Bookmakers have identified five favorites-losers.
As tension builds in the fight for the championship of England and other parallel tournaments, the fate of the manager in a number of clubs becomes clearer. British mass media there is a separate entertainment called a layoff race. Scott Parker, sacked by Bournemouth at the end of August, won this race by a large margin this season, which was one of the record decisions. It happened, we recall, after the defeat against Liverpool with a score of 0:9. And now, with Gary O’Neill at the helm, Bournemouth took revenge on the Reds, beating them, albeit with a score of 1: 0, thus putting a spoke in the works of Jurgen Klopp’s team towards a place in the Champions League league.
There have been eight managerial changes in the English Premier League since Parker’s resignation at Bournemouth. Some were successful, some didn’t make it easier for the one who was fired, they probably regretted their decision. But the race to be sacked has begun and we want to see who is currently being targeted in England as the next candidate to resign.
1. Antonio Conte (Tottenham Hotspur, possibility of resignation 17-20)
Conte has become the favorite for the next expulsion from the bookmakers. Tottenham, with the Italian at the helm, were set to compete with Liverpool and Manchester City in the fight for the top of the Premier League, but Spurs occasionally slip. They are out of the FA Cup, out of the Champions League, dangling on the brink of losing the top four in Premier Leaguealternating more or less successful games with failures.
Conte’s contract expires at the end of the season and there has been regular speculation that he wants to stay in north London himself. It seems that both the club and the manager are fed up with each other. To shake up the squad for the final push, Daniel Levy may decide to part ways with Conte soon, sending him to the same place he sent Jose Mourinho a couple of years ago and Nuno Espirita Santo last season.
2. David Moyes (West Ham, 2-1)
Moyes appears to be on the mend now. He is trying to get the team out of the relegation zone, doing well in the Europa League. However, both management and fans are increasingly aware that this manager’s performance is not living up to expectations. The club seems to be exceeding Moyes’ abilities. And the corresponding pressure and tension grow.
Players like Lucas Paqueta and Gianluca Scamacca arrived at West Ham last summer, high profile players that Moyes cannot handle. Problems with the game, with the results aroused such a mood in the club’s management that during the season they thought more than once about the resignation of the Scotsman. It will be surprising if Moyes stays at West Ham after the end of the season, and some believe he will be sacked before the end of the season. All for the same jolt of the team in the name of salvation.
3. Graham Potter (Chelsea, 17 to 2)
How many different things are being said about Chelsea this season. New owner Todd Boely found himself in the difficult position of having to admit his mistakes, made soon after his takeover. Judging by his behavior in the transfer market, he’s not used to that. Chelsea madly bought players, but you can’t call the team progressive, and only the lazy person does not regret that Thomas Tuchel was fired, replaced by Potter.
By now it seems trivial that the coach “doesn’t take away” Chelsea’s level, but he is given a chance precisely because of that all-encompassing purchase. It is assumed that he needs time to decide the optimal combination among many players and place the game. All seems lost in the league, but there are still chances in the Champions League. And Chelsea has shown more than once that in this tournament they can shoot out of the blue when everything seems to be sad.
However, a thick tangle of negativity has already accumulated around Potter. It will most likely come at the end of the season. But will Boeli’s assurances that this is a long-term project and that he has no intention of abandoning Potter work any further? Probably, under Roman Abramovich, the coach would have already been fired. We still don’t know Boeli’s tactics.
4. Gary O’Neill (Bournemouth, 14 to 1)
We have already talked about this above. And the victory over Liverpool significantly strengthened O’Neal’s chances of staying at least until the end of the season. He was part of Parker’s coaching staff and performed well as interim head coach. Therefore, Bournemouth’s new owner Bill Foeli decided to sign him on a permanent contract. Then the problems started.
Since then he has racked up three victories, but among them a successful rematch against Liverpool. Yes, and “Bournemouth” has not taken off yet, it is fighting for survival. Furthermore, Foeli will hardly decide to make two coaching changes in one season. This approach is unlikely to succeed. Probably, until the end of the season, he will hang on to O’Neal and hope that relegation to the Championship doesn’t happen.
5. Brendan Rodgers (Leicester, 14 to 1)
I remember that in the first part of the season, when a similar rating was compiled, Rogers was its leader, and bookmakers gave an almost one hundred percent chance of his resignation. Leicester, who were sinking into the relegation zone, and the poor game indicated that this was not the case and left no doubt. But miracles happen, and Rogers managed to get out of a dangerous situation, avoiding resignation. The patience of the Leicester bosses is worthy of respect.
Sure, the “foxes” haven’t yet secured their residency among the elite, but they no longer look as terrifying as they did in the first part of the season. Still, the bookies aren’t giving up on their idea of ”putting aside” Rogers. True, they now assume that this will happen after the end of the season. Since he withstood the deepest crisis, why suddenly fire him now?
