Martin outlines his football philosophy
Russell Martin wants his Southampton team to dominate possession in every game, regardless of the opposition.
It’s an approach that has brought the new Saints boss success in his previous jobs in charge of Swansea and MK Dons, creating a high number of chances and coming under less pressure defensively.
The former Scotland international defender also pointed to the high-pressing game for which Saints have become synonymous in recent years, and hopes to lean on some of those principles to win the ball back quickly to regain control of matches.
“It's to try and control the game – or as much of the game as possible with all the variables in football,” he said of the style of play he wants to implement. “To dominate the ball as much as we can, to be the aggressor with the ball and without it.
“In the recent history of the club there’s been some outstanding work against the ball, out of possession, high-intensity pressing. We’re going to try and do both, and try to build on that.
“So many good things have come with that when I spoke to the coaching staff here, the Academy coaches, the people who have been here previously, some brilliant work that the players really believed in and the supporters really connected with as well.
“It's really hard to keep maintaining that and have the energy to keep maintaining that all the time, so I think that’s been difficult, but we will try to do both.
“The idea is that the players won’t have to do that as much because they’ll have the ball a lot – that’s going to be the plan.
“That’s been the plan at both of our previous clubs I’ve managed and it’s worked out that way, and it’ll be the plan here – to dominate the ball and be aggressive with it, and to dominate in a way where, when we lose it, we can win it back really quickly, with high-intensity running.”
Whilst patience is key in possession, Martin expects high energy off the ball to create angles for teammates and pressurise opponents.
“Whatever formation you play, whatever system you play, the players have to be willing to run to win, and to run really hard,” he added.
“We’ll have a team that the supporters see will give everything they’ve got, but also with the ball as well – to try and be really dominant with the ball, aggressive, play with purpose, play with ball speed, with good rhythm in the team.
“Sometimes it’s going to take a lot of passes to get to the opposition goal, sometimes it’s going to take a lot less, but we’re doing it in a way that’s structured, that’s organised and gives us the best chance to go and stay in the opposition half or final third for a long time, and if we lose the ball to win it back very quickly.”
