'Martin's high-risk approach is easy prey'

Chief football writer Phil McNulty byline banner
  • Published
Image source, Getty Images

BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions.

Adam asked: What do you think Southampton have to do to survive this season? And should Russell Martin stay or go?

Phil answered: Cutting out the crazy individual errors I witnessed against Liverpool at St Mary's on Sunday would be a good start.

The unfortunate thing for Southampton is that so much of what I saw in that game was good, only to be undermined needlessly.

Yes, I do think Russell Martin needs to tweak his style of playing out from the back because it was inviting trouble from the start against Liverpool. It is all very laudable but there has to be a time and a place, especially against Liverpool.

Obviously there is attention on Martin's position and no top-flight team has ever stayed up after losing 10 of their first 12 league games, so the situation is very serious.

Will the Saints board stick or will they twist in a bid to survive?

I hope he does survive, as he did take Southampton up, but his high-risk approach is easy prey to the best Premier League teams and there has to be some pragmatism when results are so bad.