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The coming weekend sees Manchester United travel to St.Mary’s stadium to face a strong Southampton side.
A game, which in previous seasons was seen as an easy 3 pointer is now a much tougher task, with Southampton currently flying high in 5th position.
A game, which in previous seasons was seen as an easy 3 pointer is now a much tougher task, with Southampton currently flying high in 5th position.
This thread will discuss how United can best game plan for the Saints, specifically looking over:
• Southampton’s system
• Setting United up defensively
• Bypassing the press
• Breaking down the 442
• Players to look out for
• Southampton’s system
• Setting United up defensively
• Bypassing the press
• Breaking down the 442
• Players to look out for
1. Southampton’s System
Southampton lineup in a 442, where they hold their two banks of four in defence. However, in attack and in the press it becomes a 4222, with the wingers coming inside as 10’s and the full backs overlapping.
Southampton lineup in a 442, where they hold their two banks of four in defence. However, in attack and in the press it becomes a 4222, with the wingers coming inside as 10’s and the full backs overlapping.
It is well documented Southampton are an aggressive pressing side, with no team registering more ball recoveries or fouls than the Saints.
When they get the turnover, they transition quickly, looking to run at the opposition defence and play quick one-two’s in behind.
When they get the turnover, they transition quickly, looking to run at the opposition defence and play quick one-two’s in behind.
When building, their chances tend to come from their vertical progression.
They’re excellent at progressing through the lines, where the 10’s and strikers link up. This is where the movement of the forwards is pivotal, as they look to run into the channels between defenders.
They’re excellent at progressing through the lines, where the 10’s and strikers link up. This is where the movement of the forwards is pivotal, as they look to run into the channels between defenders.
It’s also worth noting that, while the fullbacks hold the width, they rarely create from out wide, with no team completing less crosses than the Saints.
They instead look to get involved in the intricate frontline play, often passing to feet or with an angled ball in behind.
They instead look to get involved in the intricate frontline play, often passing to feet or with an angled ball in behind.
2. Setting United up defensively
Firstly, we’ll address the shape. The 4222 is a very narrow formation, which looks to overload the central areas, so Ole cannot play the 4231 as the midfield pivot will be outnumbered. For this game he needs to play the 442 Diamond.
Firstly, we’ll address the shape. The 4222 is a very narrow formation, which looks to overload the central areas, so Ole cannot play the 4231 as the midfield pivot will be outnumbered. For this game he needs to play the 442 Diamond.
His side not only need numerical superiority in midfield, but they need compactness.
Having a compact side stops Southampton playing through the lines, which greatly reduces their creativity. This is something we saw Palace do, in the only game where the Saints failed to score.
Having a compact side stops Southampton playing through the lines, which greatly reduces their creativity. This is something we saw Palace do, in the only game where the Saints failed to score.
The movement of Che Adams needs looking at too.
His pace off the mark, combined with his knack for finding space in the box has led him to become a real poacher. To deal with this, United need to stick someone on him, and I think this is where Tuanzebe would shine.
His pace off the mark, combined with his knack for finding space in the box has led him to become a real poacher. To deal with this, United need to stick someone on him, and I think this is where Tuanzebe would shine.
Likewise I think Fred and perhaps also McTominay may be needed for the game.
United are going to need to have a combative and mobile midfielder, and with Pogba out injured (At the time of writing) having these two play may be of benefit to them.
United are going to need to have a combative and mobile midfielder, and with Pogba out injured (At the time of writing) having these two play may be of benefit to them.
3. Bypassing the Press
One factor United will need to address for this game is their build up play. When playing out the back, United have this really negative habit of just playing lateral passes over and over again, which can be seen below with AWB’s passes made and received.
One factor United will need to address for this game is their build up play. When playing out the back, United have this really negative habit of just playing lateral passes over and over again, which can be seen below with AWB’s passes made and received.
Building from the back like this could spell big problems for United.
This is because Southampton often look to press when the fullbacks receive. We’ve seen United caught out in similar areas (see below) and against a pressing side like Southampton Ole will need to address this
This is because Southampton often look to press when the fullbacks receive. We’ve seen United caught out in similar areas (see below) and against a pressing side like Southampton Ole will need to address this
One way of preventing this would be to play both Donny and Bruno together.
