The effect of a managerial change at a football club sets into event a chain of reaction and the most gargantuan of outcomes. An innumerable number of permutations and combinations are at play, which decides the outcome of the success of a managerial change.
The most fickle job in football is perhaps the job of the manager. However, it is also the most sought-after job. The manager sets the club in his image and devises tactics and plans to steer them forward. If he is successful, he is treated like God at the club but if he fails, he is simply sacked for the next man with a message of formal gratitude. His previous record, image, abilities; nothing is considered when the sack comes.
The truth of the football world is that the sack comes for all; even the Special One knows the drill.
Let us take a look at the next possible managers who are likely to get the sack:
Slaven Bilic (West Ham United):
The West Ham United gaffer has seen his team get off to a shaky start this season, to say the least. Friday’s 3-0 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion only complicated matters further for the Croatian. It is now being reported that he is being given another two matches before the board decides on his sack.
The midweek clash against a possibly weakened Tottenham Hotspur side in the Carabao Cup followed by a weekend league clash against bottom-placed Crystal Palace is going to be the last two chances for Bilic to turn his fortune around at the club. Otherwise, we might as well see the fourth sack of the season.
Mark Hughes (Stoke City):
The Stoke City boss guided the club to three straight ninth-place finishes for 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 season, their best place finish since 1974-75 before finishing 13th last season. However, their team which has added weight by bringing in new players like Jese from Paris Saint Germain, Kurt Zouma from Chelsea and Saido Berahino from West Bromwich Albion in January has failed to perform this season.
The club is languishing in the 17th place, level on points with Everton but safe only on a better goal difference as compared to the Merseyside club. Hughes must look to turn things around and after five defeats in six matches, we can say he does not have a long time to do so.
Paul Clement (Swansea City):
After a fairytale debut with Swansea where his team beat Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, Clement continued to build on his good work earning 26 points from 18 games and leading the Swans to the safety season. However this season things have gone downhill for them and Swansea are currently staggering at 15th position with just 8 points, same as that of Everton, but with a better goal difference.
Their next two matches are Manchester United in the Carabao Cup and Arsenal in the league. It is tough to see the Swans coming away with anything from the two games, a situation bound to add more pressure to Clement’s demise at his current club.
