New Manager Syndrome…(with time lags?!?)

Too much time for contemplation leads to interesting thoughts (well in my opinion). I was recently pondering the potential for Spurs to add to their three league wins on the trot against Southampton this Sunday and began to worry about the well-known 'New Manager Syndrome'.
But then I had a thought: that is that the 'new manager syndrome' has been not as strong as expected so far this season. Take for example, Spurs themselves. Granted, Santini, a new manager, started well (though that could be attritbuted to new season, new start syndrome), but Spurs didn't really play amazing. Then when Jol was appointed, there was a lack of a turn around in the clubs fortunes for the first couple of weeks. Obviously now, things are diffrent with three on the spin and hopes for wins in the potentially 'easy' games over christmas.

For Southampton, last week saw the appointment of a new manager and a failure to win the match. Now to be fair, Harry did get them playing decently, and Middlesborough did play well and are a good side, but in the past if I'm not mistaken, an appointment of a new manager seems to have the effect of installing belief in the team. Now I'm thinking that Harry's Southampton don't really have confidence or belief in themselves at the moment.

Thirdly, West Brom appointed Bryan Robson in mid-September. Since then their form has been: DLLWDLLDLDLLL. And the 2nd result in that was an away loss to Colchester in the Carling Cup!
I'm thinking that West Brom are just so bad and have so little belief, that they are beyond help, but in general, I'm thinking that there may be a new form of the 'New Manager Syndrome'.

I think there exists a new manager syndrome with time lags. West Brom even managed to beat Bolton at home a copuple of weeks after Robson's appointment (tho I think the case of West Brom isn't a good one because aside from what I've already mentioned, Robson's not a very good motivator, or mangaer in general for that matter). Spurs of course have turned it around and this season have managed to accumulate more points away than at home due to the determination and steel about how they're playing now. Which brings me on to Southampton. Lets hope that the syndrome does face time lags…at least lasting a couple of weeks!

: 15 Dec 2004 12:30 |  Comments (2) |  Report a problem