Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce is unsurprisingly starting to come under pressure from the club’s supporters after the pre-season favourites for promotion won just two of their opening eight Championship fixtures.
Despite a number of big-money signings last summer and during the January transfer window, Bruce could only lead the Midlands outfit to a 13th-placed finish last term having succeeded Roberto Di Matteo in October.
Having brought in the likes of John Terry, Glenn Whelan and Robert Snodgrass during the summer transfer window, hopes would have been high that Villa would finally be challenging at the top end of the table, but it hasn’t happened – although they did pick up an impressive 3-0 win over Barnsley on Saturday.
While that may have relieved some of the pressure for now, owner Tony Xia may be starting to think about making a change and the managers that he could bring to Villa Park to turn the club’s fortunes around.
Here are three potential replacements for the under-pressure Villa boss if the club decide to pull the plug on his tenure.
Slavisa Jokanovic
Jokanovic took over at Fulham in December 2015 and after the Cottagers finished the campaign in 20th position, conceding 79 goals in their 46 Championship fixtures, they wouldn’t have expected to be challenging at the top end of the table the following season.
However, as well as strengthening his side’s defence the Serbian manager made his team exciting to watch and they ended the 2016/17 campaign in the play-off positions with 85 goals – the joint-top total alongside Newcastle United and Norwich City.
Having improved players like Tom Cairney and Ryan Sessegnon and then convinced them to sign new deals when they were being coveted by Premier League clubs, it is clear that players want to play for Jokanovic and he could prove to be an exciting appointment at Villa Park.
The Mirror reported in July that the 49-year-old was also frustrated with the west London outfit’s transfer policy, and it could mean that he is willing to move on if given the opportunity.
Gus Poyet
With managerial experience in the Championship and the Premier League and having recently resigned as the boss of Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua, Poyet could be a potential target for Aston Villa owner Dr Tony Xia should he choose to relieve Steve Bruce of his duties in the near future.
The fact that the Midlands outfit wouldn’t have to pay a compensation fee for the unattached Uruguayan’s services would certainly be a bonus, and he has shown that he can be successful at this level having led Brighton and Hove Albion to the play-off semi-finals in 2013.
The 49-year-old likes his sides to play attractive football while being relatively solid at the other end of the pitch, and he would certainly be confident that he could get this Villa team firing again.
Dean Smith
Brentford gave Smith the opportunity to manage in the Championship after he did such a good job at Walsall in League One, and he continues to make the Bees one of the most exciting sides to watch in the division.
The 46-year-old helped the west London outfit to a ninth-placed finish and the cusp of the play-offs in the 2015/16 season having taken the reins in November 2015.
Despite making a whopping 18 signings last summer the unfancied team quickly gelled and ended the 2016/17 campaign in 10th, but only Newcastle United, Fulham and Norwich City bettered their tally of 75 goals in their 46 league fixtures.
Brentford haven’t won any of their opening eight Championship games this term but it shouldn’t discount the fact that Smith is an exciting and up-and-coming boss.
What do you reckon, Villa fans? Let us know below.