New Manager Thread

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Just caught up with someone I worked with briefly at one point, who is a French football writer and a Lille fan.

Here's what he's sent me...


I really like Puel. It was his Lille team that I fell in love with.

He brought through Cabaye and Debuchy.

Likes to play on the counter, has always tried to attack on some level. Defence hasn't always been great, but more down to the players he's had.

Develops youth well. Just look at that Nice team, and also the way he's tamed Ben Arfa.

His face just didn't fit at Lyon. Great track record everywhere else in France.

Obviously impossible to say how well he'd do in England. That's the hard part.

If he is confirmed, you'd want him to hijack the move for Nampalys Mendy to Leicester. Brilliant holding mid.

I've only followed Puel at Lyon and he didn't impress me at all, and this guy seems to agree. But ok, maybe Puel and Lyon we're just a bad fit. If he comes to Southampton, it's a new story, and he starts with a clean slate as far as I'm concerned.