Mick McCarthy, Wolves, October 2008: Norwich 5 Wolves 2
“They were helped by some ridiculous football by us. The first goal was a mistake, the second goal was a mistake, although their player finished well, the third goal was a mistake and the fourth came when we had just had a man sent off. The fifth goal – well it was just a shambles by that stage. We got back into the game twice and, at 3-2, it could have been nervy for them. But then came the sending-off. It was just ridiculous to do that. Criminal. There were some absolutely numbskull errors.”
What happened next Rant has the desired effect as Wolves win their next seven matches and are promoted to the Premier League as champions.
Ronnie Moore, Tranmere, August 2013: Walsall 3 Tranmere 1
“In a lot of areas it was a gutless performance, in my view. I can’t believe how naive we were when you consider how much experience we have in the side. The players have been training and playing together through the pre‑season but it was like they had just met each other on the bus going to the game.”
What happened next Tranmere win, then draw but two straight defeats follow, including 5-0 at home. Moore is sacked the following April.
Tim Sherwood, Tottenham, March 2014: Chelsea 4 Tottenham 0
“You can’t legislate for the capitulation – you can’t have that. Lack of characters, too many of them too nice to each other. You need to show a bit more guts and not want to be someone’s mate all the time … It hurts me and I won’t forget about this when we hit the motorway, but some might. We’ve got the Europa League on Thursday and we owe the fans.”
What happened next The fans don’t get the performance they are owed. Spurs lose to Benfica, then to Arsenal. Sherwood is sacked in May.
John Sheridan, Plymouth, January 2015 (Ten-man) York 0 Plymouth 0
“Our performance was pathetic, just the whole way we went about the game. I have told them in there, I usually stick up for my players but I’m not sticking up for them today. Listen, I will get the blame but I don’t kick the ball, I don’t throw the ball and I don’t pass the ball. I don’t try to kick it 70 yards and pick a pass out when I can play it five yards.”
What happened next Plymouth draw two and lose two, then win four on the bounce. They make the play-offs but lose in the semis and Sheridan departs.
Keith Curle, Carlisle, April 2015: Accrington 3 Carlisle 1
“We’ve got to play people with the male genitalia to go out and play, but I don’t think I can do that as I’d only start with five or six players because I don’t think there are players there that have got the male genitalia. Those players need to know that basically they’re soft … [Some] don’t deserve to be professionals.”
What happened next Carlisle respond with two home wins, with a draw at high-flying Burton in between. Curle remains in charge.
John Carver, Newcastle, April 2015:
Sunderland 1 Newcastle 0
“We were abysmal in the first half. I always say a side of mine will give 100% and we didn’t … The back four is a makeshift back four and deserve a bit of credit but the other units of the team weren’t good enough.”
What happened next Newcastle take one point from six matches but stay up on the final day with a win. Interim manager Carver departs in June.
