Southampton had really lacked an identity until Russell Martin walked through the door, with his modern and proactive philosophy getting them back into the Premier League at the first time of asking.
Ralph Hasenhüttl had his 'heavy metal' style of football in the beginning, while Nathan Jones, and then Ruben Selles, failed to implement a philosophy anywhere near as clear and, subsequently, contributed in the club's relegation.
However, after poaching Martin from Swansea ahead of their first season in the Championship for 11 years, the 38-year-old reinvigorated a side that looked depleted and had lost all hope.
Not only has he installed a strong synergy between the players on the pitch and the fans, but he has brought the whole club closer together - and also forwards.
However, the Premier League is a whole different kettle of fish compared to the Championship and as we have seen many times before, particularly among the sides who play in a similar fashion, it might be a step too far given the gulf in quality.
Therefore, it begs the question, will Russell Martin have to adapt his style of play?
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Philosophy in the Championship
Possession-based football isn't for everyone, but if you get it to work, it looks amazing - and it Martin's case, he certainly got it working.
His side averaged 65.6% possession in the Championship last season which was not only the highest in the division, but also higher than anyone in the Premier League - Yes, even including Pep Guardiola's Manchester City!
They also topped the Championship charts for the most passes in their own half, the oppositions half and the final third - as well as boasting the highest passing accuracy.
Martin's modern approach has been a breath of fresh air, and this is only further reinforced by his use of inverted fullbacks.
This tactic, when using the 4-3-3 formation, saw at least one fullback push forward into midfield, usually Kyle Walker-Peters, while in possession of the ball. This enables them to further control the game, particularly in the centre of the park by providing an extra number in the midfield, whilst also maintaining a strong defensive buffer.
Although Martin doesn't appear to have plans of changing his style of play, it is evident that he is capable of adapting when needed. For example, he switched to a back three for their play-off games against West Brom and Leeds but, although they still dominated the ball against the Baggies, their possession dropped to just 43% in the final against Daniel Farke's men.
As well as possession-based football, Southampton also deploy a high line, a relentless press and attempt to flood the box with players for a numerical advantage - tactics that may cost them dearly in the top-flight.
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Why might they struggle in the Premier League?
Asking your players to execute this style of football in the Premier League is one thing when you have the resources of Manchester City but it is rather different for a team like Southampton, who are expected to be at the lower end of the table.
Vincent Kompany's Burnley had a similar approach this time last season and we all know how that ended. Burnley won the Championship with 101 points in the 2022/23 season and were, arguably, one of the best teams to ever play in the second tier of English football. However, this success simply didn't translate after being promoted.
Compare this to Southampton who, despite producing a 25-game unbeaten run midway through the season, finished nine points off an automatic spot and this, therefore, might suggest a serious cause for concern.
It is unclear whether Martin will stick with the 5-3-2 formation that he ended the season with or revert back to a possession-dominant 4-3-3. However, with seven new arrivals already at the club, it appears that the Saints are serious about staying in the division - so with a few more arrivals, this might just work.
