As was entirely predictable, Tottenham Hotspur parted company with their embattled manager yesterday as the realisation dawned that they have unwittingly become dragged into this season’s relegation battle – despite playing in the Champions League.
Thomas Frank was booted out of Spurs’ HQ after Newcastle inflicted a 2-1 loss on the north London side: Harry Redknapp became the outsiders’ bet for the vacancy after announcing his availability for the role live on Sky Sports:
“They’ve got my number. If anyone wants to ring me, they know where I am.”
Sensationally West Ham’s main rivals Nottingham Forest also fired Sean Dyche last night following their goalless draw with bottom side Wolves, meaning Dyche had just 114 days at the helm in what must be the most madcap Premier League side ever who, thanks to boss Evangelos Marinakis have now sacked three managers in the same season.
Only three points now separates ‘Forest from West Ham: In a move which can only be good news for the Hammers, their biggest rivals are now rudderless ahead of the FA Cup break as Marinakis goes through his little black book searching for someone mad enough to take over the reins at the Tricky Trees.
More twisty than a snake slalom, there’s evidently a long way to go in the relegation marathon that has claimed managerial scalps and reputations like never before. West Ham, on the other hand, look strangely calm and together as Nuno’s outfit finally start to put some good results together at what could prove to be the perfect time.
If I were Tottenham I would have sacked the manager, their form is truly dreadful, four points in the last eight games were all draws. If they kept going at that rate they’d have finished on 35 points. A shake up could hardly do worse.
If I were Forest I wouldn’t have sacked the manager, they took eight points from their last eight games and continuing that they would have finished on 39 points is likely stay up. A shake up could certainly do worse.
Tottenham have not been down since 1977, their time again surely…
Presumably, Forest and Spurs retain their backroom boys. The coaching staff remain the same. Therein lies the problem.
New managers will not be able to affect much without their own ‘trusty lieutenants’ backing them up. There is no time left for either side to significantly improve their form or style of play.
With the addition of the European exertions, the task of Premier League survival becomes so much more difficult. Unlikely that they will both go down but there is that chance.
This might be the season when the team in 18th are relegated with 42 points. Or it could be another 35 points survival season. Let’s make sure it is not us that fills a relegation spot.
Great news for us. We still need the points though.
COYI
I am very optimistic now. Forest and Spurs need a new manager to come in and hit the ground running. I think Spurs have a decent squad and have players returning from injury soon, so they should be ok imo. Forest are the ones to catch, and I think sacking Dyche has just made this attainable. Confidence plays a huge part in winning games, we seem to have been injected with loads recently. The team are now actually a team. And what a difference Disasi has made, I think he could be the signing of the season and the one to save our fortunes.
And we’re supposedly the badly-run, dysfunctional ones….
My faith in our chances of staying up have increased significantly over the past few weeks, and this has seen them get another small boost. We just have to keep our heads and keep putting in those performances.
Even if we lose to the top teams, we now at least stand a chance in every game we play, and that makes it exciting. Effort and ambition is all we’ve ever wanted to see and the boys are delivering. Well done boys, and well done Nuno.
And, let’s face it, it all started when Paqueta was dropped and we started playing with added attacking intent – with players who actually wanted to run… COYI
This doesn’t bode well for us. Forest have a very talented squad, which I think Dyche was taking down but a new and better manager will surely get a tune out of them.
Not sure who I think is going to be our nearest rivals for relegation now. Brighton?
RELAX EVERYONE – Carrick has been taken…
Oh wait…
We just held his team to account, without the 12th man refereeing, they would have been found wanting.
COYI, it won’t be easy, but I’m starting to believe the team has what it takes.