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Southampton: Is Graham Potter a possible replacement for Pellegrino?

By Chris Hughes

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 22: Graham Potter, head coach of Ostersunds FK looks on during UEFA Europa League Round of 32 match between Arsenal and Ostersunds FK at the Emirates Stadium on February 22, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 22: Graham Potter, head coach of Ostersunds FK looks on during UEFA Europa League Round of 32 match between Arsenal and Ostersunds FK at the Emirates Stadium on February 22, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /
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Today’s papers have suggested that Mauricio Pellegrino will be sacked at the end of the season, with Southampton keen on either Slavisa Jokanovic or Graham Potter as a replacement.

Several reports have emerged today suggesting that the Southampton board are ready to sack manager Pellegrino but aren’t keen on making a knee-jerk decision before the end of the campaign. Whilst that is understandable, it could also result in the Saints being relegated through the Argentine’s shortcomings as a manager.

It remains unclear what league the Saints will be playing in next season – as a result it seems foolish to look at possible replacements considering Fulham could themselves be in the top flight come August but Southampton may not be.

Whilst the Saints’ supporters will be more familiar with the Serbian after their side defeated Fulham in the FA Cup in January, Potter remains a relatively unknown figure on the management side of things in England.

A former Southampton player, Potter is currently the manager of Ostersunds in Sweden, a position he has held for a lengthy period of seven years.

WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 17: Mauricio Pellegrino, Manager of Southampton arrives ahead of the The Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round between West Bromwich Albion v Southampton at The Hawthorns on February 17, 2018 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 17: Mauricio Pellegrino, Manager of Southampton arrives ahead of the The Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round between West Bromwich Albion v Southampton at The Hawthorns on February 17, 2018 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /

Over that span, the Englishman has guided the side to three promotions all the way the the top tier of Swedish football. Not only that, but Ostersunds are now competing in the Europa League and as recently as last month defeated giants Arsenal.

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At just 42, Potter is very young in management terms especially when he already has nearly a decade of experience under his belt. The former left-back has assembled a nationally-diverse squad at Ostersunds, with players from Iraq, Engliand, Ghana and Nigeria on the team’s books.

Potter’s side play attractive football and as a result have produced good results against sides much bigger than them in stature – in addition to Arsenal, they have produced a draw against Althetic Bilbao and beat Turkish side Galatasary too.

The Englishman’s loyalty to the Swedish side also offers another positive to any potential appointment, with Southampton in dire need of a manager who is both competent at their job and willing to stick around.

But Potter still isn’t necessarily a good appointment. The 42-year-old has just two years of experience in the top flight of Swedish football which, with all due respect, is an entirely different standard to the Premier League.

However both Pellegrino and his predecessor Claude Puel had much thicker CV’s upon their arrival, with experience in the top flight of Spain and France respectively. Both of the Saints’ managers beforehand – Mauricio Pochettino and Ronald Koeman – had less experience or had only managed significantly in lesser leagues.

Therefore, would a move for Potter be a smart approach? It makes you think.