Are West Ham’s Slaven Bilic, Stoke’s Mark Hughes and Tony Pulis of West Brom the three Premier League managers under the most pressure ahead of 2017/18?
The Premier League returns this weekend and as always there is much anticipation ahead of the 2017/18 season – and with that comes pressure.
While those at the top will be under pressure to qualify for the Champions League or even win the title, and the newly promoted sides will be under pressure to avoid relegation, it is those in mid-table where we think the tension is really building.
Pressure does not necessarily directly relate to the bookmakers’ odds of who will be sacked first, but the the two are closely linked and here are the 3 bosses from the English top tier feeling the pinch the most.
Slaven Bilic, manager of West Ham United.
Slaven Bilic
The Croatian’s first year with West Ham United was a huge success as they finished seventh, but last term Bilic was under constant scrutiny for poor performances as a move to the London Stadium and an unsettled Dimitri Payet didn’t help.
The 48-year-old rode the storm, however, but with big name signings such as Joe Hart, Pablo Zabaleta, Marko Arnautovic and Javier Hernandez having been brought in this summer, an immediate improvement will be expected or heads could roll.
Mark Hughes
The second longest serving Premier League manager behind Arsene Wenger (not including Eddie Howe, who has been at Bournemouth for longer but not in the top flight) familiarity may be starting to breed contempt at Stoke City.
After three successive ninth place finishes, the Potteries dropped to 13th last term and with seasoned pros such as Phil Bardsley, Glenn Whelan and Jon Walters having left, along with Arnautovic, there is a worrying feeling emerging among the support at the Bet365 Stadium.
Tony Pulis, manager of West Bromwich Albion.
Tony Pulis
Like fellow Welshman Hughes, Pulis may be guilty of just having stayed around too along, with frustration seemingly building at West Bromwich Albion because of an apparent lack of progress.
The 59-year-old doesn’t get teams relegated, but also seems to have a debilitating obsession with reaching the 40-point mark – one which has seen Pulis win just five of 44 matches in the Premier League after getting to the tally. A distinct lack of transfer activity this summer doesn’t help matters, either.
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