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What is the one thing nobody is talking about?published at 16:48 25 September
16:48 25 September
One draw and four defeats for Southampton from their opening five games with debate raging about the suitability of Russell Martin's style of play for the top flight.
However, they were seconds away from a first win last time out against Ipswich and youngster Tyler Dibling is impressing, notching his first goal for the club.
But you're the experts when it comes to the Saints so we want you to tell us, what is the one thing nobody is talking about - good or bad?
'Are they destined to be Championship-level forwards?'published at 12:49 24 September
12:49 24 September
Ray Hunt Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
Games can swing on big moments and if you don’t take your chances, you’ll be punished.
This has been the subject all season for Saints as we were left to rue those misses and lose out on maximum points against Ipswich. Cameron Archer was again left frustrated by failing to convert his chances on the weekend to take the game away from the visitors. Unfortunately, all four forwards are still waiting to get going.
Adam Armstrong, Ross Stewart, Ben Brereton Diaz and Archer were brought in for a combined fee of around £45m over the past few seasons and have failed to be a consistent goal threat in the top flight.
Armstrong, the hero from last season in the Championship, scored 21 goals and grabbed 13 assists - a league best for goal involvements. His last was that Wembley goal which sent us back to the Premier League.
Since arriving from Blackburn in 2021, we’ve seen a trend with his goals - 70 in the Championship (four campaigns) compared to his meagre four in the top flight (two campaigns with Saints).
Stewart is another who thrived in the Championship, netting 10 times in his 13 appearances for Sunderland. He still awaits his first with Saints although injuries have hampered his chances.
Ben Brereton Diaz arrived in the summer off the back of an impressive 14-game stint at Sheffield United, scoring six times as the Blades failed to survive. He also enjoyed goal-heavy seasons in the Championship with Blackburn.
Archer is still waiting for that elusive first Premier League goal and has had the chances and minutes so far, even failing from the penalty spot. He has scored twice against Championship opposition in the Carabao Cup.
How can we get the four off the mark? Are they destined to be Championship-level forwards?
'Too early' to judge - Townsendpublished at 08:37 24 September
08:37 24 September
Antalyaspor and former Premier League midfielder Andros Townsend speaking about the Premier League's promoted clubs on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club: "I don't think at the moment (they should be concerned) because especially watching the Ipswich and Southampton game, both teams have got a clear identity of how they want to play and I think if you go back to Luton last season, we didn't get that until maybe the end of October, early November so I think they're already ahead of where we were.
"For Southampton, obviously it's just cutting out the silly mistakes. They're playing out from the back and they're losing it and conceding goals but I don't think they should just throw everything out that they learnt from the Championship. I think they should continue doing it and improving those players and players will improve.
"With Ipswich, the majority of that group have come up from League One into the Championship then into the Premier League so there's always going to be a bit of adaptation and I can see they're improving every game. I think it's still too early to see which teams are going to be in big trouble this season."
How do this season's promoted clubs compare?published at 14:09 23 September
14:09 23 September
Image source, PA Media
Five games into the Premier League season, Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton - the three clubs promoted from the Championship - are yet to win a league match.
They have taken a combined seven points from those games, which is the joint-second lowest tally from a set of promoted teams since the Premier League began in 1992-93.
Only last season's promoted trio - Burnley, Luton and Sheffield United - have collected fewer points from their first five league matches of a campaign.
The good news - for Leicester and Ipswich, at least - is their three points apiece are enough to keep them out of the relegation zone at the moment.
Image caption,
*Only two promoted sides took part in the 1995-96 Premier League season
Statistics collated by BBC Sport statistician Chris Collinson
Southampton 1-1 Ipswich - the fans' verdictpublished at 12:36 23 September
12:36 23 September
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your thoughts after Southampton picked up their first point of the season but failed to capitalise on their home advantage to take all three points against Ipswich Town.
Here are some of your comments:
Oliver: We should have won, but that is more a testament to how poor Ipswich were. The fact that it was a lucky deflection which won it, just shows that all we needed was to press home our advantage. We can't say that we didn't get those chances, but perhaps we are just lacking in the confidence in the final third. We're getting better but we need to start winning soon.
Neil: Saints should have won today. Martin's substitution of Mateus Fernandes for Joe Aribo has cost us the game. We were on top before that but afterwards there was too much space because Aribo cannot tackle and pass like Fernandes. Then Aribo ducked out of the way of the shot and the deflection gifted them their goal. It was a poor substitution.
Mark: This insane possession-based passing game has got to stop. Instead of making one positive forward pass, we make five or six backwards or sideways passes and lose the ball. The defending is chaotic, with players out of position most of the time. We are so lightweight in attack and it is embarrassing. Martin must change or be sacked - or else we're going back to the Championship!
Barrito: The usual fare. They cannot defend to save their lives. The sad thing is: it is the same old problem. And why are we not playing our top goalscorer?
