Jesse Marsch Could Work at Southampton
Why a motivator over a tactician could be the spark Southampton need
Jesse Marsch had incredible success at New York Red Bulls and RB Salzburg, but failed miserably at RB Leipzig, and did moderately less bad, but still bad at Leeds. He looks to be on his way to Southampton as they sit at the bottom of the Premier League table with about half of the season left to play.
I don’t much get the hate Marsch is receiving from the Leeds fans and think this could potentially work between club and manager.
Detractors would say he only has a plan A with no flexibility, well I don’t necessarily think that’s true. At RB Leipzig Marsch notoriously used a narrow high-press to win the League and Cup double, but in Champions League matches against better opponents he played a more counter-attacking style using wide areas. I also think had Marsch been given a bit more time at Leeds, it was evident that he was adjusting the style of play to shore up some of the defensive lapses. Against Nottingham Forest, a match Leeds lost and eventually led to Jesse’s departure, Leeds allowed 0 big chances for Forest, 30 % possession and a total of .39xG. Against Brentford in a 0-0 draw, Brentford had 0 big chances, .4 xG, and 42% possession.
Jesse Marsch can be flexible, but never got the chance to show the development of his style over the long-term with Leeds.
Other detractors might say he talks too openly, yet loved that Marcelo Bielsa couldn’t even speak English and never gave more than an inkling of his actual thoughts. Marsch is a motivator rather than a tactician, and in a relegation fight that could be all the difference. Southampton have been horrible for most of the season and are currently dealing with a slew of injuries across different positions. An aggressively positive man-motivator may be the one thing that unlocks the squad from the depths of the Prem.
Marsch is also a manager who values hard work and team spirit. He is a coach who demands a lot from his players, both on and off the pitch. He expects them to give their all in training and games and to work together as a team. This approach has helped Marsch to build strong and cohesive teams that are difficult to beat.
Southampton’s best players are at the spine of the squad centering on James Ward-Prowse. Marsch is known for playing with a “narrow” width that puts the focus of attacks through the central areas. The approach tends to condense the field and make it difficult for opposing teams to find time on the ball. This could work for Southampton because it can be extremely successful without top talent. Leeds’ best performances this season have been against top 6 opponents with huge results against Chelsea and Liverpool.
When a team plays with a narrow width, they are essentially prioritizing the central areas of the pitch. This can be useful in a number of ways. First, it can make it more difficult for the opposition to play through the middle of the pitch, as there are more defenders in this area. Second, it can allow the team to dominate possession in the central areas of the pitch, as there are more players to pass to and less space for the opposition to pressure them.
However, playing with a narrow width can also have some drawbacks. For example, it can make it more difficult for a team to create width in attack. If all of the team's players are positioned centrally, it can be difficult to stretch the opposition's defense and create opportunities in wide areas of the pitch. Additionally, it can be easier for the opposition to defend against a team that is playing with a narrow width, as they can focus their defensive efforts on the central areas of the pitch.
As with any tactical approach, playing with a narrow width is not necessarily better or worse than other approaches. It depends on the strengths and weaknesses of the team, which Southampton may benefit from.
Southampton have been on the lookout for a new manager since Sunday, with Nathan Jones being sacked after just 14 games in charge. The club have considered it crucial to act fast and decisively in their search, and want a new manager installed before their next match against Chelsea on February 18.
We’ll see if Jesse is on the touchline in just 4 days time.