True, but how many players that came through Barca's famed academy play for the team regularly? I'm not sure of all the current regulars, that's to me is more than 5 starts or 10 appearances this season came through the academy in the past five years? They've turned into a buying club in recent years.
Do managers really make a difference?
- Thread starter Bassmansam
- Start date
The team pep managed pretty much the first 11 came through :Valdez, pique, puyol, busquets, Iniesta, xavi, Messi, Pedro
Ones that didn’t: Alves (Sevilla), alba (Valencia) villa (Valencia) also I think Mascherano and Abidal played quite a bit that wasn’t from the academy.
But looking at the players that did come through just shows how brilliant la masia is
Soldato
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Well part of it is that the manager is a figure-head. Much like if a company was in crisis the CEO would likely resign (as has happened with Samsung this week), the manager is first to get the chop if things are going wrong. However, also like a company CEO, the manager does a heck of a lot at the club. None of us have even touched on player management. The manager doesn't just come up with a formation and a starting XI, he'll have a large part in making sure players are focused, motivated and confident. Klopp and Pochettino are examples of current managers that are spoken very highly of by their players and part of that is because of the way they interact with the players. Then you have managers who fall out with the dressing room. Ferguson was famous for knowing which players he needed to give a kick up the backside and which players needed an arm around the shoulder.
Also, to your point about assembling expensive players. Yes, of course having more money to spend will make a difference, that's why the best players go to the best clubs, but it's not as simple as assembling a group of the most expensive players you can find. Managers need to be confident that any players they sign will be able to work in their tactical systems, get on with the other guys in the dressing room, be committed to the club, etc.
Soldato
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Interesting question. I believe a manager has a massive impact on how successful a team is. For my example I will tell you about where I work. I have only been there just over a year but the manager there has been there for 5 years this xmas. Before she arrived the business (pub and restaurant) was in decline and not doing very well, it had bad publicity, bad ratings etc. Still busy but had room to improve.
In the first year she increased profit, sales where up on the year by a massive amount. She got it to a 5* rating, reviews where pouring in mostly positive. She had the same team as the previous manager, with some team members having been there for over 20 years. The following year she smashed the sales on the previous year, so two years running she increased again. She also made more profit too. Same team. Third year she got a couple of new recruits, trainee kitchen staff and front of house staff. They got trained up. The kitchen manager stepped down after years of managing it and was took over by a young lad who worked his way up from team member over a few years. Since he took over the kitchen has never been busier (in the current climate. A few years back, 6 years + they were sitting 1000+ guests each sunday now its 700-800 max). Kitchen cleaner, better safety audits, 5* each year. Yet again another fantastic year. Up on profit and growth yet again. The only pub in the brand to do so (best in the company and is classed as business of excellence in the company), and only second to another company brand in the district. She was pipped to first place for manager of the year last year but this year she is pretty much guaranteed it. If she doesn't its an outrage.
I applied last year and having not one bit of kitchen knowledge as a team member. She asked me in the interview what I wanted to be or how would I want to progress. I just told her I wanted her job. Day later she gave me the position.
She did what she did with the same team, same building. She did it by utilising the strengths of current members. Recruiting new blood, with or with out experience. Trained people up. Talks to people in a fantastic manner, approachable. She is amazing. Now we all know she wont be there for long, I think 5 years is a round about max for a manager in this company so she will be moved to another pub. We have all said nothing will change how we all work when she does go, but you can bet whoever comes in will put his or her mark on it and things will change but it will not make growth year on year again like she did. If a new manager came in and was 'good' and let us do what we do then yes it might make growth but it wont be 100% down to him/her it would be due to the fact the foundations are already set. All they have to do it be nice and keep it well oiled.
Just like Morrisons where I worked previously. One GM we had made year on year growth for 6 years running. He retired, new manager came in and everything went south. Same staff, same everything. He ran it totally different.
I am sure this the same as any manager in any business, football, IT, Motorsport or even a local greengrocers. Get the best out your team in whatever they are good at ( put them in the position where you feel they will add an impact), improve what they are not good at so they become competent in the area, treat them well, reward them on good service and talk when things have gone wrong. Set out an improvement plan. Review. Extend or Reward. Staff/team members will lap it up if they are willing to work with you. In one year I have gone into a kitchen not knowing anything to become a team leader. Yes I have had management experience at morrisons for over 10 years thats why she employed me, she knew I had potential. The thing is, I am not doing anything differently apart from one thing. Leading.
So to answer the OP, yes I think a manager has more impact than most would think.
Sorry for the long post.
In the first year she increased profit, sales where up on the year by a massive amount. She got it to a 5* rating, reviews where pouring in mostly positive. She had the same team as the previous manager, with some team members having been there for over 20 years. The following year she smashed the sales on the previous year, so two years running she increased again. She also made more profit too. Same team. Third year she got a couple of new recruits, trainee kitchen staff and front of house staff. They got trained up. The kitchen manager stepped down after years of managing it and was took over by a young lad who worked his way up from team member over a few years. Since he took over the kitchen has never been busier (in the current climate. A few years back, 6 years + they were sitting 1000+ guests each sunday now its 700-800 max). Kitchen cleaner, better safety audits, 5* each year. Yet again another fantastic year. Up on profit and growth yet again. The only pub in the brand to do so (best in the company and is classed as business of excellence in the company), and only second to another company brand in the district. She was pipped to first place for manager of the year last year but this year she is pretty much guaranteed it. If she doesn't its an outrage.
I applied last year and having not one bit of kitchen knowledge as a team member. She asked me in the interview what I wanted to be or how would I want to progress. I just told her I wanted her job. Day later she gave me the position.
She did what she did with the same team, same building. She did it by utilising the strengths of current members. Recruiting new blood, with or with out experience. Trained people up. Talks to people in a fantastic manner, approachable. She is amazing. Now we all know she wont be there for long, I think 5 years is a round about max for a manager in this company so she will be moved to another pub. We have all said nothing will change how we all work when she does go, but you can bet whoever comes in will put his or her mark on it and things will change but it will not make growth year on year again like she did. If a new manager came in and was 'good' and let us do what we do then yes it might make growth but it wont be 100% down to him/her it would be due to the fact the foundations are already set. All they have to do it be nice and keep it well oiled.
Just like Morrisons where I worked previously. One GM we had made year on year growth for 6 years running. He retired, new manager came in and everything went south. Same staff, same everything. He ran it totally different.
I am sure this the same as any manager in any business, football, IT, Motorsport or even a local greengrocers. Get the best out your team in whatever they are good at ( put them in the position where you feel they will add an impact), improve what they are not good at so they become competent in the area, treat them well, reward them on good service and talk when things have gone wrong. Set out an improvement plan. Review. Extend or Reward. Staff/team members will lap it up if they are willing to work with you. In one year I have gone into a kitchen not knowing anything to become a team leader. Yes I have had management experience at morrisons for over 10 years thats why she employed me, she knew I had potential. The thing is, I am not doing anything differently apart from one thing. Leading.
So to answer the OP, yes I think a manager has more impact than most would think.
Sorry for the long post.