The Premier League sack race: managers on the hot seat

1. David Moyes

Save the drumroll, no suspense here. David Moyes is comfortably leading the sack race. Stepping into (Big) Sam Allardyce’s shoes over the summer, Moyes has struggled mightily at Sunderland, “leading” the Black Cats to a worst ever Premier League start after nine games. Sunderland sit firmly in last place with only two points to their name.

For whatever it’s worth, Moyes has managed not to get blown out in games as of late with only one of the last seven games ending in defeat by more than a goal. But that’s the extent of the silver lining around the dark cloud hanging above Moyes’ head at Sunderland.

It’s actually a remarkably dark cloud, considering Sunderland are the only team in all the top four tiers of English soccer who have yet to taste victory as of the end of October. That’s truly a remarkable feat.

Despite benefiting from a favorable run of schedule in the last four games, Moyes’ men have only mustered a single point against fellow relegation candidates West Brom and Stoke City, as well as mid-table mediocrities such as West Ham and Crystal Palace. Where does Moyes go from here?

Well, no offense to future American soccer star Lynden Gooch, but the gaffer has little to work with. Adnan Januzaj, Jermaine Defoe, Fabio Borini and newly arrived Didier Ndong are all relatively interesting players who may fit in nicely as role players on other Premier League outfits. Leaders of men they are not.

However, when you’re struggling this badly with a team Sam Allardyce managed to save from relegation, heads will roll. This is the time to show that Moyes can lead his men to punch above their weight. Otherwise, it’s easy to see how Moyes will end up being the fall guy in a desperate attempt to resuscitate the squad morale and reverse fortunes at Sunderland.