There’s trouble at the mills of both Swansea City and Cardiff City. The question is can their managers calm matters, or will they soon be ground into the dust? Dai Sport columnist Ross Tyson offers a guide.
There aren’t many things Swansea and Cardiff fans agree on. They may both like a certain pub in Bordeaux, but that’s about it. They both, however, will agree that their current manager is under pressure and while they may not feel the chill of the cold, steel axe yet, they’re aware of its presence.
Even though Arsene Wegner has this week celebrated his 20th anniversary at Arsenal, it’s little secret that three or four bad results these days and you’re under pressure. Just ask Mark Hughes. So why are the managers at South Wales’ biggest clubs under the cosh and what may be the final straw?
Paul Trollope:
Why?
Since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s appointment, the Cardiff City hot seat has been an uncomfortable one. The Norwegian oversaw Cardiff’s turbulent relegation from the Premier League and his successor, Russell Slade, although more successful, ultimately left with Cardiff narrowly missing the play-offs. Neither were they any longer one of the division’s feared sides.
Trollope’s appointment was a rather strange one, a game of musical chairs saw him take Slade’s manager role, and Slade became “head of football” (a role he woulld leave within a fortnight). Reaction to Trollope’s appointment was mixed. He had not managed since an up and down spell at Bristol Rovers, but he was part of the coaching team that took Wales to the semi-finals of Euro 2016, and he knew Cardiff City.
An underwhelming, cost cutting summer followed and the season so far has been a damp squib, with the current nadir coming during a 3-0 loss to Preston. This early in the season, positions can be deceiving, but no false moustache can disguise 24th, rock bottom.
Cardiff have tried five at the back, and a 4-3-3 system, but, as yet, neither seem to be bearing fruit.
His fate may depend on what upper management had expected from the season – if a play-off push was a minimum his time is seriously limited. If mid table and ‘building a platform’ was desired, he may have longer.
What will see him sacked?
From now until Bonfire Night (after which they play Newcastle and Huddersfield) Cardiff have to move comfortably away from the relegation zone. In the next three games, however, Trollope will face Rotherham, Derby, and Burton – all of whom are within punching distance of Cardiff. Any less than four points and the Trollope experiment may well be over very soon.
Francesco Guidolin:
Why?
Like Trollope, Guidolin’s appointment wasn’t straight-forward. He was appointed just over a month after Garry Monk was sacked and at a time when Alan Curtis was drawing plaudits.
He steered Swansea comfortably clear of relegation, but unfortunate health problems led to Curtis again making important decisions.
Swansea’s summer, too, was quite disappointing. Ashley Williams, who was more than just a captain, left for Everton and wasn’t really replaced. Andre Ayew, who had a big impact in his first season in South Wales, joined West Ham and, perhaps, most irritatingly, Swansea missed out on the likes of Joe Allen, Wilfried Bony and Antonio Valencia, when all seemed attainable.
It’s not been an awful start, but the performances overall (the win against Burnley included) haven’t been impressive. Some observers think Swansea are actually lucky to have picked up four points. Incidents like Neil Taylor arguing with his manager after being subbed right before half-time against Chelsea, don’t present a united front, either.
What will see him sacked?
Over the course of the season dropped points to Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal can be excused, but unfortunately for the Swans, these are their next three fixtures. A win over Manchester City will keep the wolves at bay, but anything less and he needs to beat one of Liverpool or Arsenal or hope fellow slow starters don’t begin to pull away. For chairman Huw Jenkins, it wouldn’t be as heart-wrenching a goodbye as when he sacked Monk. Fewer than three points in his next three games and he may well be gone.
Conclusion.
Complaining about modern football’s fickle, revolving door culture is a waste of breath. It’s cut-throat, which is a shame, but this is no longer new information.
Would it be shocking if both managers lost their jobs this weekend? A bit. Will both see out the season? Doubtful. When are they likely to be gone? By October’s international break.
