On the eve of the season Eddie Howe was the bookies favourite to be the first PL manager to leave this season at 6/1. It is, of course, a very reactive market and the picture looks very different now.
The new favourite is Sean Dyche. A difficult start to the season with heavy defeats to Brighton and Spurs seemed to be easing with a comfortable 2-0 lead over Bournemouth going into the last moments - only to lose 3-2! Another 2 goal lead was blown at the weekend and Everton sit at the bottom of the league with 0 points and 13 goals conceded.
This has seen Dyche's odds fall from 14/1 to 2/1.
Despite a win on Saturday, Erik ten Hag remains high in the list. The manner of defeat to Liverpool remains fresh in the mind, and his odds have gone from 8/1 to 5/1.
At 7/1 are two of the promoted managers. Russell Martin is yet to win a point and has seen his Southampton team net just once. Martin started the season at 12s, but after close defeats to Newcastle and Forest, his side have suffered more comprehensive defeats 3-1 to Brentford and 3-0 to Man Utd. A missed penalty on Saturday added to his woes.
Steve Cooper and his Leicester side have won 2 points, while their legal team have also won 2! Credible draws against Spurs and Palace - albeit 2 up in the latter - have come alongside a couple of 2-1 defeats. Cooper was 10's before the season.
Enzo Maressca has gone from 7s to 8s after an okay start, but Gary O'Neil has seen his odds go from 20s to 12/1 after a tough start which has gained just 1 point. It means Wolves has just 1 win in their last 14 PL games - and the FA Cup defeat to Coventry to start it off. Pressure is building and they have a tough run including a derby with Villa, and home games with Liverpool and Man City. O'Neil needs to stop the rot quickly.
A tough start for Palace with just 2 points, but Oliver Glasner odds have remained at 14. For Ange Postecoglus though, odds are shortening after a North London Derby loss and just one win in the opening 4 games. He is now 18, in from 20s.
Also at 18s are Eddie Howe (out from 6s, partially due to the England job you would think) and Julien Lopetegui, who has stayed the same odds after 4 points from 4 games.
Marco Silva and Nuno Espirito Santos are impressing the bookies. Silva has gone from 12s to 20/1, while a win over Liverpool has added to the Forest good start and their bosses odds have doubled from 10s to 20s.
Adroni Iralola, Thomas Frank and Kieran McKenna are now 25/1 from 16s, 18s and 20s respectively.
At 33/1 two new managers look safe. Fabian Hurzeler was August manager of the month and has his Brighton side in 6th. He started the season at 20/1 so has won the faith of the bookies. Arne Slot has gone out from 25s, despite defeat to Forest his started well and won at Old Trafford.
Despite being top of the table with 4 wins from 4 games, Pep Guardiola is also 33/1. The court case getting underway now is the reason, under normal circumstances he would be a lot longer. He started the season at 33/1 so no chance.
Unai Emery has gone from 40/1 to 50/1 after winning 3 of the 4 games, while Mikel Arteta doubles from 50/1 to 100/1 after signing a new contract and getting 10pts from 12.
I had Nuno pre-season, but he has bought himself time with a good start. While it is hard to see where the next win is coming for Dyche I can see the board backing him for a little bit longer. They have a lot of the teams expected to be in the relegation fight coming up, and they will take some encouragement from going 2 up in the last 2 games...
As such, and given his long run without a win, Gary O'Neil is my new bet. On paper that Wolves squad doesn't look too bad, but that devastating quarter final cup defeat to Coventry seems to be hanging over O'Neil as the massive turning point in his Wolves tenure.
(odds taken from SkyBet)
The Sack Race update....
posted on 16/9/24
Ange seems like a good bet. Tricky run of fixtures coming up for him including United away, which might keep ETH in a job and kick Ange out of one.
posted on 16/9/24
Ange is close now - terrible results, tough run of games coming up. No point making a great dinner if you can’t finish it
posted on 16/9/24
comment by Striketeam7 - staying humble (U18109)
posted 17 minutes ago
Ange is close now - terrible results, tough run of games coming up. No point making a great dinner if you can’t finish it
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you can make nice things with leftovers..
posted on 16/9/24
I think Dyche will have more time because he's done this so many times before he's probably got some good will in the bank.
ETH is probably just a matter of when, but I don't think it'll be till around Christmas time.
Ange is an interesting one, I thought he'd have shorter odds given the feeling around the club and the poor run they're on if you include the way they finished last season. I think Levy has to be careful about how the club will be perceived to potential future managers though and may give him more time.
I'm not sure about the attitude of the owners and the history of Russell Martin, but he seems like he could be a good bet to go down. Started okay but they're now looking really naive and out of their depth and they could just go into freefall and the owners might want to at least stop an embarrassment of a season happening to them. He'd probably be the one I put my money on.
Didn't realise Wolves were on such a bad run but think GON will be okay.
posted on 16/9/24
comment by T-BAD (U11806)
posted 8 minutes ago
I think Dyche will have more time because he's done this so many times before he's probably got some good will in the bank.
ETH is probably just a matter of when, but I don't think it'll be till around Christmas time.
Ange is an interesting one, I thought he'd have shorter odds given the feeling around the club and the poor run they're on if you include the way they finished last season. I think Levy has to be careful about how the club will be perceived to potential future managers though and may give him more time.
I'm not sure about the attitude of the owners and the history of Russell Martin, but he seems like he could be a good bet to go down. Started okay but they're now looking really naive and out of their depth and they could just go into freefall and the owners might want to at least stop an embarrassment of a season happening to them. He'd probably be the one I put my money on.
Didn't realise Wolves were on such a bad run but think GON will be okay.
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ETH won't be sacked , we'll end up with a good season.
posted on 16/9/24
comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 2 hours, 47 minutes ago
Ange seems like a good bet. Tricky run of fixtures coming up for him including United away, which might keep ETH in a job and kick Ange out of one.
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Yep, also feels like its turning a bit toxic there, though Arsenal aside their performances have been pretty good I thought.
posted on 16/9/24
I would have had Nuno at the start of the season with Dyche a very close second.
Doesn’t look like anybody’s job is in immediate danger. If Everton keep losing, Dyche will be gone by the next international break
posted on 16/9/24
comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 5 hours, 51 minutes ago
comment by T-BAD (U11806)
posted 8 minutes ago
I think Dyche will have more time because he's done this so many times before he's probably got some good will in the bank.
ETH is probably just a matter of when, but I don't think it'll be till around Christmas time.
Ange is an interesting one, I thought he'd have shorter odds given the feeling around the club and the poor run they're on if you include the way they finished last season. I think Levy has to be careful about how the club will be perceived to potential future managers though and may give him more time.
I'm not sure about the attitude of the owners and the history of Russell Martin, but he seems like he could be a good bet to go down. Started okay but they're now looking really naive and out of their depth and they could just go into freefall and the owners might want to at least stop an embarrassment of a season happening to them. He'd probably be the one I put my money on.
Didn't realise Wolves were on such a bad run but think GON will be okay.
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ETH won't be sacked , we'll end up with a good season.
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Haven't seen anything in your performances or heard anything from the man himself to suggest that this might be the case.