GREAT ESCAPES demand the good, the ugly and the downright bizarre from top flight managers.
Only four sides have ever achieved Premier League survival after being bottom at Christmas – West Brom in 2004-05, Sunderland in 2013-14, Leicester in 2014-15 and Wolves in 2022-23.
And it was the managers, all with unique and memorable styles, who led them there – Bryan Robson, Gus Poyet, Nigel Pearson and Julen Lopetegui.
Doomed Southampton now find themselves needing a similar miracle, turning to Croatian coach Ivan Juric to join the pantheon of unlikely Prem heroes in their battle to beat the drop.
But two games into his tenure – a 1-0 loss to West Ham and a 2-1 defeat at Crystal Palace last weekend – and questions will already be asked as to whether he has what it takes.
Because to pull this off does not necessarily require tactical masterclasses or brimming CVs.
Instead, it takes guts, luck and an occasional bonkers moment or method, by hook or by crook, that convinces a fanbase that miracles really can happen.
Juric, 49, appeared to have it on paper upon his arrival at the Saints on December 21 following Russell Martin’s sacking.
A death metal-loving Croat who grew up hating golf and idolising bands like Metallica and Megadeath, imprinting that upbringing into a successful style of aggressive football.
His first press conference was also promising, as he insisted he can pull off “something exceptional” and that he was “really optimistic”.
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It is still early days for Southampton – 19 games left and ten points from safety. They have just six points, one win, 12 goals and 15 losses so far.
But Juric is being judged against the likes of Robson, Poyet, Pearson and Lopetegui, and we are still waiting to see where the spark will come from. Ultimately, it starts with the manager.
His post-match press conference at Selhurst Park on Sunday afternoon lasted just over four minutes, and he spent most of it moaning about referees and a lack of opportunity in the January market, all of which was portrayed in a glum, defeatist tone that will not exactly endear himself to the Saints fans.
Some will call it calm, others will call it uninspiring. History tells us that supporters and players respond to the weird and wonderful from their men in charge.
Pearson was no exception at the King Power Stadium in 2014-15. His Leicester were bottom from November to mid-April after just ten points from their opening 17 games.
And yet, the Foxes finished six points off the drop in 14th having secured seven wins from their last nine games. In the middle of all that, Pearson was bonkers yet brilliant.
In defence of his side after a defeat by Chelsea in late April, he went on an astonishing press conference rant where he called a journalist an “ostrich”.
He also made headlines in February after appearing to strangle Palace midfielder James McArthur on the floor during another defeat, responding with the line: “I’m more than capable of looking after myself.”
There was method to the madness, and his Leicester players took to that, as did the fans.
Poyet was equally as barmy at Sunderland a season earlier, his frantic energy on the touchlines endearing him to the Black Cats faithful on a rollercoaster of a campaign.
They were seven points from safety with six games left, albeit with two games in hand, and managed to secure a 14th placed finish with wins in four of their last five, including against Manchester United and Chelsea.
Poyet’s infectious charisma and personality saw fans produce banners in the run-in that read: ‘Miracles Happen, Gus’.
Both Robson and Lopetegui were more reserved in their approach, but demanded respect and admiration with their stature and past successes.
In the end, Lopetegui’s Wolves made light work of their comeback – a run of wins in February and April doing the trick to finish 13th under the guidance of the former Real Madrid and Spain boss.
But Man Utd legend Robson – who ironically had Pearson as his assistant at West Brom – was prone to the odd magic, ballsy moment under pressure, including influential January signings Kevin Campbell and Kieran Richardson
He had taken the job in early November with the Baggies eight points from safety and guided them to an iconic final day, leapfrogging Norwich, Southampton and Palace on Survival Sunday.
Before their final must-win game against Portsmouth – which they eventually won 2-0 – Robson played clips to the players of their best moments of the campaign, and even reportedly turned a blind eye to some nervous squad members taking shots of whisky ahead of kick-off.
To make Prem history, touchline mavericks must shine bright. Juric needs to remember that.
