HERE WE GO AGAIN!

July 2011

We’re only days into July and some clubs are into their second week of pre-season training already.

I am well aware of the old adage ‘failure to prepare; prepare to fail’ but there’s also the saying of ‘too much of a good thing’ and the fear of burn-out.

It will only be a matter of months before players and managers alike will be calling for a winter break because players are tired!

I love this stage of the season though with so many fans up and down the country full of optimism about their chances – regardless of what happened during the last campaign and with no current evidence who can really argue.

Managers across all four divisions are bigging up their sides’ chances for the forthcoming season, but the big question is, how many of them will still be in charge by Christmas, or on recent form, by the end of September?

Blackburn Rovers boss Steve Kean is the favourite when it comes to the first Premier League Manager to leave his job, with William Hill offering odds of 10/3, while QPR boss Neil Warnock is a close second at 4/1.

According to the bookmaker Sir Alex Ferguson is more likely to leave his job at Old Trafford (12/1) than more than half of the managers in the top flight, including Kenny Dalglish, Paul Lambert, Brendan Rodgers and Stoke boss Tony Pulis.

Although according to Coral the longest serving Manager in English football is 100/1 to leave his post as Manager of Manchester United.

One thing that is certain though is that over the next 11 months several clubs will be looking for new managers, several thousands of fans will be calling for their managers heads and the several clubs will be celebrating!

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