You know exactly what you're doing by not mentioning Redknapp. Don't like him, fine but you cant mention a manager who 'is a good guy and made real progress' and not a guy who achieved our first ever CL campaign playing some of the best football we'd seen for years - that to me is 'real progress'....Poch is clearly the absolute standout. Highest league finish since 1989-90 season, our only genuine title tilt since the early 60s, and the only time in the EPL era we've had an identify and the whole fan base has been united round a common vision and purpose.
Honourables to Jol (a good guy who made real progress) and Ramos (the 2008 LC win was the biggest highlight of this 24 year period)
But for me Poch is already pushing Burkinshaw and Rowe for the title of our second greatest manager of all time, let alone the EPL era.