Daunting run of games could see surprise name lead Premier League sack race
Today at 09:44 AM
Across the Atlantic the first day after the regular NFL season ends is a bloodbath called Black Monday when coaches and general managers who have failed to deliver the goods are fired.
Premier League clubs joined in last week’s mayhem with Everton and West Ham both sacking underachieving managers as David Moyes returned to Goodison Park to replace Sean Dyche and Graham Potter was installed in the West Ham hot seat vacated by Julen Lopetegui.
It means five of the bottom seven clubs – yes, that includes you, Manchester United – have parted company with managers who started the season.
The new boss bounce doesn't always work unless it is accompanied by heavy investment in new players – yes, that's you again Manchester United – but both the Toffees and Hammers should benefit long term from appointing respected leaders.
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou is the bookmakers’ favourite to be the next manager to get the sack and the former Celtic boss is as short as 17/20 with Paddy Power and Betfair and no bigger than Sky Bet's 9/4 although the pressure was eased by the 1-0 Carabao Cup semi-final, first leg victory against Liverpool.
The two clubs at the bottom who haven't fired their managers this term are Crystal Palace – where Oliver Glasner is turning things round after a slow start now that some of his better players have returned from injury, while others are finally settling into their best form after moving from abroad – and Ipswich.
The Tractor Boys have also gained some decent results in recent weeks and look capable of staying up but although they have taken a reasonable seven points from the last 15 on offer it hasn't been enough to elevate them above the bottom three.
The victory over Chelsea at Portman Road, followed by the draw at Fulham, are impressive but their next five matches are at home to Brighton and revitalised Manchester City followed by away days at Liverpool and Aston Villa which bookend what should be a gimme when doomed Southampton travel to Suffolk.
It's difficult to see Ipswich taking enough points to escape the bottom three after that run and although he's a quality manager Kieran McKenna is value at 28/1 with Betfair, Paddy Power, and Sky Bet to be the next boss to go.
• Minnesota quarterback Sam Darnold had a shocker in last week's big match against Detroit but can redeem himself and move towards a handsome new contract with the Vikings by leading them to victory in Monday night's NFL play-off affair with the Los Angeles Rams.
The Vikes are 7/10 outright with Coral, Ladbrokes and Betfair to win the game – which is being played in Arizona because of the fires in LA – and Justin Jefferson, Minnesota's elite wide receiver, is 7/1 with Sky Bet to score the first touchdown.
• Ding Junhui is 10/11 pretty much across the board to beat Mark Williams in snooker's big Monday Masters match at the Alexandra Palace in London.
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