Hot Seat Watch for World Football Players, Coaches After Weekend of Jan. 17-18
After another weekend of intense action in the football world, we have our usual run-down of the underachievers and the under-pressure individuals to get through, both those in the dugout and those on the pitch.
We're starting as usual by going around those who were included last time out and haven't done enough to get out of trouble, suggesting that results or improved performances are needed quickly.
No calls for sackings or being dropped here—just showcasing where better displays can come from and why the people in question are being scrutinised.
Harry Redknapp, QPR
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Harry Redknapp tops our list this time, with the QPR boss suffering another defeat in the Premier League at the weekend at home to Manchester United.
Reports had suggested Redknapp might be sacked if he lost the game but the boss laughed off those reports, at the same time as suggesting there was an insider trying to destabilise his reign, per BBC Sport.
QPR haven't won in six games, are 19th in the league and just two points off the bottom now. They are away to Stoke City next time out.
Paul Lambert, Aston Villa
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Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert remains on our list, too, after another home defeat and another failure to score at the weekend. This time out they were defeated 2-0 by Liverpool, and despite a half-hour rally in the second half, they never truly threatened to break through and salvage a point.
Goals remain a massive problem, with just 11 scored this season in 22 games now, though the introduction of Carles Gil in the second half gave a lift to fans and the team's playing speed.
Villa are 15th, slowly sliding down the table, three points above the drop zone. Next up, Arsenal away.
Pippo Inzaghi, Milan
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Our third manager still in place from last week is over in Serie A, AC Milan boss Pippo Inzaghi.
He suffered yet another embarrassing home defeat at the weekend as Milan lost 1-0 at the San Siro against Atalanta, who are hovering barely above the relegation zone. They had only won once away from home this term, so while being a boost to their own survival hopes, it heaps yet more disappointment on Inzaghi.
Milan's hopes of challenging for Europe look more far-fetched by the week and they are back in eighth place again now and without a win in four. Their next game is away to fifth-place Lazio.
Kevin Mirallas, Everton
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Everton boss Roberto Martinez has featured on our list for some time, but Kevin Mirallas has taken his place this week after the forward came under immense criticism for taking and missing a penalty on Monday night.
In a game that both teams needed to win to arrest some poor form, the 0-0 draw saw Mirallas spurn the best chance of the night—he struck the post with his spot-kick after taking the ball from Leighton Baines, who is the regular taker.
Mirallas was subbed at half-time amid speculation on social media that his manager was fuming with him, though Martinez said it was due to injury, per BBC Sport.
Robin Van Persie, Manchester United
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Manchester United striker Robin van Persie certainly hasn't been hitting the heights of previous seasons in the current campaign, and there has been criticism in the media of late over whether United really need him or whether he can give his best again.
Robbie Savage's BBC Sport column suggested he should be let go next season, while Michael Owen, a former United striker, said he thought Van Persie "has gone quiet, he’s scored the odd goal, but he’s not the player he was over the past few years," on BT Sport (h/t Telegraph).
The table below, per Whoscored.com, outlines how he compares to United's other attackers in the Premier League this term.
| Forward | Goals | Mins per goal |
| van Persie | 8 | 207 |
| Rooney | 8 | 197 |
| Falcao | 3 | 231 |
| Wilson | 1 | 306 |
| Mata | 5 | 292 |
Lucas Alcaraz, Levante
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To Spain now and Levante boss Lucas Alcaraz gets our nod after Granada's coach Joaquin Caparros was sacked last week following a terrible run. Abel Resino has replaced him.
Alcaraz, though, has seen his Levante side drift into the bottom three after a poor run of their own; they are without a win in seven La Liga matches.
Though the bottom half is very tight, Levante missed a massive chance to get points at the weekend, losing 1-0 to relegation rivals Elche and missing a penalty in the process—as did Elche.
Willy Sagnol, Bordeaux
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To France now, and the manager watching his side slide out of European contention by the week is Willy Sagnol, who after a strong start to the season is struggling of late with Bordeaux.
A home defeat to mid-table Nice was the third loss in four games for Bordeaux, who have dropped to seventh in the table after just one point from that run.
They play Bastia away this weekend.
Everybody Related to Football in Qatar
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Qatar has come under pressure, scrutiny and the watchful eye of the football world since it was announced that they would be hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
They had an early chance here in the Asian Cup to show the progress they are making as a team—arguably the most important aspect when the finals come around—but were found wanting dreadfully.
Qatar failed to gain a single point and scored only two goals in three matches in a group containing the mighty Iran, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. They finished bottom, on zero points, the same as the likes of Palestine, Kuwait and North Korea.
Much work lies ahead for the nation if they are not to be nothing more than an incapable embarrassment to the biggest tournament around on the pitch in seven years' time.
