'I'm still not so sure Martin really knows what his best XI is'published at 08:49 BST 10 October 2024
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer Southampton captain Jason Dodd says he is concerned Russell Martin is unsure of his best side and that the manager's style of play may cost the Saints in the Premier League.
"I think when you looked at those first seven games you thought 'there's a few opportunities here to be picking up some points'," Dodd told BBC Radio Solent.
"We didn't really expect to beat Arsenal but in some of the other games you are expecting us to pick up points. That is a worry because I felt there were two or three wins in there early in the season.
"The worrying thing is from my point of view, I'm still not so sure the manager really knows what his best XI is.
"In the Premier League you can't be gifting goals to the opposition because they're that clinical and we're under pressure again. It does worry me.
"He has slightly changed it and he's not going sideways and backwards as much and we're being a little bit more forward thinking but I think that's just the way we are.
"We always resort back to that and we're gifting quality sides easy goals. That is going to cost us in the longer run."
When asked about the view that Martin's style of play will not work in the Premier League, Dodd added: "I agree totally.
"But then again this is the manager's philosophy, it's then up the players to not make the mistakes. You can blame the manager for how he wants them to play but then it's over to the players. If they're continually making these mistakes it is going to be costly.
"It's a catch-22 situation. This is how Russell Martin wants to play but have we got the players to be able to do that? Just in these seven games the vast majority of the goals we've conceded we've had a say in how we've conceded and that is a worry."