Who will be the first Premier League managerial casualty?

According to Paddy Power, Steve Kean and Roberto Martinez are the favourites to be given the boot first in the Premier League sack race. Combined, Blackburn and Wigan have mustered together just two victories, with the solitary win each. The two clubs played out an entertaining 3-3 draw on Saturday; however the point does neither for both sides chances of survival.

Blackburn’s owners have stated their loyalty to their under pressure manager, with Kean reportedly set for an improved deal, which will see his wages increase to £1.5million a year. The Lancashire club have four winnable games coming up; giving Kean the chance to improve not only their league position, but his stay in charge. If the club are still in the bottom three after their favourable run of games, then Kean’s future will be in doubt.

Despite the clubs awful start to the season, I can’t see Martinez picking up his p45 anytime soon; having shown great loyalty to the Premier League perennial strugglers over the summer. Dave Whelan has frequently stressed the fact Martinez job is safe, and having defied the odds to avoid relegation last year, Whelan will be hoping his Wigan can follow suit this term, with an improved second half of the season.

Currently I can’t see any Premier League manager being given the chop; however another gaffer reportedly under pressure is Steve Bruce. Having lost Darren Bent and Jordan Henderson to big money moves, Bruce recruited no less than 11 players during the summer, as expectations at the Stadium of the Light grew. However a disappointing start to the campaign has dampened those expectations, with the club sitting just two points above the drop zone.

Despite changing the club’s approach, Owen Coyle and his Bolton side have been poor, really ever since their F.A cup defeat to Stoke in March this year. 14 defeats from 18 games since their semi-final humiliation, has left the club in the bottom three of the Premier League. Phil Gartside, the Bolton Chairman has real belief in the Coyle approach, and he’s another manager I still see in his job come May.

The bookies don’t usually get it wrong, and I also believe Kean, despite his recent contract offer, will be the first Barclays Premier League manager out of a job. When? Not yet, but probably in and around the Christmas schedule with games coming thick and fast.

 

The latest odds on the next Premier League manager to leave (either via sacking or resignation) (According to Paddy Power)

Steve Kean 7/5

Roberto Martinez 3/1

Steve Bruce 4/1

Andre Vilas-Boas 5/1

Owen Coyle 9/1

Mick McCarthy 11/1

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.