Russell Martin Tactics At Southampton 2024/2025: Saving The Saints From Relegation – Tactical Analysis

The EFL Championship playoff final back in May must feel like a distant memory for Southampton fans.

At the time of writing, before the international break, the Saints find themselves rooted to the bottom of the Premier League.

To compound their plight, Opta has predicted only a 5.23% chance of survival for the South Coast side, with a predicted points tally of 23.

To put it in context, no team has ever survived on such a total.

This is, however, despite Southampton being one of the dominant forces in the league in terms of possession rates – only Manchester City, Tottenham, and Liverpool average more possession per match.

Such rates are certainly positive for Russell Martin’s side, and it would appear there is scope for a path to survival with plenty of the season left to contest and the Saints only four points from safety.

In this data-driven analysis and scout report, we will highlight areas where Southampton needs to improve on the pitch and offer solutions for strengthening before the January transfer window approaches.

Southampton Current Squad

According to Transfermarkt, Southampton currently has the largest squad in the Premier League.

The plot below shows the age profiles and number of 90s played for those who have featured in the English top flight this season.

Southampton Squad Profile Chart

The graph shows the average age of 26 for players who have featured in this campaign so far, indicating a squad with players in their prime.

Some older squad players, including Adam Lallana and Charlie Taylor, add much-needed Premier League experience; the summer acquisition of Aaron Ramsdale from Arsenal was a shrewd business move.