The Academy Award nominations were announced this week. Unlike football, the Hollywood award season is a subjective business. Movie buffs still discuss the merits of Marisa Tomei's Oscar for "My Cousin Vinnie." The Vinnie Jones snub for "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" gets little notice, but the charter member of Wimbledon's Crazy Gang knows that in the Beautiful Game it's only Ws that count. Which means come the end of the season, the following quintet will be on the Manager of the Year ballot in English soccer:
Sir Alex Ferguson is the personification of true grit. His main sharpshooter, Wayne Rooney, has been firing blanks all season, and his owner's intentions are harder to decipher than the plot of "Inception." But Ferguson remains the undisputed EPL sheriff. He's already the greatest manager in the history of British soccer, yet the good knight's undiluted ambition has his team on the verge of conquering new territory. His less than vintage Manchester United team is on pace for its first ever-unbeaten league campaign.
Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex used share a rivalry that featured more paranoia than that of the ballerina in "The Black Swan." But their relationship has improved markedly in recent years. And so has Arsenal. Wenger has been saying for a few years now that his young kids are all right. This season they are finally proving it. Manchester United's cross-town rivals Manchester City may have deep pockets and high ambitions, but the Gunners now seem the most likely candidates to stymie the Red Devils tilt at a record 19th English championship and change the status on their social network page to champs.
Ian Holloway is not likely to ever be confused with George VI. More animated than "Toy Story 3," the King of the Colorful Quip certainly knows how to give a team speech. Most pundits predicted that his Blackpool team would be trapped at the bottom of the EPL for a lot longer than 127 hours this season. Yet, the Tangerines have held their own in the top flight so far, and if Holloway can keep his shoestring Cinderella's in the Premiership it will be one of the greatest managerial feats of recent times.
Neil Warnock is nothing if not a fighter, and under his training Queens Park Rangers has gone from relegation contenders to Championship title favorites. QPR is atop the table with 52 points, five clear of its closest challenger, Cardiff City. The turnaround at Loftus Road in the past year has been nothing short of remarkable, and credit should be given to Warnock. Baring an epic collapse, Warnock will be leading the Hoops in the EPL next season.
Sven-Goran Eriksson has long been a favorite British tabloid target, but it's time for the redtop rags to toss him the winter's bone. He has rejuvenated Leicester City since taking over this past October. At that time, the Foxes were in a deep hole and avoiding relegation was his mandate. The Swedish Silver Fox achieved that goal quickly and his sights are set much higher now. Don't be surprised if Leicester gets into the promotion playoff mix and Eriksson is linked to all kinds of high profile jobs once again this summer.
And the winner is…
Inevitably, it will come down to a choice between Ferguson and Wenger. And Hollywood omens favor the Frenchman. Colin Firth, who is a lock to win Best Actor Oscar honors for his performance in "The King's Speech," starred in "Fever Pitch," the 1997 movie based on Nick Hornby's seminal book about his obsession with the Gunners and their 1989 championship run. Perhaps even Hollywood would balk at predicting such a dramatic conclusion to the 2010-2011 EPL season. Only time will tell, but this neutral fan would give his right arm to see it happen again.