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The 2021-22 Premier League season is set to kick off in a couple of days' time. It's going to be an opportunity for 20 of the best managerial brains to lock horns in an attempt to outwit each other.
The Premier League - one of the most popular leagues in the world right now - will add more glitz and glamor to its armor this year. The initiation of some of the biggest names in European football will contribute towards that.
To cope with the larger-than-life personalities of those star players and finding ways to get the desired win is going to be the biggest challenge for the managers.
Different goals for different Premier League managers
The goals will differ for each manager depending on the expectations on them. While for sides such as Watford and Brentford, just surviving would be enough, for teams such as Chelsea and Manchester United it would be to win the competition.
With the competitiveness of the league increasing every day, the pressure is equally high on every manager. While some managers are expected to find the road too rough to travel and thus lose their way, others will thrive.
In this article we are going to list five potential candidates who could be sacked first in the new Premier League season.
For these five managers, the margin for error is minimal because of the challenging nature of the job they have been entrusted with. Without further delay, let's get straight into it:
#5 Nuno Espirito Santo (Tottenham)
Tottenham's search to find a replacement for Jose Mourinho dragged on for long with Nuno Espirito Santo finally being appointed on the last day of June.
There is therefore no doubting that the 47-year-old was at the very bottom of their priority list.
Spurs have the daunting task of facing Manchester City, Nuno's former club, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Chelsea, Arsenal, West Ham and Manchester United in their first ten games.
While Nuno did a decent job with Wolves in the Premier League, no one would say that his last season with the club was entirely convincing.
At Tottenham he will have to handle the pressure of doing well both in the Europa Conference League and in the Premier League. The north London club cannot afford to be away from the Champions League for another season.
What could add on to the pressure on Nuno is the possible departure of talismanic striker Harry Kane to Manchester City.
If Nuno fails to work his magic at Spurs, the board's patience might soon run out. The Portuguese manager will be hoping he can hit the ground running straightaway at his new club.
#4 Bruno Lage (Wolves)
Nuno Espirito Santo's replacement at the Molineux Stadium is his countryman Bruno Lage. Lage's stats as a full-time manager aren't really good.
His last stint with Benfica ended in him being sacked after equalling the club's worst ever record of registering two wins in 13 matches.
Wolves have so far made four low-profile signings - one of them being a loan deal for Barcelona's Francisco Trincao. They have also let one of their most important players, Rui Patricio, depart for AS Roma.
It will be the first time the club will be playing a Premier League game without Nuno since returning to the top-flight. As such, doubts remain over the newly-appointed Lage's chances of success in the Premier League.
The club will play Leicester City, Tottenham and Manchester United in their first three Premier League games and a false start could be key to Lage finding himself in trouble.
#3 Steve Bruce (Newcastle United)
Steve Bruce was able to save his skin following a decent run of form in the Premier League towards the business end of the season last time around.
Newcastle were on an eleven-game winless run at one stage and were under serious threat of being relegated. That was when they signed Joe Willock from Arsenal on a season-long loan deal and the young midfielder was able to rescue their Premier League season.
The Magpies have reportedly reached an agreement with Arsenal to sign the 21-year-old on a permanent deal. Newcastle United, under Mike Ashley, have been under considerable financial pressure. Given that, the reported £20m investment they made in Willock shows the club's intent.
Ashley is hopeful that if he can convince potential buyers that the future is bright for the club, he can get a deal over the line to hand over the reins to the Premier League club.
So a below-per performance come the start of the season would very well bring the curtains down on Bruce's two-year-long stint at St James' Park.
#2 Xisco (Watford)
Watford appointed former Valencia winger Xisco as their new manager back in December last year. The Spaniard did a decent job in helping the Hornets earn automatic promotion to the Premier League.
However, as a few of their previous managers have found out, it is hard to work under the Italian owners at Vicarage Road. The club replaced as many as six managers (two of them caretakers) between January 2018 and December 2020.
Gino Pozzo, the club's managing director and owner, has developed a reputation for being a close observer of proceedings at Watford. He has often been found at the club's training grounds and keeps a close eye on the progress of his players and manager.
Though they have a relatively negotiable first month-and-a-half in the Premier League, Pozzo's patience might soon run out. Especially if he starts feeling that his club isn't performing as per expectations under Xisco in the Premier League.
#1 Patrick Vieira (Crystal Palace)
Patrick Vieira is back in the Premier League, though, this time as manager. Whether he can recreate the magic he did as a player with Arsenal remains to be seen
The Frenchman stepped into coach almost five years following his retirement. His first stint was with Major League Soccer side New York City. Though his side lost in the Conference semi-finals in 2016 it was more or less a satisfactory season for Vieira as manager.
The stint with Nice in Ligue 1 was a step up. But a run of five straight losses and an elimination from the group stages of the Europa League eventually led to his sacking.
The Premier League is obviously the toughest of the three duties he has handled so far and there is a chance that the pressure might turn out to be too much for him.
The Eagles start their Premier League campaign against Chelsea and will face West Ham, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Leicester City, Arsenal and Manchester City in their first 10 games.
As was the case with Sheffield United last season, a slow start, resulting in the side hitting rockbottom, could endanger Crystal Palace's season. That could bring an abrupt end to Vieira's career as a Premier League manager.
