Join a Q&A with Miguel Delaney on manager merry-go-round, Premier League politics and football’s odd problem – UK Times

Welcome to an exclusive Ask Me Anything session with me, Miguel Delaney, chief football writer at The Independent.

To see my questions and answers, scroll down – and don’t forget to press “load more” to catch the full Q&A.

The start of 2026 hasn’t been defined by transfer fireworks, but by upheaval at the top of the Premier League.

First, Chelsea’s Enzo Maresca exited his role by mutual agreement amid reported friction over control and recruitment, giving way to Liam Rosenior in early January.

Then Manchester United’s dramatic dismissal of Ruben Amorim after just 14 months in charge sent shockwaves through the Premier League and further highlighted deep tensions between head coaches and sporting directors.

Michael Carrick – a club legend with limited experience since leaving Middlesbrough – has been installed as interim head coach until the end of the season as United scrambles to steady the ship.

Across the continent, the managerial carousel has spun even faster. Xabi Alonso’s brief stint at Real Madrid came to an abrupt end by mutual consent after just eight months, leaving him available and immediately fuelling speculation about his next destination – with clubs in the Premier League already linked.

Meanwhile the pressure cooker across the rest of the top flight hasn’t cooled. Thomas Frank at Tottenham is increasingly under scrutiny as Spurs struggle for consistency, and Arne Slot at Liverpool is watching developments intently as fans and pundits alike begin to whisper about change if results don’t improve – particularly with big-name managers like Alonso suddenly back on the market.

The January transfer window has been quiet so far, with Semenyo’s move from Bournemouth to Manchester City standing out as the biggest deal – but that may now be the spark for more. Industry figures expect it to be very busy towards the end.

I’ll discuss all this and much more in an exclusive Ask Me Anything session for The Independent.

As chief football writer, I’ve spent years covering transfers, managerial appointments, and speaking to sources about the behind-the-scenes workings that shape top clubs.

I’ll be here to answer all your football questions – from the managerial merry-go-round and the head coach versus sporting director debate to potential January and summer moves and how these stories are likely to play out across the Premier League and Europe.

Submit your questions below and join me for the Ask Me Anything Q&A on Thursday 15 January from 2pm to 3pm GMT. I’ll try to answer as many as I can within the hour!

If you have trouble posting your question, make sure you’re logged in to a registered account on The Independent. Register or log in here, then return to this page to submit.

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