Hot-Seat Watch for World Football Players, Coaches After Week of Dec. 4-9
Another week of action has gone by in the world of football, with plenty more managers and players looking over their shoulders and perhaps worrying for their place or position after poor results and performances.
Heading into the winter break in some leagues, and the busy season in the Premier League, displays and points are all-important to give fans, bosses and everyone else associated with each club reason to believe for the second half of the season.
Some individuals, though, are having the opposite impact at present. Here are our listed names for this week who really need things to pick up, fast.
A Not-Quite-Mention: Roberto Mancini, Inter Milan
1 of 9
He doesn't quite come into our hot-seat watch this week as he's not been in place long enough, so not too much detail—but Roberto Mancini has most certainly not hit the ground running at Inter Milan.
Three games, two defeats, 12th in the table and further adrift from the top three than ever.
Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool
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We have to start with Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers.
A dreadful half-week started with Liverpool failing to muster any kind of final-third threat in a drab 0-0 home draw with Sunderland, before a must-win Champions League game, also at home, ended in another draw, 1-1 with Basel.
Liverpool exited the Champions League with just one win after a poor campaign, while questions are being asked of Rodgers' starting XI and substitute options.
Fran Escriba, Elche
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Over in Spain, Elche have sunk to the bottom of La Liga after just two wins all season and four games on the bounce without victory.
Escriba has been at the club a few seasons, and it's likely he'll get further time to turn things around, especially given the tight nature of the bottom of the table, but they need wins soon.
The game against Deportivo La Coruna at the weekend is all important—19th vs. 20th.
Rene Girard, Lille
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Lille boss Rene Girard continues to struggle in Ligue 1, with another draw this week coming in the last minute to deny them a first win in 12.
Girard has seen his team sink to 15th, just three points outside the relegation zone after being one of the division's top sides last season.
Lille face Toulouse (12th) and Marseille (first) before the winter break.
Calum Chambers, Arsenal
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A couple of players now, starting with Arsenal's Calum Chambers.
The versatile defender has probably played more than expected this season as a result of injuries to team-mates, but his own errors of judgement mean he will be sitting out a little now.
A red card at the weekend and a generally poor display saw Arsenal beaten by Stoke City, while Chambers also now has the worst disciplinary record in the league—six yellows and a red in 12 starts.
Rafael Marquez, Verona
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Another defender whose indiscretions cost him team dearly was Mexican legend Rafa Marquez, who saw red for Hellas Verona at the weekend.
It was the second sending off of the season for Marquez, in just a dozen games since joining the club in the summer.
Verona were soon behind after his dismissal and ended up losing 3-1 at home to Sampdoria, leaving Verona down in 15th.
Mauricio Pochettino, Tottenham Hotspur
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We finish up with three managers from the Premier League who are all coming under scrutiny, starting with Tottenham's Mauricio Pochettino.
Spurs are actually slightly worse than Liverpool in terms of domestic form—the same draws, wins and losses as the Reds but less scored and more conceded.
Spurs have only won two out of their last five and don't look anything like the cohesive unit that they would have hoped under Pochettino, given his achievements with Southampton.
Nigel Pearson, Leicester City
8 of 9
At the bottom of the table now, Leicester City were always likely to struggle this season, but in-fighting certainly won't help the cause any.
Manager Nigel Pearson has only seen his side win twice this season and they have lost three in a row of late—leading to an argument with a supporter during the match last week. Pearson then failed to apologise afterward and is now being investigated by the FA, per BBC Sport.
Easy game next: home to Manchester City.
Steve Bruce, Hull City
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Hull City boss Steve Bruce was in our listings last week after leading his team on a terrible run of form throughout 2014, and he's running out of time to add another win or two to his tally.
Bruce and Co. managed a miserable 0-0 draw at home to West Bromwich Albion at the weekend, leaving the Tigers in the relegation zone and without a win in eight now.
They have four more matches before the year is out, starting with a trip to league leaders Chelsea.
