Southampton: Should the Saints take the risk with Marco Silva?

Following his surprise sacking by Watford late last week, Southampton have been heavily linked with Portuguese manager Marco Silva.

The Saints are the only side in the bottom four to have not sacked their manager this season, with Mauricio Pellegrino remaining at the helm despite just four victories in 24 and no win since November.

Several of the league’s faltering teams, including Crystal Palace and West Ham, have enjoyed massive changes of form since sacking and hiring a new manager, with a relegation-bound West Ham now pushing for a spot in the top half.

Swansea’s win against Liverpool has tightened the gap between the Saints and the foot of the table to just two points, and Pellegrino’s job status has been described as ‘under scrutiny’ as a result. This comes despite very public backing at the turn of the year.

As a result, a host of odds-makers and some tabloids have suggested that the recently-sacked Marco Silva could make an immediate return to the Premier League – taking over at Southampton.

On paper it seems a decent idea, but is it really a win-win for the Saints?

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 10: Mauricio Pellegrino, Manager of Southampton looks on during the Premier League match between Southampton and Arsenal at St Mary’s Stadium on December 9, 2017 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /

The 40-year-old manager was strongly linked with replacing Claude Puel over the summer, but Portuguese manager instead took up the reigns at Watford.

After a blistering start to life in London, the Hornets boss had his head turned by Everton after they dismissed Ronald Koeman. There in lies the problem regarding any potential appointment.

As pointed out in features published since his sacking, Silva’s constant ambition to move up the ladder and left his reputation tarnished.

More from Saints Marching

At the since-relegated Hull City, Silva emerged a fiery, young manager who showed serious potential for the future – but his lack of loyalty is starting to lose him merit. After leaving Estoril for Sporting Lisbon in 2014, he hasn’t managed a side for more than a single season, and the fact that he seemed keen on jumping ship for Everton just months into his contract with Watford is concerning.

Based on Southampton’s current crop of players, Silva and the Saints could be an excellent match, and he was unlucky not to keep Hull afloat last season. On paper, he should do well to keep the south coast outfit up if he were to hypothetically take the job.

However, if a better job was the become available this summer, it begs the question whether Silva would stay with the Saints – after all, he’s had experience managing in European competitions.

Running on the basis that all this plays out, the Saints would right back were they’ve been for the third summer in a row – hunting for a new manager.

Therefore it seems like Silva could be an inadvertent short-term option if the Saints are to replace Pellegrino. English football fans have seen from his stints with his last two teams that it doesn’t take much to turn his head. Would it be a risk worth taking to secure Premier League survival though? I think so.