Should Southampton consider playing a 3-4-3 formation next year?

**** it, let's do 2-3-5 again.

 

3 at the back sounds like it would be good news for Yoshida / Stephens, more game time there (with VVD you'd hope!)

But bad news possibly for JWP/Davis who would lose their spot.

And bad news for Redmond if it was the 3-4-1-2 formation.
Bad news for Austin in the 3-4-2-1 formation

 

I think Stephens is actually very good at bringing the ball out of defence, we obviously encourage defenders to do this & his previous incarnation as a midfielder makes him comfortable on the ball.

 

Yep and I agree.

 

Stephens so quickly cast aside

You can see without Virgil and our depth coming from midfield, why Puel didn't attempt a back three.
It definitely should be something we aim for when recruiting this summer. I think Centre back is our main priority anyway. That's me casting Stephens aside too

 

We need a cb even if Virgil stays imo. I don't expect him to so likely need 2.

I'm not saying we should make it our first formation, but I think it's always nice to have as a different option.

I still reckon Stephens could end up in midfield personally...

 

Now I was a nipper when 2-3-5 was around but as I remember the middle of the 3 was actually a centre back and the inside forwards were really mid fielders so ... It was actually 3-4-3?

 

If you think about it, the old wingers could instead be modern FBs, which could make it 4-3-3 out of possession and 2-3-5 in possession.

 

I think we've got too many full backs now

 

Depends. I've been calling for Redmond to play in the hole for a little while now.

I'm not saying that he should be a firm fixture in that role every time we play the formation (because when they are in form, no doubt Tadic or Boufal could flourish there too), but I certainly could still him playing there.

 

What formation does Tüchel play?

 

The bee formation: lots chasing the ball.