Thursday 26 March 2015 12:22, UK
The Premier League season might have yet to reach its climax but the Sky Sports pundits have savoured enough memorable moments to make their early picks for manager of the year.
Gary Neville, Graeme Souness and Thierry Henry have joined the Soccer Saturday boys and Sky Sports News HQ's Morning View regulars in selecting the bosses who've impressed them the most so far as the clock ticks down on the 2014/15 term.
Three names dominate our expert picks but do you agree? Here's what the stats, the educated onlookers and the players have to say about a trio of contenders for May's annual prize...
JOSE MOURINHO - CHELSEA
Selected by: Alan McInally and Gary Neville
Season so far: While their Champions League campaign ended in disappointment, Jose Mourinho has guided Chelsea to the brink of the Premier League title and looks set to break the Manchester stronghold for the first time in five seasons. Mourinho has spent wisely in the transfer market, with Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa particularly excelling, while the Portuguese has maintained the Blues’ formidable backline, reinvigorated captain John Terry and introduced a young star in Kurt Zouma who is tipped for the top. With a six-point gap at the summit, and a game in hand over their rivals, it would take something extra special for the title to head in any other direction than Stamford Bridge now.
The stats: Chelsea are the only side in England’s top four tiers yet to lose a home league game this season. Indeed, Mourinho has only lost one of his 93 Premier League home games (W72 D20). Somewhat surprisingly, Chelsea have used fewer players than any other Premier League side this term (22) - a stat made even more impressive when you consider their 68.97% win percentage to date.
The pundit's view: “He doesn't mind us praising him does Jose Mourinho. He loves the attention of big matches. He comes alive on big match days and that's what the best managers do. He is the best in the world at the moment at affecting big matches, absolutely brilliant." (Gary Neville)
The player's view: "He lets people do their own thing, he gives a lot of confidence to his players, he motivates us with small statements, small sentences in the newspapers or face to face." (Eden Hazard)
RONALD KOEMAN – SOUTHAMPTON
Selected by: Matt Le Tissier, Phil Thompson, Charlie Nicholas, Tony Gale, Tony Cottee, Paul Walsh, Alan Smith, Graeme Souness, Theirry Henry
Season so far: This was not supposed to happen. A mass exodus on the south coast last summer saw Southampton’s squad decimated, with incoming boss Ronald Koeman left with the seemingly impossible task of maintaining the high standards set by Mauricio Pochettino, with a completely new squad. However, the Dutch supremo has done more than match Pochettino’s achievements, and taken the Saints into top-four contention. Koeman’s men remarkably still have the best defensive record in the country, have played an attacking brand of football that has been universally hailed, and one more win will see them equal their highest ever top-flight points total.
The stats: Ronald Koeman’s Southampton have kept more clean sheets than any other Premier League side this season (14) which has been a huge contributing factor to their impressive defensive record, and helped the Saints secure a win percentage of 53.33%.
The pundit's view: "If we get the whole squad fit, it looks a pretty strong squad and hopefully we can see out the rest of the season, keep picking up points and challenging for that top-four place.” (Matt Le Tissier)
"They have good shape, pass the ball well, are so good at the back, and Koeman has got them organised fantastically." (Charlie Nicholas)
The player's view: "However good a career he has had on and off the pitch, he’s very humble. He’s approachable, you can talk to him and he gives off a calm feeling but strong encouragement. Yes, he’ll tell us if we’re messing around in training too much or it’s not going quite right, but he has got this humble aura about him." (Ryan Bertrand)
SEAN DYCHE – BURNLEY
Selected by: Paul Merson
Season so far: It has been a real struggle for Burnley this season, but willingness to battle is a characteristic Sean Dyche insists his sides must have. On the measly budget that Dyche has had to work with, the majority of the footballing world expected Burnley to sink without a trace, with their small squad tipped to flop on their top flight return. However, after some impressive results against the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City, the Clarets have every chance of upsetting the odds to stay in the Premier League, and prove a whole host of naysayers wrong.
The stats: Consistency has been key for the Clarets. Dyche has named an unchanged team 15 times in the Premier League this season; no other side has done so more than seven times (Leicester 7). Also, the Lancashire side just don't stop running. Burnley have outrun their opponents in all 30 Premier League fixtures this campaign
The pundit's view: "There is pressure and effort all the way through the team. It is a difficult season for them. We talk about science of football, but they use the same team, never resting players. The effort and commitment never stop, but there is also plenty of skill in there." (Phil Thompson)
The player's view: "Nothing has changed since day one and it won't change in the next nine games, but there is definitely a belief that we can achieve something this year. We know from the outside that nobody has given us a prayer but we are still there or thereabouts with nine games to go. I think we have surprised a few people along the way and it's just having that belief now." (Michael Duff)
Who gets your early vote for the Premier League's manager of the year? Use the comment box if you're reading on our desktop site or get in touch via Twitter @SkySportsNewsHQ
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