Football management can be one of the most unforgiving jobs around. One minute you're linked with every top job available, the next minute you're favourite for the axe. It's a viscious cycle, but one we've become accustomed to.
After nine games in the Premier League, there is usually a casualty by now. But in this unpredictable new era of professional football, it's becoming difficult to analyse just how clubs will operate.
This season has thrown up plenty of surprises - who'd have thought Southampton would be three points off the top of the table, or that Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City would be in mid-table at this point.