In the midst of one of the most dramatic weekends in Premier League history one story slipped almost undetected amongst the excitement over Arsenal’s 4-4 draw with Newcastle and Manchester United losing at Wolves; namely the sacking of Roberto Di Matteo at West Bromwich Albion.
West Brom, having been as high as fourth during October, were never in the hunt for the points at the City of Manchester Stadium on Saturday, and on the highest scoring weekend of Premier League action since the division dropped to 20 teams, the Baggies were one of only three teams not to convert. This defeat, hot on the heels of dropped points at home to relegation rivals Wigan, left the newly promoted outfit out of the relegation zone only on goal difference.
Even so, the announcement of Di Matteo’s departure came as a shock. There is no doubt that 13 defeats in the last 18 games represents an horrendous run of form and with other sides, a manager may well expect to face the chop, but are the West Brom board sending out the wrong message by getting rid of the Italian?
There is precedent for the Midlands club behaving in similar fashion. Think back to the 2004-05 season when they sacked then local hero Gary Megson as early as November and brought in former Middlesbrough boss, Bryan Robson. Whilst a controversial move, the change proved a spur for the Baggies to escape relegation, becoming the first side in the Premier League era to survive having been bottom at Christmas.
Di Matteo will argue that Albion’s current points total would be on track with any pre-season target and that sacking him represents a panic statement – if the players weren’t thinking about a relegation dog fight before, they certainly will be now.
During the club’s last stay in the top flight, there was a year round battle to stave off relegation, the fight ultimately in failure, yet manager Tony Mowbray was never handed his P45.
So has Di Matteo merely been a victim of his own success? The early season performances away to Manchester United and Arsenal flattered to deceive, and in recent weeks defeats to Blackburn, Bolton and Fulham have quickly transformed Di Matteo’s men from being comfortably lodged in mid-table, to being part of a seven-way shoot out to avoid the drop.
The League Managers Association make constant pronouncements about the treatment of mangers across all divisions of English football, but with the prize for remaining in the country’s top flight sitting at over 100 million pounds, management is always going to be susceptible to the chop.
Much is made of the concept of ‘Second Season Syndrome’ where newly promoted sides thrive during their first campaign in the top flight, but struggle second time around. In recent years this process has sped up, sides such as Hull City, Burnley and now West Brom have started brilliantly only to find their points tally during the second half of the season has suffered as sides work out their system of play. There has been no sign that the Baggies’ likable manager has the tools to alter the way his side has played.
So, should the West Brom board actually be commended by the fans for their approach? Over recent seasons, the Baggies have become the yo-yo side of English football – clearly too good for the Championship, but have struggled to make the grade in the top division. With a core of talented players comprising a squad that has the makings of regular Premier League football, clearly this move suggests the board will not accept this role going forward, and will presumably look to recruit an experienced Premier League hand to help establish the club.
A long-term model may well look similar to the one employed by Dave Whelan, the Wigan chairman. Whelan, whilst unfailingly loyal to the club’s management in the face of high profile candidates, has shown himself to be ruthless in seasons where the Latics’ Premier League status has been under threat. As a result, Wigan are currently enjoying their sixth straight season eating at the top table of English football. If Di Matteo’s replacement is able to supply a comparable level of stability, the board will feel they have been vindicated in making the right choice.
Does anyone actually know where Bryan Robson is? Answers to “Gaffer” and “Robbo”. Potential reward for his safe return if you locate him and find me on Twitter.
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