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Weighing up the pros and cons of Marco Silva replacing Puel at Southampton

By Chris Hughes

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - APRIL 29: Marco Silva, Manager of Hull City looks on prior to the Premier League match between Southampton and Hull City at St Mary's Stadium on April 29, 2017 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - APRIL 29: Marco Silva, Manager of Hull City looks on prior to the Premier League match between Southampton and Hull City at St Mary's Stadium on April 29, 2017 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images) /
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DRENTHE, NETHERLANDS – JULY 29: Head Coach / Manager of Olympiacos, Marco Silva gives his players instructions from the sidelines during the pre season friendly match between FC Twente and Olympiacos Piraeus held at Sportpark Veenoord on July 29, 2015 in New Amsterdam and Veenoord, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
DRENTHE, NETHERLANDS – JULY 29: Head Coach / Manager of Olympiacos, Marco Silva gives his players instructions from the sidelines during the pre season friendly match between FC Twente and Olympiacos Piraeus held at Sportpark Veenoord on July 29, 2015 in New Amsterdam and Veenoord, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) /

The Positives

Despite six years of full-time management under his belt already, Silva is still yet to turn 40, making him one of the youngest managers in the league. Mauricio Pochettino was little more than 18 months older than Silva is now at the time of his appointment at Southampton, showing what appointing a young, talented manager can develop into.

What’s more, Silva has a solid track record at each of the three clubs he managed, however short his spells at the latter two were.

From 116 games in charge of Estoril, he finished with a a 46 percent win ratio, guiding them back to the top tier of Portuguese football at the first attempt. In his second season however, his Estoril side reached the Europa League and finished fifth, their best campaign since the 1940’s.

Irregardless of the competitiveness of the league itself, Silva’s records with Olympiacos were nothing short of amazing too, with his side also defeating Arsenal in a season that saw them win 17 straight league games to start the year.

What could be seen as much more of the deciding factor though is the creative, attacking style of football he’s got his Hull side playing. Away from home they might still struggle, but at home they’re a force to be reckoned with.

The 39-year-old’s love of pacey wingers like January signing Kamil Grosicki could work wonders with the likes of Nathan Redmond and Sofiane Boufal already among Southampton’s ranks.

One of the main criticisms of Puel’s style is the lack of goals and attacking mindset in games they should win – Silva’s tactics would change that.