OSG Prem: Cardiff City Disintegrating

And everyone is pointing their collective fingers at owner Vincent Tan and his lack of understanding what it means to be a successful franchise in the Premier League...

First, Tan decided that the Bluebirds would change their colors to red...
Which angered the fans no end... and a lot of them still wear blue at home games...

Then, Tan let Iain Moody go as (what Americans would call) Director of Player Personnel... inserting a friend of the family who was in his mid-20's and didn't have his proper paperwork to even be qualified in the job...

Here's manager Malky Mackay talking about that at the time of the rearrangement...


Then, with Cardiff City being in the middle of the table and Mackay looking to make additions in the January signing period, Tan went off on his manager who, he feels, is asking for too much:

From Cardiff Chief Executive Simon Lim:

"Tan Sri Vincent Tan was extremely upset to read quotes from the manager concerning the possibility of new recruits, before he had been informed whether funds would be made available."

"He believes that doing so unfairly raises supporter expectations, placing unnecessary pressure on the club.

"His view is that due to the funds already committed, including the originally authorised summer transfer budget of £35m that rose to £50m in total, including add-ons, the manager has been fully supported.

"The overspending of £15m has upset Tan Sri greatly, resulting in the removal on Iain Moody as head of recruitment. As such, he has stated that not a single penny will be made available in January.

"Having been the highest-spending promoted club and the seventh-highest spender in the Premier League last summer, the owner believes that the manager has been given the best possible chance of retaining our Premier League status."

With all of this angst going on in the headlines, the question was asked whether or not Mackay would be sticking around or if he thought that Tan was going to fire him, too...

Watch the end...


Mackay was interviewed on BBC Radio Wales: "I will not resign from my post. I was surprised obviously, but at the same time my job doesn't change.

"It's a job only three-quarters done as far as I'm concerned - making Cardiff a sustainable Premier League team.

"I have a great group of players who are competing at this level and enjoying this level. The fans are enjoying being at this level and my duty is to make sure we continue to do that.

"It would be wrong of me to walk away from a job because the owner doesn't want to give me more money in January."

So, odds are that Tan will execute another short-fuse act after another illogical loss- and Mackay will end up on another sideline very soon...

OSG Prem: Jol Out At Fulham... Seems Shocked... Plus Others Are Gone...

And, he's not the only one...

After fading at the end of last year, barely staying in the Premier League, and losing five in a row this season Fulham owner Shahid Khan sacked manager Martin Jol...

“Our poor form and results this season are undeniable, and Fulham supporters deserve better,” said Khan in a statement. “With more than half the season still ahead, an immediate change was necessary.”

Rene Meulensteen had been brought in as the number two just recently and now, he has the gig- whether it's temporary or permanent. Odds are, it's the latter unless results change drastically...

Which the HQ doesn't anticipate any time soon...

Here's the interview Meulensteen did with Sky Sports...
((HT: NBCSN))


Not to be outdone, Wigan sacked Owen Coyle after three losses in a nine-day period- all of them at home.

And the next manager on the block could Spurs' Andre Villas-Boas...

A lack of offense and a stagnant squad is causing the vultures to circle...

The players are behind their manager, but they need to improve their results instead of smacking the gums...

DEVELOPING: Dusty Baker Out In Cincinnati

Dusty Baker is out as manager of the Cincinnati Reds- three days after his team lost the National League wild-card game to Pittsburgh.

The Reds are telling anyone willing to listen that Baker is out. He had one season left on a two-year contract he signed last October. Baker guided the Reds into the playoffs three of the last four years, but they never got out of their first round match-up.

Cincinnati went 90-72 this season, but lost their last five and finished third in the NL Central behind St. Louis and the Pirates- thus the away game with the Pirates.

Baker has managed 20 years in the majors with San Francisco, the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati.
So, then this is the last note that Reds fans will have with Dusty...

((HT: MLB))

OSG Prem: di Canio Is Probably On The Clock...

((HT: BBC Sport))

The HQ is under the impression that Sunderland manager Paolo di Canio is on the clock...

After one of those bouts of irony in today's match with West Brom, Sunderland put up a 3-0 clunker that included a goal from former Sunderland striker Stephane Sessegnon.

They're glowingly at the bottom of the table without any real challengers at present, and di Canio seems to be flaming out with a great deal of speed.

Evidence from his display in front of fans after the loss...


Actually, let the HQ rephrase...

di Canio SHOULD be done, but who would want to take over the flaming pile of crap he's dealing with at present if he does get sacked...???

Not even us... unless we had a lot of time to work things out...

Charlie Manuel: You're Fired!

It appears the floundering Phillies of Philadelphia fame will have a new manager this Friday eve.

That's because they've fired longtime manager Charlie Manuel.

The Phillies were THE dominant NL East team in the Manuel era, which began in 2005. He managed to bring home a World Series title in 2008 and a World Series appearance in 2009, but the past two seasons have not been kind.

Plagued with an aging, highly paid, oft injured roster, the Phillies have struggled, limping through the 2013 season at 53-67.

Former Chicago Cubs legend and Phillies 3rd base coach Ryne Sandberg will take over the team for at least now, an interim basis. Should he be able to bring the team home in a stronger state then they currently are in, Sandberg may be 1st in line for the full time job next year.

We should also add, having interviewed Manuel many times over the years, he's a 1st class guy, well liked. And in this case, we think probably the scapegoat, despite the fault clearly lying at the feet of GM Rueben Amaro.

The Phillies are loaded with contract burdens such as Ryan Howard making nearly $20 million per yr and always being hurt and the Minor League system hasn't brought much in the way of reinforcements. We suspect Amaro may be the next guy to be asked to leave the island.

Here's Chollie talking to the media after his firing...
((HT: CSN Philly))