EPL Managers: 6 Who've Excelled, 6 Who Haven't

The scrutiny an English Premier League manager endures is unequal to most other professions.

"The Sack Race," as many people call it, is an important part of the season as far as book keepers are concerned, and the speculation that revolves around an impending dismissal or appointment is comparable to the Queen of England's birthday.

This season, we've seen quality managers continue to perform and lead at a high standard in addition to underrated managers performing footballing miracles.

Unfortunately, we've also seen managers making poor decisions and not getting the results the club needs. This often results in a sacking but Premier League chairmen have been restraining themselves from pressing the red button more than usual this season.

Check this list to see six managers who have excelled, and six who've done the complete opposite.

Thumbs Up: Roberto Mancini

Manchester City have been top of the English Premier League for many, many months.

Roberto Mancini must be commended for improving upon the second-place finish his team achieved last season and for the ruthlessness his players show at home.

The Etihad Stadium is an absolute fortress nowadays and City have won 12 out of 12 on home turf. They've also displayed the kind of resilience away from home that a championship team needs—the most recent example of that is the 1-0 win they scraped at Villa Park last weekend.

The one slip-up on the record for the Citizens this season is their early exit from the UEFA Champions League. A maiden campaign in the elite competition can never be easy and the group City were drawn into was as tough as I've ever seen.

They were incredibly unfortunate to go out considering they accumulated 10 points during the group stage—enough in almost ever other group to go through to the knockout stages.

Thumbs Up: Brendan Rodgers

Having endured a baptism of fire to the Premier League during a 4-0 demolition by Manchester City, Swansea City must have been a little bit concerned about the remaining 37 games.

The 4-0 reverse was a one-off though and Brendan Rodgers must be given a huge amount of credit for the way he gets his team to play and also how he uses the transfer market.

The Swans have one of the best ball-retention rates in the league, with both Joe Allen and Leon Britton having completed over 90 percent of their attempted passes so far.

Rodgers has instructed his boys to play patiently and conservatively, probing for openings and playing to their own advantage.

Michel Vorm has been a phenomenal acquisition, and the loan signing of Gylfi Sigurdsson was a shrewd move. It's a time for optimism in Swansea.

Thumbs Up: Alan Pardew

Considering no one wanted him to be appointed following the shock decision to sack Chris Hughton, Newcastle United fans have warmed rather well to Alan Pardew.

They have good reason as well, as Newcastle have been bothering the top four all season like a mosquito that won't go away. They've acquired some brilliant players too, as Demba Ba and Yohan Cabaye have really set the Premier League alight this season.

Pardew recently ruled himself out of the England job and this news was met with a collective sigh for Newcastle fans worldwide.

Thumbs Up: Paul Lambert

To think, at the time of writing, that Norwich City would be eighth in the table right now.

Like Brendan Rodgers, Paul Lambert has used the transfer market wisely and hasn't added any star signings. Instead he's built a team, and that's what football is all about: a team.

Lambert is quietly proving that you don't need megabucks to stay in the Premier League (pay attention, Queens Park Rangers) and that building a solid group of men who work for each other can be just as effective.

Their home form is very good and they have a knack of picking up important away wins, a recent example being their three-point haul from the Reebok Stadium.

Thumbs Up: Martin O'Neill

Since picking up a Sunderland team devoid of confidence and was loitering around the relegation zone, Martin O'Neill has done what's come to be expected of him now.

He's transformed the team's confidence level and playing style, getting the best out of what he's got.

He's getting results at the moment and up until the recent unfortunate loss to Arsenal, Sunderland's league form had been one of the best in Europe, behind only to Shakhtar Donetsk, Real Madrid and Benifca.

Sunderland fans can look forward to a good few years with the bouncing Ulsterman in charge. For as long as Ellis Short provides the backing, O'Neill will help the club progress.

Thumbs Up: Harry Rednapp

To be still within a reasonable shout at the Premier League title at this late stage in the competition is a real achievement, but Harry Redknapp has excelled in many other ways this season.

He's been able to keep a lid on the pressure and exposure his team have gotten this season since establishing themselves as one of the big boys, and he himself has dealt with off-field matters very well.

Whether it's court appearances, medical matters or a potential job offer from the English national team, Redknapp has remained cool and collected throughout it all.

