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Claude Puel shouldn't shoulder all of the blame for Southampton's season

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Claude Puel discusses his Southampton side's goalless draw against Manchester United.

Fall guy: A person who is falsely blamed for something that has gone wrong, according to the Oxford Dictionary.

Southampton manager Claude Puel could be forgiven for pointing out the definition to his bosses when he is summoned to an end of season review meeting, which will decide his future next week.

It is true Puel has made mistakes in his first season in the Premier League, but Southampton's failure to emulate their lofty finishing positions from the previous three years cannot solely be laid at the feet of the Frenchman.