Are we nearing the first managerial casualty of the Premier League season?
It took some time for Swansea City to settle on Francesco Guidolin after the boss engineered a run to PL safety last season, but after a 1W-1D-3L start to the season it appears he may only get 6-7 total games to sort it out.
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Waiting in the wings, according to the Telegraph, is beloved Welshman and Manchester United icon Ryan Giggs. The Red Devils legend left the team with the hiring of Jose Mourinho and is itching to get into a first chair.
So what are the odds Swansea makes a change? Off to a 1W-1D-3L start to the season, the report says it’s not about the record as much as Guidolin’s relationship with players.
You can bet that the fresh investors into the club won’t do anything that hurts its chances of staying in the rich Premier League. And you the old maxim, once you’ve put someone’s job status on a set number of games, you’ve probably already moved on.
Essentially, if the reports are true, Swansea is saying, “Score us a monumental upset and we’ll keep you around.”
Gone from the group of players who helped save Swans from relegation are Andre Ayew, Bafétimbi Gomis, Alberto Paloschi, and -- most importantly -- Ashley Williams. In came Borja Baston, Mike van der Hoorn, and Fernando Llorente. Leroy Fer also turned his loan into a permanent deal.
It’s hard to put this on a manager, though, isn’t it? Unless the stories of discontent are just the tip of the iceberg, better players seem more critical than a better coach (and Guidolin apparently does not have the final say on purchases).