Sack Race - Who will Win?

[A Bit High]

Pressure builds on struggling managers

The new year has not brought much cheer for four Premier League managers after Wednesday's results put them under severe pressure to keep their jobs.

Chelsea's sensational form slump continued as they lost 1-0 away to Wolves, leaving Carlo Ancelotti searching for answers, while Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson - already believed to be on the brink of being replaced - saw his side fall to a heavy 3-1 defeat at Blackburn.

At the bottom of the table, Avram Grant's lowly West Ham were thrashed 5-0 at Newcastle and Aston Villa fell into the relegation zone by virtue of Wolves' win and their 1-0 loss at home to Sunderland, prompting fans to call for Gerard Houllier's head.

All four clubs are performing well below their respective expectations this season and while Hodgson, Houllier and Grant are all new to their clubs this season, the decline of Ancelotti's Chelsea has in some ways been the most surprising. From winning the domestic double last season, Chelsea find themselves all but out of the title race just over halfway through the season and currently sit outside the Champions League places in fifth having won just one of their past nine league matches.

Asked after the Wolves result if he was confident he was the right man for the job, Ancelotti said: "Yes, I know this team very well and I'm sure that this moment will change and we will be able to fight for everything this season. I would be surprised if I am sacked. I don't fear (for my job). I'm worried because the team doesn't reach the result. I think it's obvious we are not good enough in this moment.

"It's not my decision. I hope I can continue this job, because I would like to stay here and I have a good relationship with the players and with the club."

Hodgson is the bookmakers' favourite to be axed next and after Liverpool's latest defeat, which left them in 12th just five points better off than rock bottom West Ham; he gave a two-minute interview in which he answered just three questions after the defeat at Blackburn. Liverpool legend and current club advisor Kenny Dalglish is heavily rumoured to take over from Hodgson on a temporary basis.

Hodgson said: "I am not prepared to talk about [my future] because obviously I am depressed enough with the performance and the result. I have no comments to make and I have no intention to answer any questions on the subject. [I feel] dejection, bitter disappointment, frustration. I am very disappointed for the fans who gave us good support and saw the team concede the goals we did."

Houllier was more upbeat despite being the manager to lose in front of his home supporters as Phil Bardsley's goal inflicted Villa's 10th loss of the season, already two more defeats than they had across what became Martin O'Neill's farewell season last term.

Villa fans chanted "you're getting sacked in the morning" but Houllier tried to brush off the jeers, saying: "I heard it and it hurts. But I when I hear the chants it strengthens my resolve to put things right. I spoke to (chief executive) Paul Faulkner and he was very supportive. I don't doubt (chairman) Randy Lerner's firm support and determination. We are in this together for better or worse."

Wolves' victory also left West Ham on the bottom again as the Hammers' mini-revival ended with a bang thanks to a hat-trick by Newcastle striker Leon Best and goals from Kevin Nolan and Peter Lovenkrands at St James' Park.

Grant said: "I feel confident I'm the man to lead us out of trouble. Look what we've done before this game. We were on the bottom but playecd good football to take points and climb up the table. That result is difficult to explain. It was a bad day at the office."

 

[P.A.F.C]

I personally think Ancelotti should be sacked first but Roy as favourite makes sense.

 

[belfast_bomber]

Mancini.

 

[jod23]

Roy has to be sacked next. Just simply has to be. We are only 5 points clear of rock bottom West Ham. Were Liverpool Football Club and what's going on at our club this season is simply not good enough.

 

[Zarrix]

Going to be good seeing this bloodbath unfold this evening

 

[NMFCMUFC]

Woy. Woy.

 

[DB10]

6 Woy's.

 

[A Bit High]

Roy has to be sacked next. Just simply has to be. We are only 5 points clear of rock bottom West Ham. Were Liverpool Football Club and what's going on at our club this season is simply not good enough.

I am not taking the p*ss here but seriously how long can you keep saying this for?

20 years without a title, surely there must be a used by date to live on past glories.

Your LFC is not anything to brag about anymore.

 

[belfast_bomber]

6 Woy's.

Five Houlliers
Four Martinez
Three McLeish
Two Avram Grants
And a Carlo Ancelotti

 

[Jessica Watson]

2 and a half hours.

The countdown is on.

Bye bye Roy,

 

[folester41]

where you going? roy is going along quite nicely, give him 10 games...

 

[Jessica Watson]

bensmith_times Ben Smith
SSN 'breaking news' is misleading. #lfc owners have decided on Hodgson's future ... simply a matter of when not if he goes

 

[Homeless]

According to Sky Sports Houllier still has the backing of the board.

 

[A Bit High]

According to Sky Sports Houllier still has the backing of the board.

That cant be good!

Once they announce that your packing your office up.

 

[belfast_bomber]

As they say, you have to be behind someone in order to stab them in the back.

 

[A Bit High]

As they say, you have to be behind someone in order to stab them in the back.

