Carrick and De Zerbi feel the heat
Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur face each other in the Premier League this weekend. Both teams have had poor starts to the season, putting early pressure on their new managers, Michael Carrick and Roberto De Zerbi.
Tottenham are currently at the bottom of the table. They have won only two points from a possible 15. This comes after the club supported De Zerbi with over £300 million in the summer transfer window. The manager signed a five year contract just six months ago, but his style of play is proving difficult to implement quickly.
Manchester United are in 12th place with one win, two draws and two losses. Carrick is a younger manager who secured a Champions League spot last season. Unlike his rival, Carrick is more flexible. He can set his team up to defend deep and strike on the counter attack, a pragmatic method that has helped United stay afloat in the years since Sir Alex Ferguson retired.
Potential replacements waiting in the wings
If results do not improve, both boards might feel pressured to act. Last season, both clubs were criticized for keeping their previous managers, Ruben Amorim and Thomas Frank, for too long.
Eddie Howe is currently unattached and would be a prime target for either club. Howe is 48 years old and has extensive Premier League experience from his time at Newcastle United. He is a practical manager who can adapt to an opponent's weaknesses. He would be a good fit for Tottenham, where he could work with midfielder Sandro Tonali.
Antonio Conte is also available. The 57 year old Italian is known for quickly rebuilding struggling teams. Conte's tactical setup could work well at Manchester United, where several players are already used to playing in a back three system.
Predictions for these teams
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