Manchester United’s beleaguered head coach Erik ten Hag is the favourite to be the first Premier League manager to lose his job this season but a number of other rivals are not sitting comfortably.
Erik ten Hag remains under huge pressure entering the October international break after a dull scoreless draw away to Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon.
Manchester United’s hierarchy are set to hold crunch talks on Tuesday to decide whether to stick with the Dutchman, who signed a contract extension in the summer, or make a change in a campaign that is already drifting towards further disappointment.
But with Premier League clubs given time to gather their thoughts over the next few days, a number of other head coaches are finding themselves on a hot seat following difficult starts to the campaign.
And while Ten Hag remains the bookmakers’ favourite to be the first top flight gaffer to get the chop, three rivals in particular must be feeling the heat.
Russell Martin – Southampton
Just one point to show from their opening seven games, an inexperienced team determined to play in the high-risk style that earned promotion via the play-offs last season already looks a good bet for immediate relegation.
Martin remains married to his possession-based approach but it is already widely considered that a bit more pragmatism is needed to survive.
He might be safe for now but Saints face a crunch clash at home to Leicester immediately after the break. Lose that, before travelling to Manchester City, and the spotlight will shine very harshly.
Gary O’Neil – Wolves
Won a host of plaudits for inheriting a mess last season and keeping the team up with a degree of comfort. But everything appears to be going wrong so far as they sit bottom with one draw and six defeats so far.
The most troubling performance of all came away to Brentford on Saturday when O’Neil admitted his team’s performance looked unrecognisable to the one he wanted.
Wolves ’ owners must take a lot of the blame for the squad O’Neil is working with but this is beginning to resemble a partnership beyond repair.
Oliver Glasner – Crystal Palace
The Austrian won many admirers when Palace finished last season like a train. Yet after a difficult summer in which Michael Olise and Joachim Andersen were among the departures, they are still waiting for a first victory.
Palace are not being beaten comfortably but they are badly struggling for goals – only Southampton have fewer to date.
Glasner is not under immediate pressure but unless there is an uptick in results between now and the November break he might quickly find himself on borrowed time.
Sean Dyche – Everton
Five points from the past three games, including a win over Palace, might point to things looking up for Everton.
Yet the possible eventual takeover of the club means Dyche cannot be sitting entirely comfortably.
The Toffees have a relatively friendly couple of games after the restart. Dyche might need some points to prove change in the dugout is not required.
