Well, the Premier League managerial merry-go-round is spinning again, and the latest head coach to get the chop is Tottenham Hotspur interim manager Cristian Stellini.
The Italian boss was only in charge for 30 days and four matches. He picked up a draw with Everton and a highly fortunate win over Brighton and Hove Albion before succumbing at home to strugglers Bournemouth and taking a humiliating 6-1 defeat away to Newcastle United.
That clash at St James’ Park was billed as a battle for a Champions League place but, as the Magpies raced into a 5-0 lead within 21 minutes, the gulf between the two clubs was painfully obvious for Spurs fans, who mercifully watched the Geordies take their foot off the gas in the second half.
Stellini was appointed on 26th March after Antonio Conte walked out of the club (or maybe was pushed) after a turbulent 16 months in charge. Conte’s parting shot was to hint that the Spurs players were selfish and didn’t know how to win silverware.
Well, he’s right on the second point.
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is notoriously difficult to deal with and maybe even to work for. He’s a tough cookie, but he wasn’t overly critical when he described Spurs’ capitulation in the North East as “wholly unacceptable.
Now he needs to find the next man to take on his club, having put Ryan Mason in temporary charge for the second time. The former Spurs and Hull City player stepped up when Jose Mourinho was sacked in 2021, making him the youngest head coach in Premier League history at the age of 29.
He’ll need to put together a spectacular set of Premier League 2023 results to lift Tottenham into the top four now, but the odds are stacked against him with a six-point gap to make up.
Nagelsmann is back on the radar
You have to question the sanity of a club which has sacked two serial winners, Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, within the space of two years. And sure, the game against Newcastle was huge for both teams and Spurs were awful.
But what’s the point in replacing one interim manager with another when the season is almost certain to fizzle out. Spurs fans, who have had their fun laughing at Chelsea this season, have now discovered their club is another basket case and they crave some stability and a manager to take them forward.
Much as Mauricio Pochettino did before he was sacked in 2019.
The Tottenham faithful would love to see Poch back in the dugout, but it looks like he may be on his way to Stamford Bridge and that would hurt. But the move may open up another opportunity for the Whites as ex-FC Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann is in the market.
Levy reckons he can tempt the highly-rated German coach after he pulled out of the race to take over at Chelsea. It seemed he was on the way to Stamford Bridge, but negotiations broke down and he stepped back.
Former Spain boss Luis Enrique had emerged as a favourite at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but, if Levy is going to look for a project manager and medium-term success, then surely Nagelsmann is the best candidate.
It would be a change in strategy for the Spurs board, but they need it as they hunt for a first piece of silverware in 15 years.
Xhaka doubtful for title blockbuster
Back on the pitch, there’s a full programme of midweek football and we’ll be all over the action here at SBOTOP with previews and updates as the drama unfolds.
And the game of the week, if not the season, is at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night when champions Manchester City host league leaders Arsenal in a monster clash.
After a recent run of draws for the Gunners, the latest Premier League 2023 betting odds reckon it’s now City’s title to lose, and Mikel Arteta’s challengers really need a win in Manchester.
While Spurs and Chelsea have put on a very decent circus act this season, Arsenal have had a fabulous campaign, leading the race for the majority. But unless they can pull out a shock win in Manchester, their wait for a first league title since 2004 will go on.
The Gunners may be missing two key players for this pivotal clash.
Centre-back William Saliba continues to struggle with a back injury, and his team has struggled without him. And now it seems midfield general Granit Xhaka is very doubtful too. The Switzerland skipper missed Arsenal’s recent 3-3 draw with Southampton with an illness, and he is yet to appear in training.
Arteta won’t risk Xhaka unless he is 100-per cent fit, but he would be a huge miss in a game in which Arsenal need to limit the space for players like Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish.
If City win the midfield battle then I fear for the Gunners.
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