Last season many Saints fans were demanding that the club switch to playing two up front, Mark Hughes has spoken about the system and how the modern version differs from the one he was used to in his playing days.

This season has seen Saints employ a 4-4-2 formation as have several other clubs after a period where it had fallen out of favour and the lone striker system was more prevalent.

However Mark Hughes feels that it has it's benefits and that the way it is now implemented has changed greatly and has many benefits for today's Premier League manager.

“I think it is not the rigid formation I remember.

“When I was playing everyone used to play 4-4-2 and it was a little bit more rigid.

“You didn't get centre-backs getting on the ball, full backs high, so it is a lot more fluid than it was in the past when it was two banks of four and two strikers who were battering rams who you used if you wanted to get it forward it as quickly as possible.

“There is a little bit more thought and process behind what you do within a 4-4-2 now.

“A lot of the elements of the formation apply to different formations as well so it is not as rigid as it used to be and if you have good players and intelligent players who understand what you are trying to achieve and you do put work in on the training ground to emphasise and reinforce the elements of your play you are trying to be better at then I think it is a good formation.

“It gives you a focal point of two strikers, you can let one come short and hit balls into space to turn people around.

“A lot of teams now want to press you from the front and you can take the press out just by clipping balls in behind, so there are a lot of elements that help you.

“With all formations there will be certain tactics that will make it a risk for you whatever formation you pick or way you go so no one formation is the right one, it is about making sure you are adaptable and flexible as the game progresses.”

Photo: Action Images

underweststand added 22:09 - Sep 16 Obviously 4-4-2 is favourite for Saints fans who have been used to seeing two strikers up and being a former CF himself ...MH is keen to implement this, but it's a squad game right ? There will be games where we may play one man up and an extra midfielder, or even those tougher fixtures that might be best suited by playing 5-3-2 or even 4-4-1. I think we have a good squad this season, and some of the football (especially the Palace game) showed good teamwork. I don't expect to see a long run of matches with an unchanged side - regardless of results - as often changes , whether deliberate or forced bring the best out of other squad members. Only time will tell, but I think MH has the right attitude towards team selection.

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OoohTerryHurlock added 22:57 - Sep 16 I understand the need to use the formation 5-3-2 occasionally but am struggling with 4-4-1.
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darthvader added 13:37 - Sep 17 Oohterruhurlock... It's obviously the red card formation
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OoohTerryHurlock added 10:51 - Sep 18 Reminds me of the Mark Dennis, Terry Hurlock and Razor Ruddock eras.
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