Never good enough to be a winner, not even good enough to finish second... who are the managers who scrape third place the most often?

Oh, shit, it's me! (FIVE, if I manage it again this season.)

Keeping me company, for the moment at least is DP 91 with FOUR 3rd place finishes.

Neil Frankland, Frank Hirst, Jay Jones, Roy Keane, Andy Kelly, Mark Phelps and Mr TRX all have THREE thirds. As does Gursimran Brar (or is it tow and a half?).

Dan Wallace, Roberto Downinho, James Mckenzie, Josh McMillan, Greg Owen, Scott Mckenzie, and Mike Scallotti all have TWO each.

You've got to be in it to win it, so there's no disgrace at all in finishing second in the table (even if it might be a bitter pill at the time).

It's no surprise, therefore, to see that many of the most titled managers are also those who have finished as runners-up more times than other managers, too. If only the rest of us mere mortals knew what they are smoking...

Btw, in case you were wondering, all of this data is available here.

Top of the no. 2s is James Mckenzie with SIX seconds!

Mike Scallotti has FIVE second place finishes, all with different clubs.

Then there's Gursimran Brar, ruts... and Scott Mckenzie on FOUR each.

Rob Ryan has THREE.

Gareth Crisp, Dan Wallace, Roberto Downinho, DP 91, Doug Earle, Chris East, Gav Harmer, Frank Hirst, Roy Keane, Luis Andre Libras-Boas, Paul Masters, Mike T, Nathan Prince, Bob 'Groucho' Sal, and Mr TRX all have TWO each to their names.

Unsurprisingly, Scott Mckenzie leads the way. His EIGHT D1 titles alone would be more than enough, but he's since added two more with Sao Paulo as he's taken them from the bottom of D5 to the brink of the top four in D1.

Now, with three games to play, we have a three-way tie for second place. In pole position (after last night's results) to make it SIX titles is Luis Andre Libras-Boas.

Just behind him, waiting for a great slip-up, is James Mckenzie, of course.

Also on FIVE titles is Gursimran Brar.

On FOUR titles is the old dinosaur himself Mr TRX.

On THREE titles we have Roberto Downinho, The Godfather, Andy Kelly, Kev Mcgregor, Paddy D and Mark Stewart.

Joining them will be Dan Wallace, who has already wrapped up the D5 title with Shakhtar this season, adding to his titles with Barcelona in S15 and S16.

Adam, Heath Brown, Joao Alves, Dave Inglis, Michael H, Attila Olah, Rahul, ruts..., Mike Scallotti and Niall Taylor all have two titles.

83 points needed to guarantee the title... the maximum points both Chelsea or Hellas Verona can get is 83.... Of course, they meet at Stamford Bridge in the final game of the season!

it would be a sixth title for Chelsea and manager James Mckenzie, but the first time they have won two in a row since S13 and S14.

Verona manager ALB is hoping for a second D1 title in three seasons.

Five clubs are battling to reach 70 points for the remaining two places in the Top Four: Porto, Barcelona, Dortmund, Bayern and Sao Paulo. It may be that 70 points won't be enough this time to guarantee a top four place.

On 61 points are Andre Guerra's eternal bridesmaids Porto, looking to equal their best ever finish of 3rd in S15. Another frustrating season in the end after such a bright start.

Barcelona are one point behind Porto. They also led the table for some time midway, but have dropped back since.

The Spanish giants have finished outside the top three on only three occasions - S1, S8 and S21, although to be fair the end of the Wallace era and the beginning of new manager Adam's reign saw something of a rebuild underway.

Dortmund are level with Barcelona, and also topped the table at one point during the season. A top four finish would be the club's best ever.

If they manage that, their last five seasons will have seen finishes in 10th, 9th, 8th, 5th and 3rd/4th. You would fancy them to challenge strongly for the title next season with that progression.

Two points away in 6th, Bayern Munich are on course to achieve their average position in ten full seasons under "Mister Consistency" manager Bojan.

Sao Paulo weren't quite good enough to win D5 in S16, but six season's later they have an outside chance of finishing in the top four of D1 in their first season with the big boys.

