The Best and Worst of the EPL Managers 2011-2012

From the overachieving to the underachieving, the 2011-2012 season has certainly been an eventful one for all 24 Premier League bosses.

But then, what's new?

If, on the opening day of the season, all teams were created equal, the succeeding eight months have certainly served to separate the men from the boys.

This list will not let those who have since departed off the hook either.

After all, the game remains the same, it's just the players that change.

The Best: Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United)

Manchester United have had the look and feel of champions of late.

Sir Alex would never admit it, but if his team were to claim yet another Premier League trophy this season, he would have done it with his weakest squad in almost a decade.

Say what you want about "mind games" and Roberto Mancini's supposed breakdown, you cannot deny the Scot's relative calmness and serenity in the face of City's rise in relevance.

And when one sits back come May and realises just how many goals scored and points his team have amassed, the casual fan will probably wonder "How?"

They should be asking, "Who?"

Alan Pardew (Newcastle United)

What a season this man has had!

Alan Pardew's Newcastle United seem to know exactly how to win these days, an attribute that sees them sitting on the edge of potential Champions League qualification.

When one player seems to dip in form or goes down injured, another rises up and fills the void.

Where Demba Ba, Ryan Taylor and Yohan Cabaye all impressed during the first half of the season, Hatem Ben Arfa, Papiss Cisse and Davide Santon have all become equally invaluable during the second half.

Not to mention the perennial mainstays Cheick Tiote, Fabricio Coloccini and Tim Krul.

Credit to Pardew for getting the most out of the above named.

Brendan Rogers (Swansea City)

Whilst Paul Lambert's Norwich City sit one point above them at present, Swansea City's Brendan Rogers earns his place at the top of the list for developing his team's fluid, entertaining style of football.

A style that sees them sit comfortably mid-table.

A style that sees them deservedly drawing praise from all sides of the footballing world.

But perhaps his best move was the genius acquisition of Hoffenheim midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson on loan. The Icelandic enigma has scored seven vital goals since joining Swansea in January.

Rogers clearly learned plenty working under Mourinho at Chelsea, just don't call his team the "Barcelona of Wales."

The Worst: Andre Villas-Boas (Chelsea FC)

Unemployed, his reputation damaged, Villas-Boas has not had the best of times since making the potentially career-making move from Porto to London last year.

Here's the story:

He had been an unprecedented success at his previous club, leading them to league, cup and European glory all in one magnificent season.

The former Mourinho protege was swiftly dubbed the "New Mourinho."

Roman Abramovich, having always regretted firing the old Mourinho hired the "New Mourinho," hoping to replicate the old Mourinho's success.

Whether it was the players who didn't want to play ball, or the owner who didn't have enough patience, Villas-Boas quickly became a man without a friend in west London.

Perhaps he should've been a little more friendly.

Steve Kean (Blackburn Rovers)

"Kean Out," "Kean Out," Kean Out."

Kind of catchy, isn't it?

I guess the Venky's never caught on.

From the baffling firing of Sam Allardyce to the baffling hiring of Kean, the Indian owners have sealed the fate of a team that had been comfortable Premier League participants for the past few seasons.

Rest assured, Blackburn Rovers will be relegated.

It only remains to be seen whether the Venky's will keep the faith then.

Alex McLeish (Aston Villa)

Aston Villa, meanwhile, will not be relegated.

But that doesn't mean Alex McLeish deserves any credit for his team's campaign.

Villa are a young team with a lot of talent.

Just reeling off the names makes one realise that the Villans have too much of it to be sitting just a few places from the bottom three: Shay Given, Richard Dunne, Darren Bent, Stephen Warnock, Charles N'Zogbia, Gabby Agbonlahor, Marc Albrighton, Fabian Delph, Ciaran Clark, Barry Bannan, etc.

Just to name a few.

Or perhaps McLeish is a spy sent by Birmingham to relegate their great rivals.

Getting there, Alex!

Honourable/Dishonourable Mentions

Honourable Mentions:

Harry Redknapp (Tottenham Hotspur)

Roberto Mancini (Manchester City)

Martin O'Neill (Sunderland FC)

David Moyes (Everton FC)

Paul Lambert (Norwich City)

Dishonourable Mentions:

Owen Coyle (Bolton FC)

Kenny Dalglish (Liverpool FC)

Steve Bruce (Sunderland FC)