Alongside managing the traditional title contenders, the highest pressure management positions in the English Premier League are with those teams fighting for survival in the division. These clubs are usually run on a shoe string budget, sell any stars that emerge and expect their managers to get them closer to mid table safety rather than involve them in the discomfort of a relegation battle.
Given the millions at stake, one must sympathize with the club owners who must strike a fine balance between knee jerk firings and allowing their managers sufficient time to imprint their football philosophy on the team.
West Ham, my prediction for first relegation candidate are victims to a group of owners that had become renowned for understanding the need to afford their managers sufficient time. Perhaps tentatively blinded by the new millions in the game, Sullivan and Gold who only recently purchased West Ham must now think they should have stuck with principle and rewarded Gianfranco Zola for his successful battle against relegation last season.
The new owners opted for the experienced Avram Grant who had just completed an inspirational season at doomed Portsmouth but he has apparently failed to fire up his troops for the fight. It is often said that managers like Ferguson and Mourinho are winners that find a way to instill a winning mentality to their charges, Avram Grant after all he went through at Portsmouth seems to have a reverse effect. While West Ham may be best served by changing managers now, with their dire financial situation it may be a decision that Sullivan and Gold feel is too costly to make and one that will cost them a place in the top flight next season.
Sticking with the subject of experienced managers, Newcastle owner Mike Ashley seems to cherish an experienced manager over a successful one. Chris Hughton inherited a relegated Newcastle in turmoil and got them convincingly promoted back to the premiership at the first time of asking.
Despite being denied a contract, funds and an assistant, Hughton got Newcastle into mid table of the premier league with some sensational results against heavy weights Arsenal and Chelsea as well as totally thrashing Sunderland their derby rivals. While these achievements would have strengthened the manager’s hand at any other club, Mike Ashley decided the time was right to sack Hughton and bring in Alan Pardew who he considered an experienced manager.
While I think Pardew is a great person and manager who deserves another crack at the top flight, I predict that Mike Ashley’s unconvenality will continue to drag Newcastle down to end the season in the bottom three. Since he took ownership of Newcastle, Ashley sacked Sam Allardyce while they were 10th placed in the premier league because the football wasn’t pretty enough. Then Kevin Keegan left after disagreeing with Ashley’s hiring of Dennis Wise as a Technical Director and the club’s transfer policy. Until Mike Ashley succeeds in selling the club, continue to watch the sports headlines for the next strange Newcastle situation.
My third prediction for relegation is Wigan. They have had some strange results this season with impressive performances when you least expect them but I believe their inconsistency will cost them a place in the division. In the direct battle against Wolves and West Brom, I believe Wigan will just fall short because Wolves have more steel and West Brom have more goals in them.
Now that I have finally concluded the toughest of my predictions, watch this space for my take on who will emerge with the championship. In the interim, have your say on who you believe is going down this season.
