It's approaching that stage of the season when the clubs down the bottom of the table start to think about change. The fans grow increasingly impatient and demanding, owners and directors are put under immense pressure, and players lose complete confidence in themselves, prompting a change of manager and a new boost for the club as a whole. 7 games in and Portsmouth remain pointless. They've shipped 13 goals in those 7 games, and only managed to hit the net on 3 occasions. It's this kind of form that may find manager Paul Hart forced out of the club in the very near future.
A number of things have contributed to the demise of a club who under Harry Redknapp just a few years ago had a solid squad of players, were playing well, and were contenders for Europe. In fact, they were participants in Europe last season, hosting clubs such as AC Milan no less. However, the change from a vastly experienced, hugely knowledeable manager, to a guy who has never managed in the Premier League before, has obviously proven too big a step for Pompey.
They're desperately short on confidence and enthusiasm. While every club in this situation would deny that and say there are always plenty of positives to take from it, there's no hiding from the fact they're in deep trouble, even at this very early stage in the season. The table doesn't lie, and nor do results. Hart's signings have been questionable too. Spending £5m on Watford's centre-half Michael Williamson seemed a bizarre choice. That sort of money could have bought 2 Niko Kranjcar's.
Goals are obviously prooving a massive stumbling block for Hart's men. Only 3 this season, excluding the 4-1 defeat of Hereford in the Carling Cup, suggests that they severly lack the firepower upfront. Kanu isn't a proven goalscorer, Danny Webber isn't a Premier League standard player, and Frederic Piquionne is still finding his feet in England. And now that Kranjcar has left, for a ridiculously low price, means that there's now a lack of goals from the midfield. In fact, Younes Kaboul is Pompey's highest scoring player this season, from centre-back. Disturbing.
Paul Hart is currently joint favourite to be sacked first this season.
Odds: 11/10 (SKYBET)
The man Hart is currently battling in the sacking race is Hull City's Phil Brown. His reign as manager at the KC has been much less straight forward than Hart's at Pompey. Having taken over from Phil Parkinson in December 2006, Brown saved Hull from relegation before guiding them to the Premier League in the 2007/08 season. They made a fantastic start to their first ever PL campaign, breaking into the top 5 early on in the season. But a spectacular drop in form, and some woeful results meant that come the last day of the season Hull were favourites to go down. Despite losing on the last day to Manchester United, other results went their way, and they survived. By the skin of their teeth.
Many people believe, including me, that the demise started at half-time in the home game against Manchester City (pictured above), in which Hull trailed 4-0 at the break, and went on to lose 5-1. Instead of doing the normal, traditional thing of taking his players to the dressing room for a half-time team-talk, Brown kept his men out on the pitch and preceeded in humiliating them infront of the Hull supporters. From that match on, Hull went on to win only 4 of their remaining 25 games in all competitions. Make your own minds up.
So Brown seems to have lost the dressing room at Hull, and confidence is at an all time low. A 6-1 defeat at Anfield on Saturday further worsened Hull's position, as well as Brown's tenure at the club. Just one win in the opening 7 games of the season means that the Tigers are going to have to use every sinew of energy to fight against the drop this season. As for mr. Brown, his time at the KC seems very limited indeed.
Odds: 11/10 (SKYBET)
Despite Bolton not having such a bad start to the new campaign, at least not as bad as Pompey and Hull, Gary Megson's position is constantly under threat. He was the fan's last choice to take over from Sammy Lee 2 years ago, and since then has failed to win them over. His style of play is very direct, and not in the least bit attractive, and his loud-mouthed, aggressive management style hasn't made him a Premier League favourite. Bolton lie in 13th position after 6 games this season, with 2 wins. A game in hand could allow them to consolidate their mid-table position, so you may be wondering why he's among the favourites to be sacked first. While the results haven't been awful, the performances have been pretty bad. No one likes to see route 1, hoofing it up the field, type of football. Perhaps the Bolton fans would take that if they're winning, but I just don't see Megson lasting that much longer. The reason being, if Bolton start having a poor run, the fans are going to jump right on his back straight away, and pressure will mount rapidly.
Not a fan's favourite, but a favourite to get the boot.
Odds: 8/1 (SKYBET)
http://www.bet123.net/wp/premiership-betting/416/premiership-sack-race-200809-who-will-be-the-first-premier-league-manager-to-lose-their-job - The rest of the odds.
