Almost a quarter of the Premier League season has gone by. The EPL has had one managerial casualty, that being Watford’s Javi Gracia. Others like Steve Bruce and Dean Smith have come under some pressure because of struggles at the wrong end of the table.
But now the focus is on two of the Big 6 clubs who are struggling to make an impact on the top four. Those two clubs are Manchester United and Tottenham, with bosses Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Mauricio Pochettino respectively, under pressure.
Next Premier League Manager To Go odds*
| Player |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marco Silva | 11/10 | 1/1 | 1/1 |
| Ole Gunnar Solskjaer | 6/4 | 5/2 | 2/1 |
| Mauricio Pochettino | 8/1 | 3/1 | 5/1 |
| Steve Bruce | 8/1 | 16/1 | 16/1 |
| Quique Sánchez Flores | 16/1 | 20/1 | 20/1 |
| Ralph Hasenhuttl | 16/1 | 16/1 | 16/1 |
(Betting Odds were taken from Labrokes, Betfair and BetvVictor on October 8th, 2019 at 19:04)
Table of Contents
Time running out for OGS?
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was trimmed into 5/2 in the next Premier League manager to go market on Monday* (betting odds taken from Betfair on Monday, October 7th at 8:17 pm). It was another abject display from the Red Devils on the weekend as they lost 1-0 against the struggling Newcastle. The defeat left Manchester United with only the two league wins on the board this season and growing unrest at Old Trafford.
The loss at St James Park means that Manchester United have not won since February out on the road in any domestic competition. It also compounded them to their worst start to a season for 30 years. Going into the October international break, Manchester United are sat only two points above the drop zone in 12th place. In their first game back from the break, they meet Liverpool.
Red Devils lack attacking threat
Their lack of creativity and scoring threat is evident. Not since they put four goals past Chelsea on the opening weekend of the season have they managed to score more than one goal in a match. Their woes in the Premier League (W2 D3 L3) have been added too by needing a penalty shoot-out to beat Rochdale in the League Cup.
Their European performances have been flat as well, struggling to a 1-0 home win over Astana and then failing to get a shot on target in a 0-0 draw at AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League. Overall the Red Devils have tallied two goals in their last five games across all competitions. How patient are the United board going to be with OGS? That’s the question now. United are under-strength because of injuries, but the overall quality of the squad appears to be lacking.
Poch feels the heat
Mauricio Pochettino’s situation at Tottenham looks to be in just about the same amount of decline as well at the moment. His Tottenham team were beaten 3-0 by Brighton on the weekend, a huge upset for the Lilywhites and it came straight off the back of their humiliating 2-7 home loss against Bayern Munich in the Champions League. Pochettino was cut to 3/1 by Betfair on Monday* (betting odds taken from Betfair on Monday, October 7th at 8:17 pm).
Spurs have won only one of their last six games in all competitions (D2 L4) and you can tell Pohcettino is uncomfortable at the moment. The difficulty that Spurs will have in letting him go is finding a suitable high-profile replacement who could potentially take them onto the next level. Pochettino has remained without silverware during his tenure at the North London club despite mounting good Premier League challenges and reaching the Champions League final last season.
The interesting twist
The interesting twist in all of this is that Pochettino is heavily linked with a move to Manchester United. So if Solskjaer where to go first, would Pochettino jump ship and move to Old Trafford? Would Spurs be reluctant to sack him if the Old Trafford job becomes open and risk losing him to a domestic rival?
Or if Spurs sack Pochettino will Manchester United react and go and grab him, as he is a far more experienced manager than Solskjaer? Pochettino could have more pull in the transfer market too and that’s an area which is vitally important for United in January.
Silva stressed on Merseyside
Not only do Everton fans have to sit and watch their great rivals Liverpool control things at the top of the Premier League, but they also have to suffer through a season of disappointment. Everton were one of the most hyped-teams before the new campaign. One of those on the outskirts who could potentially threaten the Big Six.
It hasn’t happened and after a 1-0 loss against Burnley on the weekend, Everton find themselves in the bottom three. The loss against the Clarets was Everton’s fourth straight loss (Bournemouth, Sheff Utd and Man City) and their fifth in sixth. So it has gone heavily sour for Silva at Goodison Park and he remains the even-money favourites at BetVictor to be the next EPL manager to go* (betting odds taken from BetVictor on Monday, October 7th at 8:17 pm).
Premier League return
It could all hinge on the return of the Premier League after the international break. Manchester United face runaway leaders Liverpool and if the Red Devils fail in that fixture, that will confirm for a lot of people that Solskjaer isn’t up for the job.
Despite the board citing that United are a work in progress under him, and pleading for fans to be patient, results still have to be produced.
As for Spurs, they play host to the struggling Watford. If the Lilywhites fail to get a win on the board in that one against the bottom side who haven’t won all season, then it’s not unimaginable that something is going to happen at Tottenham.
