The premier league has seen the first two managers getting sacked, Roberto Di Matteo and Mark Hughes. Roberto Di Matteo is the bigger of the two, having guided Chelsea to the FA cup and Champions league last season and maintaining sixth spot in the league. However, after managing to achieve twenty four points from twelve games and seven points from five champions league games, leaving Chelsea with a must win game against Nordsjaelland and the other result to swing in their favour to progress. Despite last season’s success at halting the faltering Chelsea of Andre Villas Boas, Di Matteo has been unable to avoid Abramovich’s axe due to a lack of results in all competitions. His successor, Rafael Benitez, wasn’t a fans choice, and, on Benitez’s first match in charge, he was booed as he exited the tunnel and fans gave a minute of applause on the sixteenth minute for Di Matteo. The situation is Benitez’s making, with him making comments under his spell at Liverpool that were derogatory of the club and fans. However, gaining two draws from his first two games, there is promise for a Chelsea revival in the Champions league and title hopes.
Mark Hughes was under a different pressure. Having not won in the opening 12 games and collecting 4 points throughout, QPR were dead last. This poor run of form saw Mark Hughes become the second to fall through the managerial trap door but paved the way to a return of a much known face, Harry Redknapp. Redknapp has managed one draw and ended a string of defeats QPR had, and can see them turning their poor form around and surviving the drop. His appointment was greeted with open arms by QPR boss, Tony Fernandes, and the board members stating that Harry was their ‘number one target’. However, the reality of him turning the situation around is much more difficult than he allows thought for, having to motivate the team to success and also create the turnaround before a large gap opens between safety and the relegation battle.
Speculation revolves around Reading boss, Mcdermott, who has also struggled for results. However, in Mcdermott’s favour, there are very slim margins of defeat, something easily remedied if he can create and net more chances. We have merely seen a glimpse of this year’s managerial trap door and there is likely to be much more managerial action as the season unfolds.