He's a great man manager and he, like Martin O'Neill, gets the best out of his players. There aren't many others who could have kept Niko Kranjcar on the bench for so long.

Thumbs Down: Arsene Wenger

Arsenal had just snuck back into the top four, Bacary Sagna was back in the first team and things, overall, were looking a little bit better for the Gunners.

Until they met AC Milan.

The match at the San Siro this week was one of the most one-sided affairs I've seen in a while. That says a lot considering it was just last weekend Newcastle United simply rolled over to one side against a rampant Tottenham Hotspur side.

There is a lot of discontent amongst Arsenal fans, and a huge divide in opinion exists as to whether or not Arsene Wenger should continue as manager.

The fact is, Arsenal's squad is weaker than it has been in a long time. It is up to Wenger to spend some money and recoup some star quality.

This season is lost and the very least he can do to get some of the fans back on his side is start Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from here until the end of the season.

Thumbs Down: Andre Villas-Boas

Without wishing to add the growing concerns about Andre Villas-Boas and how he is going about his job at Chelsea, it's difficult to leave him out of this list.

I for one tipped Chelsea to win the title this year, so confident I was with the managerial prospect that Villas-Boas represents.

But it's all gone a bit pear-shaped for the moment and AVB will need to do some serious repair work over the summer—provided he can get Chelsea to stumble over the line this season.

At the moment, Champions League play next season is not a certainty, but the Chelsea job is a bit of a poison chalice. Many of the players are getting on a little in terms of age, and a large rebuilding process will need to be undertaken.

Villas-Boas has already started that by recruiting very young new players. The man cost Chelsea £13.3 million from FC Porto, so even if he doesn't achieve a European competition place this season, I'd expect him to be at the helm next season.

You don't pay that sum for a manager and dispense with him so easily.

Thumbs Down: Alex McLeish

Even Gerard Houllier, who was heavily criticised by Aston Villa fans and players, managed a ninth-place finish last season.

Admittedly, Villa have since lost Ashley Young and Stewart Downing but it doesn't seem like Alex McLeish can get the best out of any of his players.

Stephen Warnock is a walking mistake, and I've still got my doubts as to exactly how Alan Hutton makes a living as a footballer.

McLeish has gotten a decent squad into a poor league position. The home form is abysmal and Villa simply crumble against skilled opposition.

Villa fans are looking down, not up.

*Disclaimer: I'm an Aston Villa fan, and a very dissatisfied one at that if you can't tell already.

Thumbs Down: Owen Coyle

Owen Coyle has been a standout young manager over the last two seasons.

He brought Burnley up, encouraged good football and got results. Burnley looked on course to stay in the league but Coyle was poached by flailing Bolton Wanderers—he saved them from relegation instead.

But this season it's been tough. Some of this can attributed to an absolutely horrendous opening schedule with at least five games against top-calibre opposition early on.

Some of this can also be attributed to long-term injuries suffered by key players Lee Chung-Yong and Stuart Holden.

But ultimately, Bolton have looked poor for long periods this season and need to step it up. I do, however, have the utmost confidence that Coyle can rally his troops and stave off relegation this season.

Thumbs Down: Roberto Martinez

Roberto Martinez has the right ideas but implements them on the wrong squad.

His free-flowing, attractive passing game is an admirable way to play the game but it is up to the manager to match the right tactics to the right players.

With all due respect, Wigan Athletic are not able to emulate the Arsenal-esque football Martinez encourages and this is one of the reasons they are bottom of the league.

Wigan have been surviving by the skin of their teeth season on season, and it looks like this year their number might be up.

Thumbs Down: Steve Kean

How this man is still the manager of Blackburn Rovers, I'm not sure.

His resilience is incredible and even after multiple fan-driven protests, he still stands confidently in the dug out and leads his team. Steve McLaren could take a page out of the Kean book.

However, despite his bravery, defiance and resilience, he should have been fired a while ago.

Blackburn Rovers have a very good squad in all honesty. Paul Robinson, Christopher Samba, Scott Dann, Simon Vukcevic, Morten Gamst Pedersen...the list goes on.

Kean doesn't seem to have a good rapport with the players and has also seemingly lost the dressing room.