Russell Martin’s Southampton philosophy was a self-defeating brand of stupidity
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Comment: As Martin leaves the Saints bottom of the Premier League and seven points from safety, Richard Jolly analyses the cause of Saints’ issues and why they refused to deviate from their footballing ideology. Russell Martin was basking in the glow of defeat, not victory. It may say something for his experience of Premier League football that the high point arguably still came in a loss. But his Southampton side had gone to Manchester City, had 43 percent of possession and only lost 1-0. Martin had been praised by both Pep Guardiola and Phil Foden. Since then, he has taken as many points as Guardiola. He was not to know his 1-0 loss would look less admirable when City only won one of their next 11 games.
![[Russell Martin shouts orders from the touchline against Liverpool]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/15/23/SOUTHAMPTON-ENTRENADOR_18435.jpg)
But he was able to hold court. “I have seen so many teams promoted and get nowhere,” he said. Southampton had got somewhere when Martin’s reign was curtailed on Sunday night: 20th in the Premier League, nine points from safety, their return ticket to the Championship booked. At their rate of progress – if that is the word – they should just beat Derby’s divisional record low of 11 points; though the numbers only put them on course for 11.875.
![[Russell Martin celebrates victory after Southampton secure promotion to the Premier League]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/15/22/GettyImages-2154751116.jpg)
“We have to believe in something,” Martin added that October day. “We have to be extreme and take the ball in places people would not usually enjoy taking it.” The temptation is to think that plenty of other teams enjoyed Southampton taking the ball in their own final third. They became a parody of themselves, conceding goals by gifting the ball to many an opponent. The tone for their season was set on the opening day, when they had 77 percent of possession against Newcastle and goalkeeper Alex McCarthy passed to Alexander Isak, who set up Joelinton for the lone goal. None of the three goalkeepers used this season – McCarthy, Aaron Ramsdale and Joe Lumley – is particularly assured with the ball at his feet. Each was told to pass out from the back. When Martin was dismissed, Southampton were the runaway leaders in the chart for most errors leading to shots, with 26. They had made 10 that brought goals – in official statistics; many another mistake indirectly caused them – putting them en route to set another record.
![[Russell Martin, Manager of Southampton, interacts with fourth official Sam Barrott]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/16/13/2190126357.jpg)
