Premier League Sack Race: Who will be the first manager to leave this season?

The Premier League season might only be two weeks old, but there are already some movements in the first Premier League manager to leave odds and, with David Moyes the favourite.

This is always a fluid betting market so odds will change week on week, but with West Ham’s problems both off and on the pitch and the unrest amongst the supporters it is no surprise to see Moyes’ name at the top of the list.

 

The Premier League Sack Race Contenders

The managers of the newly promoted clubs are always vulnerable and Scott Parker falls into that bracket, especially with his lack of managerial experience at the top level. Leeds’ Marcelo Bielsa will never be sacked but could up and walk away and West Brom’s Slavan Bilic will also be looking vulnerable if they don’t start picking up points soon.

 

David Moyes – West Ham (21/10)

After defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates on Saturday, it’s now two defeats from their opening two matches for West Ham. The opening day defeat at home to Newcastle set the early alarm bells ringing but in truth, last season and the summer events off the pitch should have been enough warning as to how things would start.

West Ham play Wolves at home next, before two tough away matches at Tottenham and Leicester City before a home game with Man City and away trip to Anfield so things are not going to get any easier for the Hammers.

At just over 2/1 in the Premier League next manager to be sacked odds, he looks a great bet. The best odds for Moyes to be sacked are at Paddy Power, he’s only 5/4 at William Hill but 21/10 with Paddy Power.

 

Scott Parker – Fulham (7/1)

Fulham were beaten 4-3 by Leeds on Saturday but things looked slightly better for them than a week ago, when they were brushed aside by Arsenal. Striker Aleksander Mitrovic is going to be the key to Fulham’s survival changes and he scored two at Elland Road this weekend.

Scott Parker’s last of experience at this level will be a concern for the Fulham owners but he did guide them to promotion from the Championship at the first attempt, something not many teams manage.

Parker looks to have the backing of the fans and deserves more time. Games against Aston Villa (h), Wolves (a), Sheffield United (a) and Crystal Palace (h) should be easier than their opening matches and a couple of victories in those games will get Fulham’s season up and running.

 

Slavan Bilic – West Brom (8/1)

West Brom were playing well against Everton on Saturday lunch-time before a moment of stupidity from Kieran Gibbs ruined their chances. That leaves West Brom as another of the teams on 0 points from two games and begins to up the pressure on Slavan Bilic. He’s third favourite in the next Premier League manager to be sacked odds and looks vunerable.

The Baggies began to stutter at the end of the season in the Championship but managed to gain promotion despite winning just four of their last 12 matches and none of their last four. That brings questions around this squad and they’re already favourites to be relegated back to the Championship. A change of manager might be the solution and it’s hard to see Bilic getting too long to turn things around.

 

Jose Mourinho – Tottenham (9/1)

Defeat at home to Everton on the opening day of the season was not the start Mourinho would have wanted, but the pressure was eased with a brilliant second half performance to defeat Southampton on Sunday. Heung-Min Son and Harry Kane were in great form and with Garth Bale to come into the attacking line-up, Mourinho can expect this Spurs side to pick up more wins and ease the pressure on him even more.

His style of play has come into question by a lot of Spurs fans and the apparent issues with Dele Alli will not have helped (Alli was left out of the squad to face Southampton). Bale’s arrival has lifted the mood around Tottenham and with a decent looking set of fixtures coming up on paper, there is every chance that Spurs could be set to put a good run together if the Europa League doesn’t prove too much of a distraction.

 

Steve Bruce – Newcastle (17/1)

Will Newcastle fans ever catch a break? Just when they thought things were looking up after making a couple of good summer signings and beating West Ham away from home on the opening day of the season, they go and lose 3-0 at home to Brighton.

Callum Wilson should prove to be a great bit of business and Ryan Fraser will provide more attacking threat, but the fans are still divided on Steve Bruce and he could be a good outside bet on the first manager in the Premier League to be sacked. He has a good relationship with owner Mike Ashley and that could save him from any knee-jerk decision but it is hard to see why he is in the job from the outside.

Fancy a bet on Steve Bruce to be the next manager sacked? Get 17/1 with Paddy Power and avoid Sky Bet and William Hill, who only have him at 12/1.

 

Ralph Hasenhuttl – Southampton (20/1)

Southampton are a bit of a yo-yo club and their results continue to go in the wrong direction. After losing 1-0 to Crystal Palace on the opening weekend of the season, they capitulated against Tottenham on Sunday, eventually losing 5-2. Danny Ings continues to be a big threat and without his goals they’d likely be towards the relegation zone. Manager Hasenhuttl was under pressure for parts of last season before turning their fortunes around and he has to do the same again.

Upcoming matches include home games vs West Brom and Everton and away matches at Burnley and Aston Villa, so the Saints fans will be expecting good points from those fixtures, otherwise Hasenhuttl’s odds to be the next Premier League matches sacked will be a lot shorter than the current 20/1 with William Hill.

 

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