With 56 points needed for a top ten place, Juventus, Leicester and Benfica are favourites to remain in those positions.

Six points adrift of Sao Paulo, Juventus will be disappointed with their season after coming 3rd last time. They averaged 5th place under DP 91, and 7th and 3rd in two seasons under Kevin Mcgregor.

Leicester City look set to achieve their first ever top ten finish in the top division Under manager Doug Earle, a feat he managed three times in four seasons at Atletico Madrid, back in the day.

Benfica really consolidated as a D1 team under previous managers Mark Stewart and ruts... and haven't finished outside the top ten since S17.

The bottom half of D1:

38 points needed to avoid the sack, 43 to avoid relegation....

Villa and Valencia are already down. The lowest points totals ever for 20th was Southampton's 12 last season, while Schalke amassed a meagre 21 points to finish 19th in S12.

Fenerbahce need four more points to equal the lowest ever points total for a team finishing 18th in D1 (record currently held by Dortmund in S5).

Manchester United under new manager Tharani need another nine points from five games to reach the magic 43 points total. Unlikely, but not impossible.

Espanyol need another four points, which seems more likely. Manager Glen Mullan is keen to avoid his side becoming a yo-yo team with what would otherwise be a third relegation from the top flight in five seasons.

A disappointing season for Real Madrid. Level on points with Espanyol, you would think they will survive, but after finishing sixth in manager Rob Ryan's first season in charge this has been a season to forget.

Despite a brief renaissance and a 3rd place under Andy Kelly in S17, arguably the club never recovered from Roy Keane's decision to sell all his ratings for youth in S6 and then appointing Beddows when it all went tits up.

The fans will surely not tolerate another relegation?

S18 Champions Arsenal are hovering dangerously close to the relegation zone on 40 points. After seasons of mediocrity under Michael Bowes, manager Heath Brown broke the Barcelona/Chelsea dominance in D1.

Atletico Madrid are on 41 points, 2 from "guaranteed" safety. More of the same from manager Gav Harmer.

Bayer Leverkusen are level with Atletico on points, and have never managed more than two straight seasons in D1. Staying up this season will mean a third straight season in D1 Under manager Marco G - arguably Leverkusen's greatest ever manager.

Genoa have 42 points and should be fine.

Ten teams are still plausibly in with a chance to go up from D2 with five games left to play:

57 points has been enough in recent seasons to guarantee a playoff place. Realistically, the final two playoff spots are between Hertha, Udinese, Sporting, Schalke and Celtic.

It would be an amazing first for Celtic, who look certain to finish in their highest ever position barring an end of season wipeout.

If Schalke can make the playoffs it will be their best finish since S13.

Sporting had their best ever season in S20 when they finished 4th in D2, although last season they narrowly avoided relegation.

Udinese have reached the playoffs in two of the last four seasons under manager Mark Stewart. They must be a good bet to do it again this time.

Hertha's history shows steady evolution from a D5 side to D1 under three progressive managers, Mark Stewart (three consecutive division titles), Rahul (D3 title), and Dan W (promotion to D1).

After a couple of impressive top six finishes in D1, manager Regan Thompson chose revolution over evolution resulting in a couple of yo-yo seasons before settling in mid-table of D2.

With 65 points needed to be "certain" of promotion in the top three, Manchester City are as good as there, Levante look set to follow them, and the final automatic place will be between Milan, Stoke and Internacional.

Internacional have won the D2 title twice before under former boss Roberto Downinho (now at Cruzeiro) in S7 and S11. They also won the D2 playoffs in S16 under Nuno Marques just before I drove him crazy.

Since their promotion to the top flight in S7, they've never spent more than two consecutive seasons in D2. This is their second consecutive season in D2 under new boss Paul Masters, so the fans will have high expectations....

Stoke made the D2 playoffs in three of manager Seb C(ampillo)'s nine previous seasons as manager, winning the final in S15.

Milan look set for their best finish under manager Andrew Bailey, building on a series of impressive cup wins in the previous two seasons. They've been promoted from D2 on four previous occasions - in S3 (Beddows), S9 (title under Paddy D), and S14 and S16 (including a playoff final win under Alex Borel).