Mike: A must win for Russell Martin and his coaching team. He keeps saying that we are getting better in his post-match interviews, but improvements - real or imagined - are not resulting in goals scored and clean sheets. I reckon he needed six or seven points before the end of October to save his job - that's gone now, if you look at the fixtures.
Corey: First half was a scrappy encounter between relegation rivals. Second half was dominant Saints doing what we do best but failing to put the game to bed. There are plenty of positives and much to be optimistic about. Roll on Bournemouth!
Gossip: Dibling on radar of multiple clubspublished at 07:23 23 September
Southampton 1-1 Ipswich Town: Saints boss Martin left 'angry and annoyed'published at 19:43 21 September
19:43 21 September
Michael Emons BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Southampton manager Russell Martin said he was "really angry and annoyed" after Ipswich Town captain Sam Morsy scored a dramatic injury-time equaliser to deny the Saints their first Premier League win of the season.
The hosts had been beaten in all of their first four top-flight games of 2024-25, but pounced on a mistake from the visitors to take the lead after only five minutes through Tyler Dibling's first goal for the club.
But Ipswich equalised in the fifth minute of seven added on to leave Martin's side in the bottom three, with just one point from five matches.
"It was our best performance, but it wasn't enough to get the win so I'm allowed to be angry and annoyed," said Martin afterwards.
You could see why he would be so upset.
A goal up against a fellow newly-promoted side, but two misses from Cameron Archer, one of which hit the post after he went around away goalkeeper Arijanet Muric, saw a failure to kill the game off prove costly.
However, Ipswich were good value for their equaliser, which finally came in the 95th minute in a match where Aaron Ramsdale had to make a number of good saves.
But while the away side celebrated as if they had won at the end, it felt like a defeat for Martin and his players.
'It is a tough one - it feels like a loss'published at 19:34 21 September
19:34 21 September
Image source, Getty Images
Flynn Downes has been discussing the Saints picking up their first point of the season on BBC Radio Solent: "It is a real tough one to take - I mean, we need to see the game out. If we're not going to score, we need to just control the game but we didn't. We had chances in the second half and didn't take them. When you are 1-0 up, you know that you can always concede and that is what happened.
"I think we had tough spells in the game, but I think that is really positive because we had tough spells in the last four games and conceded. Today, we stuck to it and we were really solid. I think sometimes we have got to learn when to press and when not to press.
"It is a really tough one to take - it feels like a loss - but we will take the positives from it."
On his midfield partnership with Mateus Fernandes and Adam Lallana: "I thoroughly enjoy playing in the middle with them two. They are two unbelievable players. Adam has got that experience from playing in the Premier League for how many years, so he is really helpful out there and he is some player as well.
"It is a privilege playing with them two."
On Tyler Dibling getting his goal: "He deserves it. He is some player. I think everyone is seeing it now. For the last three or four games he has been unreal for us, so long may it continue."
'We have to be angry with ourselves'published at 18:14 21 September
18:14 21 September
Image source, Getty Images
Southampton manager Russell Martin, speaking to Premier League Productions, said: "We have to win the game today. Their only threats were coming from set pieces.
"We had chances to kill off the game in the second half and when you leave it at 1-0 it was a problem. We have to be angry with ourselves. The detail with our defending was not right and it has cost us a goal.
"It was a good game. The first half was quite tight, second half I thought we were really good. It was really disappointing [to not win] and I feel like we're so close.
"The frustration and the disappointment overrides everything. We're off the mark, but we have to use this as a springboard as there was so much good about the performance.
"We're a team that has given everything, but we have to be more ruthless in both boxes. It's a big progress in our four or five games, just allow me to be annoyed."
Southampton 1-1 Ipswich - send us your thoughtspublished at 16:56 21 September
Sutton's predictions: Southampton v Ipswichpublished at 11:21 21 September
11:21 21 September
Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.
For week five, he takes on singer-songwriter and West Ham fan James Smith whose debut album, Common People, is out now.
Southampton host Ipswich on Saturday at 15:00 BST.
Sutton's prediction: 1-1
These are two more teams who are both waiting for their first Premier League victory of the season, although at least Southampton have had something to celebrate after beating Everton on penalties in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.
Ipswich have picked up a couple of points already, though, including an excellent draw at Brighton last time out. To go there and nullify the Seagulls attack is no mean feat, and they also had a big chance to score when Liam Delap crashed a shot against the post.
This was a Championship fixture last season, and Ipswich did the double over Saints, including at Portman Road in April when they nicked it 3-2 with a late winner after Southampton had played really well and battered them.
This time, it smells like a draw to me. I can't choose between either team, even though I know how much they would both give for all three points.
James's prediction: 1-2
I am 'Team Ipswich' this year, but only because of Ed Sheeran! 1-2
'We will keep learning' - Martinpublished at 13:24 20 September
13:24 20 September
Image source, Getty Images
Southampton manager Russell Martin is keen for his team to continue growing in 2024-25, after the Saints' dramatic penalty shootout win over Everton in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.
