Three weeks is a long time in football - especially if you are a manager struggling for results. So far this season two coaches have lost their jobs - Paul Heckingbottom at Preston North End and Michael Duff at Wycombe Wanderers. But plenty of others will be looking over their shoulders heading into the new, extended international break.
That includes the managers of Fulham and Manchester United, who on Sunday meet at Craven Cottage in the final fixture before players jet off around the world with their countries. It will all be pretty new to Alvaro Arbeloa, appointed as Fulham's manager in the summer after taking charge of just 28 games as Real Madrid boss in the second half of last season. But with no wins and three defeats in his first four Premier League matches, and speculation of unrest among the squad due to players' social media activity, the pressure is already on Arbeloa.
Likewise Michael Carrick at Old Trafford, especially after the 3-2 EFL Cup exit to Brighton on Wednesday. It was the first time United had led at home by two goals and lost since they were beaten 3-2 by Tottenham in 1976, half a century ago. Coming on the back of the 1-0 loss to 10-man Manchester City, and with their only victories this season against Ipswich Town and Sabah, Carrick needs results.
But they are not the only managers who might have cause for concern. Over the past 10 years, it has been rare for a Premier League manager to be replaced this early in the campaign. Even more so in the international break.
But could it be different this year? The first break is longer, three weeks rather than two, and comes later. The September slot used to come at the start of the month when clubs had only played three league fixtures.
In the past 10 years only two managers - Watford's Javi Gracia in 2019 and Nottingham Forest's Nuno Espirito Santo last year - moved on during this break. What about the October stoppage? Again, only two managers have previously lost their jobs during the same period - Francesco Guidolin at Swansea in 2016, and Xisco Munoz at Watford in 2021.
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