4 Managers who could be sacked this season

During Jose Mourinho's first press conference at the helm of Tottenham Hotspur, he paid tribute to erstwhile Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, and in the brief homage, he expounded the short lifespan of the modern-day manager.

Indeed the new Spurs boss knows a thing or two about getting the boot, with high profile dismissals in his gilded portfolio. This season, a couple of managers have also faced the axe, with the likes of Pochettino and Niko Kovac famously getting the dreaded dismissal letter.

The battle for domestic and continental domination has been brutal so far this season, and there has been great disquiet in the stands and boardrooms across various underperforming clubs.

With the season inching towards the halfway mark, the rumblings have gotten even louder, as fans and head honchos watch their chances of success this term slowly but surely disappear into thin air.

The spectre of dismissal looms large across several dugouts, and although fickle words of assurances have been whispered by those calling the shots, in this article, we analyse a few managers who are in danger of getting on the chopping block.

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#4 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Manchester United)

Manchester United's Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is the current occupant of the iron throne which is the Manchester United managerial hot seat, and the Norweigian has quickly found out how uncomfortable Sir Alex Fergurson's ancient seat of power can be.

After a couple of shambolic seasons under managers with a diverse range of portfolios, the Old Trafford club welcomed Fergies young protege with a lot of fanfare, as the Man Utd fans and board pined for a time when they had the British Isles and indeed Europe underfoot.

However, it has been anything but plain sailing for the Norwegian, as chants of "Ole's at the wheel" have quickly metamorphosed into calls for his dismissal by sections of the Man Utd crowd at home and in the stands.

He started brightly last season after the removal of Jose Mourinho, but since his appointment was scribbled in with a permanent marker, the clubs fortunes on the pitch have come down like the RMS Titanic after hitting an iceberg.

He failed to qualify for the Champions League last term, and so far this season, the famous Manchester club have found themselves languishing in unfamiliar territory. The club lies currently in 9th position, having lost 4 games & drawn 5, and a few weeks ago the Old Trafford club hovered dangerously above the relegation zone.

With the availability of highly-rated managers like Massimiliano Allegri and Mauricio Pochettino, the rumours of Solskjaer's dismissal just won't go away. However, at the moment the whispers coming out of the Old Trafford hallways have pointed in the general direction of Fergie's protege being given time to rebuild.

But as Mourinho pointed out, the managerial shelf life of the modern-day manager is just a cut above that of an adult butterfly, as you never know what's around the corner.

Possibility: 2/5

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#3 Manuel Pellegrini (West Ham)

West Ham boss, Manuel Pellegrini

Manuel Pellegrini casts the shadow of a man walking a tight rope, as despite beginning the season with the lofty ambition of cracking the top 6, West Ham currently languishes in 17th place, just 3 points above the relegation zone.

The London club has been on a run of 8 games without a win, a run that stretches to 2 months. The latest loss to Tottenham Hotspur at home was the third consecutive game they have conceded 3 goals before the hour mark, and it once again highlighted a few of the problems currently faced by the Chilean.

Injuries have plagued West Ham's campaign this term, with Jack Wilshere, Manuel Lanzini, Winston Reid, and Lukasz Fabianski in particular on the treatment table. Fabianski's replacement, Roberto, has been dreadful, and there have been calls for him to be dropped.

The fans are divided over the fate of the Chilean, as the blame game has been split between the direction of the board and the gaffer. Several names have been whispered as possible replacements, such as Rafa Benitez, Sean Dyche, David Moyes, Eddie Howe, etc.

With games against Chelsea, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal to come for The Hammers, it doesn't get any easier for the Chilean, as it seems only a question of when the owners will pull the plug.

Possibility: 5/5

#2 Marco Silva (Everton)

Everton's Marco Silva

The rumours of Marco Silva's dismissal have forcefully garnered momentum in the last few days, with the loss to Norwich City at Goodison Park sparking talk of a sack. A chorus of angry fans greeted The Toffees after the final whistle, with fans voicing their displeasure and wish to see the axe fall on the Portuguese gaffer.

Everton currently languishes in 16th place, just 4 points above the relegation zone. The Toffees have lost 7 times so far this season, winning just 4 of their 13 fixtures. With Leicester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, and Arsenal to come in successive games, the near future looks bleak for the embattled manager and his charges.

There have been reports of him getting dismissed by the Everton chiefs this week, and several names have been supposedly pencilled in as a possible replacement.

Mikel Arteta, Eddie Howe, and David Moyes have been mentioned as front runners, however, Arteta is unlikely to leave his current duty post halfway in the season and it will take a considerable amount of money to prize Howe away from Bournemouth. Former Everton and Man Utd manager Moyes is the frontrunner at the moment.

Possibility: 5/5

#1 Unai Emery (Arsenal)

Arsenal manager Unai Emery

Another game, another poor display, and more rumours of Unai Emery being relieved of his command at the helm of Arsenal.

The Gunnars succumbed to an embarrassing Europa League loss in their last game to Eintracht Frankfurt, prompting loud echos off discontent around a very empty Emirates Stadium. The game was seemingly a must-win for the embattled boss, and banners of 'Emery Out' were held aloft by the Arsenal faithful present in the stadium.

Arsenal currently languishes in 8th position on the league table, 19 points off Liverpool, with just four wins in 13 games. The last time the Gunnars won an encounter was October 6th, a 1-0 victory over Bournemouth.

Arsenal's play has been particularly poor, and the Gunners' damning 2-2 draw with out of form Southampton in the Premier League sparked talk of an imminent sack, with current Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Nuno Espirito Santo mooted as a possible replacement.

However, at Arsenal, the axe falls ever so slowly, but with poor results and fan disquiet increasingly mounting, the board could be left with no alternative but to use the dreaded chopping block.

Possibility: 4/5