EPL Week 8 Predictions: Managers That Will Feel Pressure After Weekend Results

After 10 days in the shadow of international football, the Premier League returns to the limelight this weekend with a full schedule of action.

While Fulham’s victory over Stoke City in Week 7 relieved some of the pressure on the shoulders of Martin Jol, there are inevitably other club bosses that will be subject to negative headlines over the course of the next seven days.

Here’s a look at the managers who will be feeling the heat of the spotlight at the conclusion of this weekend’s action.

Malky Mackay

Mackay was busy in the boardroom at Cardiff City Stadium over the international break. As reported by Jamie Jackson of the Guardian, the Scot was assured he would have final say on all transfer matters after his key advisor, Iain Moody, was forced out of the club last week.

The wrangling between the manager and owner Vincent Tan won’t have been ideal preparation for the trip to Chelsea, and it offered some insight into the current instability at the club.

Cardiff City have played the role of David once before this season when they defeated the Goliath of Manchester City at home at the end of August. But a visit to Stamford Bridge poses a different set of problems for Mackay—they won't find Chelsea to be as hospitable at set pieces—and it’s difficult to envision them coming away from the game with anything to show.

The newly promoted side currently sit 14th in the table with two wins, two draws and three defeats. A further loss, albeit to Chelsea, would heap further pressure on Mackay, especially with the Welsh derby and the visits of both Manchester United and Arsenal on the horizon.

 

Alan Pardew

With defeats to Manchester City, Hull and Everton already this season, Pardew will find himself in a spot of trouble if his side lose at home to Liverpool in the early kickoff on Saturday.

Newcastle have conceded 12 goals and scored just nine in their opening seven games and, by the time the "SAS"—Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge—have come to visit, the Magpies' goal difference may well have dipped further into the red.

Pardew’s power was undermined over the summer when Mike Ashley appointed Joe Kinnear as the director of football, leading to a barren summer in the transfer market that led to few new arrivals at St James' Park.

The Newcastle boss recently spoke candidly of owner Ashley, admitting he sometimes "does things that aren't brilliant for the football club," per Sky Sports' Goals on Sunday programme. 

With the Tyne-and-Wear derby, Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham to follow, Pardew won’t be sleeping too comfortably if his side come away from the Liverpool game with nothing to show. The Newcastle boss was, however, willing to risk a Mars bar on the fact his team would finish above Everton this year (see clip).

 

Ian Holloway

The charismatic manager has appeared increasingly gloomy in his post-match interviews but will need to be at his motivational best to get results from his squad in the coming weeks.

Crystal Palace, who earned promotion via the play-offs last season, have picked up just three points—a lone win against bottom-of-the-table Sunderland—from their opening seven games.

There were stories as early as August—like this one in the Telegraph—reporting that Holloway’s position is in jeopardy after he struggled to find any bargains of note in the summer transfer market.

A loss at home to fellow-strugglers Fulham this Monday could spell the end for the former Blackpool man. Adding intrigue is the fact that his Fulham counterpart, Jol, will find himself in an equally dangerous position should the Cottagers lose.