To say Mark Hughes’ reign over Southampton has been underwhelming would perhaps be the understatement of the century.
Yes, he sort of saved them from relegation last season. But what does that mean, really?
At least the Championship offers some excitement – a chance to rebuild and find their feet again. To rediscover what made Southampton such an exciting team to watch a few years back. Now they’re just painful to watch. There’s not one single redeeming quality to the Saints’ game – and eight goals scored in 12 games with 21 conceded says it all.
It must be said that Hughes was unfortunate enough to inherit a side which has been slowly chipped away by years of losing its best players and managers. And fans have probably awarded him a little sympathy for that. However, this isn’t enough to keep him at the club and if reports are correct Southampton’s upcoming game against Fulham could well be his last (via the Daily Mail).
With Hughes all but gone, here are two potential replacements…
Leonardo Jardim
The brains behind Monaco’s revival and excellent run in the Champions League during the 16/17 campaign, now linked with a surprise move to the south coast according to the Express.
Jardim experienced one of the most severe falls from grace this season before being sacked by his employers.
The Italian led his Monaco side to the lower half of the table before being sacked and now finds himself without a job, despite being one of the most in demand managers at one point.
He’d have a huge project on his hands at Southampton given just how bad they’ve been. However, if successful, we’re sure Jardim would bring back the glory days of old under Pochettino and Koeman. His relentless style of attacking play is everything the club need to prise themselves from the lull they currently sit in, and his willingness to use youth where necessary is an ideal incentive for both experienced and inexperienced players to give it there all for a spot in the first-team.
Frank Lampard
Lampard is certainly the less likely of the two considering how well he’s currently doing with Derby County and we’re pretty confident he’d like to see out the season as the club push for promotion.
However, this isn’t to say the move would be impossible.
Lampard has shown just how effective his tactics are against top Premier League sides, beating Manchester United and taking Chelsea very close at Stamford Bridge, using his favoured 4-3-3 formation.
It goes without saying that Lampard’s football would be more exciting than Hughes’, but that really isn’t giving him the credit he’s due. The Englishman demands slick, industrious, counterattacking football, with all the lovely little passing sequences thrown in. It certainly won’t solve Southampton’s defensive frailties, but at least it’ll prevent the crowd from falling asleep at the game.