Although they've never managed to play more than two consecutive seasons in D1, this is Milan's fifth consecutive season in D2, the longest they've spent out of the top flight in their history.

79 points are required to guarantee the title in D2.

That's just out of reach for Levante, but they look sure to push Manchester City all the way to secure their second promotion to D1 in ten seasons under manager Salvatore Zerbo.

Manager Alex McLean is in his third spell as City boss. His best ever season was his first, finishing fifth in D1 in S7, improving one place on Paddy D's sixth place finish the previous season.

A rebuild and relegation followed, but it was Mark Deadman who took them back to D1 in S13. City enjoyed eight seasons in D1 under Deadman and Doc (aka Jamie H), until McLean return for a third time and relegated them in his first season back at the helm.

He looks set to make amends this time around and could win City their first ever title.

46 points are usually required to guarantee avoiding the bottom three and the sack in D2, and this season I expect it will be a few points less.

The table now, with five games to play:

Werder Bremen are as good as gone and look set to return to D3 next season for the first time since S14.

Facing a second successive relegation, Southampton are almost certain to join them, for the first time since S12.

Celta Vigo are five points adrift of safety, and it's hard to see how they can survive on current form. Their stay in D2 will have been just two seasons, if that's how it turns out.

Like Southampton, Everton face consecutive relegations, and also like Southampton would be playing D3 football for the first time since S12.

West Brom are two points clear of the drop zone, and just finding a little form under new manager Paddy D. If they do go down, they will be another like Southampton and Everton going from D1 to D3 in two seasons.

PSG are three points clear, but relegation would be the worst season in their history.

Promoted Anderlecht will be hoping to avoid an immediate return to D3. With a four point cushion, you would think they will survive.

Liverpool also have a four point cushion. The club finished a creditable 4th last season, but like PSG, relegation would be their worst season ever.

River Plate should feel safe enough already, but they've found it impossible to establish themselves in D2 for more than a couple of seasons after three promotions in eight seasons. Rumours are that manager Jones is ready to jump ship....

Koln were in D5 five seasons ago, and were promoted last season for their first ever season in D2. Like River Plate, they can probably feel comfortable enough barring total collapse in their final games.

The bottom three look doomed, and the final relegation place could be between Everton and Anderlecht.

The top half of D3 with five games to go:

With 60 points needed to be sure of a playoff place, the current top four look sure to have that covered.

Zagreb looked to be running away with it at the halfway stage, but have taken just 20 points form 14 games since. They seem to have recovered their form in time to get them over the finishing line and a return to D2. (Zagreb were relegated from D2 in the unluckiest fashion possible - equal on points, goal difference and goals scored with River Plate.)

Swansea have managed 26 points from 14 games since half-time in the season, and they are currently the team in form. If they can win all five remaining games they might just beat Zagreb to the title....

71 points would usually guarantee promotion, so it's likely to be between "D1 team" Inter and my Hamburger. The two teams meet at the Volksparkstadion in the penultimate game of the season. Both were on 33 points after 19 games, so Inter may just have the slight edge. They certainly have more quality, and more first team depth.

Palace are on a terrible run of form at the moment. If they can turn it around and win promotion, it would be the first time in the club's history that they have reached D2.

West Ham are also seeking promotion to D2 for the first time.

Flamengo suffered back-to-back relegations from D2 to D4, and are now trying to win back-to-back promotions to return to D2 under new boss Carl Martin.

Of the chasing pack, Malaga are behind Flamengo only on goal difference. This is their first ever season in D3.

Spurs and Sunderland might have a chance of the playoffs if Palace can't recover their form. Of the two, the Black Cats seem to be in the best form in the second half of the season to take advantage.

Five games left, this is the bottom of D3:

With 45 points needed to be 100% sure to avoid relegation, we can be sure that Gladbach are gone, and their manager Ken jumped two games ago before he was pushed. Ken had amassed a paltry 5 points in twelve games since his halt-time team-talk, while the interim caretaker manager is unbeaten with a win and draw so far.... Gladbach look certain to play D4 football next season for the first time in their history.

