da betcris： When a football club relieve a manager of their services, the usual suspects are normally linked with the vacant post. In fact any manager out of work usually makes an appearance in the bookmakers’ odds at some juncture. As the football calendar approaches October and the next international break, clubs across the Football Leagues will be considering wielding the managerial axe. West Ham co-owner David Sullivan recently said that no manager could survive nine successive losses, highlighting that Avram Grant was four ninths of the way there. Whether in the Premier League or in the lower divisions, who are the likely candidates to return to the dugout?
da esoccer bet： Martin O’Neill
The Northern Irishman unexpectedly walked out of Villa Park less than a week before the start of the new season. James Milner’s protracted transfer may have been the catalyst but a breakdown in his relationship with Randy Lerner seemed to have been covertly brewing for some time. He guided the west Midlands club to two successive sixth place finished based on the recruitment of young home-grown talent. His tactics may have been seen as passé but his 4-4-2 formation was cautious yet dangerous in attack. Prior to managing the Villans he won three SPL titles with Celtic and two League Cups with Leicester. He has been sensationally linked with a return to the Foxes should Paulo Sousa fail to improve the team’s results. O’Neill may be itching to return to management but will presumably wait for an opportunity at an upwardly mobile PL club, capable of challenging for Europe with a few quid in the bank.
Alan Curbishley
It has been two years since Curbishley resigned as West Ham boss, arguing that his hand had been forced in the transfer market. A contractual dispute ensued preventing him from taking up any potential offers from other clubs. These days he can be spotted as mediocre pundit for Sky Sports, leaving viewers with the distinct impression that he feels undervalued. His prolonged spell at Charlton Athletic provided the blueprint for aspiring but sensible clubs to survive in the PL. After winning the old Division One in 2000 The Addicks became a top flight mainstay, finishing seventh in the 2003/04 season. He developed young prospects such as Scott Parker and Paul Konchesky and brought in Darren Bent from Ipswich. He was later at the helm of West Ham’s ‘great escape,’ which culminated in the Londoners winning at Old Trafford on the final day of that campaign. Under his stewardship the relegation threatened side finished tenth the following year but won few admirers for their vigilant style. He unfairly became known as a purveyor of mid-table mediocrity.
Phil Brown
Brown’s plucky Hull City were the toast of the PL in their inaugural top flight season in 2008/09. Would Brown have received greater respect if their season had been played out in reverse? After making an unexpectedly fantastic start which included a famous win at Arsenal, The Tigers could not buy an away victory. The perennially tanned Brown’s behaviour became increasingly erratic. His half-time team talk on the pitch at Eastlands won no supporters. When Hull stayed up on the final day of the season due to the whimpering form of their rivals, he launched into some more on field antics. His karaoke routine roused the crowd but was sniffed at by the media. Yet some had overlooked the magnitude of his achievement, saving the club from relegation to League One in 2007 and winning the play-off final the next season. His bizarre conduct continued last season when he claimed to have talked a suicidal woman down from the Humber Bridge, a scenario not recollected by his players. Indifferent form saw him placed on ‘gardening leave’ as Iain Dowie was charged with securing their salvation. This challenge was too great but the deposed Brown will forever be associated with their remarkable sojourn in the PL. Recently linked with the Southampton job, ambitious clubs seeking promotion could do worse than considering Brown.
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Alan Pardew
The 49-year old former Reading, West Ham and Charlton boss was sacked by Southampton last month. Pardew delivered a seventh place finish in League One last season despite an initial 10 point deduction and winning the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy. The decision was met with bemusement by Saints fans but this was not the first time he had been harshly treated. Pardew restored West Ham’s fortunes taking them back to the PL via a play-off triumph over Preston. A top half finish followed together with a thoroughly entertaining FA Cup final which Liverpool won on penalties. Second season syndrome set in and Pardew seemed unable to cope with the sizeable changes occurring at the club. Shortly after being dismissed by the new Icelandic owners he joined Charlton and although mounting a spirited challenge, they failed to beat the drop. Pardew made astute signings at West Ham, bringing in Carlton Cole, Dean Ashton and Robert Green. He is known for imbuing a sense of passion and belief in his players.
Jurgen Klinsmann
A favourite at White Hart Lane, this World Cup winning forward has been out of management since leaving Bayern Munich in 2009. In 2004 he succeeded Rudi Voller as manager of the German national team. He noticed the need to introduce young, exciting players following their miserable performance at Euro 2004. Despite being inexperienced he took the host nation to the semi-final of the 2006 World Cup, narrowly losing to Italy after extra time goals from Fabio Grosso and Alessandro Del Piero. His attacking brand of football had won over sceptics in Germany who earlier scoffed at his bold decisions, such as dropping Oliver Kahn. Two summers later he returned to Munich as a manager but failed to last a season after some less than convincing results. As a popular, engaging figure he has previously been associated with Liverpool and Chelsea.
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