---
title: "‘Baffling’ – Saints fans react as odds tumble on surpirse managerial contender"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/baffling-saints-fans-react-as-odds-tumble-on-surpirse-managerial-contender/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Jack Rosser"
section: "Premier League"
published: "2017-06-19T19:00:42Z"
modified: "2017-06-19T19:00:42Z"
---

# ‘Baffling’ – Saints fans react as odds tumble on surpirse managerial contender

**The Southampton fans here in the Football Transfer Tavern are eagerly awaiting any news coming through the doors of who could be coming in to replace sacked manager Claude Puel, and there is a surprise name rising up the list.**

Former Arsenal man and current New York City FC boss Patrick Vieira has seem his odds tumble to become [favourite](https://www.skybet.com/football/manager-specials/event/20874866) to take the helm at St. Mary’s before the start of the news season.

While the backing has come out of the blue, with no tangible links in the mainstream press, it could well make sense. Puel was dismissed largely due to his negative style of football, with the Saints only outscoring Sunderland at home last season.

With that in mind, a more expressive manager would need to succeed the sacked Frenchman. Under Vieira, NYCFC are playing a creative, aggressive and attacking brand of play, however, that could largely be down to the general standard of the MLS, where sides more often than not have weak defences and look to outscore each other.

The Saints fans at the bar are unsure if the former Gooner is the man to take the club forward, and it seems that sentiment has spread to social media…

> Vieira… Interesting…if only we had a French pre season tour planned
>
> — Oriol’s Northam Army (@europasaintsfc) [June 18, 2017](https://twitter.com/europasaintsfc/status/876543494369751041)

> After making a mistake with Puel, I would be really surprised if we would take such a gamble on someone like Giggs or Vieira. [#saintsfc](https://twitter.com/hashtag/saintsfc?src=hash)
>
> — Home & Away Saint (@Saintmike\_sfc) [June 19, 2017](https://twitter.com/Saintmike_sfc/status/876697652993413121)

> Vieira with Roy Keane as his assistant. [#nononsense](https://twitter.com/hashtag/nononsense?src=hash) [#saintsfc](https://twitter.com/hashtag/saintsfc?src=hash)
>
> — Chris Rann (@crstig) [June 19, 2017](https://twitter.com/crstig/status/876662107961524224)

> Surely us signing vieira and In 2 years he’s Wenger’s successor is too obvious right? [#saintsfc](https://twitter.com/hashtag/saintsfc?src=hash)
>
> — pathways back open! (@Legendoftelfer) [June 18, 2017](https://twitter.com/Legendoftelfer/status/876541876563845120)

> The surge of money on Vieira is baffling, I haven’t seen a single story or report even tenuously linking him to [#saintsfc](https://twitter.com/hashtag/saintsfc?src=hash)
>
> — N.I.S. (@NI\_Saints) [June 19, 2017](https://twitter.com/NI_Saints/status/876690695679029248)

> Why are there so many [#saintsfc](https://twitter.com/hashtag/saintsfc?src=hash) fans so against the possibility of Vieira becoming the new manager? Would totally back him if appointed!
>
> — Dan Wight (@danswight) [June 18, 2017](https://twitter.com/danswight/status/876570357230120960)