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da apostaganha： Ralph Hasenhuttl has finally found the formation to use at Southampton, having sought to find the right solution since replacing Mark Hughes – who used six different setups himself during Southampton’s first 17 games of the season.
On the chalkboard
Since Hasenhuttl was appointed as Hughes’ successor on December 5th, the former RB Leipzig boss has set his Saints side out in a range of formations.
In the 12 games he has overseen, these have varied from three, four and five at the back formations, with a 3-4-2-1 the most regularly used and returning three wins from five.
However, for the past three outings, Hasenhuttl has preferred a second striker sat alongside Danny Ings, with that man being Nathan Redmond, and this could finally be the Saints’ set formation.
In a 3-5-2, Southampton are yet to lose, and despite only drawing at Burnley on Saturday, they presented a constant threat with great movement from all involved in the attacks.
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But it’s only returned a 33% win rate?
The 3-5-2 recently used may have only returned a 33% win rate, but the structure has ensured each player knows their responsibilities and Hasenhuttl is able to integrate other options in the centre.
For the first two of the three matches, Oriol Romeu lined up in the heart of midfield alongside Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and James Ward-Prowse, but only the Spaniard retained his place for Saturday’s draw.
In the place of Hojbjerg and Ward-Prowse – who moved out to the wing – Stuart Armstrong and Callum Slattery stood up to the test and contributed to both the offence and defence.
Redmond playing more centrally has also freed the Englishman to drive at the opposition’s backline rather than drifting to the flanks to offer width.
Furthermore, had it not been for a late penalty at Turf Moor when Anthony Taylor deemed Jack Stephens to have deliberately handled the ball in the box, the 3-5-2 would have returned a second win from three attempts.