Patience running out with Guti at Almeria
Away to Huesca, Almería delivered their most disappointing display under Gutiérrez to date and his future with the Andalusian club is coming under scrutiny.
Just a month and a half ago, after delivering a footballing masterclass with a stunning 0-4 win away to Lugo, it would have unthinkable to think that just a few weeks later, talk would turn to Almeria coach José María Gutiérrez (Guti) being a candidate for the sack at the second tier side.
On Saturday at El Alcoraz, Guti's side fell to promotional chasing rivals Huesca but the 3-2 scoreline was far from true reflection of the 90 minutes of action with the Andalusian side being outclassed for large spells of the match.
New Almeria owner Turki Al-Sheikh wasted no time in sacking previous incumbent Pedro Emanuel after just 14 match-days with the side siting second in the table and with the former Real Madrid player having secured just 22 points from his 14 games and Almeria now out the automatic promotion position, Guti's future on the bench is coming under question with speculation in local media outlets that Francisco Rodriguez is being primed to take over at the second tier outfit.
The former player and manager at the club is something of an idol for the UDA fan-base and the idea of having someone who is considered something of a local hero has not been lost on the new management team. Francisco played for the side from 2007 through to 2010 and and after a spell managing the the Almeria 'B' side, took over with the first team and in an epic end to the season, managed to secure ten points from the final possible 12 to avoid relegation in the 2013-14 season.