How does Pearson compare?

50% win percentage over three seasons in the Championship is very impressive.

I agree with Nev that he's ahead of O'Neill on a like-for-like basis, although he'll need to achieve more to actually go level or overtake.

If in three seasons time he's still here, we're still in the Premier League and we've won the FA Cup, there will be no doubt: Best manager ever.

cityfox , but then I was bound to agree with you on this one.

I don't agree that statistics of this nature projects a manager as being the 'best ever' which is what is being implied here. Bill Shankley is widely regarded as being Liverpool's best ever manager yet he would have to bow to Kenny Dalglish who had the greater success on the pitch.

If you are going to consider who City's greatest or best manager is then consider the players who represented their countries at full, Under-23 or Under-21 level whilst under any given City manager. I haven't done my homework here but I'll bet it's Matt Gillies by a mile.

It's a bit harsh on O'Neil as he only ever really managed us in the Prem.

Can't argue with Pearson's record though, he's a top manager and according to Kasper, a great man manager.

But I guess the only reason we've actually had success this year is because a Pearson decided to sit in the stands thus not putting pressure on the players he bullies from the touch line.

I really hope Pearson takes us on to the next level and I think he's capable of it. Then we can genuinely compare him to O'Neil.

Before that is always going to be difficult as the top division was quite different prior to the 80s.

No denying he's done returning asked at him at our club and stuck his critics comments up their backsides!

I certainly hope he can become the greatest Leicester manager ever!!!

I must admit that I don't understand the contention that Pearson is better than MON at this stage. Pearson is 2 and a bit seasons in. When MON was 2 and a bit seasons in he'd delivered 1 promotion, 2 top ten prem finishes and the league cup.

Whether NP plays prettier football than MON is fairly subjective, but if that's the criteria then Sven and McGhee might be contenders for best ever in my time.

For me NP is now unequivocally 2nd only to MON (Gillies was before my time), but I sincerely hope he moves past him at some point in the future.

Funnily enough, I was having this very discussion with my dad on Tuesday evening whilst listening to the match.

As I have only been supporting the club since 1998, my list of managers only includes those from O'Neill onwards. Prior to this season, I had O'Neill as No.1, Micky Adams (who was the last manager to achieve PL promotion at the time) 2nd, with Sven 3rd (Regardless of what people will say, some of the football in the first third of his reign was breathtaking and I still feel honoured that someone of his ilk once managed my club) and NP 4th.

Clearly with the unexpectedly amazing season we have just gone through, I've now revised my opinion and have NP as 2nd behind MON, with MA 3rd and Sven 4th.

If you were to look at those who managed before my time, I would say Gillies and O'Farrell would have to be in the top 3, with NP just behind.

Whilst we are all almost unequivocally supportive of NP now (even those of us who had our doubts...) I think we do need to see how we do next season and how NP takes to managing in the PL before we put him in the same brackets as MON. What MON achieved was outstanding and will perhaps never be bettered. If we stay up next season and NP survives the season, then we can't look past putting him in the same league as MON. But plenty of good quality Championship managers don't survive their first season in the Prem and NP will need to prove he can continue the undoubted improvements in both his tactical and managerial talents that we have benefitted from this season.

For the avoidance of doubt i mean when MON got us promoted not the length of time at the club.
Next season will be harder in my opinion than under MON because the EPL is better.

Too early to make comparisons.

Looking at the records, top for me is Willie Orr with 42.1% between 1926-32 including 3rd and 2nd place in the First Division.

Very closely followed by Gillies then MON.

I hope in a few years I can rewrite this list to include Pearson!

As Gilles sold my uncle and Gordon Banks he does not get my vote!

Agree with you there Nev on the Gordon Banks issue and in any case, the top division during Gillies' era was much more like the Championship is today with most teams capable of beating each other on their day, and not split into "mini leagues" like the Premiership is today. I well remember our best chance of winning the FA cup in 1963 when we took on Man Utd who were in danger of relegation whilst we were in the top 3 or 4 most of the season. Of course we lost

When MON was in charge he worked miracles by taking us to top 10 finishes every season plus 2 League Cups - I'd agree that the flowing football of most of this season has been easier on the eye but those away wins at Old Trafford, Chelsea & Tottenham amongst others were equally as thrilling in their own way. Not to mention that stunning 4 nil away at Derby when we were 4 up in 15 minutes.

Nigel may well go on to eclipse Martin's record at City and if he does, good luck to him, but until then I'd rate the O'Neill years as the greatest in my 50+ years of following City.

Were Nigel to equal or better that then what a treat we all have in store!!