Jesse Marsch to relegate Leeds United with Southampton scenario blows the mind of Alexi Lalas
Alexi Lalas has called the potential for Jesse Marsch to relegate Leeds United as Southampton manager a “chef’s kiss moment” for the manager.
The American was only sacked from Elland Road last week (6 February) after going seven Premier League games without a victory, with just four wins all season, but has now “agreed” to replace Nathan Jones at St Mary’s [Guardian, 14 February].
With the Saints bottom of the table and the Whites just four points above them in 17th, it has raised the possibility that the relegation battle could be lost by Leeds United but not by their former manager, which has got his compatriot Lalas excited at the theatre of the prospect.
Reacting on his Alexi Lalas’ State of the Union Podcast the former USMNT defender made a mind blown noise and said: “Just from a pure theatrical perspective, can you imagine if this actually comes to fruition and Southampton were to hire Jesse Marsch, keep in mind Southampton [are] in last place right now, and he were to take them on a run, and at the end pip Leeds for staying up and then Leeds went down?
“Can you imagine the chef’s kiss moment for Jesse Marsch?”
Daunting
An absolute sickener this exact scenario would be for Whites fans, but until the team start putting some wins together it will remain a possibility if Marsch does end up in a new job straight away.
Granted, the fact that he was sacked at Elland Road for being unable to get the best of an increasingly expensive and talented squad doesn’t suggest he will turn Southampton into a sudden force, but stranger things have happened.
It is a comfusing appointment for the club rooted to the bottom of the league to go for, a man sacked by the club one point outside the drop zone, but then they also appointed Jones.
Marsch does at least have experience of surviving last season, albeit on the final day, and he is sure to be motivated to prove Andrea Radrizzani wrong for letting him go.
Neutrals, like Lalas, might be intrigued by the idea, but nobody connected to Leeds would find it entertaining, especially when the process to replace Marsch has turned into such an ordeal.
It is now clear that the sacking was made without contingency plans in place, which leaves Michael Skubala in caretaker charge for the foreseeable future.
So it now could be him shaking hands with Marsch at Elland Road in just 10 days time when Southampton arrive for a relegation six-pointer.
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