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Issue 62 - The Sacking Season

Issue 62 - The Sacking Season

The newsletter which is looking for job security

Dan Tracey
January 06, 2026

Hirings. Firings. Is anybody safe? It feels like it is that time of year but where are all the elite coaches these days? Are there any left? Don’t forget there’s actual football to talk about. 150 subs in the bag, so let’s get cracking. Issue 62. Go.

Just Stop Talking

It seems the best way to rid yourself of a Premier League job these days is to simply be rather public in the displeasure of your paymasters. It worked for Enzo Maresca last week, it has done the same for Ruben Amorim this.

Another top six side (at least at the time of writing) deciding that enough is enough, the former Sporting manager in the Old Trafford for 14 months. Is it the right decision? Where results even that bad? This current season is such a crapshoot, the Red Devils arguably the hardest team to read.

Improvement when compared to last season but with the really large caveat of such poor performance, the volatility of the table means United could land themselves Champions League football at the end of the campaign, they could just as easily finish outside the top half.

Maybe the former of the two possibilities is the underlying reason as to why the United board have decided to change direction halfway through the campaign. The season has not been great by any stretch but it could still be a lot better.

Better under someone who is prepared to change from the 3-4-3 which Amorim had utilised more often than not. The tactical inflexibility arguing leaving so many points on the figurative and literal table.

What Happens Now

Of course, there is the question as to what happens now. Short term, long term, any term. Gary Neville talking about United DNA. What even is that, has anybody been able to cultivate it in the post-Fergie void.

Darren Fletcher taking the reins in midweek but perhaps not until the end of the season as the interim route looks the safer path for United to tread. A safe pair of hands you say, haven’t they been there before?

They could just as easily go there again and with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer being touted for another stint as interim manager, it could be that Chelsea are copied in the methods of bringing in a club legend to boost morale.

The Blues drafted Frank Lampard for an interim run, United not against the concept either. That may keep things ticking over between now and May, it may even deliver an FA Cup if the right headwinds could be navigated. But what about the summer?

The Other Guy

Heard the one about the former Chelsea boss working in Manchester next season? Enzo Maresca reportedly caught out putting himself in the fold for any Pep Guardiola departure, but what if the former Barcelona and Bayern boss stays on?

Does light blue become red instead? He was favourite to take over but the market has moved considerably in the direction of Solskjaer (any interim who oversees 10 games is also declared a winning bet) but that only keeps us busy until the World Cup.

Take the Norwegian out of the equation and then we are in the territory of Xavi, Zinedine Zidane as names that are always linked but always seem fanciful. Oliver Glasner as more realistic along with Maresca maybe even a certain Sir Gareth Southgate?

If it was Southgate, you would have to wonder whether the Sporting Director model would be a better fit for him. No club management since his stint at Middlesbrough 18 years ago, no experience of buying players.

Would that make it a better setup for him to literally coach in the same way as an international team, the higher-ups buy the players, Southgate is told to mould what he has?

There are a lot of different directions in which this could move in, probably by the time the next issue lands at the week.

I know a lot of Red Devils have made their way over from the excellent Back to Carrington newsletter I’d be really keen to get your thoughts via the comments or a reply to my inbox (or anyone else for that matter).

The Junior Rosenior

Chelsea’s stint without a permament manager lasted no more than a week, Liam Rosenior in at Stamford Bridge on a SIX-year contract.

Reward for his work at Strasbourg, insurance against the possible sacking that if you follow the Chelsea modus operandi is likely to follow in 18 months time.

Is Rosenior the best man for the job? If I and others are brtually honest, no.

However, he knows how to operate a club as part of a multi-club model.

More importantly, he knows how to operare a club as part of Chelsea’s multi-club model.

As the new Blues boss said himself, he cannot turn down Chelsea and why would he?

Being in charge of Strasbourg is only ever going to be him coaching a very transient team, almost non-league in the sense where players are shipped in and out every season in very large numbers.

That transient nature means success is never going to materialise in Ligue 1, the football hierarchy BlueCo or not will always pluck their very best.

Same As Before

Of course, you could argue that the same transient coaching remit is going to happen at Chelsea. Truth be told, I would be surprised if it did not.

However, the difference is that Chelsea are higher up the footballing hierarchy, there is always going to be the player trading model in operation but there are the bones of a really good team there as well.

We’ve seen it in the Club World Cup, we ever saw it to a degree on Sunday in the second half at the Etihad when Enzo Fernandez netted an injury-time leveller under the interim tutelage of Calum McFarlane.

The bones of a good side but what feels like a poisoned chalice at the same time. With Chelsea being where they are and in the running for a Champions League place, Rosenior has absolutely no time to bed in.

It’s not as if the Blues are sitting 12th for example and the second half of the season is an elongated pre-season getting to grips with a squad that will hopefully fire on all cylinders the following campaign.

