The 2019-20 Premier League season has got off to a rough start for several teams. Nine Premier League clubs have failed to win a match so far with four of those teams failing to gain a single point.
Three teams really stand out after two Premier League matchdays. Chelsea, Crystal Palace, and Watford are those three sides that could act soon.
While Southampton are winless in two matches, they are building something over the long-term. Newcastle United’s ownership just doesn’t care and Steve Bruce will be in charge without a change being made. Bruce may be the one to step down before Mike Ashley and company make a stand.
Chelsea, Crystal Palace, and Watford could all make managerial moves before long for different reasons. Let’s breakdown the three teams and the moves that could be made.
Chelsea – Frank Lampard
I feel bad for Frank Lampard. He seems like a nice guy and a potentially good manager. However, moving to Chelsea in the offseason was a move taken by both parties too early.
Lampard should have waited with Chelsea facing a transfer ban. They just don’t have the talent other teams have. Even the likes of Pedro, Olivier Giroud, and Jorginho, they cannot carry the team to a top-six finish and deep run in the Champions League.
Although Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham are promising, they still need time to develop. The defence has been the biggest problem for Chelsea. They were ravaged for four goals against Manchester United, two against Liverpool, and conceded a 67th-minute goal to Leicester City on Sunday. Chelsea have conceded five Premier League goals while scoring just one over the course of 180 minutes of league football.
Chelsea could make a move to bring in a more experienced manager if the decision is made to move on from Lampard. If Lampard is sacked, would he get another opportunity somewhere else in the future?
Crystal Palace – Roy Hodgson
Roy Hodgson will celebrate his two year anniversary at Crystal Palace on 12 September. In his nearly two years at Crystal Palace, Hodgson has recorded a 36.9% win rate. Amazingly it is his lowest win rate since managing Blackburn Rovers. Even his time at Liverpool saw Hodgson secure a 41.9% win rate.
The Crystal Palace have secured one point from six possible and failed to score a goal this season. Hodgson went winless in 11 of the Eagles’ first 13 matches last term. However, he got it right as the season went on. Crystal Palace finished 12th in the Premier League.
With Hodgson now 72, is he ready for another relegation fight? More importantly, are Crystal Palace willing to continue under Hodgson?
Hodgson is under contract until 2020. If he can get things under control, Crystal Palace will want to keep Hodgson in the position until they can make a change next summer.
Watford – Javi Gracia
Watford’s Javi Gracia has to be the most under fire manager in the Premier League. Watford have lost their first two matches and have not scored a goal.
The Hornets’ current form is a continuation from last season. They were winless in eight of their last 11 Premier League games. Seven of those matches ended in losses. Making matters worse was the humiliating 6-0 loss Watford suffered in the FA Cup Final versus Manchester City.
Gracia is the ninth manager to coach Watford since the Pozzo family took over the club in 2012. He has been in the job for over 18 months making him the longest-serving coach under the Pozzos. If things don’t turn around soon, Gracia could be the first coach sacked.
