Evaluating managers on the hottest seats in Premier League

Wolverhampton’s schedule has not been kind, but the nature of Wolves’ results is worrying. They got destroyed 6-2 by Chelsea at home in August and let a result slip away against Newcastle on Sunday.

O’Neil also lost playmaker Pedro Neto and center back Max Kilman in the summer transfer window. Wolverhampton lacked convincing replacements, so their absence is reflected in the team’s -7 goal differential. 

Sean Dyche | Everton

Despite the steady reputation of its manager, no Premier League team is playing worse than Everton.

With zero points and a negative-nine goal differential, Everton sits at the bottom of the table. In its past two matches, the team took 2-0 leads but fell 3-2.

Known for keeping struggling sides in the Premier League, Dyche managed the club to survival twice, including when it was deducted eight total points for breaching financial fair play rules last season. The team hoped to finally compete for the top eight this season, but instead, it finds itself in another relegation battle.

Dyche, with three transfer windows under his belt, recruited the majority of the squad, one too talented in defense to be leaking more than two goals per game. His teams are usually known for their high work rate, but Everton has the lowest pressing intensity in the league, per OPTA.

With plans to relocate to a new stadium next summer, ownership cannot bear the thought of starting next season in the second division. If Dyche has lost the locker room, the club cannot risk losing the fans as well.

To add salt to the wound, Everton exited the English Carabao Cup on Tuesday, losing to a porous Southampton side on penalties. 

Erik ten Hag | Manchester United

The Dutchman is the only manager on this list not currently in the relegation zone, but United remain underwhelming.

Until goalkeeper Andre Onana stole back the momentum with a penalty save in the 33rd minute, newly promoted Southampton was dominating United at home Sunday. Ten Hag’s men snapped a two-game losing streak but remain 10th in the table.

With Brighton, Newcastle and Chelsea in good form, the fight for the top four is tight. The club must pick up points quickly to avoid vitriol from fans, many of whom wanted a new manager this summer. Ten Hag continues to buy players from his former Ajax squad every transfer window, but the team still lacks identity on both sides of the ball.

His seat got a bit cooler after his most dominant victory as a United coach Tuesday, defeating third-division side Barnsley 7-0 in the Carabao Cup. But can that performance translate to the Premier League?

United’s next league game is on the road at Crystal Palace, a fixture Ten Hag has yet to win. The only way for noise to subside is to get all three points.