This is a squad that at worst is far too bloated and at best a very likely candidate for a top five finish. There are baptism of fires and there is taking over the Chelsea job at the halfway stage of the season with still so much to play for.

Quickfire Weekend Review

There is too much football for this newsletter to keep up with

Arsenal six clear, feels like even Thursday’s home clash with Liverpool is a free-hit in terms of outcome.
You would usually think this is the point where Manchester City put the afterburners on and go on a monster run to claw back the crown. If I had to back anyone to do so, it would be the Gunners.
Wolves’ 3-0 win at West Ham is unlikely to save them in the grand scheme of things, but that result almost says “we are taking you to the Championship with us”
Only two teams have won each of their last two league outings. Arsenal and Newcastle. It is really difficult to land back-to-back wins at the moment.
Igor Thiago is the latest Brentford striker in their ever functioning mould. A cracking hat-trick at Everton at the weekend.
If I was Thomas Frank, I’d be keeping an eye on all these other sackings right now.
A much needed win for Brighton at home to Burnley.
Another defeat for Nottingham Forest. Sean Dyche arguably right to ask for perspective but that won’t buy him too much clemency with the club’s Greek owner.
Aston Villa back to winning ways. What on Earth was Forest’s goalkeeper doing for John McGinn’s second goal. Absolutely no way he was injured after.
All these sackings and Liverpool’s 2-2 draw at Fulham isn’t even a story
Leeds’ unbeaten run continues, Manchester United the latest team to be:

Even Quicker Preview

But wait, there’s more:

West Ham vs Nottingham Forest taking place while the newsletter is being crafted. I’ll hold my thoughts until the next issue.

Wednesday Fixtures

Bournemouth have not won any of their last 11, they face Tottenham on Wednesday night. I know how this works.

Jordan Henderson goes up against his boyhood club Sunderland, both sides unbeaten in their last five. The Black Cats having drawn their last four. A stalemate not out of the equation in West London.

Crystal Palace have picked up a point from their last five matches, all is not well in South London. Aston Villa will look to apply some pressure on Arsenal with a win at Selhurst Park.

Everton willl look to bounce back after a bruising defeat on Sunday. They host Wolves, who have picked up four points from the last six. Can they continue their momentum on Merseyside?

A West London derby as Fulham play host to Chelsea. The Cottagers unbeaten in five, the Blues led by Calum McFarlane again. This one is far from a foregone conclusion.

Manchester City have drawn their last two, could that be terminal in terms of the title race. The gap stands it at six points, it needs to be three by the time they welcome Arsenal to the Etihad in April. They will hope for three at home to Brighton.

The Magpies having won each of their last two, welcome a Leeds side who are now unbeaten in seven. You would fancy Daniel Farke’s men to earn a point on Tyneside, they look a totally different team to just a few months ago.

Burnley are another team who have not won in 11, they face Manchester United. Will new manager bounce in a short-term sense make it an unwanted dozen for the Clarets?

Thursday Night

Arsenal face Liverpool, this could be the final hurdle in terms of finally reaching the Premier League’s promised land for the first time since 2004.

While the rumblings of discontent are positioning themselves around Arne Slot once again. Whatsapp groups up and down the country stating that “if he loses this one, he’s done”.

Not sure you can carry out a trial by social media but the Reds need a win to end their malaise. The irony is that they are currently eight league games unbeaten, it just feels like a really laboured run to get to that point.

And Goodbye Nancy

What a week in Scotland. Aberdeen sack a manager who only won the Scottish Cup six months ago, Rangers win the latest edition of the Old Firm at Celtic Park by three goals to one. Celtic sack their manager.

A Nancy Bhoy no more as Wilfried’s bizarre run is abruptly ended less than five weeks after arriving in Glasgow. Martin O’Neill now back in as interim again - they should have just left him in the post.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing of course, so is being six points clear at the top.

Hearts pull further clear at the top, but do we now have a three-horse race for the Scottish Premiership title?

Celtic must be stronger by default, Rangers on the same points as the Hoops. Had the defending champions not made their swift change, you could even position them to finish third at the end of the season.

For as much as a kicking as Scottish football gets for not being competitive, this season to date has been an absolute joy to watch. The football from Hearts’ perspective refreshing, the offering from the Glasgow duo jawdropping due to how far they have dropped of.

Tony Bloom’s deep pockets. Martin’s managerial nous. Rangers’ Rohling with it.

Who will win? It’s going to be fun finding out.

Admin

Right, that’s the end of issue 62 as word continues to spread around the football world.

This isn’t a newsletter that follows the crowd. It sets the lens through which you see the game and more than 150 subscribers are now viewing it through that lens.

If you’re serious about understanding football, staying ahead of the stories, and cutting through the noise, keep this in your inbox.

Issue 63 drops Friday, and I’ll be back with another round of insight, analysis and trends that matter. Any feedback or comments on this issue, contact me below: