Xisco Munoz – CaughtOffside

Sheffield Wednesday’s disaster of a season continues as manager is sacked

Jason Pettigrove — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 21:23:37 +0000

Ever since Darren Moore left Sheffield Wednesday, things have gone from bad to worse.

Per Sky Sports, the former manager had a difference of opinion in terms of transfer targets with owner, Dejphon Chansiri.

Moore had improbably got the Owls promoted to the Championship after one of the most stunning Play-Off semi-final comebacks in history.

Wednesday had lost 4-0 to Peterborough in the first leg, but managed to score their fourth of the second leg in the 98th minute, sending the match into extra time.

Both teams scored once each, meaning the game ended 5-5 on aggregate and went to a penalty shoot out which Wednesday won.

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Everything was set up then for the Owls to go on and make their way up the Championship table, but the disagreement between Moore and Chansiri meant that Xisco Munoz was installed as the new manager ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

After 10 matches of the season he still hadn’t won a game, and that was evidently enough to see him sacked, per BBC Sport.

At the time of writing their record this season is played 10, won none, drawn two and lost eight. They are rock bottom of the table and are already seven points from safety.

It’s difficult to see how they survive from this position, not because of the points tally but because of everything going on at the club that is taking focus away from getting performances on the pitch.

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Sheffield Wednesday vs Middlesbrough: Live stream, TV Channel, Start time and Team news

Connor Holden — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 14:30:38 +0000

Sheffield Wednesday (23rd in the Championship) take on Middlesbrough (24th in the Championship) on Tuesday, 19th of September, at Hillsborough, at 20:00 (BST).

The last time these two sides faced, was in April, 2021, when Middlesbrough beat Sheffield Wednesday 3-1. The teams have met a total of 115 times, with Sheffield Wednesday winning 49 times and Middlesbrough winning 48 times.

Sheffield Wednesday lost their last Championship game, losing 1-0 to Ipswich Town. The only goal of the game coming from Conor Chaplin in the 45th minute.

Middlesbrough also lost their last Championship game, losing 2-1 to Blackburn Rovers. A brace from Sammie Szmodics for Blackburn, and a goal from Matt Crooks for Middlesbrough.

How to watch Sheffield Wednesday vs Middlesbrough

Date: Tuesday, September 19th, 2023
Kickoff: 20:00 PM (BST)
TV Network: Sky Sports
Venue: Hillsborough

Team News:

Sheffield Wednesday will be without Dominic Iorfa who went off injured against Ipswich at the weekend, however Wednesday remain hopeful Barry Bannan could return after missing Saturday’s game.

Middlesbrough will be without Alex Bangura who also picked up a knock in this weekend’s Championship fixtures. However Carrick may be boosted by the return of Lukas Engel and Paddy McNair.

Predicted XI:

Sheffield Wednesday: Vasquez, Delgado, Famewo, Bernard, Palmer, Paterson, Windass, Hendrick, Byers, Gregory, Smith.

Middlesbrough: Dieng, Engel, Lenihan, Fry, van den Berg, O’Brien, Howson, Hackney, Crooks, Forss, Latte Lath.

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Aston Villa are the latest Premier League club to react to a loss of form by sacking the manager and it has to stop

Jason Pettigrove — Sun, 07 Nov 2021 14:48:02 +0000

It’s scarcely believable that another Premier League manager has already lost their job, with Dean Smith the latest to be sacked by his paymasters.

The Aston Villa manager was ousted after a fifth game without a win, and a statement released on Sunday morning on the club’s official website announced the parting of the ways.

Though it’s a lamentable run of form for the Midlands-based side, Smith is, or should we say was, more than capable of turning the tide, so such a knee-jerk reaction doesn’t speak well of the club board.

Sat just above relegation might’ve been a cause for concern later in the season.

MORE: Liverpool’s worrying omen

However, the fact remains that Villa were only two wins from seventh place in the table.

Daniel Farke

Smith’s departure follows those of Daniel Farke at Norwich, Nuno Espirito Santo at Tottenham, Steve Bruce at Newcastle and Xisco Munoz at Watford.

Bruce has never had the money to be able to show what he can do, Xisco was just the latest fall guy at the Hornets, Nuno was never given a chance, and Farke has always had Norwich playing superb attacking football even if results haven’t followed.

How is anyone meant to build a legacy at a club if the first thing that happens when a handful of poor results come is that the manager is sacked?!

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Liverpool trio unavailable for Watford fixture after Hornets refuse Reds request

Jason Pettigrove — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 17:40:06 +0000

The first Premier League game back after the international break sees Claudio Ranieri’s debut on the Watford bench against Liverpool.

The Reds are flying high again under Jurgen Klopp, whilst it’s all change at Vicarage Road since Hornets owner, Gino Pozzo, sacked Xisco Munoz after the 1-0 loss against Leeds.

Ranieri would surely love to earn his first home victory in front of what should be a capacity crowd, though there may well be some bad blood before the first whistle sounds, adding some extra spice to the fixture.

MORE: Liverpool’s transfer boost

According to the Telegraph, Liverpool had asked for the kick-off time of 12.30pm to be moved back to an evening slot, in order to allow their three Brazilian players – Fabinho, Roberto Firmino and goalkeeper, Alisson Becker, time to return from their international fixture against Uruguay.

Watford, as they’re perfectly entitled to do, opposed the request, citing travel inconvenience for supporters that would’ve likely already made arrangements to attend the game.

Theoretically, that puts Liverpool at quite the disadvantage, given that their first-choice keeper and defensive midfielder will be missing.

Firmino hasn’t always started alongside Mo Salah and Sadio Mane this season, but his absence will surely be felt too.

It shouldn’t be forgotten either that it was at Vicarage Road where the Reds lost the opportunity of going an entire season unbeaten on the way to winning their maiden Premier League title.

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Watford sack Xisco after only seven Premier League games in charge

Jason Pettigrove — Sun, 03 Oct 2021 10:40:50 +0000

The 2021/22 Premier League season is only seven games old but we’ve already seen the first managerial casualty.

Watford, who have got through seven managers in the past five years, have decided to dispense with the services of Xisco Munoz after their latest reverse, according to the Daily Mail.

It appears to be yet another knee-jerk reaction from Watford owner, Gino Pozzo.

Though the Hornets are only four points above the relegation places at this early stage, they are also just three points behind eighth-placed Aston Villa.

It’s only been a few months since Xisco had Watford promoted to the top-flight, and seven matches into a new season isn’t the time to be making such decisions.

MORE: Liverpool looking at Declan Rice alternatives

Clearly, however, Pozzo has seen something that he doesn’t like.

Ultimately the club need to stay in the division, but whomever comes in next needs to be given enough time to mould the team into a cohesive unit.

Changes at the merest hint of a drop-off in form doesn’t help anyone at the club, players included.

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