We are now entering that stage of the season where managers are starting to come and go. In the Championship, certain managers are under increasingly severe pressure after disappointing starts to the season. We focus on four Championship managers that desperately need a win this weekend.
Plus…..it would be too easy just to say Steve Evans now wouldn’t it!
Guy Luzon (Charlton Athletic)
Charlton supporters seem to have made their mind up about Guy Luzon. They clearly don’t believe he is the right man for the job at The Valley. There was a large vocal cry of “You’re getting sacked in the morning” that rang around the stadium as they went down 3-0 at home to Preston North End on Tuesday night. They have slipped into the bottom three and their winless run has extended to eight matches. They entertain a Brentford side who are on the back of two wins, most recently at Wolves on Wednesday. It is a London Derby for Charlton and Luzon simply cannot afford another costly defeat, or else he could well be unemployed on Sunday.
Chris Ramsey (Queens Park Rangers)
It is only one win in their last seven for QPR, and that was a 4-3 home win over bottom of the table Bolton Wanderers. There was always going to be big pressure on Ramsey following relegation last season. Many felt he should have moved on, but Tony Fernandes and the QPR board decided to keep faith in their Head Coach. They sit in 10th place after 12 games, which may not seem like a disaster, but QPR have much bigger aspirations this season. Neil Warnock has returned to the club in an advisory role. Whilst he won’t become their manager any time soon, he wouldn’t be in the club if they were performing well on the pitch. Director of Football Les Ferdinand recently suggested that Ramsey is under big pressure. He knows that he needs a win and quickly. MK Dons at home is a winnable game, but it is also one where a defeat could be costly.
Neil Lennon (Bolton Wanderers)
This was always going to be a difficult season for Bolton. Neil Lennon has expressed his frustrations at every opportunity regarding the lack of finances compared to previous seasons. He knew the job when he took it on, and regardless of his lack of resources, he knows results need to improve quickly. There is the very real possibility that they could ply their trade in League One next season. They sit bottom of the table and whilst they have a strong looking squad on paper, it is one which simply isn’t performing. Lennon has recently been critical of match officials, which is becoming a regular occurrence. Whilst he may feel hard down by, Jose Mourinho is in the same boat, and he is getting very little sympathy! Many expect Lennon to turn it around and Saturday’s home clash to Steve Evans’ Leeds United is a huge game for them.
Kit Symons (Fulham)
Symons himself has recently said that he dreads reading the local newspapers now, purely because he is constantly being mentioned as being under pressure and most likely to be sacked. Well let’s hope he doesn’t check out the internet too often as well! We’re sorry Kit, but the fact of the matter is that you’re under big pressure. He at least knows that, but every game they don’t win will see that pressure slowly increase. They sit firmly in mid-table, and like QPR that may not seem like the end of the world. However they are fed up of life in the Championship and want to be back in the Premier League next season. Symons knows that many others would love to have his job and should he depart, then they won’t struggle to attract solid candidates. Fulham are now four without a win and their lack of consistency this season has greatly frustrated the Craven Cottage faithful. This weekend they welcome Reading, who are one of the better sides in the league.
