Football Season Guide

After his late spring appointment Mark Hughes did just about enough to save the Saints last season, with the results not very impressive, but nonetheless good enough to see Hughes given an extended contract this summer. Once properly appointed in charge Hughes is determined to put his stamp on Southampton and he is eager to play with three at the back this season. It seems that 3-5-2 will be his first choice, but against the stronger sides Southampton could use just one striker in a more conservative 3-4-2-1 formation. It must be mentioned that two of the more creative attacking midfielders Tadic and Boufal left the team this summer and Southampton seem to be a bit short on alternatives for the creative midfield positions if no new signings are made before the transfer window shuts. Hughes added two new midfields, both Armstrong and Elyounoussi are expected to be starting regularly, but they are not exactly creative type players. The Saints also haven’t addressed their forward problems. For two full seasons now the three main strikers Long, Austin and Gabbiadini have been finding it hard to score goals, but it seems that again they will be the main hope up front. Austin and Long are prone to constant injuries and this brings worry. If at any stage both players are unavailable the aggressive midfielder Redmond could be converted into a striker, but he is also not known for his goal scoring abilities. To address these issues in attack Hughes brought in on loan poacher Ings from Liverpool on deadline day and he will try and revive his career this season. In defence Hughes added the solid Vestergaard from the Bundesliga, but he has played only in a back four so far in his career and just like Yoshida, Hoedt, Stephens and Bednarek he will have to adjust to the new 3-5-2 system. At least both Cedric and Bertrand are very lively wing-backs and they are destined to be very busy down the two flanks. After three years of steady development the set piece specialist Ward-Prowse hopes to finally land a regular starting role in the squad, with captain Davies set to be getting fewer starts as he will become 34-years-old midway through the campaign.