da brdice： Southampton supporters have been pretty downbeat in recent times after seeing their side extend their winless run in the Premier League to eight games at the weekend.
da marjack bet： Mark Hughes’ men went into their clash with Watford at St Mary’s having lost four and drawn the other three of their preceding seven league games, dating back to their 2-0 success at Crystal Palace on September 1. And that remains the club’s only win so far this term after only mustering a 1-1 draw against the Hornets on Saturday, as a Manolo Gabbiadini effort was cancelled out by Jose Holebas eight minutes from time to secure Javi Gracia’s side a point from proceedings.
As such, there have been many disappointed Saints fans up and down the country in recent times, several of whom are growing increasingly impatient with manager Hughes, who has simply failed to take the club forward after helping them avoid relegation last season.
Thus, it’s time for the Southampton hierarchy to make a change and get rid of the 55-year-old, with 45-year-old Roberto Martinez the ambitious target they must replace the Welshman with.
The Spaniard is currently in charge of the Belgium national team and has been since taking over back in 2016, with whom he has enjoyed some success in leading them to the last four of the World Cup this summer – this all after a relatively disappointing Euro 2016 campaign in which they lost to Wales in the quarter-finals.
And the former Wigan Athletic and Everton boss has since been linked with the Real Madrid job such is the fine work he has done with Belgium in recent times, but with Santiago Solari reportedly set for that role until the end of the season, it doesn’t look like he’ll be taking over at the Bernabeu anytime soon.
And that opens the door for Southampton to make an ambitious move for the 45-year-old, as he has experience of surviving in the Premier League, alongside playing a positive brand of football, that could serve the Saints very well indeed as the season wears on.
Ultimately, things just aren’t working for current boss Hughes, who deserves great credit for helping keep the Saints up last season following the shambolic reign of Mauricio Pellegrino, but simply hasn’t been able to take the team forward as many would have hoped and expected this season.
Just one win and a paltry eight goals scored from their opening 12 games simply isn’t good enough and will plunge the club into trouble as the season goes on – a change appears necessary.
And when one looks at the squad at Hughes’ disposal, it is waiting for someone to go in and get the very best out of them, a bit like Martinez was able to do so often at Wigan, and indeed at times at Everton.
The Spaniard did an outstanding job at the DW Stadium to continuously guide the club to Premier League safety and indeed win the FA Cup in 2013, albeit that season did result in their eventual relegation, as well as Martinez’s departure that summer.
And while Everton were seen to have taken something of a risk in appointing the 45-year-old that summer, it proved dividends as the Spaniard led them to a stunning fifth place finish in the top-flight in his first season in charge, in which time his Toffees team scored a mightily impressive 61 goals in their 38 league games.
Yes, things didn’t quite go so well in his subsequent seasons, but there is little doubting that Martinez has the level of Premier League experience but also the playing style that can get this Southampton playing to their full potential – the same doesn’t appear true of Hughes.
And with Real Madrid unlikely to be looking for a manager following the recent reports that Solari will get the job, Southampton must show a huge level of ambition by making a move for the current Belgium boss.
Southampton fans… what do you think? Let us know!