Arsène Wenger at Arsenal and Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United prove the value of the 'manager' They watch academy matches, looking for progression of players from within. They know the players outside the club who will fit into the system they want to play. Wenger does that. Arsenal may of course wither under pressure as occurred last weekend at Manchester City. Wenger still has to address the issue of a tiring Olivier Giroud. But it is the 64-year-old who has stayed strong in the scowling face of media storms, and occasional squalls from the terraces, keeping Arsenal challenging. He has listened, appreciating the logic of catching a star like Mesut Özil to lift the mood and raise the assist levels, and particularly the need for a free-agent holding midfielder in Mathieu Flamini to give Arsenal some midfield teeth. He has brought in youngsters. He has shown faith in Aaron Ramsey during his injury and Per Mertesacker and Wojciech Szczesny through their difficult times. Wenger is a good manager and good managers need celebrating and protecting, particularly in the age of Tan. Cardiff's naive owner seems to deem managers as ciphers in tracksuits, rather than the brains and heartbeat of the whole football operation. Tan's treatment of Malky Mackay, a good manager, has been disgraceful as has his lack of respect for the blue-shirted support. So much for the season of goodwill. Tan should look around and learn. Tomorrow, Arsenal host Chelsea, whose managerial model has been different with the constant turnover of managers still not stymieing the procuring of trophies. Yet the support for Mourinho from within the Bridge is immense. The owner, Roman Abramovich, remains as impatient for silverware as ever but Mourinho will be given time and funds to rebuild Chelsea in the post-Lampard/Cech/Cole/Terry world. A good manager is being allowed to manage. Chelsea's chief executive Ron Gourlay works closely with Mourinho. Gourlay wants the Portuguese to stay for years. Mourinho himself is already talking about his plans for the future, about Chelsea being a "phenomenal team" next year with "the evolution" of players and then the recruiting of a "couple of clinical players to complete what we are doing." Not always enjoying a respectful relationship, Mourinho and Wenger now appreciate each other. Mourinho spoke of his admiration for Wenger's twin-track development of his team, saying: "For eight years they have worked on these players, Walcott, Gibbs, Ramsey and these boys become men and really very good players and at the same time buying people like Mesut Özil." Continuity is important. Figures released by the League Managers Association reveal that midseason changes rarely work with any bounce lasting only 12 games. There are exceptions. At Southampton, Nicola Cortese got rid of Nigel Adkins in a very tacky way but the ruthlessness has been rewarded with Mauricio Pochettino's positive impact on the team. At Derby County, Sam Rush's dispensing with Nigel Clough's well-regarded services seemed particularly badly timed, coming on the day of a match with Nottingham Forest, always an emotive date for Clough jnr, but Steve McClaren has done well so far. At Spurs, the issues with Andre Villas-Boas were increasing and there seems little mourning behind the scenes at his exit. There again, the lily white film can be rewound to the illogicality of Harry Redknapp's departure. As Arsenal know, appointing good managers and letting them manage is essential. Liverpool flourish under Brendan Rodgers who largely dictates policy (and is fortunate to have intelligent club owners in John W Henry and Tom Werner). Everton prosper under Roberto Martínez, who has bought well, given youth a chance and built on the good work of David Moyes particularly with that reliable defence (and with the club under the conscientious leadership of Bill Kenwright). When Wenger does eventually retire, and a new contract needs completing first, then Martinez seems to possess all the attributes of dignity, determination, man-management and attacking style to be Arsenal's next manager. Martinez is a manager, not a head coach. Note to Tan. Newcastle United have enjoyed better fortune ever since Joe Kinnear has kept quiet and Alan Pardew has been able to get on with his job - being a good manager. Patience is important. Sam Allardyce was perceived to be under pressure - three shrewd substitutions and two goals later West Ham United were celebrating wildly at White Hart Lane. And would Steve Clarke still be manager of West Bromwich had Stephane Sessegnon made it 3-0 against Aston Villa on Nov 25 at The Hawthorns? Fine margins. Moyes's position has been scrutinised throughout this season yet Manchester United, rightly, are totally behind him because they are familiar with the significance of continuity. Even if Moyes wins nothing at Old Trafford this season, and finishes outside the Champions League places, he will continue. Only if there were murmurs of dissent from the dressing-room would Moyes be endangered. But pressure mounts inexorably on managers. It will become even more intense next season with the race for those Champions League places that guarantee even greater riches from 2015-16 onwards. No wonder the chief executive of the LMA, Richard Bevan, is "deeply "concerned" over the current culling of his members in the Premier League and Football League. "This is a particular turbulent period where this month alone there has been 10 managerial movements, added to the seven sackings in seven days at the end of November," Bevan said. As it stands, 19 managers have already lost their jobs this campaign and, in addition, there have been in excess of 40 coaches dismissed. Almost half of the managers sacked so far have been given less than one year in the job. This highlights the short-term pressures in the game when managers have months rather than years to make an impact at a football club. This emphasises the even more alarming fact that now over half of clubs currently have a manager who has not served more than one year with their club. There is always a balance between the short-term performance requirement and a coherent plan for the future, so that's why communication of objectives within a club, to fans, and to the media is a key part of managing expectations. "The recent dismissals have once again highlighted the importance of developing strong relationships at a football club between the manager, chairman and directors."" Villas-Boas certainly knows that now. At a time when the FA is trying to develop more coaches via St George's Park, Bevan fears that many players approaching retirement will head straight for the broadcast studio rather than the dugout. "The volatility in management and coaching continues to undermine the profession at a time when the game needs to continue to encourage players towards the end of their career to stay in football,"" Bevan said. BT or not BT, that is the question. Many players opt for television. But there is another question that football, and particularly owners like Tan, must consider: who erects statues to head coaches in England? Proper managers, like Wenger and Herbert Chapman, have them at the Arsenal. Hands on: the owners making trouble Joe Lewis and Daniel Levy, Tottenham Hotspur Lewis is the majority shareholder, but chairman Levy (above) is the public face of the club and has overseen a merry-go-round of managers since taking over in 2001, with Andre Villas-Boas last week the ninth of his reign to go. Mike Ashley, Newcastle United The Sports Direct owner appeared to have established stability with Alan Pardew. Then in the summer he brought back Joe Kinnear as director of football. Jeremy Peace, West Bromwich Albion Chairman of West Brom since 2002, he has shown a reluctance to axe managers. But his patience finally snapped this month when, to many's surprise, he got rid of Steve Clarke. Assem Allam, Hull City Rescued the club from near ruin, but has angered fans with his decision to rename them Hull City Tigers.