Southampton – Manchester United is a showdown. This shouldn’t happen in the fourth week of the Premier League, nor is this a traditional derby. However, the game between The Saints and The Red Devils will ultimately be a battle of tactics. The team that loses may just have its season ruined.
That’s why today I’m looking at the tactics employed by Southampton and Manchester United in their weekend EPL game. And, I’m using this data to advise on the wisest fantasy football picks that you can make.
Southampton’s Tactics
Southampton are back in the Premier League after one year away. The Saints were promoted on their first attempt, and manager Russel Martin is determined to prove that they are not a yo-yo team.
Martin has been brave tactically in his first EPL games. But Southampton lost all three matches. Is it time to double down or defend ferociously and hope for the best?
We will learn more on Saturday, but I think Martin, knowing United’s poor state at the moment, will go to break on his dynamic 3-5-2 (occasionally merging into a 3-4-3) system.
How does Southampton play? The Saints in the league were a team that liked to boss possessions using a box midfield and playing in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1. Now, in the EPL, Southampton lines up in a 3-5-2 (or 3-4-3), tries to boss possession and attacks down the left flank.
The formation is different, but the attitude is very much the same. Russel Martin wants his players to have the ball and encourages the opposition’s pressing. Will Casemiro and Mainoo have trouble? Most likely.
However, there are obvious issues with the team. The team plays aggressively, and players get frustrated easily. The pace of the EPL is much faster than that of the Championship. Most importantly, the strikers aren’t converting chances, leaving Adam Armstrong and Ben Brenton to shoot from outside the box in frustration very often.
Manchester United’s Tactics
If we know how Southampton play, Manchester United is much more of a mystery. The fact that manager Erik ten Hag has had more than two years and hundreds of millions at his disposal to at least impose a clear pattern of play is worrying.
However, The Red Devils should, technically, now be up-to-date with their squad and new recruits Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, Joshua Zirkzee or even Manuel Ugarte may finally make an impact.
Against lower-rated opposition, Ten Hag likes to use a classic 4-3-2-1. The team is supposed to press aggressively. In possession, while the patterns aren’t yet very clear, the players are to use their considerable individual skill to get the ball into dangerous situations.
However, the 3-0 loss to Liverpool revealed that the system was not implemented successfully. The team played with a lot of width, and players found it difficult to string long passes together. Individual skill did not help United get close to the opposition box. And individual errors are something that the opposition has come to rely on.
It is likely that United will play in a very similar setup to the one used against Fulham, but Hojlund and Ugarte may make appearances. This may prove significant.
Who Will the Tactical Battle Favor?
Southampton presses much more efficiently and aggressively than Manchester United. Their 3-5-2 system can allow them to pick the ball off Casemiro or Mainoo often.
Can they recycle possession into goal-scoring opportunities? Yes. Do they have the strikers that can convert? Probably not.
Individual skill and the real threat that Erik ten Hag could be sacked in the event of a loss should give United a boost. United’s 4-3-2-1, with this line-up that includes players like Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho, should be enough to offer United a lifeline. A 0-1, or 1-2 seems to be on the cards.
Who Should You Pick in Fantasy Football?
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The pace and skill of Garnacho and Rashford should be enough to get them in a few dangerous situations. Bruno Fernandes will be the playmaker and will see a lot of the ball. What they were unable to do against Liverpool, they’d still be expected to pull off against The Saints.
But The Saints have a few undervalued gems of their own that we should look at. First of all, Aaron Ramsdale has plenty to prove, and with United’s woeful attacking record, he could keep a clean sheet.
Secondly, the central midfielders, so used to seeing a lot of the ball, may enjoy playing against Casemiro and Mainoo. Flynn Downes or Matteus Fernandes have a real opportunity to redeem themselves.
Lastly, Bereton and Armstrong have been poor so far. However, considering the numerous mistakes of United’s central defenders, they will have opportunities against Andre Onana. Besides this, both are free options in FootballCoin.
It’s time to get your teams ready!
