The start of a new season means the start of the Premier League’s annual sack race, with a host of managers already under pressure in the unforgiving climate of England’s top tier.
Premier League clubs continue to be trigger-happy when it comes to dismissing those in charge, and the bookmakers are already shortening their odds following the opening three rounds of fixtures, a number of coaches feeling the heat.
Slaven Bilic – 12/1
West Bromwich Albion started the season amongst the favourites for an instant return to the Championship, and the club’s opening three performances have done little to change that widespread view.
Comprehensive defeats to Leicester and Everton were followed by an entertaining – if somewhat concerning – draw with Chelsea, the Baggies blowing a three-goal half-time lead in a thriller at The Hawthorns.
Slaven Bilic’s guiding of the club to promotion is likely to give him some patience from the club’s hierarchy, though his side will have to show more than they have done currently if they are to avoid the dreaded drop.
West Brom stuttered over the line to secure promotion with just three wins from their final 11 fixtures, their poor start to the Premier League campaign continuing a worrying run of form.
Should results not pick up and quickly, expect Bilic’s odds to shorten.
Jose Mourinho – 12/1
Jose Mourinho has won a host of silverware at each of the major clubs he has managed and will be hoping to follow suit with Tottenham this season, where the self-titled ‘Special One’ will be out to prove he can still mix it with the managerial best.
The north London side have recruited sensibly this summer and are still seeking additional options in both attack and defence before the closure of the transfer deadline, a squad moulded to Moutinho’s liking adding pressure on the Portuguese to succeed.
Spurs have been inconsistent since his appointment last year and have started the new season in similar fashion, losing to Everton on the opening day before a big win at Southampton and a controversial draw with Newcastle.
The expectation will be that Mourinho leads the side back into the top four and challenges for major trophies this season, anything less will see him come into the firing line.
Frank Lampard – 10/1
Another big name amongst the favourites for the sack, the feel-good factor of Frank Lampard’s first season at Chelsea has been replaced by increased expectation and scrutiny.
The west London side’s lavish summer spending has reduced the excuses for the Blues to kick on this season, their relatively inexperienced manager set to feel the pressure this term.
Chelsea have begun the new season poorly and Lampard seems some way off knowing his best side or formation, a worrying sign for the club’s supporters given the near blank chequebook he has had to solve his side’s issues.
The arrivals of Kai Havertz, Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech are exciting and will have fans clamouring to watch their side this season, but Lampard has largely neglected his sub-standard backline.
It is a decision which – based on the chaos of the 3-3 draw with West Brom last weekend – could prove costly.
David Moyes – 7/2
The man tasked with taking West Ham forward in what has proven to be a toxic period at the London Stadium, David Moyes may feel the odds are against him already.
The club’s owners have come under increasing criticism from supporters following a series of broken promises, whilst their investment this summer has only accounted for the permanent arrival of loanee Tomas Soucek and his Czech Republic teammate Vladimir Coufal from Slavia Prague.
That situation will have alarm bells ringing for a side who flirted strongly with relegation last season, despite their concerns temporarily lifting following a 4-0 win over Wolves last weekend after opening the season with back-to-back defeats.
Moyes is undoubtedly seen as a firefighter manager who can keep the club in the division, but with a lack of investment he may struggle to reach even that bare minimum and suffer the consequences as a result.
Scott Parker – 7/4
Fulham’s return to the Premier League has thus far proven to be a harrowing experience following three consecutive defeats, the west Londoners shipping 10 goals in those contests and already looking out of their depth.
Scott Parker admirably regrouped a side relegated two seasons ago to bounce back at the first time of asking, but the presence of several of that relegated squad in his current side has unsurprisingly resulted in similar results to date.
Fulham’s backline has been ruthlessly exposed at the highest level and they look destined for the drop without transformative signings in the coming days, an inexperienced manager currently leading a side without the required quality.
Parker is a popular figure and deserves credit for his achievements so far, but the atmosphere may turn quickly unless performances improve.
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