Tittle-Tackle #4

In the wake of Josh's assertion that Ancelotti will be the manager of the season, Jonathan Northcroft reports on the Italian's attitude to life and to football:

But he is relaxed, without airs, ready with the dry-witted quip. A farmer must be stoical and he is even-tempered in the dressing room. “I won’t shout, I will explain,” he says when asked what he does when unhappy with a performance. “I want to have a discussion with my players. I don’t want to impose upon them. I want to propose to them. Treat them like men. I never want to control the private life of my players. Never. When I played, a coach controlled my private life. He said when I played, when I had to stay at home. In the relationship he was above me. I didn’t like it very much.

"Now, as a coach, I want to have a relationship with my players that is on the same level. I have kids and as a father I’m the same. I have my character and I want to stay with my character when dealing with people. I want to be true.”

The YNWAWK 2008/2009 Review: Part 2

GoonerDale:

Got to be Roy of the Rovers (Fulham Rovers). He took a team who were dead cert for relegation and turned them into a side who beat the top four sides and challenged for, and attained (pending qualification), entry into the Europa League.

Jo$shuwaa:

Roy Hodgson. I've gone for Roy because in 12 months he has turned a relegation candidate into a top seven team, and moreover, he has done it all on a small budget.

Robbie:

In 07/08, Fulham managed 'The Great Escape' with Roy Hodgson at the helm, and this year he propelled them into seventh position, almost leading them to automatic European qualification. The transformation that he has conducted at Fulham is phenomenal.

Jack:

Roy Hodgson. A great turnaround, from a fascinating English manager. Fulham played an authentic brand of Premier League football, fast and physical. They also played with a higher technical ability than the mid-tablers who finished above them last year, and this can largely be attributed to Roy.

Hoxey:

Roy Hodgson. The manager of the season simply has to be this man. He walks the walk and talks the talk. "At the start of the season if someone told us we would get 50 points we would have given them a funny look." How much more motivational can he be?

Tom:

After pulling off 'The Great Escape' in 07/08, Hodgson built upon this, taking The Cottagers to a very respectable seventh, earning them a place in the Europa League qualifiers. It was their highest Premier League finish to date. Hodgson, something of a football purist, played positive attacking football, and also led Fulham to the top of the Fair Play league.