The international break has triggered a frantic managerial scramble in the Championship, with four clubs suddenly finding themselves without head coaches and competing for similar targets.
Managerial Musical Chairs
While Middlesbrough faced an unexpected vacancy after Rob Edwards departed for Wolves, three other clubs took decisive action against underperforming bosses. Southampton, Swansea City and Norwich City all dismissed their managers following disappointing starts to the season.
The departures of Will Still, Alan Sheenan and Liam Manning have created a competitive market for available coaches. Out-of-work managers including Gary O'Neil, Michael Carrick, Russell Martin, Steven Gerrard and the recently dismissed Still are all being linked with various vacancies.
Middlesbrough's Search for Stability
Boro fans are still reeling from Edwards' sudden departure to Molineux, having initially rescued the manager from uncertainty after his Luton Town exit. According to Chris Cassidy of the Boropolis Podcast, Edwards had united the fanbase and improved defensive solidity, leaving the club in a reasonable position.
The key issues for any new manager at Riverside Stadium will be addressing recent struggles in chance creation and goalscoring. Edwards' preference for five-at-the-back systems has left the squad lacking natural width, something that may require January reinforcements.
While Gary O'Neil tops the bookmakers' lists, his past admission about deliberately getting booked during Boro's relegation season makes him an unpopular choice among supporters. Other candidates include Steven Gerrard and Carlos Corberan, though the latter remains employed at Valencia.
Norwich City's Crisis Situation
The Canaries are in serious trouble, sitting 23rd in the Championship after Liam Manning's disastrous 17-game tenure. Daniel Brigham from the On The Ball podcast described Manning's reign as "an absolute disaster," with the manager recording the worst start in the club's history.
Norwich became the first second-division side in English football history to lose their first seven games of a season, despite significant investment. The squad suffers from unbalanced recruitment, particularly in midfield where three similar players lack creativity.
The club is now reconsidering candidates they previously rejected, including Gary O'Neil and Will Still. Jon Dahl Tomasson emerges as a potential fit, given his similarities to previous successful manager Johannes Hoff Thorup and his impressive record against Norwich during his Blackburn tenure.
Swansea's Data-Driven Approach
Despite summer investment and high-profile investors including Snoop Dogg and Luka Modric, Swansea have managed just four league victories this season. The 4-1 thrashing by Ipswich proved the final straw for Alan Sheenan.
The Welsh club's main issue revolves around creativity in midfield, though they possess a potential saviour in striker Zan Vipotnik. Providing service to the prolific forward represents the clearest path to improvement.
Swansea are taking a analytical approach to their search, with Hammarby's Kim Hellberg emerging as the frontrunner. The Swedish coach's style has drawn comparisons to Roberto De Zerbi and Graham Potter's possession-dominant approaches, though he faces competition from other Championship clubs.
Southampton's Structural Problems
Saints fans point fingers at owners Sport Republic for overseeing a dramatic decline since their 2022 takeover. Will Still failed to reverse the trend following the club's embarrassing relegation campaign, with muddled thinking and haphazard recruitment undermining his tenure.
Protestors continue to target the ownership, despite attempts to appease supporters by bringing back fan favourite Oriol Romeu. The squad contains considerable talent, with interim boss Tonda Eckert demonstrating this with back-to-back victories.
Gary O'Neil remains an impossibility due to his Portsmouth connections, while returns for Russell Martin or Ralph Hasenhuttl appear unlikely. Sporting director Johannes Spors is said to favour German candidates, though Michael Carrick's possession-based approach could suit the existing squad.
Race Against Time
With Championship fixtures resuming in nine days, all four clubs face pressure to make swift appointments. The international break provides valuable time for thorough searches, but the overlapping targets create a competitive landscape.
Each club faces distinct challenges, from Middlesbrough seeking stability after unexpected departure to Norwich addressing a full-blown crisis. The coming days will reveal whether these clubs can secure their preferred candidates or face settling for alternatives in a crowded market.
