Mauricio Pellegrino does not seem to be able to make a decisive decision in who his best central defensive pairing should be. But who do you think it should be ?

Mauricio Pellegrino seems to be dithering on putting together his best defensive duo, although to be fair to him supporters are just as divided in whom they see as should be playing as the manager, although probably for different reasons.

Pellegrino is struggling to piar two out of three at present from Maya Yoshida, Virgil Van Dijk and Wesley Hoedt with Jack Stephens seemingly now fourth choice.

The problem is that all three have good reasons as to why they should play and ironically the one that should be playing is sat on the bench.

So what are the pros and cons of each player ?

Virgil Van Dijk is unquestionably the best player out of the three, at least on his form prior to his injury in January, from a quality point of view you would pick him every time, however against that is the issues of the summer , plus he hasn't looked sharp in the games played so far.

Maya Yoshida has of course given his trademark 110% and has also seemed to have cut out the lapses to a degree, but on Sunday against Newcastle although he wasn't exposed defensively, when we pinned them in their own half for most of the game his passing ability was found wanting and Wesley Hoedt would have been a better bet.

Talking of Hoedt, he is probably the one man that should be playing, in his games so far this season he has looked the part both in the way he has defended and also his ability to carry the ball forward and pass, yet he is the one sat on the bench.

The reason for that is that Mauricio Pellegrino seems to feel that he should stay loyal to Yoshida, at least till he makes a mistake and that Van Dijk has to play, perhaps because of his quality, but more likely to keep him happy, if Van Dijk is dropped then we could see another strop.

Whilst I sympathise with Pellegrino's dilemma, I am not happy with the fact that he seems unable to make a tough decision.

Most fans I have spoken to are divided on whether it should be Yoshida or Van Dijk in the team, yet most are of the opinion that Hoedt definately should be.

Our signing from Napoli is paying the price for Van Dijk's behaviour and that is wrong.

Personally I find it tough to make the call between Yoshida and Van Dijk myself, although I have criticised Yoshida in the past, I do appreciate his loyalty and that has to be taken into account, whilst I do not think that Yoshida is of true Premier League quality, at least not as a regular week in week out, I do appreciate that he is a better player than Van Dijk when the Dutchman is having a strop and not making himself available.

But there are those who would also say that a 75% pace Van Dijk is still better than a 110% Yoshida and that the manager should always pick his best side and that sentiment should play no part in that selection, as much as it would be harsh on Yoshida to drop him, he is a professional and should accept it.

I have no doubt that the Japanese defender would do just that, but would Van Dijk if he was benched ? I would say no and that it would lead to more unpleasantness and it seems that Saints are hoping that they can get this season out of Van Dijk before selling him and therefore are treating him with kid gloves.

It is not an easy issue for the manager, but one I think he is avoiding by dropping Hoedt to the bench and seemingly waiting for Yoshida to make a mistake so he can drop him.

Certainly Hoedt did not deserve to be dropped after his initial games for the club, especially the man of the match performance against Crystal Palace, we missed his presence against Newcastle both from a defensive perspective and his passing ability as well.

So in my book Hoedt should be playing, I can't say that it cost us a win against Newcastle but I do feel if Hoedt had been in the side we would have been sharper in defence and certainly his passing ability would have helped us build attacks going forward a lot quicker.

If anyone is the future of our central defence currently at the club it is Hoedt who must be wondering why the club bought him if they were not going to select him ahead of either Yoshida or Van Dijk albeit for different reasons.

So Mauricio Pellegrino needs to start being pro active and not reactive, it is not just about waiting for an individual error, it is about giving ourselves a better chance of winning games and that is about solid foundations and teamwork.

There is no easy answer here, I can put up good cases as to why Yoshida or Van Dijk should be in the team on Saturday, but I can't put up a good reason as to why Wesley Hoedt should not be, that is Mauricio Pellegrino's problem, he has to deal with it !

Who would you choose as your defensive pairing ? give your opinion below and vote in our online poll using the link below.

https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/southampton/forum/210750/who-should-pelle

Photo: Action Images

SaintPaulVW added 10:36 - Oct 19 Yoshida and Hoedt. Deffo. VVD is error prone at the moment. Yoshi has earned his place, Hoedt looked solid and creative. If VVD or Stevens want to be in the team they need to win their place.
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SanMarco added 10:46 - Oct 19 I totally agree on Hoedt. It should be him + 1. The fall-out from the VVD nonsense in the summer may put pressure on MP to play him - after all why make the 'stand'/'statement' of keeping him if we don't play him? On physical fitness I might agree with the 75 - 110 per cent idea (if it was say 95 - 105 anyway) but is VVD's mind on the job? Yes he is a better player than Yoshi but who lost concentration for the second goal on Sunday? I would play VVD and Hoedt on Saturday and if VVD shows continuing signs of 'mind elsewhere' I would drop him for Yoshi. I never thought I would say this but I am beginning to think that the sooner we are shot of VVD the better. Tell him if he puts in excellent performances he can go for 60m in January - if not then reserves until June, it's not as if he has the World Cup to worry about!!

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Whatsforpud added 10:58 - Oct 19 The manager has come into the club with an impossible situation on his hands. The club has made it clear the VVD was not for sale in order to show a stronger hand than in the past, when we have just left Liverpool (mainly) to take who they want. Having made that very public stand, the club management would expect him to be playing, otherwise they would seem to be cutting off their nose to spite their face. Having made their point, I expect VVD to be sold, if not in January, at the end of the season. Hoedt needs to be patient for a short while, then he will be first choice.

