As we enter the November international break it seems as if normality at the bottom end of the Premier League table has been restored. There was a strange sense of calm as of late due to the fact that no manager had been given his marching orders.
That situation has now changed though with the news that Slavisa Jokanovic has been sacked as manager of Fulham, not only that though they have acted incredibly quickly to name his replacement. One that comes in the shape of former Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri.
Everyone knows by now that he worked miracles while at the King Power Stadium as he led the Foxes to their incredible title success back in 2016, however this is going to be a different task altogether.
Ranieri takes control of the West London outfit while they sit rock bottom of the Premier League table, at the same time though it only needs a win for the Cottagers’ fortunes to be revived and next weekend offers the perfect opportunity in which to earn it.
They play at home to fellow strugglers Southampton and although we are just a couple of months into the season this has all the hallmarks of a ‘6 pointer’. A win for Fulham would give the club the perfect new manager bounce that usually follows after new managerial appointments.
However, defeat for Southampton and their owners may decide to roll the dice in terms of new personnel to take charge of the club. Mark Hughes may have performed the great escape at the end of last season, but it is fair to say that things have not really improved since.
The fact that firefighters such as David Moyes and Sam Allardyce are only a phone call away would suggest that Hughes is on borrowed time at St Mary’s and should the Saints suffer defeat at Craven Cottage then it may well expire once and for all.
His situation at Southampton has not been helped by the fact that the likes of Newcastle and Huddersfield have finally got their campaigns underway. Successive wins for Rafa Benitez’s men has certainly lightened the mood on Tyneside as of late.
While Huddersfield manager David Wagner will be pleased that the performances that his players have turned in as of late is now starting to pay dividends in terms of points. They have picked up four from the last six that are available as confidence begins to grow in West Yorkshire.
And one should not forget that Cardiff managed to earn a dramatic late win over Brighton before the international break. A result that makes things desperately tight at the bottom with just four points separating seven clubs.
The nature of the Premier League is one where it almost splits into three mini-leagues by at this point of the campaign and this season is no different. As to who will end up in the bottom three come the end of it, while we will just have to wait and see.