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Premier League Betting Tips

Premier League Manager Sack Race December 2016

Alan Pardew manager of Crystal Palace FC

With the final Premier League fixture before Christmas complete, only one manager has lost his job this season.  Italian, Francesco Guidolin was the man to leave the dugout, as he was dismissed from his job at Swansea City on the 3rd October.  This has been the only managerial change in the Premier League since the first match kicked-off on 13th August.  However, plenty of managers are being questioned about their ability to continue in their jobs into the new year and one of them, is the current manager of Swansea, Bob Bradley.

 

Bob Bradley @ 11/10

The American took over Swansea on the same day Guidolin departed but has been unable to inspire Swansea and improve results.  Although Swansea have picked up two wins during Bradley’s reign at the Liberty Stadium, it has not been good enough and the club find themselves in the thick of a relegation battle, with a man who has no experience of managing in English football.  Using American terminology in interviews is nothing to worry about and no one would care about it if Swansea were winning football matches.  However, they are not and because of this, every little detail will be picked on, including the way the former USA international manager conducts himself in interviews.  The fact of the matter is, Swansea have been appalling defensively and have conceded 15 goals in their last five Premier League games prior to Christmas.

If Swansea fail to defeat West Ham United and Bournemouth in their next two games, which are both at home, you fear Bradley’s time at the club will end abruptly.

This view is shared with the bookies and SkyBet have Bradley as favourite in the Premier League manager sack race, at 11/10.

 

Alan Pardew @ 21/10

Swansea’s first match in January takes them to Crystal Palace and another manager under pressure, Alan Pardew.  Crystal Palace, despite significant outlay on players in the summer transfer window, find themselves just a point above the relegation zone heading into the Christmas period.  Premier League form has been dreadful, with only one win to show from their last eleven matches.  There have been eight defeats during those eleven games, six of which came in a row between 15th October and 26th November and this piled the pressure on Pardew.

A home victory over Southampton and away point at Hull provided some brief respite but with two away matches coming up at Watford and Arsenal, Pardew could be gone by the time Palace’s next home match comes around against fellow struggles, Swansea.  The fans are starting to turn against the manager and Pardew is currently 21/10 with Paddy Power to be the next manager to get the sack.

 

Mike Phelan @ 8/1

Elsewhere, you must go back seven matches to find the last time Hull city won a Premier League game.  In fact, Hull have won just one of their last fifteen matches in the Premier League, which is relegation form and the owners will have a close eye on how things develop into the New Year.  Phelan will be pleased to have two home matches but they are against tough opposition in Manchester City and Everton and the former Manchester United man is 8/1 with Betfair, to be the next manager to be shown the door.

 

David Moyes @ 10/1

Sunderland boss, David Moyes has just done enough in recent weeks, to distance himself from the Premier League sack race.  The Scot has picked up two wins from his last four league games and despite being in the relegation zone, has bought himself a little bit of time.  Recent home form has been good and if they can continue winning their home matches in January the 10/1 for Moyes to be the next manager to go will become less appealing.

 

Claudio Ranieri @ 28/1

An interesting one is Claudio Ranieri, at Leicester City.  Their Champions League campaign has just about kept the wolf from the door but taking their Premier League season in isolation, it has been a very poor season.  Heading into the Boxing Day fixture with Everton, Leicester have won just one of their previous eight league games.  The Foxes sit 3 points above the relegation zone and a couple of defeats over Christmas could spell trouble for the Italian.  However, the recent win over Manchester City and the great comeback at Stoke have pushed out the odds for Ranieri to be the next man to go and he is currently priced at 28/1 with SkyBet.

 

Walter Mazzarri @ 25/1

Another Italian who could be looking over his shoulder is Walter Mazzarri.  Watford have lost four of their last five Premier League games and have been relying on home form to keep them in mid-table.  The Hornets have two winnable home matches coming up, which should keep them away from the relegation zone but if they lose the first of those, against Crystal Palace, things could become interesting.  Mazzarri is available at 25/1 with Paddy Power to be the next manager to lose his job in the Premier League.

 

The Christmas and New Year period is always an exciting time for football fans but the likes of Bob Bradley and Alan Pardew will be working hard to stay in their job.  They are the bookies favourites to be the next Premier League manager to go for a reason and if they fail to win either of their next two games, they could be receiving their P45.

 

 

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