Pochettino can improve Southampton

 

With all the negativity surrounding Southampton's managerial switch, Christian Crowther casts a more positive light on the new St Mary's governor...

 

The rather ill-timed disposal of Nigel Adkins was bound to cause a stir at Southampton.

 

No one could disagree that, after securing successive promotions back to the big time, Adkins was dealt a harsh hand, not least because he seemed to have his team moving away from trouble in the Premier League after a sticky start.

 

But unfortunately there isn't a more fickle arena than football and now fans of the south coast club have no choice but to reluctantly place their faith in Mauricio Pochettino.

 

Not many observers will have heard too much about the 40-year-old Argentine either besides his role in an England victory at World Cup 2002, though a closer look at his record suggests that his appointment may yet yield positive results for followers of Southampton.

 

As a player, Pochettino made his name as a no-nonsense centre-back, first plying his trade at native club Newell's Old Boys.

 

However, he soon moved to Spain, where he made 275 league appearances for Espanyol, either side of a three-year spell in France with Paris St-Germain and Bordeaux, helping the club secure two Copa del Rey trophies.

 

His defensive expertise should be greatly beneficial to a Southampton side who have been too easily breached this season. A clean sheet in their first game at home to Everton, just their fourth of the campaign, bodes well.

 

Following his playing days, Pochettino became a coach and, at just 36-years-old, was called in to rescue his beloved club in January 2009, with Espanyol languishing in the La Liga relegation zone.

 

And of particular encouragement to Saints fans is the immediate impact he had, taking Espanyol to a top-half finish in the space of just four months.

 

Following on from that debut season, he then established Espanyol as a mid-table side, securing a further three respectable finishes in Spain's top tier, including an eighth place in the 2010/11 campaign.

 

Pochettino is widely recognised in Spain for his intelligent use of a small budget and acumen in the transfer market. Hehas also been praised for his ability to blood youngsters into the senior squad, which should stand him in good stead at St Mary's, where they have a promising crop including the likes of 17-year-old full-back Luke Shaw.

 

It remains to be seen how well he adapts to his new surroundings and the rigours of management in this country but there is certainly reason for optimism.

 

You can currently back Southampton at 9.8 for a top-half finish, from their position of 15th, just six points off Stoke in tenth.

 

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