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Clayton7 added 12:07 - Oct 19 Yoshidia Hoedt with VVD in front of them as a defensive midfielder/ defender 😇
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highfield49 added 12:30 - Oct 19 I would still like to see another option which has been discussed on the forum and that is Yoshi, Hoedt and VVD at the back with the full backs playing a wing back role. Neither Redmond nor Tadic have done enough getting the ball into the box effectively so a five man midfield with Boufal and Gabbi as forwards might be worth a gamble?
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aceofthebase added 12:31 - Oct 19 Clayton not a bad idea tho I would put Yoshida in front, he at least has an eye for the goal. Perhaps a back three with two wing backs and Romeo and our new boy ( old timers kicking in) in midfield. Just need a good three in front, Boufal. Gabbi and Austin maybe. Something new is needed and Tadic and Redmond need a rest. I fear we are stuck with Forster in goal which worries nearly all fans and I suspect the rest of the team

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aceofthebase added 12:33 - Oct 19 Blimey Highfield, great minds thinking alike!
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pete_boggs added 12:43 - Oct 19 Perhaps VvD and Hoedt until xmas then go back to Yoshi/Hoedt and sell VvD and buy attacking options which we sorely need.
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A1079 added 12:54 - Oct 19 Not a difficult decision as far as I am concerned. Hoedt and Yoshida with Stephens as back up on the bench. I wouldn't have VVD anywhere near the first team. VVD was given the opportunity to come back and work for the team and he clearly doesn't want to. I can understand why the club tried to make a stand against VVD and most of us wanted them to, but in the end it has been pointless and probably detrimental to the team and the club, though I am not sure where we go with the next player that decides to kick off and want to leave - which is likely to be Lemina if he continues in his current form and the team continue to misfire.

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ItchenNorth added 13:23 - Oct 19 3 at the back with wing backs for me. Drop Redmond and Tadic, give Cedric and Bertrand licence to push forward beyond the midfield again, drive to the line and get some bloody crosses into the box ! Cedric, Hoedt, VVD, Stephens, Bertrand
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Consigliere added 13:31 - Oct 19 There are a lot of thoughtful comments on this thread, all of which are football related, so apologies in advance for bringing this down to the dread word "money". The reality is that VVD will be sold at the end of this season, possibly sooner. The only point of playing him in the team is to keep his price high and to showcase him to a foreign bidder. His form is no better than Yoshida or Hoedt at present and both have shown much more commitment to the cause (especially Yoshida, who has won over the supports' affection) and have a far better claim to be in the team. Last weekend's game showed that it was the midfield where we had a particular weakness so I would use him as a utility player (perhaps in place of Romeu until his form picks up or he overcomes injury) rather than as part of a long term defensive pairing. Then sell him abroad for as much as possible, he is a depreciating asset with no claim to loyalty from the club..

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patred added 13:31 - Oct 19 I would play all 3 using both fullbacks for width. Lemina Romeu, and Boufal in midfield with Gabbiadini and Long up top. The likes of Tadic and Redmond will have to earn their places back.
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saintmark1976 added 14:25 - Oct 19 Nick, your thoughts on the central defence mask the real problem. The decisive decisions that need to be made are what to do about the consistently under performing Redmond and Tadic, both of which do not deserve to start again based on their recent form. Redmond could not comand a regular place in a Norwich team that was relegated from the Premiership and despite chance after chance to improve has failed to do so.The management need to accept that he is not Premiership quality now and never will be in the future. Tadic is a disruptive influence on the rest of the team with his constant whinging and frankly absurd diving antics.Once again he has been given chance after chance without delivering. Drop both of them and give somebody, anybody else a chance. After all, on the basis of our results at the moment, what have we got to lose?

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the_saint added 15:48 - Oct 19 I would play vvd alongside Romeu and lemina as the number 10 so Bertie yoshi Hoedt Cedric in defence Romeu and van dick holding midfield with Gabbi and boufel either side of lemina with long up front oh and in goal ummmm my dear old granny
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SaintBrock added 16:14 - Oct 19 If you base selection on form then based on his half-arsed inept jog around last Sunday, van Dyke should be benched until he is match fit. Last time out he was a liability, the more you watch the highlights the more you realise that he was responsible for both Toonies goals through sloppy passing and being caught flat footed out of position. His inclusion at his current level of preparedness is a huge mistake and can be nothing more than a political decision to keep him in the shop window but he'll certainly have to up his game to be of any interest to the big boys. It has to be Yoshida & Hoedt this weekend.

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SaintBrock added 16:16 - Oct 19 SanMarco, sorry I liked your comment but pressed the wrong arrow so add a like and take away a dislike!
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saintmark1976 added 18:11 - Oct 19 darthvader, the ugly is a forum where people exchange their opinions about all things concerning the Saints. On occasions individual views are strongly held but always respected without the need to resort to unnecessary and provocative language. May I respectfully suggest that you please bear this in mind should you feel the need to post again.
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aceofthebase added 19:21 - Oct 19 Darthvader you have spelt whinging incorrectly. Shameful.
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LondonSaint added 19:41 - Oct 19 5-3-2 Yoshida, VVD and Hoedt with Cedric and Bertrand. That's an exciting back five, in my opinion. 4-4-2 Yoshida and Hoedt to start.
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SanMarco added 14:40 - Oct 20 Has Darthvader been removed?
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