League Cup runners-up Southampton could only muster a 0-0 draw at home to relegation-threatened Hull City on Saturday.
Claude Puel’s men produced an underwhelming and uninspiring display against Marco Silva’s strugglers to extend their winless league run to three matches, although they remain ninth in the Premier League with just three games of the campaign remaining.
However, it is impossible that the Saints can replicate their sensational sixth place finish from last term under Ronald Koeman, and speculation has been building in recent days over the future of manager Puel, who joined the club in the summer from Ligue 1 outfit Nice.
It has been reported that the 55-year-old is ‘not certain’ to be in charge at St Mary’s next season despite it likely that he’ll lead them to a fourth successive top-half finish, alongside their great run to the League Cup final where they were unlucky to lose to Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United in the Wembley showpiece.
And several Southampton supporters have taken to Twitter since rumours of Puel’s potential departure came to light, and it’s fair to say that opinion is split on whether he should remain as boss or go in the summer.
Some feel that time is up for the Frenchman…
French media claiming Puel won’t be manager next season! Please be true!! #saintsfc pic.twitter.com/KFtDcOK6Lh
— Jordan Stevens (@JordanStevens92) May 1, 2017
@Gion_Brasser We couldn’t be this lucky
— SiBe (@SimonBevis) May 1, 2017
Cannot understand why so many people still think Claude Puel should be given another season, we haven’t won at home on Saturday all season
— Mo (@Mo_S4mson) May 1, 2017
Yet some believe that he has done well this term, and thus deserves more time in the hotseat at St Mary’s…
It’s also not Puel’s fault that we let the captain go and then our bat CB got injured and we didn’t replace. Deserves another year #saintsfc
— MLC (@lespacecornu) May 1, 2017
I’ve always been keen to give Puel time. I find his football dull and predictable but I think we need to give him a chance 1/2 #saintsfc
— the wize saint (@LeeCGregory) May 1, 2017
@crstig really? We are on for a top half finish, cup final in the context of key players missing – that’s an acceptable first season surely?
— Rational Rich (@Rational_Rich) May 1, 2017
@rossbramble @AFCBvB1410 Done a Good job….
— (Philip Simmonds®™:) (@10Simmer10) April 30, 2017