A change of manager doesn't always mean survival and it wont for QPR and Wolves

What have QPR and Wolves got in common, yet Wigan, Bolton and Blackburn don't? That's right, they got rid of their manager in the middle (well in Wolves' case towards the end of the season), and because of it they are safe. Oh no sorry, down.

Here's a stat for you. Of all the managerial changes in the history of the Barclays Premier League, of those who have sacked their manager and been in the bottom three of the table at the turn of the year, only ONE in 20 years have survived. And for those interested, it was Bolton Wanderers who achieved survival despite this, when Owen Coyle took over from Gary Megson (whom was appointed manager of Bolton on the 8th January 2010 with the club 18th in the table.)



QPR decided to replace Neil Warnock, who had guided the club to promotion despite taking over the club in a dire stat and with the possibility of relegation to League One a real one, with Mark Hughes. Whilst Wolves, following a 5-1 home defeat to West Brom sacked Mick McCarthy, and after failing to agree terms with Alan Curbishley, opted to appoint McCarthy's assistant Terry Connor.

Both Hughes and Connor have seen their clubs form decrease under their stewardship (with both clubs in the bottom three of the table in league form since the turn of the year). I might have been a tad presumptuous at the start of this piece when I said both QPR and Wolves were down; however I can't see either team surviving.

QPR under Hughes have been an enigma and for every brilliant result there has been three poor ones. A combination of bad luck, indisicpline and poor form in the games against sides in and around them, have ensured that QPR are in the bottom three with easily the hardest run in of any of the relegation threatened sides.

Barton dismissed vs Norwich

Wolves on the other hand were very inconstant under McCarthy; however were capable of going anywhere and getting results (draws away to Tottenham and Arsenal this year, after winning at Anfield last season), and I suppose at least under Connor they've found consistency, I mean they are always losing now. A comeback point away to Newcastle in Connor's first match only papered over the cracks at the club which were oh so heavily exposed in their last four games.

Following a 2-1 home defeat to Bolton Wanderers, many expected Steve Kean to be out of a job after the huge amount of abuse he received; however to his credit since that defeat Blackburn have been superb. 18 points in those 13 games have seen Blackburn rise from the bottom of the league to 16th place and despite a couple of tricky fixtures, they run-in looks favourable.

I'll hold my hands up and admit I felt Blackburn were goners under Kean; however despite recieving a horrific amount of abuse he has handled it superbly, showing an incredible amount of dignity and if he were to lead them to safety then it would rank up there with any other managerial achievement this season in the Premier League. Despite not being the best defensively still, they are certainly a threat at the other end and in Yakubu they've an out and out goalscorer and I now feel they will survive comfortably.

Wigan are another side, who despite being in and around the bottom three for most of the season, have stuck with their manager who in turn has stuck with his attacking principles. Following a 2-0 defeat at home to Swansea, many wrote Wigan off; however five points from their last three games, including a famous 2-1 victory at Anfield, which has boosted their chances of maintaining Premier League status.

Apart from Liverpool, who have only sparingly used it, Wigan are the only Premier League side to use three central defenders in a 3-5-2 formation, something that is frequent in Italy and Spain. At home Wigan haven't been brilliant this year; however on their travels they've secured four priceless victories and have one of the better away records and after defying the odds last season to survive, Wigan will want to use their experience to keep them afloat this year.

The fifth and final side who are in trouble are Bolton Wanderers whom I feel will battle Wigan for the second most important place in the table 17th. After a dire start to the season Bolton have picked their form up over recent weeks and like the previous two sides stuck with their manager. The recent terrible incident involving Fabrice Muamba will in awful situation unite the club and they impressed in their first outing since Muamba's cardiac arrest.

Coyle has been brilliant in the loan market with previous additions of Jack Wilshere and Daniel Sturridge working well, with Ryo Miyaichi the third impressive loanee in same amount of years at the Reebok. Bolton have also been hit hard by big injuries, with the likes of Stuart Holden, Lee Chung-Yong and Tyrone Mears missing for the whole season. If them three, in particular the first two players had been available for Bolton for the whole year, then I've no doubts Bolton wouldn't be in a relegation fight.

My bottom five come the end of the season
16th. Blackburn
17th. Bolton
18th. Wigan
19th. QPR
20th. Wolves

United vs Bolton, the autopsy

Back-to-back Premier League defeats where forgotten when Manchester United edged out City in the incredible 3^rd round F.A cup tie last weekend; however getting back on track in the bread and butter of the Premier League wasn’t just important it was essential. And despite an array of early missed opportunities the comfortable win was never in doubt.

