Russell Martin, the manager of Southampton, calls the team’s current Premier League point total “incredibly hurtful and embarrassing.”
With five points, his side is at the bottom of the Premier League standings.
Since being promoted back to the top division, Martin’s team has lost 12 of their 15 league games, drawn twice, and won once.
They have scored 11 goals and given up 31 goals, giving them a goal differential of minus 20.
“The points that we are on are not appropriate. Being on five points is extremely uncomfortable and hurtful; we ought to have more,” Martin remarked.
However, there have been far too many errors and instances where we haven’t handled things effectively.
“We have had disappointments in games and setbacks, but we have to keep trying to grow – to grow as a group, to grow individually and prepare the players for those moments when it is tough, and find ways for them to cope emotionally.”
Martin has been urged to alter his style of play, much like Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou, whose team has recently experienced disappointing results.
“I get criticised for the same thing [as Postecoglou], about being stubborn and all that stuff, but if you believe in something and it’s taken you a certain way in life then to deviate too far from that is crazy,” Martin stated.
“We are adapting as well, though I can’t speak for him. We change our staff, shape, and strategy, but we always stay true to our core values and the game’s idea. We really can’t stray too much from that or we’ll be nothing.
“Everyone is just quick to criticise these days and I have a lot of respect for him.”
