Everything is serene, and the tranquility is somewhat unsettling. Last season saw a historic 14 Premier League managers depart from their positions, yet with a third of this campaign already completed, we have yet to witness our first firing. The prime time for dismissals has not yet arrived, and even the opening of the January transfer window may shift focus, but nonetheless, this is an unprecedented period of stability. What could be behind this phenomenon?
It’s important to note, however, that Julen Lopetegui left Wolves shortly before the season began due to the intolerable financial constraints he would have been under. Despite turning down an offer to manage the Saudi champions Al-Ittihad, he remains a potential replacement for any Premier League manager who gets sacked this winter. Julen’s successor, Gary O’Neil, has done a remarkable job given the restrictions placed upon him. Wolves currently stand 12th in the league and could be in the top half if not for three contentious penalty decisions going against them.
By this time last season, six managers had already departed, with Scott Parker being sacked by Bournemouth after a 9-0 thrashing by Liverpool. Chelsea had dismissed Thomas Tuchel following disagreements with Todd Boehly, and Wolves moved on from Bruno Lage, Aston Villa from Steven Gerrard, and Southampton from Ralph Hasenhüttl after underwhelming starts to the season.
Perhaps the first three could be seen as unusual events influenced by recent takeovers of Chelsea and Bournemouth. However, last season, patience had run out in three clubs by this point, while none seem anywhere close to making a move this year. This could partly be a reaction to the upheaval of last season, acknowledging that changing the manager isn’t always the solution. The three relegated clubs, Leeds, Leicester, and Southampton, changed their managers twice.
Perhaps every club is relatively satisfied with their current situation, or for those who aren’t, there are specific factors in play. Chelsea and Manchester United are lagging lower in the table than expected, but Mauricio Pochettino seems slowly to be finding order amidst the chaos at Chelsea. Manchester United, despite not putting up exceptional performances, have won four of their last five league games, but the arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s purchase of 25% of the club might spell change for their manager. New ownership often leads to a change in management, making little sense to undergo that before the new investment.
Burnley, despite their outstanding performance in the Championship last season, currently sit at the bottom of the Premier League with just four points from 13 games. However, Vincent Kompany has invested in them, and given his transformation of their style last season, he likely still has credibility.
Sheffield United and Luton, the other two promoted clubs, probably expected to struggle due to budget and resources. It may be a few weeks before either club decides to take a gamble with a new manager, as for now, Paul Heckingbottom and Rob Edwards are performing as expected, with both teams showing recent improvements in results.
One would have anticipated better from Bournemouth, who made the bold decision to replace O’Neil with Andoni Iraola in the summer, but they are unlikely to be hasty. Bournemouth can argue that, apart from a 3-0 loss at Everton, their season hasn’t been particularly poor, and their league position is partly due to facing five bottom-half teams before the halfway point.
Everton’s second-bottom status is due to a points deduction. under Sean Dyche, they have appeared increasingly solid, while Steve Cooper remains popular with Nottingham Forest fans, being eight points clear of the drop zone, which is probably in line with expectations. Pressure may mount on Marco Silva at Fulham due to a lack of investment following Aleksandar Mitrović’s departure, rather than an issue with the manager.
Despite the inclination in football to change managers almost reflexively, it’s not immediately apparent who is in imminent danger – at least, not until Ratcliffe takes over at Old Trafford.
This is an extract from Soccer with Jonathan Wilson, a weekly look from the Guardian US at the game in Europe and beyond.Subscribe for free here. Have a question for Jonathan? Email [email protected], and he’ll answer the best in a future edition
Michael Johnson is your soccer guru, providing extensive coverage of soccer. With a global perspective, he delivers match reports, player interviews, and insights into the beautiful game, ensuring readers stay connected to the world of soccer.
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