Team Selection

Paul Scholes’ decision to come out of retirement for his cameo in the derby last week would’ve been the biggest news in most games; however the drama that was played out at the City of Manchester stadium in the end thrusted its way to the main talking point. But the ginger genius’s first start in a United shirt since the final game of the last Premier League season took the centre stage.

Yet more defensive injuries meant Sir Alex’s hand was played for him with Jonny Evans partnering Rio Ferdinand who had been a doubt prior to the match; however both Chris Smalling and Phil Jones are expected to return come Arsenal next Sunday. Wayne Rooney was once again partnered by Danny Welbeck with both Dimitar Berbatov and Javier Hernandez having to settle for a place on the bench again.

Mixture of poor finishing and concentration nearly cost United.

Throughout the game Manchester United created enough chances to win three games with the much maligned Adam Bogdan in inspired form in the Bolton goal. In the opening ten minutes Welbeck could already of had a hat-trick to his name; only for Bogdan to deny him on all three occasions. His best save came twenty minutes in to ensure Rooney’s second successive penalty miss, as the Hungarian international dived brilliantly to his right to keep the spot kick out.

Thankfully the returning Scholes opened the scoring just moments before half-time; however the expected floodgates didn’t open in the second half and Bolton rallied well and could’ve levelled as Manchester United let Owen Coyle’s side back into the game and Rafael cleared off the line to prevent an equaliser. Welbeck and Michael Carrick added further goals as we went level with City at the top of the table.

Rooney wasn’t having his best game as Scholes dominated.

Sir Alex’s key player didn’t have his greatest game in the red of Manchester United, with a missed penalty topping his error list. Rooney’s passing was off key and the England international didn’t appear to have his head in the right place losing the ball too often from a United perspective. Though Rooney did play in Welbeck for the killer second goal, Rooney and United will have to improve with Arsenal up next.

The returning Scholes slotted into the United midfield like he had never been away as he and the impressive Carrick dominated in the centre of the park. Scholes who topped the pass completion rate against City last weekend was again at his accurate best, with one cross field pass to Antonio Valencia in particular a highlight. The goal topped a fantastic afternoon for Scholes, in doing so quashing any doubters about his decision to come out of retirement.

Summary

In a comfortable win, we nearly gifted Bolton a way back into the game in the second half as our concentration levels lowered; however three goals did United justice. It was imperative that we got back to winning ways after two consecutive Premier League defeats, with our under pressure midfield looking good with the partnership between Scholes and Carrick bringing back memories of the Champions League winning season. Valencia in particular was very good again as the Ecuadorian again performed well at Old Trafford. 

Hard season ahead of Bolton

With the club in spiralling debt and their best players linked with moves away from the club, its going to be a difficult season for Owen Coyle's side.

Johan Elmander opitimised Bolton last year, after a superb first half of the season many expected them to qualify for the Europa League, yet in the second half of the season the Swede only scored one goal, with Bolton registering just the five victories in 2011, despite the goal return of January loanee Daniel Sturridge, and I can't see Bolton turning their fortune and reckon they'll struggle this year.

Coyle and Bolton earned rave reviews for the way they went about their football, however with a limited budget Coyle is going to have his work cut out if they are going to improve on their 14th placed finish. The addition of Darren Pratley is a good one and he'll fit perfectly into the Bolton team and the way they play. However after losing their top scorer in Elmander and the imminent return of Sturridge to his parent club Chelsea, it is hard to see where the goals will come from.

Pratley is Bolton's only summer addition so far

Key defender Gary Cahill is set to leave the club with the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal reportedly interested in the England defender, and with Zak Knight's fitness and form in question, it places a huge amount of pressure on David Wheater. The club are looking to bring in around £15million for Cahill, and Coyle needs the money to re-invest in his small squad, with Bolton failing to fufill the bench on numerous occasions last year due to their injury problems.

A midfield of Lee, Holden, Muamba and Petrov is strong, however their inability to score goals and stop them at the other end will always cause problems. For me Bolton need to bring in at least five more faces if they are to challenge last seasons finish, and in Coyle they have a top manager who will manage at a higher level in the future, however this year I feel Bolton are going to struggle.