Replacing a manager for a club in the Premier League can be tricky business. Whenever there is a sacking, a shortlist is instantly made and long discussions are held as to which person should be entrusted with the task of managing the side. Sometimes, a decision is made that can be met by surprise, disappointment or even anger.
These are the sort of emotions that have been prevalent at the Hawthorns, home of West Brom after it was announced that Pepe Mel would be managing the side. The Spaniard has only recently been sacked at Real Betis, a team that is rock bottom in the Primera Division.
Betis were not playing an inspiring brand of football before Mel’s sacking. However, his sacking did result in a reaction that is rarely common these days. Rather than understanding the situation, fans and pundits were dismayed. As soon as the news of the sacking emerged, hundreds of Betis fans showed up at the Estadio Benito Villamarin to support Mel who in his three years at the club, had earned the respect of the club’s faithful followers.
In 2010, Mel took over proceedings at Betis when the club was in shambles and had no sense of direction about it. However, in his first year, the former Alaves manager guided the team to top flight Spanish football. One of the reasons why Mel did so brilliantly at the club was because he was successful in bringing in experienced players who were yet to realize their potential despite the hunger and blended them with players from the youth teams.
In his first season in the top flight, Betis ended in 13th place and only last season, guided the club to seventh place and a subsequent qualification for this season’s UEFA Europa League which just shows how good the manager can be if given confidence.
Now, the 50-year-old is in unchartered waters after signing an 18-month contract with the Baggies. Although the jury is still out on him, Mel’s previous stints, especially the last one should be taken into account before jumping to any conclusions about his competency. The Spaniard is different from most Premier League managers due to his ability to change the style of play according to the need. Last season, Betis played 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3 which allowed the team to catch other sides off-guard.
Mel was unlucky this season in Spain because last season’s performances resulted in the best players leaving the team. Rebuilding a side, while also dealing with European and domestic commitments made the task really tough which eventually led to the sacking.
At West Brom, Mel will be given sufficient breathing space to do things the way he wants to which only bodes well for him and his employers.
He might be a relatively unknown quantity in England but Mel’s commitment and dedication, combined with a keenness of playing attractive football will win him the trust of fans if performances also contribute to three points on a regular basis.
