The English Premier League Hot Seat

The Hot Seat

We may only be five matches into the 2014-2015 Premier League season, but it is never too early to begin seeing the managers getting a little hot under the collar. Whether it be injuries, bad luck or just bad form, there are managers all around the World who are on the hot seat, and unless their results change, they could find themselves at the back of the unemployment line. These managers in the Premier League are currently on the cusp of getting the boot and cannot afford to continue their current run of form if they want to keep their current jobs and not find themselves guest starring on the next episode of Sky Sports Soccer Saturday.

Getting Warm

Roberto Martinez

After a successful first season at Goodison Park, Roberto Martinez’s Everton side has found themselves in the middle of a sophomore slump. Everton were knocked out of the English League Cup in the third round by Swansea City in a match where Everton were run ragged. Currently sitting in fourteenth place in the standings, Everton has only won one match, defeating West Brom 2-0. The club has also lost twice including a loss at home to Chelsea who thrashed the lifeless side 6-3.

The team has struggled mightily this season, far removed from how the team played last season while finishing fifth and qualifying for the Euro League. Unless the results quickly improve, Martinez could find himself under more and more pressure from not only the board but also from the supporters to turn the side around. Failure to do so could put Everton’s season in danger along with his future at Goodison Park.

Brendan Rodgers

As with Martinez, Rodgers had a very successful season last year, using all of his knowledge and skill to mastermind Liverpool playing way above what they should have. Liverpool did not have the class last season to win the title and it showed down the stretch last year including the horrific collapse at the end of the year. The team’s form seems to have continued into the start of this season as the club has played below expectations and suffered shocking losses at home against Aston Villa and on the road against West Ham. The club was also decimated at the Etihad against Manchester City who easily outclassed Liverpool 3-1.

Whether it be the teams over-achievement last season or the poor run of play to start this season, Rodgers spot as manager is quickly getting hotter. With every match more will be calling for the results to change or the manager to change. The side is no where near as good as those in the top of English Soccer, but Brendan Rodgers is still the manager of Liverpool. This is a club that has a long history of good results with the expectation of it to continue. If he cannot provide them with what they want, the board will have no problem finding someone who will.

Update the Resume

“Poyet may have rescued the club from relegation last year, but who will save him from the unemployment line should the current results continue.”

Gus Poyet

Yes. he masterminded one of the greatest relegation survivals in Premier League history after taking over the last placed Sunderland last season. Sunderland became the first club in Premier League history to avoid relegation after being bottom of the table on Christmas Day. With Poyet being rewarded for his efforts at the end of the season with a new two year contract, it is hard to believe that Sunderland would fire him so soon into the new season after giving him a new contract.

So far this season Sunderland sit seventeenth in the table with zero wins in their first five matches. The club has had four draws including road draws at the struggling Burnley , West Brom and a loss at Loftus Road to lowly Queens Park Rangers. The club also lost in the League Cup third round at home against Stoke City. Indeed, Poyet may have rescued the club from relegation last year, but who will save him from the unemployment line should the current results continue.

Harry Redknapp

After taking over Queens Park Rangers in the middle of the 2012-2013 season but failed to keep the club in the Premier League. The club finished bottom of the table and were relegated to the Championship. Redknapp remained with QPR and guided the club through the promotion play-off to victory and back into the Premier League after only one season. Though considerable investment in the club by the board occurred to allow Redknapp to improve the squad, it has not shown in QPR horrible start.

In the first five matches of the season, QPR’s only victory has come over the struggling Sunderland side. The club has also had offensive issues, scoring only three goals in five matches while also allowing a league worst eleven goals against. With the struggles as bad as they are, many have to wonder how the long the board will wait before pulling the trigger on a change at manager. Redknapp could easily be seeing his way out of the Premier League again very soon.

Alan Pardew

The manager that has been under constant fire since last season. Alan Pardew’s has had an extremely tumultuous ride since his appointment at Newcastle and the start to this season has only intensified the feeling of the supporters who want him terminated. With Newcastle currently sitting bottom of the table with zero wins in five matches and eleven goals allowed, Pardew is not just on a hot seat, his seat has caught on fire and he is about to as well.

Any bad performance in any competition for the next few weeks should result in his termination. Newcastle needs to win and win now if their is any hope for Alan Pardew in keeping his job. With this weekends match at Stoke City, a loss or bad draw by the club should mean Pardew’s departure from the club. Even with a win in the match, Pardew will not be safe and will most likely be fired this season.

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