Russell Martin has struggled to find the right balance with his Southampton team so far this season with three defeats from three in the Premier League reflecting this.
Southampton primarily played a 4-3-3 under Russell Martin in the Championship last season but changed to a 3-5-2 late in the campaign.
A combination of these two formations helped Southampton successfully navigate the play-offs to give Martin his first taste of the Premier League as a manager this season.
The Saints boss has continued to use the 3-5-2 system in each of the three league matches so far this season, with Southampton losing all three and scoring just once.
The 3-1 defeat to Brentford on Saturday was a real cause for concern and having stuck with the same starting XI for all three league games so far this season – with the exception of Aaron Ramsdale replacing Alex McCarthy in goal against Brentford – now might be time for a shake up.
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Jo Tessem would make big changes to Southampton midfield for Manchester United
Southampton made 14 first-team signings this summer, so Martin has plenty of options to change things.
So far, the 38-year-old has remained loyal to the players that got Southampton promoted, with Yukinari Sugawara, Ben Brereton Diaz and Ramsdale the only players not at the club last season to start in the Premier League.
Some of the new arrivals have had their opportunity off of the bench, as well as in the completely changed XI that beat Cardiff City 5-3 in the Carabao Cup last week.
Former Saint turned BBC Radio Solent commentator Jo Tessem certainly thinks its time to make changes in the midfield, as he revealed in the Goin’ Home With Adam and Jo show on BBC Sounds.
Speaking with Adam Blackmore on the pair’s drive home from Brentford, Tessem spoke on his preferred midfield as he also suggested he would rather see Martin return to the 4-3-3 from last season in the next game against Manchester United.
Tessem said: “You need a little bit of experience. I would have Flynn Downes as the holding player.
I think I would put [Mateus] Fernandes in, I think he can be a good enough player. It is a different thing starting compared to coming on to the pitch.
“Adam Lallana, I would get him on the pitch as soon as I could because the experience he brings in and his touches. What we saw when he came in, he looked for that pocket, but he didn’t just look for them, he played them and when he didn’t play them he looked for it first and then played it sideways and that is the massive difference, that is the experience.
“He also talked, he put players in the right positions, he asked things of players and I think I would have Fernandes, Adam Lallana and Downes.”
Martin has options to change his struggling Southampton midfield
So far, Martin has opted to field the midfield trio of Downes, Will Smallbone and Joe Aribo that served Southampton so well at the end of last season.
The three players have deserved their chance in the top flight, but now it is time for Martin to find a solution as Smallbone in particular has struggled to make his mark.
Tessem’s midfield suggestion is an exciting one but may be a little too attacking for Martin, particularly against United.
18-year-old Tyler Dibling has been very impressive off the bench and is an option in the midfield, although Tessem suggested starting him on the right of the front three.
Lesley Ugochukwu has joined on loan from Chelsea and looked a real force of nature in the middle against Cardiff and is another option, especially if Martin wants to add steel to the midfield.
Ultimately, Martin is paid to find the solution and will likely spend a large part of the next two weeks deliberating about the right combination of players to get the first points of the season against Manchester United.