He is one of our own

This is a popular chant beloved by Spurs fans of Harry Kane, who reflects the supporters conviction that their team is all the better for the participation of one of their own. In Newcastle John Carver – whose track record as manger is inferior to that of the southerner Alan Pardew, 26 points from 11 games against Carver’s 6 from 11 – is a Geordie so he is nevertheless more popular. As a perceptive observer of it all once said to me “No one would succeed at Newcastle until Alan Shearer is allowed to fail” , which happened when he took Newcastle down. Stuart Pearce’s unsuccessful reign at Nottingham Forest was extended as he was one of their own. For the same reason Dalglish returned to Liverpool without success.

Lets look at two West London clubs – one successful, the other not. Brentford’s manager Mark Warburton is a city trader who has never kicked a a ball for the Bees. Kit Symons was a successful defender for Fulham. Warburton’s team is challenging for promotion, Symons’ Fulham struggling the other end. Middlesborough have finally found success with a Spaniard, Aikor  Karanka. Ipswich and West Ham fans may not like the style of their managers McCarthy and Allardyce and in the Hammers case their fans have been quite vocal in their criticism but look at a league table and you will see their clubs are eight and ninth, their most successful seasons for years

I guarantee that when John Terry finally hangs up his boots there will be considerable clamour, not least from himself, for him to manage Chelsea. It’s a strangely British thing as, speaking to Stefano, he said that there is no bigger legend at Fiorentina than Gabriel Batistuta, but the fans recognise that he was a superb striker but not manager material.  The odd thing is that in British football there are numerous lounges which charge supporters excessively and provide a role for past playing legends  in hosting them

There is another dangerous supporters ‘ process that of destabilising the incumbent manager for lack of success . A good example of this is Arsenal, currently second, but fans were agitating to the point of demonstration over  the lack of silverware even though unlike their neighbours and rivals Spurs  they are in the Champions League every season. Replacement names proffered were David Moyes,Jurgen  Klopp , and now Ronald Koeman. Would the Gunners be second with them?

I doubt it.

Of course supporters are the lifeblood of a club, it’s custodians but that does not entitle them to impose viewss that might reflect that but certainly not guarantee success .