New Watford manager Roy Hodgson already joint favourite in the Premier League Sack Race
The bookies have reopened the next Premier League manager to leave market following Roy Hodgson’s arrival at Watford, where Roy Hodgson of Watford is the new favourite to be the next Premier League manager to leave.
Yes, unfortunately you did read that correctly! Give the bloke a chance hey…
Bet Victor have wasted no time in handing Hodgson odds of just 6/1 to be the ninth Premier League casualty of the season, meaning he’s their joint-favourite alongside Burnley’s Sean Dyche and Eddie Howe, who himself was only appointed at Newcastle in November.
However, Hodgson is slightly longer over at Paddy Power who have the 74-year-old priced at 9/1 to be the next gaffer gone. He is at Watford after all.
It’s been a trigger-happy season so far, with an eye-popping eight top-flight managers sacked, all of which have taken place over the last 116 days.
Considering there’s still another 116 days to go until the season is wrapped up (22nd May) we may well see another one or two exits before the summer.
We haven't seen 10 managers depart during a season since 2017/18, which like the current campaign had seen eight casualties before the month of February.
But, who could be next?
Premier League Sack Race 2021/22 (for far)
- Xisco Munoz
- Steve Bruce
- Nuno Santo
- Daniel Farke
- Dean Smith
- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
- Rafa Benitez
- Claudio Ranieri
Could Hodgson actually go?
Watford infamously sacked Nigel Pearson with just two games of the 2019/20 season remaining. Not only was he the club’s third manager to be fired that season, but he was given the boot when they were above the relegation zone in 17th. Under Caretaker Hayden Mullins, the Hornets lost their final two matches and were subsequently relegated.
The latest incumbent, Hodgson, has just penned a short-term deal until the end of season. Surely, surely, he’ll see that out. But, this is Watford, and if their top-flight status is slipping away from them, who knows, they could repeat the feat of 2019/20 and orchestrate a third sacking.
Last time the Pozzo family worked with Hodgson he lasted just six months and 17 games at Udinese back in 2001.
Hodgson will, however, be confident he can steer his new troops clear of the drop zone as he's done in the past with the likes of Fulham and Crystal Palace. Watford are currently two points from safety with 18 games to go.
Hope or hopelessness for Howe and Dyche?
Sean Dyche is as short as 10/3 to be the next Premier League manager to leave.
Burnley have picked up one win all season, haven’t won in any competition since October, were dumped out of the FA Cup by Huddersfield, have been ravaged by COVID, and sold their all-time Premier League topscorer to their relegation rivals.
Yet, with Dyche at the helm there’s always hope. Burnley came away from the Emirates with a brilliant point last weekend ahead of a crunch fixture against Hodgson’s Watford a week Saturday. They've got plenty of games in hand too.
We’ve said it many a time, but we simply can’t see Dyche walking before the end of the season. No chance. The summer could be a different story, however, although it’s worth noting that he’s only just signed a new long-term deal at Turf Moor.
As for Howe, (6/1), he picked up a confidence-boosting win away to Leeds last weekend. He was only given the Toon job two months ago and has been well-backed in the transfer market. It would come as a huge shock if Newcastle changed tack before the end of the season, but if their top-flight status is in doubt then perhaps they could make a last ditch attempt at survival by changing manager? Unlikely.
Is anyone on the rocks?
Now Ranieri has gone, another managerial departure may look unlikely at this moment in time, but this is the Premier League we’re talking about, and the narrative changes swiftly.
The next manager to leave market runs up to the final game of the season, and in the past we’ve seen clubs make changes with just a month or so to go.
For example, only last term Spurs surprisingly axed Jose Mourinho in the week leading up to April’s League Cup final, while we’ve already mentioned Pearson’s exit with two games remaining of the 2019/20 campaign.
In 2017/18 West Brom sacked Alan Pardew with six games left on the schedule, and back in 2016 Everton axed Roberto Martinez with just one game to go!
With that said, Antonio Conte could be worth paying attention to. He’s only lost the one Premier League game at Tottenham so far, but there are clear signs that he’s not happy with how the transfer window is going. The Italian is now just 14/1 in the betting - previously 33/1 - during what could well prove to be a pivotal week at Spurs: the Italian will need to sell before he buys.
Meanwhile, given that there are still four months to go, we don’t like the look of the 10/3 for no more casualties.
