Southampton’s current struggles below Russell Martin after returning to the Premier League have sparked a debate on how promoted groups ought to method their tactical setup after gaining promotion to the the English high tier.

The Saints are winless within the Premier League this season after 8 video games and presently sit in nineteenth place within the league desk with a -12 objective distinction. They’ve been defensively abysmal, failing to maintain a clear sheet within the Premier League this season, and have misplaced 7 video games with a single level earned in a 1-1 residence draw towards fellow promoted workforce Ipswich.

Russell Martin techniques below scrutiny

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Conversations surrounding Russell Martin’s job security are centred on his stubbornness to stay to his possession-based type regardless of Southampton’s obvious lack of outcomes and frailties taking part in out from the again. Southampton are presently ranked sixth within the Premier League for ball possession (54.9%)) greater than Manchester United and Arsenal.

In addition they rank 4th within the Premier League for whole passes with 4220 passes this season and an correct go success charge of 462 per sport. These stats spotlight how properly coached a possession-based workforce Southampton are below Russell Martin, who additionally dominated possession within the Championship final season (2023/2024), rating first with 66% ball possession and an correct go charge of 598 per sport. To Russell Martin’s credit score, it’s commendably courageous how Southampton setup to construct out from the again given the standard within the Premier League.

Southampton have came upon the laborious method although: that it’s factors that win video games, not possession stats, and possession means nothing for those who leak targets on the charge which Southampton do. They’ve conceded a complete of 18 targets from 17.3 xG, displaying how a lot high quality house they permit opposition groups.

Out of possession, Southampton have quite a lot of work to do as their passive press normally turns into straightforward to play by, rating backside of the league for possession gained within the opposition remaining third (123), and in addition going through a mean of 17.5 pictures per sport. On the attacking finish of the pitch, Southampton have discovered it laborious to show possession into high quality possibilities, discovering it tough to progress past their midfield third.

With simply 195 touches within the opposition field and three.8 pictures on the right track per sport, they’ve struggled to generate house for high quality pictures. They’ve additionally been wasteful in entrance of objective, with 6 targets scored from 10.5 xG, together with an important penalty miss from Cameron Archer towards Manchester United.

What now?

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It’s tough to make a case for Russell Martin’s Southampton, as outcomes have proven how tough it’s to grind outcomes taking part in an expansive model of possession soccer.

The concepts is perhaps proper, however the execution has been poor, as they’ve been sometimes caught out in harmful positions whereas taking part in from the again. The extra pragmatic determination may very well be reverting to a realistic counterattack sport by denying elite opposition groups areas to take advantage of whereas seeking to break on the counter with the tempo they possess in assault.

With a visit to the house of Premier League Champions throughout the weekend, this may very well be the best time to be extra pragmatic in possession towards a Metropolis aspect very susceptible in transition, as an open method may lead to an embarrassing scoreline with the standard Metropolis possess in Haaland, Savio, and Doku.