Russell Martin will be eager to see significant improvement from his Southampton team after the international break, as the club searches for its first points of the Premier League season.
Martin’s Premier League managerial debut has been challenging, with Southampton suffering three consecutive defeats, conceding five goals and scoring just once. After 1-0 losses to Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest, the team’s 3-1 defeat at Brentford raised further concerns about their performance.
Known for his possession-based philosophy, Martin emphasizes building play through the thirds and maintaining control. However, Southampton has struggled to implement this approach in the Premier League, with several costly errors arising from their attempts to play out from the back.
Francis Benali tells Russell Martin Southampton must be more ‘pragmatic’
Russell Martin is a manager deeply committed to his style of play, often stating that he’s prepared to “live and die” by his philosophy. However, last season’s play-off triumph showed that he’s willing to make adjustments when necessary.
Southampton legend Francis Benali believes a similar approach is needed to improve the club’s results. In his *Daily Echo* column, Benali pointed out that four of the five goals Southampton have conceded this season have come from mistakes, which, given Martin’s style, were somewhat expected. He noted, “These errors come with the territory of the way we play, and we know the Premier League is unforgiving – mistakes are often punished.”
Benali acknowledged that both the players and Martin are still adjusting to life in the Premier League, and while the mistakes are frustrating, they’re part of the game. He added, “We shouldn’t abandon the philosophy after just three games, and Russell has made it clear he won’t do that. But we do need to be more pragmatic and reduce the situations where mistakes happen.”
The key, according to Benali, lies in decision-making. “There’s a lot of talk about bravery, but being brave while making poor decisions isn’t helpful. It’s about knowing when and how to take risks to avoid unnecessary errors.”
Southampton fans will hope Martin has used international break to put things right
As Francis Benali noted, Russell Martin will not abandon the playing style that brought him to the Premier League in just five years as a manager. However, Benali and Southampton fans will be hoping that Martin uses the international break to work closely with his squad to address the errors that have plagued their start to the season.
Whether this involves tweaking the style to reduce risks, as they did during the play-offs last season, or refining their current approach will be something to watch. A shift in tactics and personnel is likely when Southampton face Manchester United after the break. Martin may revert to the 4-3-3 formation, which he relied on for much of last season, as he searches for a winning formula.
With a crucial run of fixtures coming up, including games against Ipswich Town, Leicester City, and Everton, Southampton must quickly find a way to start collecting points if they are to avoid further struggles in the Premier League.
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