Paul Merson predicts a difficult start to Southampton’s return to the Premier League against Newcastle United on Saturday.
Russell Martin will be relishing the challenge of guiding Southampton into the Premier League in what will be his first taste of the division as a manager.
Armed with eight first-team signings this summer, Martin will be putting the finishing touches on his Southampton side’s preparations to face Newcastle United at St James’ Park this weekend.
It will be a baptism of fire in front of a raucous Newcastle home crowd that should go some way to revealing how effective Southampton’s pre-season preparations have been.
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Southampton will undoubtedly have to be at their very best to take anything from a fixture against a side who will again be looking for a European place this season.
Paul Merson predicts humbling Southampton defeat to Newcastle
Many have been quick to write off Southampton’s chances of Premier League survival before a ball has even been kicked this season.
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Comparisons between the challenges Southampton will face and Vincent Kompany’s Burnley last season are rife, with the Clarets suffering relegation after gaining promotion playing a possession-dominant sale.
Paul Merson is no different and the former Arsenal, Aston Villa and Portsmouth midfielder has warned Martin he will need to adapt his tactics in the Premier League.
Merson was previewing every fixture of the opening weekend of the new season for Sportskeeda and claimed: “Southampton play good football, but they’ll need to change it up in the Premier League.
We saw it last season with Burnley – they kept shooting themselves in the foot last season.”
He then turned his attention to the Newcastle game, saying: “These teams have got to be flexible. Southampton have got to go to Newcastle and keep the crowd quiet.
You can’t be passing the ball out the back and have it knocked off you – Newcastle will run away with it.”
The pundit predicts Southampton will suffer a 3-0 loss at the hands of Newcastle, claiming that: “There are not too many worse places to go if you’re Southampton.”
Russell Martin won’t deviate from Southampton style despite Burnley comparisons
Supporters will have already grown tired of comparisons to Burnley, with pundits and fans quick to conclude that Martin’s side will suffer the same fate from the moment Southampton achieved promotion at Wembley.
The truth is that Southampton are similar to Kompany’s Burnley last season in the way they earned promotion playing a possession dominant style, but that is where the resemblance ends.
Burnley made 15 signings in the summer after winning the Championship, with Kompany surprisingly not trusting the players that won the second tier with such ease to have success in the Premier League.
Martin is much more keen to keep the core of his side the same, with the stability likely to help Southampton.
In the last game of pre-season last Saturday, Southampton’s starting XI only contained two players who were not at the club last season, with the same side likely to line-up against Newcastle.
Matin wants further attacking additions before the transfer window closes, but the side should be far more recognisable as the one that earned promotion than Kompany’s Burnley were in the Premier League.