Strange old season this one and not only because the Scousers, for once in their liver bird lives, have done a bit more than merely come under starter’s orders in the Premiership race. In fact, thinking about it, I can’t remember another season quite like this for uncertainty right across the board for the Big Four and I’m not just talking about who wins what. Getting to the point [remarkably quickly for me] - never has the likelihood of wholesale managerial change, for each and every one of the leading clubs, been so probable than at the end of this season’s run in to both the Premiership and Champions League titles. And the strange part is that, should any of them call it a day, none of them will be sacked and only one will leave of his own accord to further his career.

Fanciful as all this may appear, and despite any number of newspapers telling us differently, next season could well start with a clearout of managers at the top for a variety of reasons, the simplest of which [got another job] applying to our own boss already, but still being subjected to the scoffing denials of disbelieving pundits. It seems you can’t even tell these guys the latest news these days! To add to the unusualness of the current managerial situation, I’m not even sure if results over the next few months will affect things that much either, because even Ferguson has admitted that you can’t win them all and if, God forbid, he did, he is a cert to take a final bow - who wouldn’t? In contrast and somewhat ironically, if by some miracle we were to win all three remaining competitions there would be every likelihood that the one who has said he’s going would stay and the rest asked to ’consider their options’ by bemused boards of directors who never knew short term planning could be so good. Glorious as that would be, what are the chances? Slim to none, I guess, and this leads me on to the percentage odds of each one choosing this year to move on or out altogether. Starting with the easy prediction first:-

Guus Hiddink (100%) - the man is in temporary charge, it’s written on the tin, and you know that Guus is the sort of bloke who does what it says on the tin, don’t you? Well you do even if you are a sceptic, if only because he’s been asked to confirm it so many times by so many hard of hearing journos that we’re all bored rigid by the repetition. Sadly and despite the daydreaming expressed above, results and trophies won wont make the slightest difference either - he’s off, not staying, leaving, on his way outta here…what part of the word temporary does the Media in this country not understand?

Arsene Wenger (60%) - this guy is a different kettle of fish entirely and whereas the possibility of something to polish would have no effect whatsoever on Guus, it is true to say that Le Professeur needs to buff badly. An FA Cup would do, in view of the teams he‘d have to beat, but the CL would bring back the knowing smile that’s been wiped from his face these past four seasons - a galling prospect, but one that is unlikely to affect his future plans because, win or lose, the impending arrival of FIFA’s 6 plus 5 and the lure of Spanish football with Cesc could easily see him go, whether it be as disillusioned [Premiership] loser or the unlikeliest of last attempt [CL] winner. The pseudo English board of directors at the Emirates will never sack him for being the former or latter, but it doesn’t take too much imagination to see his long reign coming to a close voluntarily under either set of circumstances.

Rafa Benitez (80%) - a real turnaround for Tubby, who is most definitely in a win-win situation. The cards have fallen so well for the Spaniard he can almost taste the paella in Madrid already - they want him and no mistake. Gullible to the end, Hicks and to a lesser extent Gillett, think they have him sewn up in a five year deal, but will surely find themselves having to search in the managerial marketplace again when the title eludes them, as it will do. Whether we beat them in the next round of the CL or they lose in the semis, the thought of the massed ranks of salt of the earth supporters rampaging through Rome, reviving memories of times best forgotten, fills most fair-minded fans with horror and no doubt does the same to UEFA. It must not happen, hopefully it wont, and when the Benitez bandwagon stalls on both fronts, what then of his professed love of the Merseyside environment? I’m guessing it will stretch about as far as the long arm of the Merseyside law on a burglary investigation, especially if the next one happens to be at his place.

Sir Alex Ferguson (75%) - his grip is loosening on just about everything these days and the recent sudden dip in fortune for United is mirrored in a Media that shows the first real signs of turning against him since the Premiership began. It is a turning that’s on a par with the Queen Mary in terms of speed, but it’s apparent nevertheless and it will continue for as long as the Scousers are ideal idolatry replacement material. Should both teams implode over the next few weeks [and we have a good run] the status quo glumness will soon return, but the warning signs are there for Ferguson and with the odds stacked against another CL slice of luck for them it does seem that if the Premiership title is going to be won it will be to muted celebration, purely by virtue of the manner of achievement - let’s all cheer the arrogant, smug so and so’s yet again (yawn).

They wont mind, of course, but it will be noticeable and it wont be accompanied by the usual gutter press fawning - most of that being ladled by the heaped spoonful on the mawkish Mickeys and their glorious, albeit unrewarded, bid for glory. I can see Fergie choosing the moment to go, if for no other reason than it recognises the clarity of the change of situation - a situation that he once had almost total control over. There would be no obvious candidate club to supplant his team at the top and no obvious contender for the Oscar winning role of ‘manager who pushed me out’. That would appeal to him and seemingly add to the aura of invincibility when history recalls the facts and figures of the time.

Dorset hits the nail on the head once again, in the usual verbose style. I dont agree with the percentages....maybe id go with 100, 30, 40, 15 respectively for them to go at the end of the season, but the analysis is spot on as usual, and a good read

I cant see Wenger, Benitez or Ferguson leaving at the end of the season and I see there being a small chance of Hiddink staying on as manager of us and Russia or even just us.