The Premier League season may still be in its early stages, but already the pressure is building on several managers. Every campaign brings with it speculation over which head coach will be the first casualty, and the 2025/25 season looks no different. While no club wants to make a change so soon, history tells us that patience is often in short supply, particularly when poor form and boardroom tensions are in play. Two names currently standing out are Graham Potter at West Ham and Nuno Espirito Santo at Nottingham Forest.
Graham Potter and West Ham’s Struggles
Potter arrived at West Ham with hopes of steadying the ship following Julen Lopetegui’s departure last season. Yet so far, results have been disappointing. The Hammers have struggled both defensively and creatively, leaving them at the wrong end of the table. Conceding goals with alarming regularity, while lacking a cutting edge up front, Potter’s West Ham appear a shadow of the side their fans hoped to see, and this has put the former Chelsea boss’s name at the top of the next manager to leave markets, with the latest football manager betting odds seeing an exit as possible.
Potter’s tactical approach, which relies heavily on fluid positional play, has not yet clicked with his squad. Players seem uncertain of their roles. And the atmosphere around the club is tense. For a manager who endured a difficult time at Stamford Bridge before this, the optics are worrying.
Nuno’s Tense Situation at Nottingham Forest
While Potter’s issues stem from form on the pitch, Nuno’s problems at Nottingham Forest are just as much about the battles off it. The Portuguese head coach has clashed with Edu, who has recently arrived as owner Evangelos Marinakis’ right-hand man. It’s clear there’s an internal power struggle going off, but can the two work together to find a solution?
Nuno has not helped matters with some of his recent media comments, in which he openly expressed frustration about recruitment and the decline of his relationship with Marinakis. It’s likely that Nuno going public with his remarks will not have gone down well.
On the pitch, performances haven’t been at the level they were at last season so far, and it could open the door to Forest dismissing the man who guided them into European football. But the breakdown behind the scenes would be the driving force behind any decision.
Why the International Break Could Be Key
The looming international break presents a moment for clubs to reassess. Traditionally, these pauses in the season are seen as opportune times to make a change, as they give incoming managers time to work on the training ground with their players who aren’t away with their nations.
Of course, sacking a manager so early in the season carries a risk. It could send the wrong message, and clubs would be scrambling for replacements. But if boards aren’t convinced, they will act.
Conclusion
Speculation over which Premier League manager will be first to go is part and parcel of every season, and right now, Graham Potter and Nuno Espirito Santo find themselves firmly in the spotlight. Whether their clubs decide to act remains to be seen, but the weeks ahead will be pivotal for both men.
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