It is with heavy heart we must now report it is officially probable that no more Premier League managers will lose their jobs this season. It’s May and we’ve long reached the point where ‘No manager to leave’ is actually favourite, and now it’s very odds on despite Manchester United’s utter silliness.
1) Erik ten Hag (Manchester United)
READ: The leading contenders to be next Manchester United manager if they sack Erik ten Hag
2) David Moyes (West Ham)
3) Chris Wilder (Sheffield United)
He was always the Blades’ Plan B but could they have a Plan C? They do look like they might need a Plan C. And C there stands for Championship, because Sheffield United’s next move is all about what gives them the best chance of yo-yo-ing straight back out of that division next year. This year is done.
4) Vincent Kompany (Burnley)
5) Nuno Espirito Santo (Nottingham Forest)
Has probably just about done enough to keep Forest up and is thus safe until maybe September.
6) Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)
A lesser version of the Moyes effect at play here, now the farewell quadruple is a farewell single. Still seems inconceivable that he won’t see things out, mind.
Who will replace Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager?
7=) Eddie Howe (Newcastle)
7=) Mauricio Pochettino (Chelsea)
7=) Sean Dyche (Everton)
7=) Thomas Frank (Brentford)
7=) Roberto De Zerbi (Brighton)
7=) Marco Silva (Fulham)
He apparently turned down a big old pile of cash to move to Saudi Arabia and has since signed a new deal. There was a pair of 5-0 wins that made no sense but six games without a win – and exit out of both cups – was all a bit bleak before victory over Bournemouth settled things again.
The victory at Old Trafford was a sweet one, and the dismantling of Tottenham at home perhaps even more so. Both were reminders that Fulham are the best kind of mid-table side: perfectly capable of beating absolutely anyone, but not averse to losing shambolically to, say, Burnley. Fulham were suitably terrible for a few weeks after toying with Spurs, drawing chaotically at Sheffield United and losing to Forest and Newcastle. And then they completed a double over West Ham at London Stadium. Lovely stuff. Hopefully he’s going nowhere because Fulham are our favourite of the mid-table teams.
7=) Gary O’Neil (Wolves)
Happy to report that we were very wrong about O’Neil, who has Wolves firmly ensconced in mid-table as he makes a compelling bid for “Actually, He’s The Real Manager Of The Season In My View” garlands.
7=) Rob Edwards (Luton)
Surely not. Would be the most Modern Football thing ever.
15=) Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth)
Funny old team, Bournemouth, but ample evidence that Iraola could make them really quite good. They’ve had a run of seven wins in nine games and another of four wins in five. Those are also their only Premier League wins in a season that has featured both a nine-game and seven-game run without a win. But they’re very, very safe, and so too surely is Iraola.
15=) Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace)
Steered Palace comfortably into the 40s, to our delight, and showing plenty to suggest 50 points or more should be well within range next season. Giddy times indeed.
15=) Ange Postecoglou (Tottenham)
Harrowingly Spursy end to the season a stark reminder to us all that they remain resolutely incapable of change, but Postecoglou is going nowhere until they’re 13th after 11 games of next season and they embark sadly on yet another forlorn, doomed 18-month project after a vaguely encouraging caretaker spell from Ryan Mason lifts them back into the top half at least.
15=) Unai Emery (Aston Villa)
Villa are no longer part of the elite but have a manager competing with that elite. There is at least one elite job available this summer. But having felt the strain of replacing a legend when following Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, would he even want another taste of that particular medicine by replacing Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool should the opportunity arise? But has lost at home to Manchester United, which is arguably in and of itself a sackable offence. Did the double over his former club Arsenal, though, which is absolutely delicious.
15=) Mikel Arteta (Arsenal)
Rocketed up the charts after claims from Spain – quickly dismissed – that he was also thinking of walking away.
15=) Pep Guardiola (Manchester City)
How big an offer from Saudi Arabia would it take, do we reckon?
2023-07-05T12:50:51Z dg43tfdfdgfd