Or do the Greek!

 

[NMFCMUFC]

I am not taking the p*ss here but seriously how long can you keep saying this for?

20 years without a title, surely there must be a used by date to live on past glories.

Your LFC is not anything to brag about anymore.

Down there with Geordies saying "We're Newcastle United, we were in Europe a few years ago"

 

[belfast_bomber]

I remember a time when that was about all we could say.

 

[BlueBen]

Down there with Geordies saying "We're Newcastle United, we were in Europe a few years ago"

Except that we won the Champions League as recently as 2005, made another final in 2007 and until last season, had been regular participants in the latter stages of the Champions League.

We also finished 2nd in the Premier League in 2008/09 - a title that I personally believe (and I think a reasonable argument can be made) we should have won.

Granted, the Premier League is the big one and we haven't been able to win that. But I hardly think we've slipped into irrelevance as a result.

 

[NMFCMUFC]

Except that we won the Champions League as recently as 2005, made another final in 2007 and until last season, had been regular participants in the latter stages of the Champions League.

We also finished 2nd in the Premier League in 2008/09 - a title that I personally believe (and I think a reasonable argument can be made) we should have won.

Granted, the Premier League is the big one and we haven't been able to win that. But I hardly think we've slipped into irrelevance as a result.

Football players and managers think of the here and the now, that's why players leave at the drop of a hat for more riches.

What world class manager would take the Liverpool job now with the rabble left behind by Benitez? That's the only reason why Hodgson was signed, he was the only candidate and that's why he feels slightly aggrieved by the attitude of the Kop.

I remember a time when that was about all we could say.

Thank christ then Ferguson came out with a mission that we shouldn't have to claim to be a big club without the trophies to match then

 

[belfast_bomber]

I thought Pellegrini was a candidate as well. Now he's in sunny Malaga playing fantasy football with Qatari petrodollars, bet he's sorry.

 

[SebastianVettel]

What world class manager would take the Liverpool job now with the rabble left behind by Benitez? That's the only reason why Hodgson was signed, he was the only candidate and that's why he feels slightly aggrieved by the attitude of the Kop.

He wasn't the only candidate, and as for the attitude of the Kop, I'd be ****ing pissed off too having seen my club dispense with 9m to be privleged to witness Hodgson's 'style' of management.

As for the 'rabble left behind behind by Benitez', that's just a typical uninformed comment for your typical uninformed fan with no idea of what actually went on.

It wasn't a rabble, it was a squad that challenged for the top 4 last year. And that was after it had been asset stripped to high hell.

Hodgson has taken a CL place challenging team into a relegation fight. But that must be Rafa's fault, right?

I too thought Rafa's time was up, but to blame him for Hodgson's incompetence is just laughably ridiculous.

 

[SebastianVettel]

I thought Pellegrini was a candidate as well. Now he's in sunny Malaga playing fantasy football with Qatari petrodollars, bet he's sorry.

Pellegrini, Deschamps and Dalglish were all viable options and they all wanted the job among others.

But the whole process was a sham, Purslow knew who he wanted before the interviews even got underway. Unfortunately Purslow is a complete tit, and unsurprisingly he hired a complete tit.

 

[NMFCMUFC]

He wasn't the only candidate, and as for the attitude of the Kop, I'd be ****ing pissed off too having seen my club dispense with 9m to be privleged to witness Hodgson's 'style' of management.

I never said his football was good, but what did fans expect this season? Honest question.

As for the 'rabble left behind behind by Benitez', that's just a typical uninformed comment for your typical uninformed fan with no idea of what actually went on.

It wasn't a rabble, it was a squad that challenged for the top 4 last year. And that was after it had been asset stripped to high hell.

No. you were fairly average last season as well, that's why for the entire year of 2010 you only won twice away, half of that was under Benitez.

The team is not good enough. You must realise this, and this includes what Benitez bought, do you beleive Skrtel, Johnson, Babel, Aquiliani (Benitez buy), N'Gog et al are in the same band of quality as the other top 5 Premier League clubs?

Benitez was crap in the market place, and ended up with the squad you have now, yes, your Poulsens and so on were Woy buys, but you always needed proper money to improve that side left by Benitez.

Hodgson has taken a CL place challenging team into a relegation fight. But that must be Rafa's fault, right?

I too thought Rafa's time was up, but to blame him for Hodgson's incompetence is just laughably ridiculous.

I wasn't blaming Benitez for where you are now, I'm just saying he didn't leave the squad in a healthy state. I more stated that no one other than your man sick of managing your Fulhams etc was willing to put their hand up to take this job, I'd rather take the England one to be honest, there was no money, the squad isn't good enough for what the fans want. (City, Arsenal and Spurs have improved beyond sight on top of already defeating Liverpool easily last season)

 

[belfast_bomber]

Rumour is the winner is Ancelotti.

It's not on his wiki yet, though there is this, which is quality.