After discussing which players should make up our Premiership Select XI of the season, the time has come to decide which man should be leading this season's finest out of the tunnel. Whilst acknowledging that the chief scouts, physios, and groundsmen all play their part in their team's success, we're just going to stick with the gaffers. No doubt, along with all of our previous debates, this discussion will spark controversy, disagreement, and a fair amount of arousal. But that's what football's all about, and that's what we're here for. Real fans, with real opinions, so have your say; I've had mine.


Alex Ferguson

And the obvious suggestions start here. This debate concerns which manager has been the Premiership's finest this season, and whilst within such a discussion we have to place the manager in his surrounding context when reflecting, we must also ask ourselves which manager oozes quality in every department of football management. And though this man will be nominated every year for such an award, it is not a testament to Manchester United, more a testament to the Scotsman himself.

The season is not over yet, but at the time of writing, Sir Alex's men hold an established first leg lead as they look to progress to the Champions League Semi Finals. Whether the United manager can replicate his European success of 1999, time will tell, but his desire to hold aloft the trophy in question once more is evident beyond belief. Whether or not a fairy tale ending bears fruition for the Scotsman, his managerial skills have once again established the Glaswegian as the one finest ever football managers.

Books have been written on this man's success and talents as a leader, and I won't attempt to compete with such analysis and reflection, but the one aspect of management that I have ardently monitored this season (and in previous), is his ability to develop his players to the benefit of his team. Not only is the Govan-born Knight Bachelor seemingly the only manager able to discipline the talent of Wayne Rooney, but his attacking players all possess the ability to play ‘total football' as defined in Amsterdam. Interchanging positions, adaptability, and versatility, all with a natural effective end product and extremely hard to counter as many fellow managers will concur. Man-management, leadership and a football brain, all of the highest quality.

Arsene Wenger

And the predictable nominations continue. Chelsea lie second in the Premiership table, and Avram Grant is not the third nominee, so why Wenger? Well in my opinion, Chelsea are succeeding domestically and in Europe (next Tuesday will answer yesterday's Turkish questions one way or another) because of the extremely talented individuals within their squad, rather than the ability of their manager. But, again, that's just my opinion; have yours.

Despite what some describe as an ignorance of English development when referring to the foreign imports that Wenger has introduced to North London, I feel we cannot dispute the Frenchman's abilities as a coach and manager. Perhaps the former more than the latter, as his developmental talents have been encapsulated in Arsenal's success this season, his ability to witness key controversial incidents still leave a lot to be desired and not only does this arrogance pain me when watching post-match interviews, but I also feel that Specsavers have neglected a golden advertising opportunity.

After Wednesday night's disappointment, this season may indeed prove fruitless for Wenger and his young troops, but one feels it is the methodology rather then the ensuing results that deserve critical acclaim. This has been the season where Wenger's imports that no-one before had heard of have competed for the Premiership title. Once more, it is this man's ability to mould a football team into a shape that breeds success, and though with a more patient build-up than Sir Alex's outfit, the football that is produced reminds us of the beauty of the game.

David Moyes

And finally the outsider; is there something in that Glaswegian water? Well, I think there is actually as it's a lot clearer north of the border but it would be unjust to identify the consumption of H2O as the main reason behind the Scotsman's success. Named twice in the last five years as the ‘League Managers' Association manager of the year', the Everton boss has continued his success into the current campaign. Quite simply, this manager is a different man to the above two in terms of managerial context, with money being the substantial differentiator. Despite not having the funs of the four clubs that currently lie above Moyes' men in the Premier League table, the former Preston-manager worked tremendously in attempting to establish the blue half of Merseyside within England's elite.

Organisation and preparation are two foundations of success in any walk of life, but the ability to build on such fundamentals requires further talent and ingenuity. The Scotsman's work-rate is replicated by his Everton troops on the pitch, but only through the verbal and practical training methods used in the four days of training during the week. Indeed, Moyes has seemingly continued his managerial attributes that he so effectively employed at Preston onto a bigger stage, most notably of late, a European setting. The second leg performance against Fiorentina was archetypal of Moyes' Everton, cohesion, and motivation seeping from the field and into the stands - and I wasn't even there.

One however should not solely reflect on the psychological and physical training methods that the Scotsman boasts. The development and acquirement of certain individuals and the blend of talent that has evolved from such managerial and coaching techniques deserves praise equivalent to that which is reflected upon above, simply within differing footballing contexts.

So there we have it, three contenders to mull over, perhaps others to suggest. I know a man on the south coast will be reading on with disbelief but his sense of humour will carry him through. Who's your manager of the season?

Log on to Football FanCast tomorrow when the fans Premier League select X1 is announced.