When dogma becomes damaging.
When does faith become blind faith? When does a manager’s footballing credo become a dogma dragging a side down? Southampton’s squad has undeniable limitations, but the manager, Russell Martin, has even more limitations if he will not show some tactical flexibility.
He’s impressive in many ways, responding to a tough upbringing in a home scarred by his father’s domestic abuse of his mother, working hard to make himself as a player, representing Scotland, setting up a foundation to help change lives, and now making his way in management. Martin’s young, still only 38, and is committed to his philosophy. Too committed.
Managers want to do things their way, but stubbornness is not the best way. Plan B should not simply be doing Plan A again. Southampton 24/25 risk becoming Burnley 23/24. Playing one way over and over and getting turned over and over. At least Vincent Kompany could head off to Bayern Munich who have the quality of players to execute his approach.