Premier League analysis: Too soon or time to go? Every EPL sacking rated

Eight managers have already been sacked in the Premier League this season, a brutal reminder of how unforgiving the division has become.

Results rule, patience is scarce, and reputations count for little when points dry up.

At Chelsea, Manchester United and Nottingham Forest, the fallout has been seismic.

These were not minor tweaks but major mid-season resets, shifting direction in the middle of a campaign.

In this article, Sports News Blitz writer Zephryn Dockree looks at each of the eight sackings and assesses whether they were truly justified or whether some clubs may have pulled the trigger too soon.

Nuno Espírito Santo - Nottingham Forest 

Nuno Espírito Santo was the first managerial casualty of the season, sacked just three games in despite guiding Forest into Europe last year. It was a brutal call that raised eyebrows across the league.

His departure followed public criticism of the club’s transfer business and a breakdown in his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis. Tensions spilt into the open, and the fallout was swift.

It felt harsh then and looks even worse now. Forest have changed managers twice since, and the heights Nuno reached unseen since the Brian Clough era already feel distant.

Graham Potter - West Ham United 

Graham Potter was relieved of his duties after 14 defeats in just 25 games, a run that ultimately left the club with little choice. His spell at West Ham was overshadowed by fan unrest and a growing sense of uncertainty.

The Hammers now sit 18th, no better off than when Potter departed. The issues in East London appear to run deeper than the man in the dugout.

A flat atmosphere, a squad failing to deliver, and the looming threat of relegation paint a bleak picture. But results matter, and on that front, Potter’s dismissal was deserved.

Ange Postecoglou - Nottingham Forest 

Ange Postecoglou arrived after Nuno’s departure but lasted just 39 days. Eight games, zero wins, two draws and six defeats told a brutal story, and the axe fell quickly. 

He inherited a poisoned chalice, stepping into a volatile situation under an unforgiving owner. His expansive, high-line philosophy clashed sharply with the more pragmatic counter-attacking approach that came before him.

The system never truly took, and neither did Ange. On results alone, the decision was justified, but Forest’s problems stretch far beyond the revolving door in the dugout.

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Vítor Pereira - Wolverhampton Wanderers 

Wolverhampton Wanderers looked doomed from the opening weekend. The harsh reality is their squad simply wasn’t strong enough to compete at this level, and relegation always felt more likely than survival.

Vítor Pereira’s dismissal felt tough but not entirely unjust.

The decision to pivot to Rob Edwards makes sense. A proven Championship operator, he has shown he can build structure, identity and momentum in a promotion push.

If the aim is an immediate return, Edwards fits the brief. For that reason, Pereira’s sacking can be viewed as deserved even if the deeper issues at Wolves extend beyond the man in charge.

Enzo Maresca - Chelsea 

Similarly to Forest, being manager at Chelsea is both a gift and a curse. Enzo Maresca’s time at Stamford Bridge was hampered by patchy form, a sprawling squad, and the demands of a high-pressure board.

Maresca’s sacking had less to do with results on the pitch and more with his relationship with the board. Seen as abrasive by the Blues’ hierarchy, his personality ultimately cost him his job.

Despite that, Enzo led Chelsea to two trophies and a top-four finish. He looked set to continue that success this season, making his dismissal feel undeserved.

Rúben Amorim - Manchester United 

Rúben Amorim’s time at Manchester United can almost be summed up by the team’s form since his departure.

Since he was sacked, United have won four, drawn one, and sit among the league’s most in-form sides, a poetic reflection of his exit.

Under Amorim’s rigid back-three system, players seemed frustrated, a situation made worse by his outspoken nature and the ostracism of Kobbie Mainoo. His spell at Old Trafford was far from pretty.

In the end, it felt like both parties got what they wanted. Amorim was free, and so was United. This sacking was spot on.

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Thomas Frank - Tottenham Hotspur 

A love for Arsenal, being booed by his home fans, and a failure to coach any coherent attack meant Thomas Frank was never going to succeed at Spurs.

After December, his sacking felt less like an “if” and more like a “when.”

His only saving grace was a fourth-place finish in the Champions League group - but even that wasn’t enough.

Of his 26 Premier League games, 11 ended in defeat, far too high a tally for a club of Spurs’ stature.

Frank will almost certainly find another job in the Premier League; a pragmatic and well-spoken manager. But the Lilywhites and the Dane were never meant to be - the right manager, the wrong time. Spur’s made the correct decision.

Sean Dyche - Nottingham Forest 

Making their third appearance on today’s list is Nottingham Forest, who recently parted ways with Sean Dyche.

In just 24 games, Dyche managed only ten wins, and it increasingly feels like no one can steady this team.

Dyche, a Premier League-tested relegation specialist, had Forest sitting 17th, teetering close to the drop. A damaging draw against bottom-placed Wolves ultimately sealed his fate, leading to his dismissal.

Now, Forest turn to former Wolves boss Vítor Pereira in a bid to stay up. This sacking feels premature and undeserved, especially considering who has been brought in to replace Dyche.

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