Premier League Managers Under the Most Pressure as ‘Sack Season’ Looms

Football management is a precarious role and coaches know what to expect when they take a job.

The life span of a boss in the game we all love is short and gaffers in the top flight of the Premier League in particular are under a pressure normal folk cannot comprehend.

Four coaches have already lost their jobs this season alone with Nuno Espirito Santo being axed by Nottingham Forest before it was Graham Potter’s turn at West Ham.

Forest’s president Evangelos Marinakis used his trigger finger again when he binned Ange Postecoglou in near-record time and Vitor Pereira lost his job at Wolves most recently despite only just signing an extension this year.

It has only been 10 games on the Premier League calendar so far this season domestically but other bosses are always nervous over the prospect of facing the same fate.

And we at FootballBlog have taken a closer look at five coaches who are facing scrutiny this season in the top flight as the ‘Sack Season’ arrives.

Premier League managers under most sack pressure

According to the Guardian, November is a major month for manager sackings with December also a pivotal time of the season throughout history where managerial changes are concerned.

They report: “In eight of the 31 Premier League seasons, there has not been a single sacking until 21 November. Many clubs wait until the international break to make changes so they can bed in their replacements during the two-week domestic gap in league fixtures.

“It’s a logical decision but something that is relatively recent. Before last season, only nine managers were sacked during the first international break of the season.

“Instead, runs of sackings crop up at different times. In the 2019-20 season, five managers were sacked in a five-week period from mid-November to late-December; in 2016-17, three clubs made changes during the Christmas fortnight; roll the calendar back to 2001-02 and struggling Leicester, Derby and Southampton all made changes in a three-week period in October after slow starts to the season.”

We, of course, have just hit the beginning of November and that coincides with recent history and managers losing their jobs.

There are five bosses right now who run the risk…

Daniel Farke – Leeds United

Leeds United were promoted from the EFL Championship for this season after winning the competition on 100 points.

It was an excellent campaign for German boss Farke but his side have not started their season particularly well at the time of writing.

The Whites sit 16th in the table after matchday 10 and they have won only three games from their opening fixtures.

Not exactly the worst start to a term for the club as history suggests, but Farke has had his critics.

Fans have taken to social media to complain about their head coach and while that is not always an issue, it is often a gauge of what supporters are really thinking and can be a guide for the boardroom if they decide to take heed.

Leeds were completely outclassed by Brighton on Saturday afternoon and didn’t look like troubling the Seagulls for the most part.

That will have to change under Farke.

Scott Parker – Burnley

Another promoted Championship side, Burnley pushed Leeds right until the final day and also ended their year on 100 points.

Only goal difference prevented Parker’s team from lifting the trophy and the 45-year-old manager took all the rightful plaudits for the season going as well as it did.

Fast-forward a few months and the Clarets are struggling in 17th and they are just three points above the relegation zone ahead of West Ham who have already replaced a manager.

Burnley have averaged one point per game in the league this season and Parker arguably has them playing some inventive and fast-paced football.

The issue is and has always been converting that into points which he knows he must do to keep the hierarchy off his back.

Eddie Howe – Newcastle United

Newcastle have heavily invested in their squad under Eddie Howe and he has repaid them in recent seasons with consistent European football.

The Magpies have finished seventh and fifth in their last two seasons and are currently in the Champions League having won two of their first three games in the League Phase.

Domestically, though, they are 13th with just three victories and three draws from 10 which by their own standards is a poor return for what they’ve spent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6OjdJrRCVg

Around £240million was splashed out this summer but results have been poor at times. So it begs the question, is Howe under pressure right now?

You would be naive to think the answer is no.

Yes, sacking the Englishman would perhaps seem harsh right now and would also have him becoming the victim of his own successes.

But 13th for Newcastle cannot be considered good enough right now and Howe will have to improve results at St James’ Park and away from home to turn the tide.

Otherwise he could be in a spot of bother.

Ruben Amorim – Manchester United

Amorim has already had sack calls this season at Manchester United.

But we suppose that comes with the territory at Old Trafford.

The Portuguese coach has not had his issues to seek over the last year-and-a-half but it is arguable that last season was about finding the players he felt he could work with and clearing out some deadwood.

Results last season were dreadful and, at times, they’ve been equally poor this season as the Red Devils currently sit eighth in the Premier League table.

Three wins and a draw in their last four – including a magnificent victory over rivals Liverpool at Anfield – have shown consistency but he needs to show more if United are to pull up the division.

Amorim also has to win more matches to keep the sack calls at bay and the fans onside.

Arne Slot – Liverpool

Liverpool’s form this campaign so far has been shambolic over the past number of weeks and that has thrown up a number of issues.

Mo Salah scored vs Aston Villa but the Egyptian has been out of sorts at Anfield this term with his statistics failing on all metrics compared to recent years.

Alexander Isak has not done the business yet since arriving for mega money and Slot has had defensive problems including conceding too many goals from set-pieces.

Liverpool won the title last season but have shown nothing close to contender form with five defeats in their last eight fixtures as they lie third in the table and seven points behind Arsenal who don’t look like slowing down.

Slot has been questioned seriously by fans and pundits alike and he will be desperate that their 2-0 win over Villa will be enough to turn the tide.

Liverpool don’t often sack managers as we’ve seen in recent years. But fall too far behind too early on and struggle in the Champions League too – currently 10th in the League Phase – and the boss will need to get his excuses in and hope they stick.