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