Managerial hot seat in the EPL by @Komptrolla
Ten games in and we've already had two managerial changes, one an outright sack and the other, an inevitable resignation. We examine five managers with their head on the line and their chances of survival before Christmas.
In England at the moment, only Arsene Wenger seems to have a job for life, win, lose or draw, the Frenchman's job is safe. Elsewhere, it's pretty unfair to criticize Manuel Pellegrini, he sits atop the table albeit on goals, but his ruthlessness in the League cup against Crystal Palace explains intents and gross seriousness.
Klopp is new at Anfield and is expected to be given some time, Alardyce doesn't really have a safe job because it's only a matter of a poor run before wearside gets tired of him and finally, having rubbished the saying that you're as good as your last job, Claudio Ranieri for now has a job for keeps, hired following the strange sacking of Nigel Pearson, the Italian had a nightmarish Euro qualification campaign with Greece and was booted out unceremoniously, but with his fine run of results, his head as as safe as anyone else.
5. Quique Sanchez Flores
Watford sit thirteenth on the table with three wins from ten games, everyone expected each of the new boys to struggle but Watford haven't performed badly, they don't score too many but they don't let in much either. A fantastic result at the Britannia eased the pressure on Q.S Flores but the Vicarage road landlords need results to steer clear of the red zone and ultimately remove their manager from this list.
4. Eddie Howie
Having recently signed a new deal at the Vitality Stadium, it's a bit harsh to have Bournemouth manager Eddie Howie in here but two heavy defeats and just two points above the relegation spots, one can't make a case for the veteran. No one expected Bournemouth to beat Manchester City but who expected them to ship five consecutively? If Aguero and Silva were available for the Etihad trip it could have been worse. Injuries to record signings and key players has conspired against Eddie Howie but he must bring out something special if he wants to stay up and on the job.
3. Alex Neil
Norwich City dusted Middlesbrough at the playoffs to break back into the premier league, but it's been an uninspiring run of results so far. Hovering two places above the red zone, Alex Neil must turn things around sooner than later. The managerial changes at Villa Park and Stadium of Light means there would be fortune changes there, this leaves Norwich under pressure to perform or they'll slide further down. The epic failure at a troubled Newcastle recently enveloped the struggles of the hornets.
2. Jose Mourinho
Whatever you're going through as a human, you'll certainly take that over the predicament of a certain Special One. From league champion to pathetic struggler, from a position of relative comfort to harsh uncertainties. Right from the preseason friendlies, to a rare shield cup loss to Arsenal, and to some unbelievable poor results in the league, Chelsea have lost five times already and it's not Christmas yet, they only lost three times in their entire campaign last season. It is believed that a staggering £30m payoff clause in Mourinho's contract is the reason he's still at Stamford Bridge, but after the shoot out loss to Stoke in the Capital One Cup, if it were to be the Samurai era, Mourinho ought to man up and fall on his own sword, Liverpool lurks this weekend, could that be the final nail in Jose's coffin?
1. Steve Steve McCLaren
Newcastle made a grave mistake by appointing the former England manager in the first place. He doesn't have a good record to warrant his appointment, he's playing style doesn't fit Newcastle, he shouldn't be the manager after the derby loss to a hapless Sunderland. The St. James's hierarchy should be on the look out for a replacement hence the Toons slide down into championship football next term.
