|
|
|
|
The Contenders (Click on a name to see profile) |
Club |
Early Doors Vote of Confidence |
Actual
P45 Date
|
|
Coventry City |
October |
September |
|
Leicester City
|
October
|
October
|
|
|
Middlesboro |
November |
|
|
|
Cambridge Utd |
Christmas |
November |
|
|
Preston North End |
Christmas |
|
|
|
Birmingham City |
Christmas |
October |
|
|
Wrexham |
January |
September |
|
|
Manchester City |
March |
|
Monthly Reviews
Sep • Oct • Nov • Dec
• Jan • Feb •
Mar • Apr
The Magnificent Seven
Eight
Strachan
He is so passionate about the game, as everyone tells you, and he was Big Rons protégé! But,
being the first manager to take Coventry down in donkeys years, the poor start
and the sale of key players could seal his fate. OK,
so he went before we published – but we did say, after Wolves beat them at
Highfield Road (see Davey Jones’
Locker), that he would be on the list so we’re not
cheating. Right?
Taylor
Hasn't stopped sulking since being sidelined from the England set up.
Seems to have lost the plot that had been set down by O'Neill. Mind you
O'Neill poached the best players from his squad. It looks like being a roller coaster ride for play boy
Peter. Ooops, Peter also went before we published,
was hoping he’d hang unitl October ED had hit the net. Damn in season
holidays. [Back
to top]
McClaren
Boro are a strange one, the vote of confidence actually means just that. I
mean, look how long they put up with Bryan Robson. However, several of
the players seem unsettled and the threat of a return to Division One may
prompt sterner action this time around. [Back to top]
Beck
Like the Strachan choice this is also a bit of a banker. Cambridge have been
struggling for the last couple of years. Club hero Beck is running out
of time, bottom of the second, no money, losing to Posh, a six pointer could
tip the balance. I'd prefer the England job!
Moyes
Preston, last years surprise package. Have started badly this term.
With no money available and Moyes being vocal about it we could see him sent
down the road faster than you can buy £5m's worth of replacements for Macken.
Flynn
Welcome back Bryan, you make the list again. He probably survived last
year due to a cup run and turning the side around for a near play off finish
but a poor start this term may not see him survive a second vote of
confidence. [Back to
top]
Keegan
And finally Keegan. Trained at the Japanese Military Academy, “Attack, Attack,
Attack”, but didn't stay around for the defensive lessons. More likely to
walk than being sacked. Started brightly enough but a 4-0 drubbing by
WBA may have set his nerves on edge making him realise that golf is a much
gentler sport. City fans won't tolerate many more of those, that’s for sure. [Back to top]
Francis
Late entry Francis makes the ‘Pool from the reserves bench. Under fire from
several quarters and having spent a small fortune on a mixed bag of players,
his time may be up if not in a playoff or top spot by Crimble. [Back to top]
September Review – Strachan Struck
It couldn’t wait until the upload. A loss
at home to Grimbsy and with just 4 points from 15 Strachan feels the
pressure. He gets the vote of confidence on the Sunday and resigns by mutual
agreement on the Monday. Chairman “Gordon you’re resigning”. GS “Oh, OK
then”. It’s a funny old game.
Everybody else makes it through September. (We think, although we are not known for our
thorough research).
STOP PRESS
just as ED is
about to upload Peter Taylor goes and gets the elbow. As we’ve lost 2 before even uploading the
list we’ll be adding Trevor Francis at Birmingham City as an extra name in
the Dead Pool. [Back
to top]
October Review – 4 down 4 to go
Mid
October sees a casualty of the “my board doesn’t understand me” type in late
entry Francis. Tricky Trev walks on the 15th without giving any
proper reason, although did comment that he felt he had been unfairly
criticised by the board, fans, local press, national press and look-a-like
Jasper Carrot, amongst others.
Keegans Kippax roller coaster continues with big wins, big losses and home draws. Beck clings on at Cambridge helped my a mid month 3-1 win to Bury but is still struggling to turn the tide. Moyes has led a charge by Preston into the top ten but as he is in the frame for the Brum job and with McClaren possibly going to go England full time November could be an exciting month.
STOP PRESS a bit of late
research discovers that Flynn went at the end of September, not sacked mind
he went of his own accord after falling out with the board. Flynn had been the longest serving manager
in the league after Dario Gradi and Alex Ferguson. Ferguson’s son puts
himself forward as a potential successor! [Back to top]
November Review – Another one bites the dust
Beck
at Cambridge either resigned, was forced to resign or was sacked, depending
upon which paper/website you read. We
actually had him down for Christmas but a dire run has made way for John
Taylor to step in as caretaker who promptly lost his first game in charge
6-1.
Of the remaining 3, Moyes has turned down Birmingham and turned around Preston, who are now challenging for the play offs. Boro’ still have McClaren there and with the full time England post rumours going off the boil he looks safe for at least another month. Wild card Keegan continues his Maine Road roller coaster ride, but with City there or there abouts we still reckon it would be Kev who walks rather than a sacking and you can’t really predict that.
December to follow.
Last Seasons Dead Pool
Last
season we named 7 managers likely not to be sitting in the same managerial
seats at the end of the season. 5 out
of the 7 had gone before the end of March and a 6th went close season.
Colin Lee at Wolves, Paul Jewell at Sheffield
Wednesday, Steve Bruce at Huddersfield, Dennis Smith at Oxford and Bryan
Hamilton at Norwich were all sent down the road with P45’s before the ides of
March were upon us.
Of the other two; David Platt at Forest won’t be there to start the season, which left Bryan Flynn at Wrexham. [Back to top]
UPDATED MONTHLY
EMAIL: THE DEAD POOL With a dole queue bound guv’nor
BACK TO
PROGRAMME NOTES
©
Early Doors (2001/02) Ltd.
