Top six managers ranked in order by Sky Sports pundits

Matt Stead

The managers of the Premier League’s top six clubs have been ranked by four Sky Sports pundits.

There should be no surprises that Pep Guardiola places first for Paul Merson, Phil Thompson, Charlie Nicholas and Matt Le Tissier. Nicholas loves his “methods and principles”, while Thompson believes that “if you think about box ticking he covers them all”.

In terms of second place, Mauricio Pochettino is praised as “unbelievable” and “phenomenal” by Merson, who says “he is building a fantastic foundation”. Charlie Nicholas agrees, claiming “he’s the modern Arsene Wenger in the sense that he’s brought something new to the Premier League.”

Le Tissier places the “more practical” Mourinho in second, while Thompson has Jurgen Klopp there. Obviously.

In third, Le Tiss goes for Antonio Conte and his “drive”, Merson praises Mourinho for doing “what it says on the tin”, and Thompson backs Pochettino. Nicholas says that while Wenger has “overstayed his greatness,” is defensively “weak,” has an “average” team and has “failed” to sign quality defenders, he is the third best manager of the six. Sheesh.

The other three pundits have Wenger precisely where Arsenal are in the Premier League table: sixth, and pretty far behind his contemporaries.

 

Paul Merson’s six
1) Guardiola
2) Pochettino
3) Mourinho
4) Conte
5) Klopp
6) Wenger

Thompson’s six
1) Guardiola
2) Klopp
3) Pochettino
4) Mourinho
5) Conte
6) Wenger

Nicholas’ six
1) Guardiola
2) Pochettino
3) Wenger
4) Klopp
5) Mourinho
6) Conte

Le Tissier’s six
1) Guardiola
2) Mourinho
3) Conte
4) Pochettino
5) Klopp
6) Wenger

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