Premier League Sack Race: Ten Hag Now Favourite
Erik ten Hag enjoyed a successful first season in charge of Manchester United. The Dutchman was able to steer the Red Devils to third place in the Premier League standings and there was icing on the cake in the form of a Carabao Cup triumph.
Therefore, there was plenty of optimism coming into the 2023/24 campaign, especially with United back in the Champions League where it appeared that they had been handed a favourable group. However, things have not gone to plan domestically or on the continent, with speculation now mounting that Ten Hag will be relieved of first-team duties.
Nine Defeats and Counting for United
United have suffered no less than nine defeats in all competitions at the time of writing. Five of these have been in the Premier League, with the north-west giant having incurred losses against Bayern Munich, Galatasaray and FC Copenhagen in the Champions League. There was also a 3-0 Old Trafford humbling in the EFL Cup at the hands of Newcastle United.
While it’s right to point out that the team’s failings on the pitch are not altogether down to a manager who has had signings imposed upon him, the latest Premier League Sack Race betting market suggests that the Red Devils manager is now more likely to lose his job compared to anyone else coaching in the top flight.
Manchester United’s recent win at Fulham saw Ten Hag’s Sack Race betting odds lengthen and there were signs that the team had turned a corner after taking an early 2-0 lead in Copenhagen. However, that 4-3 defeat means that the 53-year-old is now trading at his shortest ever odds on this market with most football betting sites and perhaps he’s reaching the end of his tenure at the club.
Who Would Replace Ten Hag at Old Trafford?
Many Manchester United supporters continue to support Erik ten Hag and instead attribute the club’s on-field problems with what is happening away from the pitch. The Glazer ownership remains the cause of resentment for fans who continue to protest against a regime whose self-interest is now holding back the team from experiencing success.
It appears that Sir Jim Ratcliffe will imminently take a minority shareholding in the club with a view to steadily increasing his stake, although the ownership issue might be a problem when it comes to actually finding a credible replacement for the current manager.
Some football betting sites have now priced up a Next Manchester United Manager betting market and names such as Zinedine Zidane, Julian Nagelsmann and Graham Potter are among the favourites to become the next man at the helm. However, any incoming appointment would surely want to receive assurances when it comes to available funds to sign players.
Recruitment has been an issue for a club who saw fit to re-sign Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer of 2021, although Ten Hag then ended up having to manage his subsequent departure. Casemiro and Raphael Varane have also been questionable signings, while Mason Mount has failed to make any impact since arriving for big money from Chelsea.
Ten Hag has stated that he continues to fight on at Manchester United and it’s hard to see how someone like Zidane or Nagelsmann would come into the dressing room given the current circumstances. However, it will be interesting to see whether the Dutchman is still in place after the international break.
Heckingbottom Second Favourite in Sack Race Betting
Paul Heckingbottom guided Sheffield United to automatic promotion last season and he’s now aiming to keep the Blades afloat in the top flight. The former Leeds boss hasn’t enjoyed the ideal start and he has regularly been trading as the market leader in the Sack Race betting, although his odds have recently lengthened.
That is partly down to the speculation regarding Erik ten Hag’s future at Manchester United but also because the Yorkshire club achieved their first Premier League win of the season when overcoming Wolves. A late Oliver Norwood penalty sent Bramall Lane into raptures and gives supporters hope that survival can still be achieved this season.
Heckingbottom wasn’t backed hugely in the transfer market over the summer and perhaps he will remain in charge throughout the season, despite rumours that Chris Wilder might yet make a return to the club. The expectation levels are relatively low at Bramall Lane and supporters are certainly backing someone who helped the club achieve promotion against the odds.
Could Iraola Be Vulnerable at Bournemouth?
Andoni Iraola was something of a left-field appointment at AFC Bournemouth over the summer, with the Dorset club deciding to go in a different direction despite Gary O’Neil successfully keeping the Cherries afloat last term. The Spaniard arrived in England boasting an impressive track record at Rayo Vallecano, although things haven’t gone according to plan so far.
A modest return of six points from eleven games played means that Bournemouth are keeping the three promoted teams company in the bottom four places, with Iraola having seen his team record a solitary victory in the top flight when beating Burnley. It means that his Sack Race odds have been steadily shortening after eight EPL defeats.
Perhaps the Bournemouth owners will keep faith with someone who saw his team engineer draws against West Ham, Brentford and Chelsea during the early part of the season. However, this is a results business and it wouldn’t be a major surprise if there’s a change of personnel at the Vitality Stadium in the weeks to come.
Kompany Far From Safe at Turf Moor Despite Promotion Success
Vincent Kompany was nowhere near the top of the Sack Race market at the beginning of the season, while his Burnley side were afforded plenty of respect when it came to the relegation betting. However, despite that amazing Championship title success which saw the Clarets claim 101 points, the team have found life difficult back in the top flight.
The Burnley owners remain firmly behind Kompany for now, although a return of four points from eleven games played is pretty modest. All six matches at Turf Moor have ended in defeat and the Lancashire side are conceding an average of three goals in their home clashes, while their solitary success came away at Luton.
Kompany ushered in an exciting brand of football and achieved promotion ahead of schedule when achieving this feat within the space of one season. However, it’s five consecutive defeats and counting going into a clash at the Emirates ahead of the international break, with the Belgian likely to be given more games to improve matters.
Pochettino, Moyes and Cooper Next in Sack Race Betting
After Ten Hag, Heckingbottom, Iraola and Kompany, there’s a big jump in the betting odds when it comes to the Sack Race market. Mauricio Pochettino is trading at around the 20/1 mark and that’s partly down to the Argentine operating under a trigger-happy owner at Chelsea Football Club. Todd Boehly dispensed with the services of Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter last season, although the current manager seems safe for now.
David Moyes was linked with a West Ham exit towards the end of the previous campaign, although the Scot’s success in the Europa Conference League convinced the Hammers board to keep the faith with someone who has done a sterling job at the London Stadium. However, recent form has been poor and one gets the feeling that the former Everton boss is never completely secure in his position.
The same applies to Steve Cooper and it’s farcical that there’s any speculation regarding his future at Nottingham Forest considering how well he’s faring at the City Ground. Having kept the Midlands side afloat in the top flight last season, the team are now well clear of relegation trouble at the time of writing. It would be a major shock if the club made a change as things stand.
