For the first time in over 18 months, Southampton achieved back-to-back wins, beating QPR on Wednesday, before beating Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday – both under the management of interim boss Tonda Eckert.
In this successful double match week, Southampton scored 27% of the goals that they’ve scored all season, and conceded just twice.
The team also went two goals up for the first time since their play-off semi-final in April 2024. In fact, it happened twice in the two games under Eckert.
Despite their opposition being poor, Southampton as an outfit looked much stronger in possession, especially against Sheffield Wednesday. So what tactical decisions inspired this?
A Defensive But Offensive Change
The defence is the base of any football team – and this was where Southampton’s biggest tactical change was clearly in action.
Tonda Eckert got the wide centre backs to push up higher, while the midfielders came closer to the ball, in order to create better patterns and therefore more opportunities with the ball.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis – who assisted Adam Armstrong through on goal with a long ball to set up the third goal, was much more direct with his forward passes in both of the week’s games.
Harwood-Bellis passed the ball to midfielder Caspar Jander (9 times) and advanced wing back Tom Fellows (7 times), noticeably more than he did with fellow centre back Nathan Wood (just 5 times).
Compare that to seven days before, when Ronnie Edwards played in the same role (right centre back) under Will Still and exchanged possession with fellow centre back Nathan Wood more than any other player (10 times).
Harwood-Bellis nearly set up a goal with a deep cross from the right corner of the penalty area during the first five minutes, and regularly joined Southampton attacks, creating an overload on the right.
“We have tried to get our sixes more on the ball. For me, it is just as important that you have someone who commands the game,” interim boss Tonda Eckert explained.
“We decided to bring our sixes a little bit lower, and then as a consequence, I think that you get your half-backs in a little more advanced position.
“That definitely was an idea of how we wanted to approach that game, especially on the right side. Taylor has excellent quality to make decisions on the pass.”
This tactical tweak also matched on the left hand side of the defence, to an even greater degree. Jack Stephens (left centre back) passed to wing back Ryan Manning an impressive 23 times, but only received a backward pass from the Irishman 6 times throughout the whole game against Sheffield Wednesday.
An emphasis on the positions of the defenders changed the makeup of the vessel of the team, allowing more fluidity.
Under Will Still, who won just two league games as Southampton manager, the back three was much more flat, and did not make so many forward runs or passes.
In Southampton’s 2-0 loss to Preston North End just seven days before under Will Still, the back three were much deeper in possession:
Again, in the team’s 2-1 loss away to Blackburn Rovers, the back three sat flat, and a great distance from the midfield, making it more difficult to progress through the lines.
Changing the distances between the team’s parts made the engine run smoother, and more rotations made the Saints difficult to compete with.
Bazunu Back Makes… Sense?
When interim boss Tonda Eckert gave Gavin Bazunu the vote of confidence as his starting goalkeeper, eyebrows were raised.
Until he was dropped by Will Still, Bazunu had conceded over three more goals than the data had said he should have – in just 7 games. A worrying sign, Bazunu lead that same stat two seasons before in the Championship.
It only made sense at the time to replace the heart of the leaking valve that was the Southampton defence.
But Tonda Eckert’s decision to bring Gavin Bazunu back in has proved effective.
Eckert has asked the Saints defence to play out, Bazunu’s best attribute. But rather than play out and then back again, like under Russell Martin just a year prior, the team would keep progressing up the pitch at a decent pace.
Showcased in Southampton’s third goal against Sheffield Wednesday, Bazunu’s quick pass out to central centre back Nathan Wood meant the ball could go out wide to Harwood-Bellis.
Once the ball was with Wood, he passed to Harwood-Bellis, who sent an arching ball that assisted Adam Armstrong. Game, set, match.
The team are also defending deeper, relying on the three centre backs to win aerial battles, therefore decreasing the amount of free shots the opposition have.
It did not stop Bazunu from making an error for QPR’s goal on Wednesday, though.
Romeu Return Allows More Flexibility
The imminent return of Southampton hero Oriol Romeu will allow for more tactical change. Rather than Shea Charles having to sit and marshal the midfield, he can become more of a creative outlet, which suits his capabilities.
A three-man midfield would suit this Saints team, making the most of their depth in abundance.
Returnee Romeu sitting deep would allow the wide centre backs, Harwood-Bellis in particular on right-sided attacks, to push up and create overloads.
The tactical awareness Romeu possesses will really help a young, learning team maximise their creativity whilst staying a decent defensive unit when facing a counter-attack.
It is unclear whether the next Southampton manager will continue with the current formation, but it is clear that under Eckert this back three will thrive.
All the materials are there for the next head coach to create a winning formula – they just need to get the players onside.
