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            <p>Southampton earned promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking - here, we preview their FPL and wider fantasy football prospects for the 2024/25 campaign.</p>
<p>We take a look at their 2023/24 season and star players, Premier League predicted starting 11, set-piece takers and stats for Telegraph and Dream Team.</p>
<p>Much has changed in their style of play since their relegation, so we'll explore everything you need to know about Russell Martin's tactics.</p>
<p>There's also fan insight from Southampton fan, Hub member and reigning Telegraph Fantasy Football champion James Ingram, whose own models helped him to superb finishes in all the major fantasy formats last season.</p>
<p>Our in-depth look at the top three Southampton FPL players will be published nearer to the Gameweek 1 deadline <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/best-fantasy-premier-league-players">here</a>. In the meantime, our other team previews can be found in our <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fantasy-premier-league-ultimate-guide-fpl-tips">Ultimate Guide to FPL</a>.</p>
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<h2>Southampton: At a glance</h2>
<p><strong>Manager: </strong>Russell Martin</p>
<p><strong>2023/24 position: </strong>4th (playoff winners)</p>
<p><strong>Top scorer: </strong>Adam Armstrong (21)</p>
<p><strong>Top assists: </strong>Adam Armstrong (13)</p>
<p><strong>Key transfers in: </strong>Taylor Harwood-Bellis (loan made permanent), Flynn Downes (loan made permanent), Adam Lallana, Charlie Taylor, Yukinari Sugawara, Nathan Wood, Ronnie Edwards, Ben Brereton Diaz</p>
<p><strong>Key transfers out: </strong>Stuart Armstrong, Romain Perraud</p>
<div id="attachment_64712" style="width: 666px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-64712" class="size-full wp-image-64712" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Championship-table-2023-24-top-six.jpg" alt="The top of the 2023/24 Championship table. Source: Google" width="656" height="349" /></p>
<p id="caption-attachment-64712" class="wp-caption-text">The top of the 2023/24 Championship table. Source: Google</p>
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<h2>Southampton stats and best players</h2>
<p>Southampton were relegated from the Premier League in 2022/23, finishing bottom on 25 points under caretaker manager Ruben Selles.</p>
<p>Ralph Hasenhuttl had been sacked after four years in charge but his successor Nathan Jones lasted just three months before Selles came in for the final few months.</p>
<p>Swansea's Russell Martin was appointed ahead of their return to the Championship, a move which proved much more successful than the Jones appointment.</p>
<p>A change in style helped get them back into the top flight at the first time of asking. They finished fourth and beat third-placed Leeds in the playoff final to win promotion.</p>
<p>Their attacking stats were better than their league position, ranking second for expected goals (xG) and third for goals scored.</p>
<p>But while their expected goals conceded (xGC) was the fourth best in the league, it was significantly different to their actual goals conceded.</p>
<p>Martin's men conceded 63 times, putting them in the bottom half for their defensive record.</p>
<p>This could be a concern when stepping up to the Premier League, given no team over the last six seasons has conceded more in their promotion season.</p>
<div id="attachment_64737" style="width: 320px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-64737" class="size-full wp-image-64737" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Southampton-stats.jpg" alt="Southampton's Championship stats" width="310" height="208" /></p>
<p id="caption-attachment-64737" class="wp-caption-text">Southampton's Championship stats</p>
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<h3>2023/24 season best players</h3>
<p><strong>Adam Armstrong </strong>was Southampton's player of the season, topping both the goal and assists charts.</p>
<p>He had 14 more goal involvements than <strong>Che Adams</strong>, who was the only other player to reach double figures for goals (16).</p>
<p><strong>Stuart Armstrong </strong>was the second best for assists, with seven in 42 appearances, while loan signing <strong>David Brooks </strong>contributed two goals and five assists in just 17 matches - 11 of which were starts.</p>
<div id="attachment_64739" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-64739" class="size-full wp-image-64739" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Adam-Armstrong.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" /></p>
<p id="caption-attachment-64739" class="wp-caption-text">Adam Armstrong. Picture by Getty Images</p>
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<h2>What is Southampton's style of play under Martin?</h2>
<p>Martin is a manager who likes his sides to have the majority of possession, an increasing trend among modern managers.</p>
<p>Inverted full-backs - the tactic which sees at least one push forward into midfield while in possession of the ball - are also part of his philosophy.</p>
<p><strong>Kyle Walker-Peters</strong>, who managed two goals and four assists, was frequently tasked with this role.</p>
<p>It marks a major change since the last time Southampton were in the Premier League, as fan James explained. He said:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"Martin is known for his preference for possession-based football, focusing on controlling the game through maintaining possession and building play from the back. This approach was highlighted by Southampton having the highest possession of any teams across Europe last season.</p>
<p>"This will be a significant shift from the more direct or counter-attacking style under Hasenhuttl."</p>
</blockquote>
<div id="attachment_64740" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-64740" class="size-full wp-image-64740" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Russell-Martin.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" /></p>
<p id="caption-attachment-64740" class="wp-caption-text">Russell Martin. Picture by Getty Images</p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>It doesn't look like Martin has any plans to change his style in the coming season, although the experience of Burnley under Vincent Kompany last season may mean some tweaks are required.</p>
<p>Speaking after the playoff final, Martin said:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"I love what we do and I’m not going to change and I’m sure it will start - it probably already has - that we won’t play this way in the Premier League and all of that stuff, the scrutiny and the intensity that will come with that.</p>
<p>"It is up to us to prove ourselves right and make sure we embrace it without losing who we are."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>But fortunately for Saints fans, it appears Martin is capable of making changes when required. For example, he fielded three centre-backs against Leeds on the final day of the season, a change which saw them have just 43% possession.</p>
<p>He stuck with the formation throughout the playoffs, although their dominance in possession returned against West Brom in both legs of the semi-final.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong></strong><strong><a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/can-the-promoted-teams-avoid-relegation"><strong>Analysis: Do any of the promoted teams have what it takes to stay in the Premier League?</strong></a> </strong></li>
</ul>
<h2>Southampton predicted lineup for FPL Gameweek 1</h2>
<p>For our final predicted lineups see our weekly <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/premier-league-predicted-lineups">team news article</a> ahead of the deadline.</p>
<p>But below, we take a look at our Southampton predicted starting 11 as things stand.</p>
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Southampton FPL and fantasy football tips: Predicted lineup and style under Martin

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