Southampton's Loss to Palace Highlights Frailties of Koeman's 3-5-2 Formation

SELHURST PARK, LONDON—On paper, Crystal Palace vs. Southampton is an exciting clash between two sides chasing the established top six in the Premier League. Saturday proved the reality a rather different story—thanks in large part to the quizzical XI and formation the Saints fielded.

Palace’s 1-0 win was the epitome of comfortable. During a first half filled to the brim with positive pressure, Yohan Cabaye knocked home the opener on 38 minutes from close range, validating the home side's superiority. It’s not often Ronald Koeman offers up a gift, and Alan Pardew’s men had no qualms over whether to take it.

In the build-up to the game, Koeman revealed Graziano Pelle was struggling with a knee ailment and wasn’t at 100 percent fitness. It necessitated a change so drastic, its aftershocks rippled throughout the side, resulting in a much-changed 3-5-2 formation.

Shane Long and Sadio Mane played up front ahead of a very defensive midfield three of Steven Davis, Oriol Romeu and Victor Wanyama. The back five sat in and defended an aerial assault, with Jose Fonte consistently forced to cover for the ailing Maya Yoshida at left-centre-back.

It took Palace a while—longer than it should have—but they finally found the leak in the Saints' system. After Fonte cleared several vicious crosses, the Eagles lured the Portuguese out, beat him one-on-one and crossed to the area he would have been occupying. Cabaye, unmarked, coolly slotted home.

The only two players who put in good first-half showings (in the green of Southampton) were Davis and Fonte, both of whom worked tirelessly to plug the gaps opening up all over their own formation. Davis was withdrawn after 70 minutes as Koeman switched to 4-4-2, bringing on Pelle and Dusan Tadic, and despite an improvement in shape and attacking structure, the damage could not be undone.

When asked why he changed formation, Koeman told reporters after the game: “To bring a little bit more defensive strength vs. how they [Palace] play; to be a little more compact.”

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He also spoke of how he wanted to avoid one-on-one situations for his defenders against Yannick Bolasie and Wilfried Zaha, but that wasn’t possible. The wing-backs started by not engaging high enough and conceding dangerous crosses; when they did push forward, they were beaten.

It’s rare that Southampton tweak their approach too heavily—particularly under Koeman—but when the Dutchman has sprung a surprise, it has rarely gone well. The 0-0 draw with Watford earlier in the season featured a similar approach (Mane off Pelle with the same midfield three) was categorically one of the most unwatchable games you’ll ever see, and the Saints’ trademark lack of fluency was conspicuous by its absence.

The knee injury restricting Pelle may have forced the change, but it’s becoming more and more apparent that 3-5-2, is not a back-up strategy that sits well with the squad.

If Koeman doesn’t trust Long as a lone forward in the same 4-2-3-1/4-3-3 hybrid Pelle leads, perhaps a January addition is necessary to keep the ship afloat. We all know what happens if Pelle goes off the boil, so perhaps that’s an area to address before it becomes a crisis.

Southampton edge closer and closer to the Christmas period in wretched form; last week’s draw with Aston Villa arrested a slump of three straight losses, but they now stand winless in five games in all competitions.

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