Everton have pulled the plug on Ronald Koeman's reign after a disastrous start to the Premier League campaign, but which other clubs will be considering a change at the top? Alex Keble takes a look.
Leicester City
Leicester have already taken the plunge, with Craig Shakespeare’s dismissal extremely harsh given Leicester’s tough fixture list and the competitiveness of their performances throughout the campaign. These players are crying out for a manager able to continue the deep-lying, counter-attacking tactical model first implemented by Nigel Pearson – but worryingly few of the favourites to succeed Shakespeare fit into this category.
Perhaps guilty of assuming they are one of the Premier League’s biggest sides, the owners appear to be chasing high-profile managers looking to implement an expansive game. Manuel Pellegrini, a laissez-faire manager who would surely struggle to motivate such emotionally volatile players, is the new favourite. A better option would be Alan Pardew, who used Ranieri-esque tactics at Crystal Palace and Newcastle United, although Michael Appleton stands a better chance than Pardew following the 2-1 win at Swansea City last weekend.
A lack of inspiring options means Leicester will probably tread water until the end of the season, playing no better or worse than they would have done under Shakespeare.
Sky Bet make Pellegrini 5/2 favourite to get the job, while Pardew is out at 11/1.
West Ham United
Slaven Bilic has reportedly been given two matches to save his job; all evidence suggests he won’t survive beyond next weekend. West Ham have seemed tactically directionless ever since the beginning of the 2016/17 season, when their move to the London Stadium saw the dogged determination of their counter-attacking tactics suddenly evaporate. In short, West Ham’s new home makes Bilic’s tactics patently unsuited to the club – something their eclectic summer signings indicates.
Signing glamorous names doesn’t suit Bilic’s underdog style, leaving his side looking bereft of ideas this season. The Croatian’s constant formation changes suggest desperation, while Marko Arnautovic’s casual attitude has become symbolic of their performances. West Ham are unable to find fluency with the Swiss in attack, which is made worse by the jaded midfield combination of Cheikhou Kouyate and Mark Noble. There simply isn’t enough energy or invention in the Hammers midfield to lift their spirits.
Defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup seems highly likely before a trip to lowly Crystal Palace surely seals Bilic’s fate. Like Brighton, Roy Hodgson’s side will sit in a deep and narrow blockade of bodies, stunting West Ham’s attacks and creating a hostile environment for the visitors. Expect Palace to win and Bilic to leave; the temptation to appoint Ronald Koeman will surely force the board’s hand.
In the wake of Koeman's Everton departure, Bilic is now 1/2 to be next Premier League boss to leave, while Koeman is 12/1 to be the next Hammers boss.
Stoke City
Mark Hughes rejected talk of a developing crisis following his side’s 2-1 defeat at home to Bournemouth last weekend, and he’s probably right. Stoke’s poor start to the season is largely due to a tough fixture list, and so Hughes has every right to assume things will turn around; a 2-2 draw with Manchester United, along with home wins against Arsenal and Southampton, suggest Stoke have nothing to panic about.
Their biggest concern is having too many flair players who are unable to help out defensively, although adopting a Conte-inspired 3-4-2-1 formation has partially solved this issue. What’s more, Hughes can point to Jese’s improving performances and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting’s fine start as signs that Stoke continue to develop under his tutelage, while Kurt Zouma has performed superbly on loan from Chelsea.
However, Stoke are clearly too brittle at times and Hughes needs to address some obvious defensive flaws if he is to avoid a relegation battle. Nevertheless, there is no reason for the Welshman to panic just yet. Hughes is 9/1 to be next manager out.
Burnley
High-flying Burnley can be legitimately worried that their manager is about to be poached. Dyche has performed miracles on a tiny budget over the past few years, earning him the right to be considered for the next big job in English football, even if his defence-first mantra might put a ceiling on his ambitions.
Burnley are 16th in the table for possession (43.8% average), top of the charts for aerial duels (23.1 per match), and first in the league for shots conceded (18.9 per match). These are hardly statistics to impress the Everton hierarchy, who want to play a more expansive system than Dyche has exhibited at the Clarets.
It would be a surprise to see Dyche leave the club for Leicester, whose trigger-happy management style makes joining a big risk, although West Ham would be the perfect fit. He's among the early favourites for the Everton job, and as a result is just 4/1 to be next Premier League boss out of his current job.