After a turbulent few weeks for Chelsea, Andre Villas-Boas is just 1/2 to be the next Premier League manager to go but a win against Bolton on Saturday could change that
It is not a fun time to be a Premier League manager with only a handful of bosses being totally safe from talk of the sack. Even Roberto Mancini’s position could questioned if Manchester City fail to win the Premier League. Such is the volatile nature of modern football management.The man in most danger is undoubtedly Andre-Villas Boas. The famously short-sighted approach of Chelsea’s owner Roman Abramovich makes the idea of his young Portuguese manager being given three years to build a successful team difficult to believe especially given recent disappointing results.
Having lost to Napoli midweek his price in the "sack race" market is now a near certain 1/2 (1.50) with Paddy Power. If Chelsea fail to beat second from bottom Bolton at home this weekend, expect that price to shorten further.
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Andre Villas-Boas
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A shock Bolton win is a massive 12/1 (13.0) but even a draw at 9/2 (5.50) will have the not-so-special-one worried. It would also lengthen the price on Owen Coyle boss being replaced. After a great first season, Bolton have struggled to build any kind of momentum this year under Coyle but a good result at Stamford Bridge could possibly get them moving towards safety.
To nicely round off the top four in the sack race, Arsenal host Spurs on Sunday in a match with two managers both seemingly on the brink of leaving their posts but for very different reasons. Harry Redknapp appears to have the England job in his sights and it seems only a matter of when not if he departs White Hart Lane.
Arsene Wenger on the other hand is being criticised from all angles and the natives are most definitely getting restless. This could be a seventh straight season without a trophy and if they fail to make the Champions League, Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke will have a tough decision to make. Redknapp is 11/2 (6.50) in the sack race with Wenger at 10/1 (11.0). Arsenal beating their local rivals at 7/5 (2.40) this weekend would give Wenger a little more breathing space, but that looks a tall order given Spurs recent league performances.
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Arsene Wenger
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Despite Wigan being bottom of the Premier League, Roberto Martinez looks relatively safe at 40/1 (41.0) in the sack race whilst Alec McLeish, whose Aston Villa side are seven points clear of the relegation zone is a far less safe 10/1 (11.0). Wigan’s poor home record make Villa a decent bet at 13/8 (2.63) to win at the DW Stadium.
Finally the Man City v Blackburn match is an interesting one on the manager front. It is a surprise to most to see Steve Kean still at the helm at Ewood Park and though he is sixth favourite in the sack race at 12/1 (13.0), he’ll be happy with those odds.
Roberto Mancini is a lot safer at 40/1 (41.0) but the high demands at Manchester City mean anything short of league success will see that price drop significantly. Rovers are a massive 16/1 (17.0) to win at the Etihad Stadium for a reason. City’s home record is impeccable and is almost certain to remain that way.
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Jim Knight is Betting Editor at Goal.com and has been tipping football games since he was old enough to place a bet. He is a Leicester City fan, writer and member of the We Are Going Up Podcast
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