⚽ Crystal Palace sack Pierre Sage, with Thomas Frank lined up
Bottom of the Premier League after four straight defeats, Crystal Palace have dismissed Pierre Sage after just 16 matches and are close to appointing Thomas Frank.
The mystery
Only last season Crystal Palace won their first FA Cup and a European trophy. How did the club end up bottom of the Premier League just a few months later?
The answer
Sage, a 47-year-old Frenchman who had taken Lens to second place in Ligue 1, arrived in June on a three-year deal after Oliver Glasner left. Palace have won only two of their first 10 league games, let in 24 goals, the most in the division, and lost four in a row, most recently 3-1 at home to Liverpool. Injuries and the absence of forwards Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr hurt the team. Three of Sage's coaches have also gone. Palace are in advanced negotiations with Thomas Frank, formerly of Brentford and Tottenham; they travel to Coventry for their next league game on 21 November.
Now think about this
How long should a club give a new manager before deciding it isn't working?