Ronald Koeman has spoken of his tactical intentions for the coming season and revealed that Saints will be changing the way they play.

Last season under Mauricio Pochettino Saints played a formation that could best be described as 4-2-3-1, when it worked it was a joy to watch, however when it didn't work we frequently had to sit and grimace as our ex manager seemed incapable of changing the way we were playing or the actual players beyond a couple of like for like changes, hence under Pochettino we never won a game that we went behind in during his entire reign.

That could be set to change under Ronald Koeman as the Dutchman has revealed that he unlike his predecessor is looking to play a formation that will suit the players he has rather than shoehorn them into one that doesnt suit their style.

Having spent a couple of weeks working with the core of the squad he now believes that he has the squad to play 4-3-3, however in an interview with the Daily Echo he also revealed that he will not be afraid to change tactics should the situation require it.

“First of all, it depends on the players. The players make the system, the system doesn’t make the players, but what I see in the squad, what I see in the players, is we can play 4-3-3," he said.

“Maybe we will change it sometimes — it depends on the opponents, it depends on the situations, but the way how we like to play is the 4-3-3 system.”

Refreshing words that show Koeman is flexible in his tactics and that he is looking at what players he has and presumably what payers he needs to bring in to fit the system.

At Feyenoord Koeman was revered by the fans and acclaimed by the pundits for turning the Rotterdam club around with an attacking brand of football where he was not afraid to bring in young talent, this fits in with the Saints philosophy although Koeman's main problem with bringing through youth players is that with the likes of Ward Prowse, Shaw and Chambers coming through a year or two earlier than would be expected, the crop of youngsters that would normally be coming through now is already in the first team and the next lot may be a year or two away.

But overall looking at Koeman's history as a manager and especially what h has done at Feyenoord over the past three seasons, it is looking like Saints have got a good man to take over from Pochettino and on paper at least a better one.

“I am a manager who likes to see my team playing good football. I think that’s important,” he said.

“I like to play attractive. It’s one of the philosophies of Southampton Football Club and I like to bring in young players.

"We have a great academy in Southampton and a lot of young players in the squad at this moment.

"I had a great experience as a football player, I can smell what happens in the team and the dressing room and I look forward to that.

"After a lot of different clubs I have managed, it’s a lot of experience."

Things are looking up for Southampton Football Club after a month or two of uncertainty, now we are starting to see the direction we are heading and it is looking good, to coin a phrase from an old TV advert

The Future Is Bright The Future Is Orange

Photo: Action Images

IanRC added 10:10 - Jul 15 Good to hear about his intentions and willingness to be flexible. On the down side Looks like Arsenal are going after are youth as well, parasites.
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slynch added 10:30 - Jul 15 IMO all this talk of formations is just nonsense made up by "experts" to sound like they really are experts. Players have jobs to do under different circumstances. During a corner the Centre Forward may become a back, during attacks Clyne can be seen on the wing. 2 teams may line up against each other both described as playing 4 4 2 and one team wins and the other looses so the formation makes no no difference, it's how the team play under different circumstance that matter. Using numbers to describe team formation is useless and distracts from the truth. Take a photographs during a game of football and see how many come out with the same, described formation. As I said, that's my opinion.

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ExiledSupporter added 11:07 - Jul 15 Koeman's approach seems commendably pragmatic, but all changes have consequences, in this case for all parts of the team. The defence will apparently have less cover in front of it. Under MP it had two of three (Schneiderlein, Wanyama and Cork) to provide a covering screen, to pressurise the opposition, to intercept and to move the ball forward. All of these were key players for us last season. This season playing all three of these does not seem to me to be sufficiently creative and none of them are reliable goal scorers. Seemingly. At least one of them will have to be on the bench with either Tadic or Ramirez or Ward-Prowse drafted in? This appears to mean a good deal of bench sitting for Davis too and we would miss his fantastic ability to cover large areas of the pitch. Whatever the case the defence is going to be a little more exposed than in the past and some of its old fragility may return as a consequence. Not a good moment to bring in a youngster like Matt Targett as Shaw's replacement, so we may well need a more seasoned campaigner there. So who will be the three forwards? Well Pelle and Rodrigues (when fit) seem certainties, perhaps Ramires could be deployed to the other wide role (or he could play more in the centre) and Tadic on the left (until JR returns). Of course, Ramires may again prove too inconsistent to be anywhere but on the bench as an impact sub...what a waste of nascent talent. I can't see us pressurising the opposition ton the same extent as last season, so that implies less possession in exchange for more threat up front. Does all this mean that all the senior squads will convert to a 4-3-3 formation, after all much has been made in the past about each group of players being well schooled in the first team tactical formation which was 4-2-3-1? Although I am not at first glance too keen on the 'general' formation change, what do I know. Koeman is clearly no fool and has impressed me enormously since his arrival...so interesting times. But some established players are going to be a little less used than in the past even before we make further acquisitions.

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brady100 added 11:42 - Jul 15 As things stand, still looking at a very strong first 11 next season, even if we lose Lovren or Morgan. Another CB and a quick wide player would a priority for me. Boruc Targett, Fonte, Lovren, Clyne Cork, Wanyama, Schneiderlin J-Rod, Pelle, Tadic
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tell101 added 12:04 - Jul 15 Whilst I agree with Slynch's comments to a certain degree, I think that formation does matter. Obviously things are dynamic during the game, but the formation does act as a framework. By having a 4-3-3 we are focusing on a more attacking style, true the 3-3 may morph in formation during offensive play but I am excited by not just having the lone hit man upfront. They always get out numbered and the ability to break quickly is not as good. How many times have we had a good break due to individual skill, just for it to fizzle out due to lack of numbers in the box. As long as we dont get overrun in midfield I think this will be a very exciting season

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