Chris Sutton highlights the need for Southampton to modify their tactics

Last season, Southampton successfully achieved promotion to the Premier League with their brilliant playing from the defence tactics. Russell Martin’s side used to start their build up play from the defence and the midfield created huge chances for the forwards around the box, which led them to score a lot of goals in the Championship. However, Premier League is a huge level as compared to the Championship, and several clubs have now started using their high-press tactics against the Saints defence to win the ball possession in the Southampton half.

In the first three matches, this has led to the Saints defence conceding four out of the five goals while making several misplaced passes and defensive mistakes. Recently, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher also talked about this pattern saying that Russell Martin’s side need to improve their tactics of playing out from the defence. Now, Chris Sutton has also highlighted this fact, saying,

Chris Sutton highlights the need for Southampton to modify their tactics

“I thought he did a really good job last season in terms of getting Southampton up and actually I think towards the end of last season when Bazunu got injured and McCarthy came into the team team they tweaked the style of play a little bit and they were a little more direct.

I think you have to have principles of play and Russell is going to stick to his principles and I respect that in many ways but maybe he does need to be a little bit more adaptable.”

– Chris Sutton

Sutton believes that manager Russell Martin should look to modify his tactical setup to make more successful passes from the defence as well as avoiding giving away possession in their own half. Southampton have used a three centre back formation in the first three matches, and switching back to a two centre back lineup with defensive midfielders Will Smallbone and Flynn Downes will provide more defensive solidity to the Saints. In the upcoming Manchester United match,

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