The Premier League has it’s first managerial casualty of the season, Slaven Bilic becomes the first manager to walk after West Bromwich Albion announced that they have parted terms with Bilic. West Brom had a really poor start to the season, and Bilic’s sacking looked imminent but the timing of it has caught everyone off-guard. West Brom were just getting back into some form and were starting to put together a run of results.
The sacking was announced after an impressive draw against Manchester City which is why it was a surprise that Bilic was let go off the back of an extremely good result. But the decision was probably already made before the Manchester City game regardless of the result. Bilic was only incharge for 13 Premier games for West Brom.
Sam Allardyce has been appointed as Bilic’s replacement, with survival the main objective for West Brom this season. The Baggies currently sit second from bottom, two points away from safety, it does feel like West Brom have made the right call by sacking Bilic giving any manager that comes in ample amount of time to turn things around and get them out of the relegation zone.
Allardyce has become somewhat of an expert when it comes to keeping teams in the Premier League and winning relegation fights in recent years, so it seems like West Brom have made the right call, however that will be decided come the end of the season.
Sacking season has begun and it begs the question which manager could get the sacking next?
Scott Parker
The Fulham Manager has been walking a tightrope since his appointment and it has not been an easy task keeping Fulham in the Premier League as the last two times that they have been promoted they have gone down the following season. This season has been no different and Fulham find themselves still in the relegation places after 13 games, however they are on their way up and are just 1 point away from safety, they have begun slowly picking up points again and an impressive display to hold champions Liverpool to a point was followed by another point at Brighton.
If Scott Parker manages to steer Fulham out of the relegation places before the start of the New Year then he might have a chance of keeping them afloat. For now it does seem like Scott Parker’s position is safe.
Sean Dyche
The Burnley Boss was not given Funds to spend in the transfer window and couldn’t strengthen his squad for this season, Burnley are now paying the price for not investing in the summer. Injuries to key players hasn’t helped Dyche’s case but some responsibility has to go on the manager who doesn’t really seem like he has been able to get a tune out of his players. Burnley are 17th just above the relegation places and it won’t be a surprise if Sean Dyche manages to turn things around, but it could go south just as quickly for the Burnley manager and a bad run of 6-7 games could see him lose his job. But with Ashley Barnes returning to full fitness his influence and goals could help Sean Dyche stitch together a good run of results which in the end could save Burnley and Sean Dyche.
Chris Wilder
It has been a tale of Two completely contrasting seasons for Chris Wilder and he seems to have caught a case of Second season syndrome. Just one point from 13 games, Sheffield are rooted to the foot of the table 9 points away from safety. West Brom in 19th are 6 points better off than Sheffield United and it is looking increasingly likely that Chris Wilder could either get the sacking or get relegated with Sheffield and build back up for next season. The injuries came at an awful time for Sheffield, and Jack O’Connell being out for the season was something that the Club haven’t been able to recover from.
Poor moves in the Transfer Market have also not helped Wilder and his team, with Huge money signing Rhian Brewster not really performing the way he was expected to while others would argue that the Money spent on Brewster could’ve been used elsewhere.
If Wilder Manages to Keep Sheffield up it could be one of the greatest escapes the Premier League has ever seen but for now, it’s all grim for Chris Wilder and Sheffield United.
Mikel Arteta
With the sage Arsenal are in, as we speak, Mikel should be the first name on this list – though as per comments by Edu and Vinai Venkatesham, the young Spaniard will be backed internally as well as financially in the upcoming January transfer window.
