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Southampton: Saints Marching’s weekly poll – edition 4

By Chris Hughes

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 29: Wesley Hoedt of Southampton in action during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Southampton at Etihad Stadium on November 29, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 29: Wesley Hoedt of Southampton in action during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Southampton at Etihad Stadium on November 29, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) /
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Saints Marching’s weekly poll is a series which aims to analyse the views of the Southampton supporters on a topical issue.

For the first time this season, Southampton have had a midweek Premier League fixture – it saw them saw lose 2-1 late on to the rampant Manchester City.

The match came just three days after the Saints recorded their most emphatic victory of the season, winning 4-1 over a lackluster Everton. What makes these two matches particularly interesting was the two differing formations and set-ups that the Saints used respectively.

In the former, they deployed a 4-4-1-1 with Boufal and James Ward-Prowse allowing Ryan Bertrand and Cedric to overlap without leaving the side weak at the back.

Against the Citizens Pellegrino shifted to a 5-3-2, used to box Manchester City out. It meant that Yoshida, Van Dijk and Wesley Hoedt finally played a game all together.

With Manchester City being a whole different challenge to the Saints’ next opponents, Bournemouth, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Saints revert back to their more attacking set-up – our voters agree with that.

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The 5-3-2 set-up was effective for what it was meant to do – keeping City out. It’s good against the top teams but is seemingly fair too limited to seriously damage a team like Bournemouth.

However, Southampton’s current crop of players – which includes several top ball-playing centre-halves and good pace going forward – suggests that a five or a three at the back formation could be really effective on a regular basis.

However, playing with more men forward makes more logical against Bournemouth – the Cherries are only four points off the relegation zone.

Whatever happens, Southampton will go into the game this Sunday knowing a win is an absolute must, with a series of tough games to follow.