Both are excellent at breaking lines, but in particular Donny’s ability to find space will give United more options. With him in the side they won’t end up with the side-to-side build up play shown before
Both are excellent at breaking lines, but in particular Donny’s ability to find space will give United more options. With him in the side they won’t end up with the side-to-side build up play shown before
With that being said, I think United should lineup as seen below. In this, Martial and Rashford move to the channels as another passing option when the Saints counter-press.
Although the game intelligence of Oriel Romeu could make this difficult but we’ll discuss that later.
Although the game intelligence of Oriel Romeu could make this difficult but we’ll discuss that later.
4. Breaking down the 442
As seen in the Southampton system overview at the start, when defending they like to sit in a rigid 442. A formation which has been difficult to break down over the years, but there are a few ways of doing so.
As seen in the Southampton system overview at the start, when defending they like to sit in a rigid 442. A formation which has been difficult to break down over the years, but there are a few ways of doing so.
Firstly, we’ll have a look at a system often used by RB Leipzig, the box midfield.
The box midfield is very simple, you have two midfielders at the base and then two in advanced No.10 positions and it creates a box around the opposition midfield.
The box midfield is very simple, you have two midfielders at the base and then two in advanced No.10 positions and it creates a box around the opposition midfield.
This system excelled most in Leipzig’s 2-1 win over Athletico Madrid, where they dominated the game.
The issue Athletico faced was they didn’t know who to mark/press, as it’s effectively a 4v2 in the middle of the park and if the CB’s pick up the 10’s the striker is free.
The issue Athletico faced was they didn’t know who to mark/press, as it’s effectively a 4v2 in the middle of the park and if the CB’s pick up the 10’s the striker is free.
This allows you to continually play through the lines and from there change creation is easy.
United could easily switch the 442 Diamond to a box midfield in possession, with either one of Martial or Rashford dropping off, or Bruno moving up to join Donny.
United could easily switch the 442 Diamond to a box midfield in possession, with either one of Martial or Rashford dropping off, or Bruno moving up to join Donny.
Southampton also defend very narrow, which leaves spaces for United’s Fullbacks to exploit.
United can use this space to either whip crosses into the forwards, or to drag a Saints midfielder out of position and progress forwards into the space created.
United can use this space to either whip crosses into the forwards, or to drag a Saints midfielder out of position and progress forwards into the space created.
However, against a narrow sitting 442 you don’t want to become overly reliant on crosses.
We saw Liverpool fall victim to this against Athletico Madrid, when they attempted 62 crosses in one game. This is because narrow defences are always readily positioned for a cross.
We saw Liverpool fall victim to this against Athletico Madrid, when they attempted 62 crosses in one game. This is because narrow defences are always readily positioned for a cross.
The last point would be that United need to play with ‘split strikers’, a frontline system where the forwards look to hit the channels over occupying central areas.
This will be particularly effective in transition, when the Saints full backs are high up the pitch.
This will be particularly effective in transition, when the Saints full backs are high up the pitch.
5. Players to look out for
Oriel Romeu has been a revelation this season, registering the 3rd most tackles + interceptions in the league. I could see him trying to man-mark United’s 10 out the game, so this is something Ole needs to look out for.
Oriel Romeu has been a revelation this season, registering the 3rd most tackles + interceptions in the league. I could see him trying to man-mark United’s 10 out the game, so this is something Ole needs to look out for.
The other player to look out for is Moussa Djenepo.
He’s an extremely technical and crafty player and evades pressure well. To deal with him I think playing Fred as the RCM would help significantly, as he can mark him out the game the same way he did Rodriguez.
He’s an extremely technical and crafty player and evades pressure well. To deal with him I think playing Fred as the RCM would help significantly, as he can mark him out the game the same way he did Rodriguez.
Overall, United should definitely be able to beat Southampton.
The personnel available to Ole is so far superior to that of Hasenhüttl, but he will need to be astute so as to not to fall victim to a system so many have this season.
The personnel available to Ole is so far superior to that of Hasenhüttl, but he will need to be astute so as to not to fall victim to a system so many have this season.
@UTDTrey @Vintage_Utd @UtdEIIis @UtdHenry @afcjxmes If any of you lot could have a read that’d be class lads 
