After a summer of rumours and speculation, the Premier League season is now well under-way with some managers falling under instant scrutiny. The Boot Room takes a look at the managers most likely to be shown the door this season. With managerial changes becoming an increasingly regular occurrence, it is only a matter of time before someone gets the chop. The question is – who is going to fall first?
Odds courtesy of SkyBet
Brendan Rodgers – 6/1
A flurry of early transfer activity from Rodgers portrayed his job security as stable however with the 6-1 defeat to Stoke looming over him throughout the summer, the Ulsterman knows that he has to produce this season. Even with the purchase of Benteke and Firmino for around £60m combined, the bookies have Brendan Rodgers as one of the favourites to be sacked. He’s never fully convinced the fans especially after the sales of Sterling and Suarez over two summers.
The man known for his admiration of ‘character’ needs to ensure this is paired with positive results to maintain his position at the helm of Liverpool. If the results are poor it’s fair to say Jurgen Klopp’s name will be the first name on the lips to replace Rodgers.
Dick Advocaat – 15/8
Since choosing to stay on as Sunderland manager, Dick Advocaat could have already left his post. A slack performance against Leicester sapped a large sum of fans had for a change in fortunes. With an over reliance on Jermaine Defoe for goals leading to Advocaat publicly calling on Sunderland owner, Ellis Short, to invest into the club. With the cracks starting to surface, Short may have few qualms about showing Advocaat the exit door.
Advocaat must ensure his new signings gel with the squad while also making the players match the desire shown by the fans off the pitch. He may have a strong, cut throat personality that the fans can admire when the team plays poorly. This may come in handy when he needs to axe any under performers. But it could also come back to haunt him, with some perceiving him as stubborn. His ego could see him lose his job.
Louis Van Gaal – 50/1
A debut season achieving bare minimum seemingly pleased United fans however Van Gaal is under constant pressure at Old Trafford. Since his arrival he’s spent over a quarter of a billion pounds with Martial the latest big money signing. However, the performances have been inconsistent. It took the Dutchman an extended amount of time to realise 3-5-2 was never a possibility for United and after the switch to 4-3-3 The Red Devils shone.
With the strong end to last campaign, Van Gaal’s job may be deemed as safe but his dictator attitude is preventing full admiration from the United fans. Most notably his treatment of fan favourites Javier Hernandez and Ander Herrera who hold undoubted quality but LVG has clearly never really took a liking to them.
Again, Van Gaal fell under criticism from Gary Neville after defeat to Swansea. Neville stated that Van Gaal plays a too rigid formation to allow players like Herrera and, more importantly, captain Wayne Rooney to flourish. His job may seem safe judging by the financial backing he’s been given but look under the surface and he’s far from safe.
Quique Sanchez Flores – 10/1
With a squad of many nationalities, Flores may have already shot himself in the foot. The Watford boss will have to find a language that suits all as well as a playing style that fits all the best players in. With Deeney and Anya two definite starters, he will need them at the forefront of Watford’s attacking play to ensure their survival. However, if the two main men fail to produce, Sanchez Flores could see himself being replaced.
The hire and fire Pozzo family are trigger happy when it comes to removing managers and the lack of longevity of any of the recent managers of Watford fails to disperse the fears that Flores won’t get his fair share of time as Watford manager. This instability could see both Flores loosing his job along with The Hornets exiting the Premier League.
Roberto Martinez – 16/1
Since the dismal showing last season, not much has really changed at Everton. The owners aren’t funding a great deal of transfer activity and Martinez stills maintains his outstandingly positive attitude to both the good and the bad. However, his credentials are beginning to be questioned, as they were at the start of last term as well. Since impressing at Wigan, a club that battled against relegation under his management, many have failed to see a job where he has made the club progress.
His positive attitude has also seen him come under criticism throughout the Stones saga. Martinez stated Stones ‘didn’t mean’ to hand in a transfer request. Impossible. His man management methods are questionable but he has done reasonably well with the lack of finance. Maybe he won’t lose his job even if he only improves the league position slightly this term but the inevitable poor run of form that most teams suffer could see Martinez come under scrutiny eventually seeing him through the exit door.
Slaven Bilic – 20/1
An appointment of a fan favourite is always seen as a good one by supporters but it’s always risky. Bilic comes in with a fierce reputation and will be looking to implement his warrior playing style into his players. However, it seems impossoble to meet the needs of Hammers fans. Allardyce got the results, arguably they did fade in the second half of the season, but failed to play ‘attractive’ football meaning he lost his job.
Bilic may choose to play attractive football, certainly adding Reece Oxford, 16, to the starting squad against Arsenal caught the eye but will this play style get the right results. On paper it looks like a lose-lose situation, a matrix like decision of which route to choose. If new signings don’t fit in quickly, Bilic may not be up to fan expectations meaning a new man is needed during the final season at Upton Park.
Got a different opinion of who’s going to be involved in the Premier League sack race? Let us know in the comments who and why. It’s always a debatable topic.
Featured Image: All Rights Reserved by Ssusyu
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