Southampton go into the first international break of the season winless in the Premier League as Russell Martin looks to prove his divisive style can be successful in the top flight.
Southampton lost their first two league games of the new season 1-0 to Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest before suffering a 3-1 defeat away at Brentford on Saturday.
Russell Martin has seen his team win once this season, though, as Southampton beat Cardiff City 5-3 in the second round of the Carabao Cup last week.
With just one league goal scored and without a point on the board after the first three games of the Premier League season it has been a real baptism of fire for Martin and his players.
The Saint boss plays a very particular possession brand of football and that has been at the detriment of Southampton at times already this season as Newcastle and Brentford in particular benefitted from mistakes playing out from the back.
Whether Martin can have success this season playing this way remains to be seen but Micah Richards and Alan Shearer certainly have their doubts.
Richards and Shearer speak on Southampton loss vs Brentford
Against Newcastle, Alex McCarthy misplaced a pass straight to Alexander Isak inside his own box who squared for Joelinton to score the only goal of the game.
Against Brentford, Southampton constantly played themselves into trouble on the edge of their own box and were punished with Bryan Mbeumo’s brace a direct result of these errors.
- READ MORE: Jamie O’Hara delivers ‘pathetic’ Southampton verdict after latest Premier League defeat to Brentford
Micah Richards and Alan Shearer joined Gary Lineker on The Rest is Football podcast on Monday morning, where they discussed Martin’s side.
Both Richards and Shearer voiced their concerns regarding Southampton’s style, with Richards saying: “Southampton, I still think they’re making Championship mistakes where they’re playing out too much. They’re getting punished.”
Shearer agreed, adding: “It’s got very, very similar vibes already to what happened to Burnley last season.”
Russell Martin must use international break to fix Southampton woes
It feels as though the international break has come at the perfect time for Southampton as Martin needs time on the training pitch with his players to rectify a poor start to the season.
Martin will not change his philosophy but he may have to compromise slightly on his principles if the Saints are to have a chance of staying in the Premier League.
- READ MORE: Russell Martin explains why ‘incredible’ Southampton player is yet to make Premier League start
Martin cannot account for individual mistakes – some of which have been schoolboy errors – but what he can do is reduce the possibility of Southampton players making mistakes in areas that will be punished.
The Saints boss showed he can tweak things in the play-offs last season as he recognised that McCarthy would not be able to carry out his usual instructions given his shortfalls with the ball.
That saw Southampton play slightly more direct and take less risks in their own defensive third and that perhaps could again be the solution despite upgrading in goal with the £25 million Deadline Day signing of Aaron Ramsdale.
Southampton either have to become near-perfect playing the way they are or adapt and the latter seems the more likely solution to bring success in the Premier League.