It's almost certainly not going to require 45 points this season to avoid the drop, but next most likely are Twente. Manager Jamie Alldridge some mistakes in the transfer market and which he's been trying to rectify all season. He's managed 18 points from fourteen games since, but even if he keeps that level up it's not enough to stay up, and probably not enough to avoid the bottom three and the sack.

Stuttgart have managed just 13 points from 14 games, and that's seen them drop into the sack zone since the halfway mark. Manager Feargal Hickey joined in controversial circumstances from Atalanta after Tharani took the vacant Manchester United job. Tharani had taken Stuttgart from D5 to D3 in consecutive seasons so was a hard act to follow. Only Hickey himself had done the same in S2 and S3, and he won the Top 100 Shield!

Under another former Atalanta manager (and also a former Gladbach boss) Attila Olah, Galatasaray have taken 15 points from 14 games since Ken's halfway review and they remain in the drop zone. After just missing out on the playoffs last season, Gala - like Gladbach - could be playing D4 football for the first time in their history next season.

Hoffenheim were in D1 three seasons ago, but are now flirting with a return to D4 for the first time since S5. Under Anthony Guardiola, they have taken 17 points from 14 games since the halfway mark, and if they can continue their relative uptick in form compared to the four teams floundering below them, they'll be fine.

It's a similar story for Liege, who look like they will just be able to do enough to survive under Attlio Bonnici. Critics might argue they should be doing much better!

Cruzeiro are in an awful run of form, but even if they lose their last five that could still have enough points already to survive simply because the teams in the bottom four are so poor.

Here's the top of the D4 table with six games to play:

With 60 points needed to "guarantee" a playoff place, 67 points for the top three, and 73 for the title, it actually looks like none of the teams are likely to reach the points totals that would "guarantee" those finishing positions this season. Whether that's down to a lack of quality or increased competition, or a combination, I don't know, but it makes for an exciting run-in.

Leaders Brugge have a four point cushion and are looking for a second successive promotion and a return to D3 after seven seasons in the lower divisions under long-time boss Davy V.

Sevilla are on the long road back to D1, and who better to lead them there than the old dinosaur himself Mr TRX. Only the Mckenzies, Guri and ALB have won more division titles than Malcolm!

Olympiacos have made good progress under Master T over the last four seasons.

Like the three clubs above, Fiorentina are nother team doing well under a progressive manager Andy Martin. They will hope their run to the Cup Final won't hinder their promotion chances. Fiore have one of (if not) the most unfortunate histories in Top 100 with four successive relegations in S7 to S10 that saw them plummet from D1 to D5.

Lille have been there or thereabouts in six of the last eight seasons, including promotion in S19. Have they got what it takes to go up and stay up?

CSKA are another progressive team, and like Lille had a recent promotion followed by immediate relegation. In fact, CSKA have had five promotions in their history, four of which have been followed by relegation the next season (other other time relegation came the season after next).

Another Moscow club Lokomotiv are really doing better than they hoped for at this stage. Promotion might be too soon?

It's hard to imagine Wolfsburg in D1, but that's where they spent S6 and S7. In fact, the once mighty Wolves had never been as low as D4 until The Special Gyan guided them there in S14. The club got a severe nosebleed under the glory days of Niall Taylor, who took them to two titles and up to D2 in three seasons.

Finally, Monaco have had an up and down career in Top 100 with four promotions and six relegations in their 21 seasons to date.

I think D4 is too close to call and a lot can change in the last six games. None of the teams look to have the consistency or quality to dominate, and luck will play a big part in who goes up and who misses out.

The bottom of D4 currently looks like this:

44 points are usually needed to "guarantee" not finishing in the bottom three and getting sacked. (45 points to avoid relegation).

With six games to play, Montpellier should feel reasonably secure, but haven't won in their last six games and have picked up just three points.

Manager Stuart Monteith has led something of a resurgence in recent seasons as well as providing the club with much needed stability as their longest serving manager.

Zenit are traditionally the club no one wants, even having three managers in one season (S10)! Their D1 heyday under current Torino boss L H's stewardship are a distant memory, although they had a revival under Mark Stewart who took them back to D2 as recently as S19.

Two successive relegations have seen them playing their first ever season in D4 this time around under another new manager J Walker. A third consecutive drop would be hard to stomach for Zenit fans.

