Former Southampton manager Gordan Strachan has been speaking on the club’s survival chances ahead of their return to the Premier League.
Strachan spent just under three years at Southampton between 2001 and 2004, initially guiding the club to safety after a terrible start to the 2001/02 season saw him given the job before an appearance in the 2003 FA Cup final.
A well-liked figure amongst the St Mary’s faithful, Strachan knows what it takes to keep Southampton in the Premier League, with current manager Russell Martin about to experience his first taste of the top flight as a coach.
Martin will be hoping the club can secure much-needed additions ahead of their return to England’s top tier, but once the transfer window closes it is down to him to find a way to win with the resources at his disposal.
Strachan has revealed in an interview reported via the Daily Echo what he thinks will be key to Southampton’s survival chances.
Gordon Strachan reveals ‘two things’ that will determine Southampton Premier League fate
Martin has been impressive in his first season at the helm of the St Mary’s club but has his work cut out to build on that next season.
The manager has repaired a fractured relationship between the club and its fans following relegation in the 2022/23 season whilst implementing his possession-focused style of play.
His ability to do that, combined with his man-management skills, have seen his reputation grow just five years into his coaching career.
As reported by the Daily Echo, when asked about Southampton’s chances of staying in the Premier League, Strachan responded: “Well, there’s two things to consider when answering whether Southampton will be better equipped for the challenge of the Premier League and that is the club and the manager.
“Will the club allow Russell to stick to his principles and play the football he wants to play against a higher level of opponent if things aren’t going well? Will they keep the faith?
“Russell has set up his teams like that throughout his management career. He did the same thing at MK Dons and Swansea.”
Strachan makes Burnley comparison with Russell Martin’s Southampton
Martin’s style of football isn’t for everyone, with the often slow build-up having the potential to cause frustration when they cannot unlock the opposition.
However, following relegation and a number of seasons focusing on what the team did out of possession, the Saints hierarchy decided a possession-dominant approach was key to sustainable, long-term success.
Thus, Martin was appointed despite his best season as a manager being guiding Swansea City to 10th in the Championship in 2022/23.
Given their similar style of play under Vincent Kompany, comparisons to Burnley will never be far away and Strachan has warned the Saints they could face a similar fate to the Turf Moor side.
Strachan said: “Southampton’s ownership like his style of play. He’s stuck to that, and he’s stuck to what he thinks is right.
“Do I think that’ll be right? You could probably say that Burnley were a better side going into the Premier League than Southampton currently are, and we all know what happened there.
“That’s the decision that both the club and Russell have to make. Burnley ran away with the Championship (in 2023), and Southampton finished fourth, with a similar style of play.”
Regardless of the outside noise, Martin will stick to the principles that have got him this far.
However, the 38-year-old showed in the play-offs he can adapt his tactics if required, changing shape and allowing the opposition to have the ball at times as his side showed a new-found doggedness in their defending.
It will not be easy to take his style to the best sides in the country, but Martin will certainly try his best to do just that.