Leicester City got their new manager bounce with Ruud van Nistelrooy taking over this week and winning his first game in charge, and now pressure is mounting on three more Premier League bosses in a major way
Russell Martin during Southampton's loss to Chelsea
Russell Martin during Southampton's loss to Chelsea
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Image: AFP via Getty Images)
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The Premier League is now more than a third of its way through the season - and three managers are now in grave danger of being the next man through their club's respective exit doors.
Wolves supporters made their feelings clear to boss Gary O'Neil after their dismal 4-0 defeat to Everton on Wednesday night - 24 hours after Julen Lopetegui faced calls from West Ham United supporters to go. His appointment at the London Stadium hasn't gone as planned, with backward steps, at huge cost, having been taken on the field and now club bosses are contemplating a change.
And then there's Russell Martin, the Southampton head coach who oversaw their promotion from the Championship last term but who has won just once so far this season and whose side were thrashed 5-1 by Chelsea on home soil on Wednesday night.
All three men are in facing the possibility of losing their jobs. But will their clubs follow Leicester's lead and make the decisive move?
West Ham edge closer to deciding Lopetegui's fate after board hold crunch talks
[
Gary O'Neil responds to sack calls from Wolves fans after Everton horror show](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/wolves-sack-gary-oneil-fans-34251576)
Gary O'Neil - Wolves
By Alex Richards
Wolves 4-1 win over Fulham last month was meant to represent a new dawn.
It was the club’s fourth match unbeaten after an awful start to the season, taking eight points in that period having previously won just one from the previous eight matches. Instead, it now looks like a singular genuine bright spot in a descent that looks like taking the club back to the Championship, unless there is a major change.
And now, sadly, after 16 months at the helm, that change needs to be in the dugout.
Gary O’Neil’s side have conceded 36 times in 14 games this season and 101 goals in 52 Premier League matches under his stewardship. That’s just under two per game - and needing to score three times each match to win is a situation that simply makes his position untenable.
Wolves fans called for his sacking during the embarrassing 4-0 loss to Everton on Wednesday night. And having taking the acclaim with fist bumps at Fulham, a dejected O’Neil didn’t applaud the away fans at Goodison amid the chants for him to go.
If Wolves are going to move, expect it to be today (Thursday). If not, he may well get one final roll of the dice at West Ham.
Gary O'Neil, Manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers, looks dejected following defeat to Everton
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Image:
Getty Images)
Julen Lopetegui - West Ham
By Tom Victor
Julen Lopetegui never really felt like the right man to succeed David Moyes, and he’s done little to dispel that.
West Ham’s issues last season were plain to see, with a slow back-line at odds with efforts to play more expansive football, and the new man has solved neither of those problems. The Hammers have looked susceptible at the back against almost every opponent, while still lacking a bit in attack.
Lopetegui was backed in the transfer market over the summer, but a reluctance to trust big-money signing Crysencio Summerville has been baffling. The same goes for the decision to let Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma to both depart at the end of August to leave the squad with just three senior centre-backs.
Opponents must be licking their lips at the prospect of facing West Ham, who have kept just three clean sheets all season. And this from a manager with a reputation for being safety-first. Even the rare wins have been unconvincing. Manchester United and Newcastle could easily have come out on top had they taken their chances at 0-0, and those wins make up 40 percent of Lopetegui’s points total.
There are a couple of caveats, with new striker Niclas Fullkrug limited to 74 league minutes due to injury and Mohammed Kudus missing five games through suspension. The loss at Leicester at least produced more in the way of goal threat, but there’s a sense another manager could do a lot more with this group of players.
Julen Lopetegui is fighting to save himself at Southampton (
Image:
PA)
Russell Martin - Southampton
By Felix Keith
Russell Martin arrived in the Premier League with a whole heap of good will from Saints fans. He took Southampton up at the first attempt by playing an attractive style of football and those of the optimistic persuasion felt it might just translate into the top flight.
Having taken just five points from a possible 42, it is clear that it has not. Southampton have consistently shot themselves in the foot, game after game. They have given the ball away countless times, invited pressure and been battered week after week. On the rare occasions they have had a lead, they have lacked the mentality to hold onto it.
Martin is responsible for that. Some might be willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, but his unrelenting assertion that he is “proud” of the team and that they just need to trust the process is now extremely grating to supporters.
Southampton are quite obviously the worst team in the division. They are very very likely to be relegated back to the Championship. The question now is whether the powers that be believe a change of manager can really provide a change of fortunes. Memories of the disastrous 2022/23 season, when the sacking of Ralph Hasenhuttl in November was followed by chaos under Nathan Jones and Ruben Selles, may influence the decision.
Director of football Rasmus Ankersen is a huge backer of Martin and is also a stubborn man. He will have to weigh up the financial implications of sacking Martin and his coaching staff with the almost inevitable costs of relegation. Saints lost £73million in 2022/23 after switching managers over and over again.
If these miserable results continue then Martin is sure to get his marching orders eventually. But, perversely, the fact that Wolves and West Ham still have hope – and Saints don’t – could see him outlast O’Neil and Lopetegui.
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