Premier League / Paul Moon / 11 June 2009 / 1 Comments

As Ancelotti and Martinez arrive in the crazy world of Premier League football and Steve Bruce switches allegiances, Paul Moon looks at what motivates a manager to join a particular club and predicts how successful they might be this season.

The presumption that football managers leave one club for another purely because of financial reward is not always true. Thankfully, achievement and recognition remain the principle motives. From the latest managerial merry-go-round we have all shades of grey in the shape of Steve Bruce, Roberto Martínez and Carlo Ancelotti.

Some cynics remind us that Steve Bruce is disloyal and rarely holds down a job for a significant length of time. They harshly infer that he left Wigan while his stock was high and before the ship sank!

It was both amusing and thought-provoking to hear Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn declaring that the team were looking for a 'really big name' to replace Ricky Sbragia. Bruce has been generally accepted as a solid boss - few would consider him a spectacular appointment.

Sunderland remain Newcastle's little brother but are a big club that are just sleeping right now. There is massive potential at the Stadium of Light and with allocated funds of £50m (with the recommendation that this is to spend on five new players) this would have been irresistible to Tyneside-born Bruce.

Initially his indomitable spirit and motivational abilities will surely galvanise players and the region! It should ensure that Kenwyne Jones and Kieran Richardson stay at the club. Should he uncover another Wilson Palacios, Amr Zaki or Antonio Valencia it could be an interesting season.

Branded as a managerial flop by Roy Keane, it would be ironic if Bruce finds success with The Black Cats. Will these factors guarantee a top half finish? Betfair prices for the Premier League - Relegation 2009/10 include: Burnley [1.69] Hull [2.06] Birmingham [2.06] Woves [2.26] Stoke [4.1] Wigan [5.5] Bolton [7.4] Sunderland [8.6] Portsmouth [8.6] Bar [10].

Consequently Wigan have pulled off a masterstroke in the appointment of the articulate Roberto Martínez. Who could possibly imagine that he would turn down Celtic for the Latics? Perhaps further proof of my view that not all managerial moves are money orientated. Instead I feel his decision was based on having a go at taking on some of the best managers in the world within the Premier League.

Managing a Championship side is normally scant preparation for the Premier League. The sophistication, quality and pressure of the top tier does not remotely compare but the innovative Martínez had Swansea set up along parallel lines. Despite managing a squad lacking in star names or star qualities the passing, positional and possessional play was widely acknowledged by the football intelligentsia.

Moving to the JJB Stadium and not Celtic Park represents a gamble of enormous proportions. With Wigan's geographic location, shared ground, small fan base and limited funds available there is little room for manoeuvre. As a newbie his stewardship will be fully tested under the most severe conditions.

Chelsea continues to glorify itself in the worst excesses as they give Carlo Ancelotti a three-year contract worth over £5m a year. How will he set aside his ability to build a team with the impatience of toyshop owner Abramovich? Is the answer compromise? See: http://betting.betfair.com/football/premiership/champions-league-200910-ancelotti-appointment-must-be-the-010609.html

One senses that should Chelsea fail to win big next season Abramovich will sell the club. Latest Betfair prices to win the Premier League 2009/10 are: Man Utd [3.1] Chelsea [3.3] Liverpool [4.7] Arsenal [9.8] Man City [28] Bar [130].

Betfair prices for The Champions League - Winner 2009/10: Barcelona [5.7] Man Utd [6.8] Chelsea [9.2] Real Madrid [9.4] Liverpool [11] Inter [12] Arsenal [16] AC Milan [17] Bar [24]. Does Real Madrid, who appears to have no cap on their summer spending budget, look tempting here?