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Moyes set for tough times in his debut season
The 2012-13 football season is well underway, and the English Premier League has already witnessed a couple of upsets in the opening weeks.
While there's been a slew of managerial changes, a majority of the clubs have failed to make many big ticket signings.
In fact, most of the big names have shunned the Premier League.
While the new managers face a daunting task this season, the question is: do they have the resources to back their prospects? Have the top teams made enough reinforcements to mount a serious title challenge?
Bikash Mohapatra takes a look at how the new managerial appointments have fared early on in their assignment.
David Moyes
In 13 years with Everton, despite doing his best with the limited resources at his disposal, David Moyes failed to win a trophy.
In May he replaced the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson as the new coach of Manchester United, and it took him just three months to win his first silverware.
Wigan Athletic, the FA Cup winners but relegated since, were never meant to be a match for the Premier League champions in the Community Shield, and Robin van Persie ensured it went on expected lines.
The 50-year-old manager had a perfect start to the Premier League as well, the Red Devils thrashing Swansea City 4-1 at the Liberty Stadium.
However, a drab draw against fellow-title contenders Chelsea underlined the lacunae in the team.
The fact that the Scot has failed to make any big signing this summer becomes all the more obvious.
With the transfer window closing in a few days, and all the quality players taken, Moyes is in for a tough time in his first season in charge.
Mourinho is at it again at Stamford Bridge
Jose Mourinho
When he took charge of Chelsea in 2004, Jose Mourinho transformed the fortunes of the club.
The Portuguese won six titles in the spell, including successive Premier League titles, and made the Stamford Bridge club a force to reckon with.
Of course, the fact that Russian owner Roman Abramovich didn't hesitate to spend worked to his advantage.
Now, in his second stint with the club, Mourinho has a point to prove, having failed to make a lasting impact in his previous assignment (Real Madrid).
This though the self-styled Special One is spending sparingly. Despite being relatively quite at the transfer window, save the acquisition of Andre Schurrle and Marco van Ginkel, Mourinho's side tops the table after three matches.
And after a futile pursuit of Man United striker Wayne Rooney, Mourinho is on the verge of making two key signings - of Anzhi players Samuel Eto'o and Willian.
From the looks of it, Chelsea will mount a serious challenge this season.
Can Pellegrini revive City's fortunes?
Manuel Pellegrini
His impressive work at Malaga convinced Manchester City to consider him as a replacement for Roberto Mancini.
Having failed to defend their Premier League title, and suffered an embarrassing defeat to Wigan Athletic (now relegated) in the FA Cup final last season, City's Abu Dhabi-based owners have again spent heavily this summer.
The acquisitions of Alvaro Negredo, Fernandinho, Jesus Navas, Stevan Jovetic and Martin Demichelis has only helped strengthening the City squad.
Pellegrini's start at Eastlands was also a positive one, with City thrashing Newcastle 4-0.
However, a surprise defeat at the hands of newly-promoted Cardiff City last week has come in as a setback.
The last time Pellegrini was in charge of a high profile team (Real Madrid) he failed to win trophies, something that saw him get the pink slip earlier than expected.
The Uruguayan has a job at hand at Eastlands if he wants to avoid an encore.
Martinez will be forced to work on a shoestring budget
Roberto Martinez
The Spaniard led Wigan Athletic to surprise win over Manchester City in the FA Cup final last season, the first ever title in the club's 100-year-old history.
However, he couldn't save the club from relegation.
Considering Wigan's limited budgets, Roberto Martinez, nonetheless, had done a great job, something that enticed Everton, another 'limited budget club', to enlist his services.
Martinez's predecessor at Wigan, David Moyes (now the Man United boss), had done exceedingly well in his decade-in-charge of the Toffees. However, the Scot was always forced to work on a shoestring.
The Spaniard's task is no different.
To his detriment, Everton have got off to a tepid start this season, failing to win any of their two opening matches.
Hughes has a point to prove
Mark Hughes
For someone who did exceptionally well as a player, Mark Hughes's record as manager is more modest.
After failing to make an impact at Manchester City, Fulham and Queens Park Rangers, the Welshman replaced compatriot Tony Pulis as the manager of Stoke City.
Since arriving at the Britannia stadium in May, Hughes had to release players like Rory Delap, Matthew Upson and Dean Whitehead while he has managed to acquire the highly-rated left back Erik Pieters from PSV Eindhoven.
However, with someone having a point to prove Hughes's era as boss of Stoke has begun on an erratic note.