Man United 3-1. Unai Emery's Red Devils had an unwanted double of domestic cup losses, as Erik ten Hag's Arsenal had bested them in the League Cup final.
City's semi final appearance was the best English performance in the Champions League, as they had beaten Chelsea in the quarter final and Liverpool and Spurs had lost difficult last 16 ties. In the Europa League Man United lost in the quarter finals but Arsenal went all the way and beat Atlético Madrid in the final. Brendan Rodgers' West Ham were upset by Antwerp in the semis of the Conference League.
Quite a few managers putting in decent if unspectacular seasons, with the best performance probably being Erik ten Hag's. There's no question over who had the worst round there.
Emery continues to consolidate his lead at the top. Guardiola leads the chase, but that terrible final round has cost him a lot of ground.
Next time will be our final bunch of four seasons, as everybody gets into position ahead of the finish line.