Ben McAleer of WhoScored.com takes a look at which Premier League manager could be in the most danger this season.
On the eve of the Premier League season, it is time to turn attention to the race no manager wants to win - The Sack Race. Indeed, a manager receiving their marching orders is never nice to see, but a change is often needed for a team to turn their fortunes around.
Last season, Javi Gracia was the first to be relieved of his duties in early September, before north London pair Tottenham and Arsenal pulled the trigger on Mauricio Pochettino and Unai Emery, respectively, in mid-November. With no Watford to make sweeping, and reactionary, changes to the backroom staff, the question on punters' lips is whose head will be first on the block in 2020/21.
Who is the favourite to be the next Premier League manager to leave?
West Ham's tough start puts Moyes in danger
The day before the campaign kicks off, West Ham's David Moyes is the best price of 4/1 favourite to be the first manager to leave their post this season. The Hammer's come into the season in turmoil off the pitch following the sale of Grady Diangana to West Brom. Diangana impressed in the Championship last term, yet his permanent move to the Hawthorns saw a number of West Ham's first team squad voice their disapproval at the decision to cash in on the 22, led by captain Mark Noble.
Aside from that, West Ham have kept the core of their squad together and signed January loan capture Tomas Soucek permanently on the back of his impressive stint in the Hammers midfield. A lack of new arrivals this summer, though, could come back to haunt the east London side and with less than a month to go until the window closes, the pressure will ramp up on Moyes if West Ham don't make a strong start to the campaign. With an unforgiving start to the season, too, those odds will only shorten if West Ham stutter in the opening weeks.
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Hodgson could be saved by shrewd signings
The same can be said of Crystal Palace, who, fortunately for Roy Hodgson, have an easier opening run of games to kick off the season. To say Palace ended the previous season poorly would be an understatement. Indeed, in the nine games post-lockdown, the south London side picked up only four points; only Norwich (0) earned fewer.
That said, Palace have made some shrewd moves in the market already, bringing in promising Championship talents Eberechi Eze and Nathan Ferguson from QPR and West Brom, respectively, while Michy Batshuayi has returned on loan. The Belgian bagged five goals in 11 league outings during his previous stint with the club and he'll look to rediscover that form at Selhurst Park.
Yet Hodgson remains the 7/1 second favourite to be the first Premier League manager to leave his post this season, but with a solid foundation already in place and some minor tweaks to the squad this summer, it's unlikely that Hodgson will be the first leave unless Palace's post-lockdown form continues into the new season.
Expect Parker to be safe at Fulham
Rounding off the three favourites is Fulham boss Scott Parker. The Cottagers head coach did well to guide Fulham to the Premier League in his first full season at the Craven Cottage helm and has been backed in the market this summer, with Anthony Knockaert and Harrison Reed seeing their loan moves made permanent. Mario Lemina arrives to shore up the midfield from Southampton, while full-backs Kenny Tete and Antonee Robinson have joined from Lyon and Wigan, respectively.
The standout addition is Alphonse Areola between the sticks. The 2018 World Cup winner comes in on loan from PSG and his top tier and European experience will be key for Fulham this term. Nevertheless, Parker, at 10/1, is the third favourite to be given the boot sooner rather than later this season. Given Parker has the backing of the board, though, the best value can be found in Moyes, and it is a shock that his odds aren't shorter at the time of writing.
With ongoing issues behind the scenes and a lack of investment in the squad, it wouldn't be a huge shock to see West Ham sack Moyes before too long.
Could Frank Lampard be in danger at a big price?
Looking at the outside bets, however, Frank Lampard needs his new additions to adjust to their new surroundings quickly or the pressure will begin to rise on the former Chelsea midfielder. The Blues have spent big this summer, which adds to the need for Lampard and Chelsea to make a sprint start to the campaign. At 33/1 to be the first manager to leave his post, it's an outside bet for sure, yet the 42-year-old has been backed to the hilt in the market, with the west London side adding the likes of Timo Werner, Kai Havertz and Ben Chilwell to the squad, and if the new faces don't settle, then things could quickly become a little tetchy in the Stamford Bridge hotseat.
Next Premier League manager to leave market:
- David Moyes 4/1
- Roy Hodgson 7/1
- Scott Parker 10/1
- Dean Smith 11/1
- Steve Bruce 12/1
- Slaven Bilic 14/1
- Sean Dyche 16/1
- Marcelo Bielsa 20/1
- Graham Potter 20/1
- Carlo Ancelotti 25/1
- Brendan Rodgers 25/1
- Ralph Hasenhuttl 28/1
- Frank Lampard 33/1
