Christmas 2017 saw something unusual happen, simultaneously, to two of Yorkshire’s football clubs.
Within 24 hours of Sheffield Wednesday’s home defeat by Middlesbrough on December 23rd, both managers were relieved of their duties.
First to go was Boro’s Garry Monk, joined the following morning by his then-Owls counterpart, Carlos Carvalhal.
The former Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough managers, Carlos Carvalhal and Garry Monk (Photo by Chris Vaughan – CameraSport via Getty Images) (Photo by Chris Vaughan – CameraSport via Getty Images)
Some say that lightening doesn’t strike twice, but as the two clubs prepare for another festive face-off – on Boxing Day this time – their incumbent bosses might well be debating the veracity of that particular saying.
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Tony Pulis suffered something of a backlash after Middlesbrough’s shock League Cup defeat at home to Burton Albion on Tuesday, having seen his side lose track of the Championship’s automatic promotion places in recent weeks.
Second left – The Middlesbrough manager, Tony Pulis (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
While calls for Jos Luhukay’s head are now seemingly universal amongst the Wednesday fanbase, after a run of just one win in 10 league matches.
Lucky for Luhukay, however, it would appear as though a viable alternative has yet to be found by the Owls chairman, Dejphon Chansiri.
The Sheffield Wednesday manager, Jos Luhukay (Photo by Athena Pictures/Getty Images)
But further bad results against Preston and Boro over the next seven days could leave the Thai with little choice but to dispose of the 55-year-old.
Especially with reports suggesting that one potential target, the former Aston Villa manager, Steve Bruce, will be more inclined to accept a post-Christmas approach.
And Middlesbrough might yet present Chansiri with another option in Pulis.