PSV are another club with quite a turnover of managers, and until S18 had never dropped into D5. Padraig Corcoran's disastrous four seasons in charge saw them fall to the foot of D5. Manager Chris East transformed the club's performances securing promotion in his first season against the odds. Can they do enough to survive their first season back?

Ajax are staring down the barrel of D5 football next season a third consecutive relegation (and a second in two seasons for current boss Syed Shah), which would be a disaster for the once proud D1 and D2 yo-yo club.

Their first season aside, Ajax have had management stability with just two managers prior to Shah. It's certainly arguable with hindsight that the club acted hastily in dismissing two long-serving managers, neither of whom wanted to leave.

On the plus side, they've had a recent uptick in form, and you would think they have the quality to stay up.

Augsburg came close to promotion last season, so it's been something of a surprise to see them struggling all season this time. Manager Paddy D jumped ship during the season, and new boss Anmol Satam has struggled to turn things around. They're unbeaten in the last four, however, so that's certainly cause for hope.

Former Zenit boss L H's Torino have a mountain to climb. This is their fourth season in D4 which is already a record for the most seasons outside of D5.

Atalanta finished a creditable 8th under previous boss Feargal Hickey last season after promotion from D5 in S20. They look doomed to return this time, though, and Hickey has moved on to Stuttgart, leaving new gaffer Russell Jordan with a baptism of fire (just two wins in eighteen games).

For my money, Atalanta and Torino will be joined by Zenit in the bottom three, and I think Augsburg may just fail to catch Montpellier for the final relegation spot.

The top of D5 looks like this with six games to play:

According to my latest stats, Shakhtar under new manager Dan W can celebrate promotion now, and need only one more point to be sure of the D5 title. Quite a turnaround from last season!

With 66 points needed to "guarantee" a top three finish, it looks like two from the next three.

Rubin Kazan have only ever been promoted once - in S10 under Dave Inglis. Not even Doc could manage that! Current boss Frank Tyson has had them knocking on the door in two of the last three seasons. Will this be their turn?

Independiente are on course for their best ever league season - better even than under Gregg Robinson! In fact, if they do go up, it will be their first promotion after 22 seasons in D5. That would be a nice way to follow up last season's shock Shield win.

Boca Juniors are another team who have been knocking on the promotion door in successive seasons, but without success.

With 58 points needed to be sure of a playoff place, the above three look certain of that barring complete collapse in the final straight.

Of the chasing pack, AZ Alkmaar won the D5 title as recently as S18 under manager Golden Bear (who like Dan W this season transformed his bottom place team from the previous season).

Dynamo Kyiv's best days were winning D3 in S14 under Alessandro Ioli, but current boss Chris Baggio has fostered Ukrainian talent to begin the long road back to glory.

The Fall and Rise and Fall Again of Basel is one of the great stories Top 100. They won the D5 Playoffs in S7 under Dr Martinez five seasons later they were in D1. Within another six seasons they were back where they started.

Current manager Josh McMillan took a lot of criticism after four seasons going ever downwards in the table, but this time around has splashed the cash and got the results to match.

Villarreal, Newcastle and Marseille are all outside the top 7 waiting to pounce if one or more of the teams above suffer an end of season collapse in form.

The bottom half of D5 looks like this currently:

With 18 points left to play for, I can't see any of the sides from Spartak down getting the 46 points in total that would guarantee avoiding the bottom three and the sack.

So that means it's three from five....

Chievo are six points adrift of 17th place and that already looks far too big a gap to close. It's a long time since their Harmer heyday!

Lazio have invested heavily in some better quality players recently, and they must be favourites to escape this time around as a result. It's even longer since Lazio were a D1 club! (But only seven seasons since they were in D2!)

Dynamo will want to avoid a second successive bottom three finish following relegation from D4 last season.

Another former D1 club Lyon, and another Moscow club Spartak (who started Top 100 life in D2), have a two point advantage (massive win for Lyon last night!), which could be crucial, but Lyon's leaky defence could be their undoing at the end.

A tough debut season for Spartak manager Ben!

Who will get sacked? Who will survive? Who deserves to fight another season?