2009/2010: The Managerial Sack Race
The new season continues to edge ever closer and with it the hopes and expectations of thousands of fans up and down the country begin to grow. The responsibility of delivering the success they crave ultimately falls on the shoulders of the manager and, as ever, the bookmakers will be taking bets on who the first high profile casualty will be. The Football Blog takes a look at the runners and riders in the Premier League.
Carlo Ancelotti
Ancelotti’s managerial pedigree is not in question, but he will be required to adapt to the English game very quickly. Roman Abramovich will not tolerate a slow start which sees them slip out of contention for the major prizes, as Luiz Felipe Scolari found out to his cost last season. If Ancelotti is to avoid the same fate, he needs to do his utmost to retain John Terry, add a couple more players to his squad, and then hit the ground running.
Phil Brown
Hull City fans will be hoping they don’t start the new season like they finished the last. After an explosive start, they went on a catastrophic run which saw them only avoid relegation by virtue of the fact that Newcastle United were even worse. Brown is under pressure to turn things around at the KC Stadium but his efforts in the transfer market to date have ended in frustration. The fact that he is turning to Bobby Zamora as the answer to his problems up front tells you all you need to know.
Mark Hughes
A man who has spent over £200 million since his arrival at the club a little over a year ago should have the resources he needs to keep his job. However, given this summer’s well publicised spending spree which has seen the arrival or Gareth Barry, Roque Santa Cruz, Carlos Tevez and Emmanuel Adebayor (with John Terry and Joleon Lescott to come if Hughes has his way), expectations have gone through the roof. Hughes should be picking up his P45 if City aren’t in Champions League contention at Christmas.
Roberto Martinez
Can Martinez make the step up from the Football League to the Premiership? The Spaniard worked wonders at Swansea City but as Paul Ince’s unsuccessful tenure at Blackburn Rovers last season proved, managing in the Premier League is a different prospect entirely. The former Wigan player has turned to some familiar faces in the shape of Jordi Gomez and Jason Scotland, although has lost the creative talent on Antonio Valencia to Manchester United. Martinez has talked of pushing for Europe but he first needs to acclimatise to the demands of the top flight.
Alex McLeish
McLeish appears to have a very uneasy relationship with the Birmingham City board who will be hoping that they don’t make an instant return to the Championship. The Scot has had a busy summer in the transfer market with the recent arrival of Barry Ferguson perhaps the most notable acquisition. City had an very indifferent spell during the second half of last season (as did most of the promotion chasing clubs) and anything akin to this in the forthcoming season will be punished. McLeish needs a solid start and won’t have wanted to be playing the Champions on the opening day.
Arsene Wenger
Would Arsenal really sack Arsene Wenger? It seems like a ridiculous notion given all that he has done for the club, but fans and players alike are becoming restless following another season without silverware. Wenger has again remained relatively quiet in the transfer market, with Thomas Vermaelen the only addition to date despite last season’s disappointments. It seems inconceivable, but if Arsenal are not still in the title race at Christmas then there could be a few dissenting voices calling for a change of manager.
The new season always throws up some surprises and the indignity of being the first manager to lose his job could fall to a candidate other than those listed above. However, after careful consideration, The Football Blog is predicting Phil Brown to be the first man looking for new employment in the new season.
Do you agree with us? Where is your money on this one? As ever, let us know your thoughts.
