Managerial turnover increases

Carlos Carvalhal is the top flight's 400th permanent post-war manager. The turnover of managers has steadily increased since the 1950s.

In the 1950s and 1960s the average tenure of a top flight manager was a little over five years. It then dropped to a little over three years in the 1970s and 1980s. With the arrival of the Premier League it fell back to two years, five months in the 1990s.

In the noughties it was two years, one month. Now it is one year, three months.

With the broadcasting riches, relegation has to be avoided at all costs. However, a new manager coming in has to make use of players he would not necessarily have chosen. By the time he has something approaching a preferred side he may be sacked and the whole cycle starts all over again. It is also questionable how much difference a new manager can make, beyond an initial bounce (although that may be enough to secure survival).

The way in which matches are spaced to suit the needs of television has drawn complaints from clubs, arguing that it does not create a level playing field. For 12 consecutive days since last Saturday at least one Premier League club will be in action: there will be six days of league games, followed by four days of FA Cup third round matches and then two days of Carabao Cup semi-finals.

The result is often not attractive football. This was the first weekend since November 2001 with as many as four goalless draws in the Premier League. Mark Hughes put out a weakened Stoke City side at Chelsea, judging that today's home fixture against Newcastle was more important. If goal difference becomes important at the end of the season, the five goals that Chelsea scored could be significant.