The strange James Bree tactical decision limiting Southampton's Championship potential

After 15 Championship games, Southampton sit 7th in the table. When taking their four-point deduction into account, it’s a pretty decent start.

Compare that to last season, when the Saints sat in 21st at this stage, and even to January when they were as low as mid-table, yet still finished fourth; it’s hard not to feel positive about Tonda Eckert’s side’s chances of promotion.

However, their form against some of the sides lower in the table than them has been a point of concern. All of their negative results have come against teams battling at the wrong end of the division.

James Bree’s awkward positioning has become a trend in recent weeks for Southampton. One of the side’s crucial players, Bree’s lack of involvement against Preston looked a clear weakness.

For a string of games now, James Bree has been played in an inverted role for Southampton in possession.

The change has meant one of midfielders James Ward-Prowse or Flynn Downes dropping deeper, forming a wider base of the side building out from the halfway line.

However, Bree has not looked comfortable in the role, and Saints are suffering as a result. Without their wide right outlet, teams, like the uplifted Preston under new boss Graham Alexander, are able to press them man-to-man, and harass them in easier fashion.

Bree is also one of the league’s best deliverers of a ball, who is seeing his output diminish in the centre of the field.

Tonda Eckert may argue that when played correctly, the change will allow his Southampton side to break through the thirds more often, but as it stands, other players are seeing their impact limited.

Kuryu Matsuki, Southampton’s first-choice right-winger, is being forced wider than he’d like as a result of James Bree’s new inside positioning.

The Japan international is best when coming inside on to his stronger left foot and using his physical presence and goalscoring threat to Saints’ advantage.

The change to Bree is impacting that, and was seen especially against Preston, when Matsuki often had to engage in 1v1 battles against North End wing-back Andrija Vukčević.

Vukčević won 100% of his duels in the game, while Matsuki failed to complete a single dribble. It summed up Southampton’s day, as they never really looked like a side deserving of a result at Deepdale, despite a whopping 89% possession in the second half.

Reverting James Bree back to his comfortable role may be something Tonda Eckert looks at doing after the international break, after a string of games with the 28-year-old moving inside.

Southampton sit five points off the top of the Championship table, and have the potential of becoming the league’s most formidable team.

When Tonda Eckert gets it spot on, the Saints will click into gear and let the league know just how good they can be.