2026 has barely begun, and football is already deep into what can only be described as a managerial bloodbath. In this episode of Strain on the Game, Stephen Warnock and Adrian Lamb dissect a brutal start to the year that has seen multiple high-profile managers sacked within weeks — some despite recent success.

Is this really about results… or something much bigger?

From Chelsea and Manchester United to Celtic, Aberdeen and beyond, the conversation explores the evolving power dynamics inside modern football clubs. Who really holds the control now — the manager, the sporting director, the medical department, or the ownership group?

Stephen and Adrian go deep into:

• Why press conferences, politics, and “fit” now matter as much as form

• The growing influence of medical and performance teams on team selection

• Player load management, injury risk, and why 60 minutes can sometimes be a “full match”

• How tactical changes mid-season increase injury risk — and how clubs try to manage it

• Why some managerial changes lead to injury spikes, while others don’t

• The realities of working through a managerial change as staff — and the human cost behind it

Drawing on real-world experiences from Premier League dressing rooms and elite performance departments, this episode pulls back the curtain on how football really works when pressure, politics, and performance collide.