Saints supporters were not surprised when Russell Martin picked the same side for the first two Premier League games, but when he selected the same outfield 10 for the third game in a row, it was puzzling to most.

When Southampton travelled to Newcastle on the opening day. the starting line up was no surprise and indeed after a reasonable performance, albeit one where we could not find a goal and ruined by a big error, you could understand why Russell Martin did not ring the changes for the Nottingham Forest game.

But after the performance in the 1-0 defeat to Forest, Saints travelled to Brentford with the fans expecting to see a change or two after several promising performances from those who had come off the bench against Forest and also at Cardiff in the League cup.

Now we host Manchester United on Saturday and this is the start of a month where we will play 3 Premier League games and these will be ones that will perhaps define Russell Martin as a manager and indeed perhaps decide whether he has a future at Southampton FC.

It is not as if he doesn't have any options, there are several players chomping at the bit who have come out of the opening 3 games with their reputations growing, Mateus Fernandes, Tyler Dibling, Cameron Archer & Charlie Taylor are 4 players who could feel hard done by at not starting at Brentford.

Then there is also Lesley Ogochukwu and Maxwell Cornett, both yet to feature in the League since arriving at the club and of course Armel Bella-Kotchap who seems likely to have to stay at the club.

The side needs freshening up and it also needs to get back to basics, a solid 3-2-3-2 or 4-4-2, it doesn't matter, but it needs to be a formation that is robust, not of this floating left back to centre of midfield shenanigans.

So when Manchester United arrive at St Mary's on Saturday the most crucial thing to get right is the team selection, Russell Martin has to show the fans that he can see what they see and more to the point he knows how to make tough decisions and deal with it.

He has to show he does not have favourites and we all know what I mean here, he has to show that he can pick a side on merit, he has to show that he has a plan B, he has to show he knows how to use his squad.

You can build all the fanzones that you want, you can create a home end, you can give them a big flag to pass above the fans heads, but an hour or so before the game, you can either get the fans buzzing with your team selection or you can deflate them before a ball is kicked.

So whether we like it or not, September will be a month that points the direction of Russell Martin as manager of this club, he has plenty of options available, yet in the main he hasn't used them yet.

He has said that he is not changing his philosophy, I don't have a problem with that, but every manager has to adapt their philosophy to suit the job they are doing, at the moment the players seem to be playing with the fear of being dropped if they clear the ball, they have to have the confidence to make their own decisions in tight positions rather than always be looking to pass it short.

So by 11.15 am on Saturday we will have a good idea of what direction this season is going and by about 2.30pm we will have a good idea of whether Russell Martin has a future at the club.

Some will say it is harsh to be judging the manager so early in the season, this is not something I do lightly, indeed anyone who has read anything that I have written over the past year or so about Russell Martin will know that I was not one of his critics, I did not decry what some sneered at as tippy tappy football.

Russell Martin gave Southampton supporters what many described as their best ever game when we went to Wembley and defeated Leeds United to win promotion.

For that he deserves respect and a chance to show he is the man to take us forward.

But that was last season and this is now a different job than a year ago for Russell Martin, he like his players have to step up a notch, if a player isn't performing he gets dropped, but if a manager isn't doing the job, the only option other than keeping him is sacking him.

That is the task now for Russell Martin, he has to show he can step up a notch, that he can be a Premier League manager and not an also ran.

He cannot lay the blame at the door of a lack of options, two years ago Saints failed to sign a striker and both Ralph Hasenhuttl and Southampton FC paid the price for that, of course there will be one or two players we will have gone for and not got, but we have one of the highest net spends of the 20 Premier League clubs this summer, yes some of them are players who were here last year, but we have signed 11 players who were not here last season, that is an entire team and they are in all positions, so the manager has no excuse whatever.

I truly hope that in 3 weeks time I am praising Russell Martin, I want him to succeed, but the ball is firmly in his court and not in mine.

Photo: imago via reuters

DorsetIan added 09:29 - Sep 10 He'll definitely be keeping possession of the ball in his court. You don't need to worry about that.
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saintmark1976 added 09:43 - Sep 10 “ two years ago Saints failed to sign a striker” and unfortunately we still haven’t Nick.
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Flamingbankers added 10:32 - Sep 10 Whilst I agree with everything else you've said, I don't think you have to sneer to say 'tippy-tappy' tactics because that's what it was and frankly if we continue playing that way in the Premier Division then we're going to be relegated. Say things the way they are, don't skirt around an issue and then you can progress, have an honest debate and make the necessary changes for the good. That's how you improve. If there's some hyperbole there, ignore it because you still have to move forward. Fans are passionate that's what a fan is, a 'fanatic'. Effectively you're saying the same thing Nick - clear the ball when you need to in dangerous areas. It's not complicated algebra. How Martin hasn't figured this out yet as a professional, is bewildering to at least half the fan base. My team for Saturday, in a 4-4-2 formation is, if fit of course: Ramsdale, Sugawara, Bednarek, THB, KWL, Downes, Oguchukwhu, Fernandes, Dibbling, Archer, Diaz.

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Block8 added 10:42 - Sep 10 "You can build all the fanzones that you want, you can create a home end, you can give them a big flag to pass above the fans heads, but an hour or so before the game, you can either get the fans buzzing with your team selection or you can deflate them before a ball is kicked. So true Nick, we are not the noisiest of stadiums even when doing well but if enough fans feel deflated before a ball is kicked it gets worse. We have pretty decent options in every position and although very few of us would field the same starting 11, I don't think there would be huge differences. RB could be interesting but maybe play them both interchanging along the right flank? We have signed a very good LB & about 15 CB's so defence shouldn't be an issue. Downes is a definite starter in midfield but on current form neither Smallbone or Aribo have shown anywhere near enough to retain their places? So who slots in here & is it a three or four? Forwards for me Archer & Diaz but maybe a front three? Thing is as Nick has stated we have options throughout, it will be interesting to see if RM has the tactics which suit his options? Lots of questions but do we have the answers!

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highfield49 added 11:35 - Sep 10 There are a minimum of three players who should have no place in the starting line up this weekend simply because we have signed better players. In my view Stephens, Smallbone and Armstrong don't have the ability needed at the top level. There are no excuses for RM following the early season break it's time for tough decisions. Arguably, any of the players you have mentioned Nick should be on the team sheet, depending on training performance and tactical needs. Loyalty to players is one thing but hoping that some can improve and consistently perform to the desired level, despite numerous opportunities, is delusional.

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WestSussexSaint added 12:54 - Sep 10 Martin confirmed after the Brentford game that he hadn’t made many changes due to those playing a full game at Cardiff on the Wednesday before but that he would be making changes for the Man U game. What changes remain to be seen…..
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