5 Premier League Managers on the Chopping Block

Frank Wagner@Fw1812X.com LogoCorrespondent IFebruary 27, 2013

5 Premier League Managers on the Chopping Block

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    With 11 matches remaining in the Premier League season, each club's general level of success has, in all likelihood, already been established.

    After all, there are far too few games left for a club to move very far up or down the table.

    While the likes of Manchester United have all but wrapped up yet another league title, other sides are struggling to reach their season's goals.

    As the season nears its end, those clubs that are not reaching the heights demanded by their front office and supporters are sure to consider wholesale changes.

    That change can usually be expected to start at the top, with the managers being the first casualty of the season's disappointment.

    So which bosses are most in danger of getting the sack at the end of this season?

    Here are five Premier League managers on the chopping block.

Rafael Benitez

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    Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez may be one of the shortest-tenured managers in the Premier League, but the Spaniard is also on one of the hottest seats.

    Benitez, an ex-Liverpool manager who did not endear himself to Chelsea fans while at Anfield, took over for club legend Roberto Di Matteo in November and was immediately shunned by many club supporters.

    Three months on, the Spanish boss has not done much to win his detractors over, losing twice as many matches as his predecessor and falling a spot in the league.

    With a chairman in Roman Abramovich, who has established that he is not shy to fire his managers, and a fanbase that is firmly against him, Benitez already has a small chance of surviving until next season.

    If he fails to win the FA Cup or finish in the top four, Rafa can start shopping his resume around to other clubs.

Roberto Mancini

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    With over £1 billion invested into Manchester City over the past five years, owner Sheikh Mansour is sure to have high expectations of his club.

    After they won the Premier League title last season, the squad was only slightly tweaked and manager Roberto Mancini given the reins for another year.

    However, after yet another abysmal Champions League campaign and the likely failure to repeat as league champions, the Italian might be approaching the end of his time in Manchester.

    To add to his problems, Mancini has started to act very erratically, making conflicting statements and singling out players, especially Joe Hart.

    Barring some miracle comeback in the league title race, Mancini will surely be heading for the exit in the summer.

Paul Lambert

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    After their close call in last season's relegation battle, Aston Villa fired manager Alex McLeish a day after their final match.

    When the club hired Paul Lambert, they hoped the Scot would be able to work some of the magic he had in guiding Norwich City through two promotions and a successful season in the Premier League in just three seasons at the club.

    However, Villa's young squad have really struggled under Lambert this season, recording just five victories in 27 matches and sitting on the worst goal differential with the most goals conceded in the league.

    While the results have turned around just a bit as of late, Villa still sit in the relegation zone at this point.

    Should the Villans stay up, Lambert will probably stay and, with the young core of his side, do well in the future.

    If they suffer relegation, though, Lambert may go down with the ship.

Sam Allardyce

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    For a club spending their first season back in the Premier League, West Ham started the 2012-13 season quite well.

    With his side sitting in sixth in November and eighth as recently as January, manager Sam Allardyce seemed almost assured of keeping his job into next season.

    However, the Hammers have suffered through some awful form over the past few months, recording just two wins out of their past 13 league matches.

    In that terrible run, the club has dropped down to 14th in the league, just six points clear of the drop zone and looking over their shoulders at the bottom three.

    With his club in such poor form and his contract expiring, Allardyce's status as West Ham manager is suddenly far from certain.

Arsene Wenger

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    After 17 fine years in charge at Arsenal, Arsene Wenger has earned the benefit of the doubt.

    However, it seems that even Arsenal supporters are starting to wonder if the Frenchman's time at the club has run its course.

    With the Gunners all but assured of an eighth consecutive season without a trophy, the club's best possible outcome is a top-four finish and qualification for the Champions League, a feat the manager deemed akin to a trophy.

    As Arsenal sit in fifth, though, the club could be set to miss out on Europe's top competition for the first time since Wenger's first season.

    Of course, there are some mitigating factors for Arsenal's long-time manager, not least of which being the lack of funds he has at his disposal.

    However, a season without a trophy or qualification for the Champions League could be a sign that Arsenal are ready for a change.

    Don't be surprised if 17 years marks the end of Arsene Wenger's time in charge at the Emirates.

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