As 4 of last season’s top 6 start with a new boss this season, we’re in for another campaign that nobody can predict. Those clubs who narrowly avoided relegation last term have strengthened and also stuck with the same manager. Each of the 17 remaining from 2012/2013 do not treat survival as success and with that in mind we could be looking at a managerial merry-go-round! Here are 5 managers that face plenty of pressure season…
1) Alan Pardew
What a return it was for Joe Kinnear to Tyneside – who is by no means the most popular figure at the club, but now he’s claiming to have been appointed as a man in charge of transfers. Mike Ashley has already shown he isn’t afraid to appoint a new manager when in trouble and a bad start could see the an early end for Pardew.
2) David Moyes
With millions of people demanding nothing but success for Manchester United, it’s 10 times the pressure the Scotsman was under at Everton last season. Carrying on from Sir Alex is something in itself and with a very open title race; Moyes could soon face the heat from some inside Old Trafford.
3) Ian Holloway
The only manager in football that can be praised for his team going out and being thumped 6-0, where what he does off the pitch (notably in his press conferences) makes more headlines than how his players do on the field. An attacking philosophy bravely adopted with lowly Championship side Blackpool was when the public first developed a soft spot for Ian Holloway and the way his sides attempt to play their football. That being said; we’re all expecting more from Crystal Palace than we did of Blackpool several seasons ago….
4) Arsene Wenger
You can’t win anything with kids… well you can’t can you. Arsene? He’s had enough of his quite extreme financial stability and has vowed to ‘splash the cash’ this month – although as of yet we’ve seen none of this. If Arsenal aren’t top 4 by Christmas I’m guessing some supporters might want to show their manager the door.
5) Jose Mourinho
The special one is now the happy one, but for how long? Up to now with a ball yet to be kicked, it’s all smiles from the Portuguese wonder, but as we say in his previous stay in England, things can quickly change. As joint favourites for the Premier League title, Roman Abramovich (yet again) will put huge expectations alongside the returning Chelsea manager. I’d imagine he wouldn’t have it any other way.