Before Saturday's Premier League encounter with Ipswich - also promoted to the top flight for this season - Martin is keen to focus on the positives from Southampton's start to the campaign.
"I'm convinced we will get better and keep improving, and the more time the players have together, the better they'll become," he said. "That's the evidence we have after five years of being a management team.
"It was the case last season, which was a bigger change. We were trying to implement something totally different to the players. Now a lot of them understand it but then we still have a lot of new guys who have come in.
"Then also us adapting to the Premier League and that's been interesting for us to learn. Certain bits that were really effective in the Championship are maybe less so in the Premier League against certain opposition.
"As well as the players, we're finding our rhythm. The players are enjoying playing around with stuff on the training pitch and working stuff out for themselves as well, so they're a big part of that.
"We will keep learning and we will keep adapting - but while remaining us. I said that to the players on Tuesday."
Did you know?published at 08:58 20 September
08:58 20 September
Image source, Getty Images
Southampton are one of two teams yet to lead for a single minute in the Premier League this season, alongside Crystal Palace.
The Saints have also spent more time in a losing position than anyone else in 2024-25 (208 minutes and 15 seconds, including injury time).
'Players need to be listened to'published at 08:05 20 September
08:05 20 September
Image source, Getty Images
The issue around the footballing calendar and the demands being placed on players right now is a difficult one.
First, we need to take into consideration the really high demands on the body that go on all-year round with few breaks, especially for international footballers and those in teams competing on multiple fronts.
I know the men's and the women's games are different, but we got exposed to these issues when we went from amateur to professional. There was a lot of loading, a lot of games and the result of that was a higher risk of injury and we have seen a lot of anterior cruciate ligament injuries now in the women's game.
From the fans' side, their point is often that players get paid a lot of money but I think that is irrelevant. That is just the industry players are in and, if you take out the money, they are still human beings.
The governing bodies need to look at who they consult with about changes in the calendar such as World Cups being held in winter and summers where there is just a couple of weeks off before going straight back into it. The changes and fixtures that are put in are there to generate more money, which makes it difficult. As a business, it is about money.
We talk about mental health a lot and you wonder, where is the time to switch off and have that time away from playing? To have that family time which is a deep human need? At some point mentally, if not physically, it will take its toll.
None of us want to see players striking, but players need to be listened to. What do they need to do to make change happen?
Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson
Martin on his selection dilemma, Archer's promise and 'external noise'published at 15:55 19 September
15:55 19 September
Emily Reilly-O'Donnell BBC Sport Researcher
Southampton boss Russell Martin has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Ipswich Town (kick-off 15:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Having beaten Everton on penalties in the League Cup on Tuesday, Martin is pleased with the "big progression" from his team since losing at Manchester United last Saturday: "It's given us loads of food for thought in terms of team selection and I think it's put a few of the players in a much better place than they were in, individually."
Jack Stephens is the only member of the squad currently unavailable but having made 10 changes for Tuesday's cup tie, Martin was "very pleased" that the team looked "so similar, in the way it plays." He says it has given him a lot of problems in selecting a team for the Ipswich match.
Discussing how having a big squad impacts the players, Martin said: "I think they understand that it's a real competition now and no one can feel comfortable, myself included, for any period of time at all."
Speaking about Kieran McKenna's Ipswich, Martin said: "They're tough opposition- as we found out last year. They've really improved, in terms of what they've recruited. They have a really excellent manager and they're really good at what they do. It's going to be really interesting to come up against them this year in the Premier League and see what changes."
Sitting 19th in the Premier League table as a newly promoted side, Martin believes the only real difference between the two leagues is "the external noise and the scrutiny". He added: "Everyone in the building really believes in what they're doing. Everyone's probably been guilty of over-thinking and building up the Premier League to an extent where it's probably affected things a little bit."
With his side yet to pick up any points this season, Martin said: "Everyone's feeling really frustrated at the results but everyone's feeling really pleased about so many aspects of the performance."
Discussing the readiness of his players after the midweek fixture, Martin said: "It's no coincidence that we had a brilliant performance and we ran the most that we have ran on Tuesday. I think that has to be the backbone of any player. Physically, they're all in a really good place."
Cameron Archer's penalty was saved by Manchester United's Andre Onana last Saturday but on that, Martin said: "Your response to disappointment is the most important thing. We have a really top young talent on our hands. He will bounce back and will be brilliant for us."
🎧 Saints and Sinners previews Ipswich gamepublished at 13:03 19 September
13:03 19 September
On the latest episode of BBC Radio Solent's Saints and Sinners, Tom Deacon is joined by Formula 1 commentator and Ipswich Town fan Alex Jacques to preview Southampton's home fixture against the Tractor Boys on Saturday.
