Blind faith or bigger picture? When to fire a manager...

It's not a good time to be writing a blog about effectively adding people onto the already swollen unemployment figures... Which links nicely with an article initially inspired by Liverpool. In 2010, when Rafa Benitez left Liverpool on a huge settlement, the club replaced him with Roy Hodgson, coach of Europa League finalists Fulham. Six months later, Roy was gone, replaced with the man that Liverpool fans called the Messiah.

After millions spent on mediocrity, and a reasonable start, their season looked like it was over in February when they won the Carling Cup, but one league win since January has stalled any chance of progress, and it looks like the Europa League place earned by their Wembley victory is the only improvement on last year. Is King Kenny's time up?

 Kenny indicates his position in the dole queue

Football history (which contrary to belief, started before 1992) shows several mistakes made by boards. Stick or twist? And if you do sack, do you replace with the right man? Here we look at three recent Premier League examples of sticking with the right man, sacking and replacing with the right man, and sacking and not improving.

Alex Ferguson

Work was soon to begin on making the nose purple

After leading Aberdeen to domestic and European glory, "Siralex" spent four years at Manchester United, not pulling up many trees. Legend has it, he was on the verge of being sacked before they won the FA Cup in 1990, leading to huge haul of trophies, and knocking Liverpool off their fucking perch (his words, not mine). Even after twenty-five years, United look like adding title number twenty. Are there many fans around who wish he had been sacked after all?

Chris Hughton/Alan Pardew

*insert rape comment here*

This blog has already covered the initial reign of Mike Ashley and the subsequent relegation. Chris Hughton led the team back up at the first hurdle, and their return looked bright. A poor run however led to his sacking, and David Brent wannabe Alan Pardew took the helm, to derision. As Sunday's win over Liverpool took the Magpies within five points of third-placed Arsenal, would anyone still rather Hughton remained in charge? Money in the bank, a well-revered scouting network and a snazzy new stadium name all point towards progress.

Mick McCarthy/Terry Connor

The role of James Bond's dad was a shoo-in for Mick

Wolves have been a recent shining example of a yo-yo club, yet after a longer spell in the top flight, Mick McCarthy was on a hiding to nothing. Being smashed at home by your nearest rivals, big signings not paying off, and the risk of losing millions was overbearing, and the board acted swiftly to get rid of Mick. But the failing? There was no-one lined up to replace him. Walter Smith wouldn't come out of retirement for a short-term deal, and in desperation, the board promoted the number two man (Terry Connor, seen above next to Mick). Sack Mick? Perhaps. But as Newcastle showed, there needs to be a plan, and Wolves look destined to relegation.

Would the Liverpool board dare sack Dalglish? Perhaps not. But in the last year, his defending of Luis Suarez, his poor signings and the results surely suggest otherwise. There will always be a place for Dalglish in Kop folklore. But perhaps it isn't as the manager who finished below Everton, Swansea, Norwich and Sunderland.