Longest serving current football managers ...

Top 12 longest serving managers of English clubs (top four tiers)

1 Arsène Wenger Arsenal 19 years, 8 days
2 Paul Tisdale Exeter City 9 years, 105 days
3 Karl Robinson Milton Keynes Dons 5 years, 152 days
4 Dean Smith Walsall 4 years, 277 days
5 Jim Bentley Morecambe 4 years, 149 days
6 Phil Parkinson Bradford City 4 years, 42 days
7 Steve Davis Crewe Alexandra 3 years, 333 days
8 Steve BruceHull City 3 years, 123 days
9 Gareth Ainsworth Wycombe Wanderers 3 years, 15 days
10 Richard Money Cambridge United 3 years, 5 days
11 Neal Ardley AFC Wimbledon 2 years, 364 days
12 Eddie Howe Bournemouth 2 years, 361 days

Interesting, only two from top flight and only one from the Championship. Does this prove that lower league clubs are far more honest and loyal?

It proves that if you are looking to a career in football management, your first investment should be in a mobile home.

The pressure in the top two tiers is far higher as are the rewards
How Wenger is still there I have no idea

And if Arsenal win the league, which may well,happen, then he will still be there next year too!

Arsenal are a weird one
They have paid off the new stadium a few years ago, I was then expecting mass investment into the team which has not happened

Wenger / Arsenal always state they have funds to invest but they seem happy with the usual 4th place, no lower no higher

Campo wrote:Arsenal are a weird one
They have paid off the new stadium a few years ago, I was then expecting mass investment into the team which has not happened

Wenger / Arsenal always state they have funds to invest but they seem happy with the usual 4th place, no lower no higher

Maybe Wenger is too smart to spend phone-number money unless he is sure that the player is exactly what he wants/needs. And Arsenal is not anyone's vanity project, unlike the Blue Plastics. Repeatedly pulling fourth place will keep them in the black - obviously they aim to do better, but it's not the end of the world to the people running the club if they don't, even if the support gets stroppy. No point in spending money just for the sake of it.
That must be what pisses off the Special One about Wenger, there's nobody breathing down his neck all the time. Love it!

Arsenal have cash reserves getting close to £200M if reports are to be believed
they were desperate for a defensive midfielder in the summer too

SemiOldIron wrote:

Campo wrote:Arsenal are a weird one
They have paid off the new stadium a few years ago, I was then expecting mass investment into the team which has not happened

Wenger / Arsenal always state they have funds to invest but they seem happy with the usual 4th place, no lower no higher

Maybe Wenger is too smart to spend phone-number money unless he is sure that the player is exactly what he wants/needs. And Arsenal is not anyone's vanity project, unlike the Blue Plastics. Repeatedly pulling fourth place will keep them in the black - obviously they aim to do better, but it's not the end of the world to the people running the club if they don't, even if the support gets stroppy. No point in spending money just for the sake of it.
That must be what pisses off the Special One about Wenger, there's nobody breathing down his neck all the time. Love it!

He bought Mesut Ozil for £42.5m !! Arshavin £15m, Francis Jeffers £10m, Gervinho £10.8m, Alexander Hleb £11.8m, Jose Antonio Reyes £13m, Oxlade-Chamberlain £15m, Calum Chambers £16m

There have been some good ones too. Alexis Sanchez £35m and Santi Corzola £15m

SemiOldIron wrote:It proves that if you are looking to a career in football management, your first investment should be in a mobile home.

Over 25% of managers don't even get to half a year - unbelievable!

I am, in general, a fan of giving manager time (if possible). I also think wenger has done a terrific job at Arsenal. We're it not for wealthy Arabs and Russians I've no doubt he'd have guided Arsenal to a few more league titles. I think even Liverpool may have won the league in 2013 as well. 

Back to us, I'm personally hoping billic is given a long run at the club so we can see what he can do

Tony P wrote:

SemiOldIron wrote:

Campo wrote:Arsenal are a weird one
They have paid off the new stadium a few years ago, I was then expecting mass investment into the team which has not happened

Wenger / Arsenal always state they have funds to invest but they seem happy with the usual 4th place, no lower no higher

Maybe Wenger is too smart to spend phone-number money unless he is sure that the player is exactly what he wants/needs. And Arsenal is not anyone's vanity project, unlike the Blue Plastics. Repeatedly pulling fourth place will keep them in the black - obviously they aim to do better, but it's not the end of the world to the people running the club if they don't, even if the support gets stroppy. No point in spending money just for the sake of it.
That must be what pisses off the Special One about Wenger, there's nobody breathing down his neck all the time. Love it!

He bought Mesut Ozil for £42.5m !! Arshavin £15m, Francis Jeffers £10m, Gervinho £10.8m, Alexander Hleb £11.8m, Jose Antonio Reyes £13m, Oxlade-Chamberlain £15m, Calum Chambers £16m

There have been some good ones too. Alexis Sanchez £35m and Santi Corzola £15m

And maybe he's smart enough to have reviewed that lot himself and said he's going to be very careful who he buys in future. We shall see.

alfiehammer wrote:I am, in general, a fan of giving manager time (if possible). I also think wenger has done a terrific job at Arsenal. We're it not for wealthy Arabs and Russians I've no doubt he'd have guided Arsenal to a few more league titles. I think even Liverpool may have won the league in 2013 as well. 

Back to us, I'm personally hoping billic is given a long run at the club so we can see what he can do

Don't forget the wealthy Americans, Alfie!

Me too Alfie, I'm slowly being won over by SLAVA football philosphy

Me too Alfie, I'm slowly being won over by Slaws football philosophy.