Watching one team “bottle” something – be it in a match, over a few weeks or over the course of a season – is not uncommon at all, but how often do we get to see two teams bottling something simultaneously in the same fixture? Those watching Arsenal and Southampton on Friday night got to […]
Manchester United might have turned up in the derby, but all eyes were on if they could retain their focus ahead of a midday kickoff on the south coast. The contest was a struggle, but Erik ten Hag’s nous laid the foundations for a decisive phase of pressure and the game winning goal. Tactical analysis […]
Southampton went ahead early on through Nathan Redmond’s strike, but this was one of the last serious Southampton attacks that would be seen in the match, as Liverpool went on to dominate. Liverpool perhaps lacked their usual cutting edge, but eventually got the goals they deserved as they came away with a 2-1 win. Tactical […]
Pep Guardiola was deeply aware of Southampton’s threat ahead of kickoff, foreshadowing a tense clash. Manchester City’s class might have pulled them clear of the home team at the final reckoning, but they did not book their spot in the last four of the FA Cup without a fight. Tactical analysis and match report by […]
After ten minutes, Ralph Hasenhüttl changed his team’s shape to not only close the defensive holes but be the launchpad for adaptive buildups too. Against his coaching graduate, Ralf Rangnick struggled to find solutions as Southampton produced another impressive away display, to keep United tied. Tactical analysis and match report by Joel Parker. The reunion […]
After a dominant first half featuring some of the best play of the season, visitors Southampton were unfortunate to fall behind Tottenham in the second half. But this team, perhaps more than any other, acts as the personification of its manager on the pitch, and Ralph Hasenhüttl’s men duly made a breath-taking comeback that left […]
Manchester United’s trip to the south coast was an ideal chance to show they had learned their lesson from the past. But if they had hoped that new faces would be enough to make the difference, the away team were wholly mistaken. Once again, Solskjær’s team fell foul to a compact high press in a […]
Chelsea dominated the ball and had some moderate success playing against Southampton’s high pressing and forcing them deeper later in the half. However, Chelsea had problems creating shots and were punished for this when Takumi Minamino put Southampton ahead. Chelsea equalized through Mount early in the second half but were unable to break down the […]
Southampton flew out of the blocks, pressing aggressively in their 4-4-2 shape to control the early proceedings. Manchester United eventually responded, but typical issues emerged in possession. The guests then reorganized, piled on the pressure, and found their reward in the dying embers of the game. Tactical analysis by Emmanuel Adeyemi-Abere. Manchester United have been […]
Two goals from in-form striker Danny Ings capped off a deserved win for Southampton, while aggravating Watford’s relegation concerns further. Though the similar shapes stopped both teams from creating effectively, the visitors exploited Watford with an aggressive high-press and quick transitions when they attempted to get back into the game. Tactical analysis and match report […]