9. Reading will be involved in a relegation scrap come Spring, or at least that’s what I believe. And it is up to Sir John Madejski and the other board members as to whether they will stick with Brian McDermott to the end. Clearly a good Championship manager, can McDermott make the progression to the EPL? Only time will tell.
8. Paul Lambert has his work cut out at Aston Villa. Before the start of the 2008/09 season we were tipping Villa to break the dominance of the old ‘big four’ and qualify for the Champions League. A disastrous series of events have followed though, to the point where last season the Villains were involved in a relegation scrap last season. Randy Lurner and the Villa fans have high hopes, let’s hope Lambert doesn’t let them down.
7. Lambert’s replacement at Norwich is the ex-Newcastle manager Chris Hughton. I’m of the opinion that Hughton was unjustly dismissed at Newcastle, but is back in the Premier League now and will be looking to make Mike Ashley and co. regretful of their decision. Norwich have a strong squad, there it’s lots of depth up front in particular. However, Hughton will be looking to avoid the all too common secondseasonitus.
6. His style of football may be a disgrace but there’s no doubting Sam Allerdyce has a vast knowledge of the EPL, having worked at a handful of clubs including the recently relegated Bolton and Blackburn, Allerdyce has experience – something that the other promoted managers lack. With the prolific partnership of Andy Caroll and Kevin Nolan relaunched, could there be good things to come for the hammers or will Allerdyce get the chop before he can prove himself in the EPL in East London?
5. The Chelsea manager; an insecure job at the best of times. But when you’ve only managed a ‘big’ club for six months it can become even more insecure. When the owner is lining up a double Champions League winning manager it can become even more insecure. But if Roberto Di Matteo can win the League, Champions League and FA cup he may be here next season.
4. Rodgers Liverpool have had a pitiful start to the season and much of the blame lies at the feet of Brendan Rodgers, an atrocious transfer window and poor results have all the ingredients for a sacking. Things must start to change now for the Welshman, if they don’t the American owners will be left with no other choice but to sack him.
3. AVB André Villas-Boas is an odd character, if not an unlikable character. I’ve never really taken to him, he is rarely straightforward in his answers and doesn’t appear to be a good man manager. Some say he wasn’t given a fair chance at Chelsea, well he’s got one now on a different side of London and if he blows this then his credibility is surely blown out of the window. With the start that he’s had, it may not be too long before that credibility does fly away.
2. Adkins Nigel Adkins has a remarkable backstory to his managerial career, a goalkeeper who struggled to find his way in the game who went on to become player-manager at Bangor City whilst studying for a Physiotherapy degree. After 10 years at Scunthurpe as physiotherapist he was offered the top job and his career has gone from strength to strength since then. But the worry is that Southampton may struggle to get points on the board with the tough fixture list they’ve been handed so early on. After splashing the cash in the Transfer Window, failure to win points may result in the boot for Adkins.
1. And by process of deduction that leaves Mark Hughes my tip for the first sacking of the season. Hughes has signed 11 players and brought in one on loan meaning that he could field a whole side just from the 2012 summer transfer window. As he has signed so many players pressure is on him to perform well, this could be the undoing of him. Again. The QPR board are not afraid of sacking a manager mid season. Last year Neil Warnock was sacked in early January and Hughes may be considered to have done well if he lasts longer than his predecessor. If Hughes’ team do not perform he could be forced to find yet another club. Again.
There you have it. My complete guide to the annual EPL Sack Race, all the managers must be wary,especially the one’s towards the end of the list. If not they may find themselves job hunting come the new year.
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