After a slow start to his Southampton career Claude Puel is starting to show his early critics that he has something about him.

It wasn't the fact that some Saints fans were condemning Claude Puel that stuck in the throat, it was the fact that they were doing so without giving him a fair crack of the whip.

Now after four games that have seen four straight win and four clean sheets Puel has silenced those early doubters and showed that he is a very capable and very experienced manager.

Whilst as much as four games at the start of the season was no basis to gauge a true opinion of the Frenchman, it also has to be said that the last four should not start off a wave of optimism that can only lead to disappointment if unrealistic targets are not met.

But Puel has displayed characteristics that he is a cool head in a storm, he did not panic during his slow start, nor did he make excuses and more importantly he did not make rash changes, yes he was coming to terms with English football and also a squad where a large part of it didn't come under his command till a long way into pre season, but he remained focused on the task and learn't from his mistakes.

Likewise his tactics, he seems to be very tactically aware and in each of the wins made the right substitutions at the right time, he also seems to have reunited a squad that with hindsight had become fractured at the end of last season with several wanting away.

Now he has found a good formula and it is hoped that it will only keep getting better, especially when he has the likes of Sofiane Boufal at his disposal.

Once again there is lesson to be learned by some and that is to keep calm and patient till the manager has had a fair chance to impose himself on the squad and get them playing to his way.

Photo: Action Images

arfurdent added 15:44 - Sep 27 don't panic Captain Mainwaring, that iceberg is just a passing phase
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Jesus_02 added 16:09 - Sep 27 The headline could equally have read "Claude Puel Starting to learn". Its not the time for negativity but take Austin out of the equation and the picture looks decidedly more shaky. We still need a Striker and possibly a centre half. Hopefully those issues will be addressed at Christmas. Particularly the CB with Ref giving out yellow cards like bus tickets
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codge added 16:16 - Sep 27 Well said Nick, l was about to come on here today myself and make pretty much the same comments. I had wanted to wait until the dust had settled after at least 5 or 6 games first before making any remarks.The thing l really like is the way the players are sticking together and are fully behind the manager. I am a long time Saints fan and have been for over 60 years and am still excited today as l have always been.Coyr.

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SanMarco added 08:44 - Sep 28 "Whilst as much as four games at the start of the season was no basis to gauge a true opinion of the Frenchman, it also has to be said that the last four should not start off a wave of optimism". Yep. After the next 4 or 5 we will have seen enough to have an initial impression.
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SonicBoom added 10:38 - Sep 28 Hands up I was nervous but he seems to be getting it right now as you say Nick. Despite my misgivings I did post that we can't really judge until at least ten games. That said you do paint a slightly rosy picture. You say he didn't make rash changes - well he came to the club and threw our system out the window before even seeing a game. We were struggling and many thought we needed more of focal point and someone that was more of a finisher. So Puel has now moved to more of a 4-3-3 and started playing Austin. Credit to him for being flexible but it was only what everyone could see. Im also still nervous about our squad rotation and think that it could bite us on the arse if we're not careful. We do need to utilise the squad and all players need chance to play of course, but, we do still have a fairly clear first eleven. I hope Puel sticks to that in the key games. I was certainly nervous when he made 7 or 8 changes for the first home game in the Europa League, but credit where it's due it paid off. So overall there are encouraging signs, but I temper that by saying that he is really just working his way back to where we were before he started tinkering.

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helpineedsomebody added 11:51 - Sep 28 where are everton in the table
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bstokesaint added 12:26 - Sep 28 As others have said although there is good reason to feel optimistic, ultimately a more pragmatic approach is not too get too down when results go against you and not too carried away when they start going for you. Somewhere in between isn't a bad thing. I'd like to think that the board are smart enough to have done a very thorough due diligence on Puel and that our players are professional enough to be able to take onboard a new manager's ideas. There is still clearly some sloppiness for the manager to address in terms of passing and finishing (less so for Austin) and I just hope he can do that. One of the few things that does make me worry a little about Puel is he seems to lack the arrogance or passion that some of our previous managers have had. I'm hoping that's just a media persona and that all of the players and fans will warm to love him as the season goes on.

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TheMoog added 11:03 - Sep 29 The Everton comparison (AKA the Koeman comparison) is pointless. After 6 games last season, Everton were 6th and Saints were 16th. A year later and Everton are only one place better off whereas Saints are 7 places better off so you could argue Koeman moving has been good for Saints and not so much for Everton.
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kingolaf added 09:20 - Oct 1 Guilty. Fair comment Nick.
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