This article is part of Football FanCast's The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

As things stand, Southampton have the leakiest backline in the Premier League.

The Saints have conceded a staggering 29 goals in just 12 games so far this season, and a huge reason for that is the fact that Ralph Hasenhuttl just can't seem to stop altering his backline.

Questionably, the former RB Leipzig boss still hasn't settled on a consistent defence despite having a third of the Premier League campaign to do so.

Let's take a look at just how indecisive Hasenhuttl has been...

Ever-changing backline 

In 12 Premier League games this term, Hasenhuttl has changed his backline ten times, which is quite ridiculous in all honesty - this can be seen by taking a look at each of the club's individual fixtures on Transfermarkt.

Only for the game against Leicester did the Austrian retain the same backline of Ryan Bertrand, Jannik Vestergaard, Jan Bednarek, Maya Yoshida and Yan Valery he had started in the previous fixture against Wolves, although it saw Southampton lose 9-0 to the Foxes with Vestergaard and Valery being substituted, while Bertrand was given a straight red.

All in all, Bertrand, Vestergaard, Bednarek, Yoshida, Valery, Cedric Soares, Moussa Djenepo, Kevin Danso, Jack Stephens, Stuart Armstrong, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and James Ward-Prowse have all played in either the centre-back, full-back or wing-back roles in the top flight this term.

It is genuinely quite appalling of Hasenhuttl to have changed his defence so frequently - he is giving his defenders absolutely no chance of building up a good understanding with each other.

The backline that Hasenhuttl needs to stick with

Something needs to happen fast for Southampton as they enter a potentially season-defining run of fixtures.

After the south coast side face Arsenal next, they have games against Norwich, Newcastle, West Ham, Watford and Aston Villa, fixtures that they must get points from.

We have previously detailed how Hasenhuttl can set his side up to be more expansive, with both suggestions showcasing a back-four - the Saints should definitely drop the five-man backline and add an extra body higher up the field.

Incidentally, this shouldn't consist of Cedric Soares, who recently gave an interview revealing his desire to leave before being subbed off at half-time against Everton - his head simply isn't in it and he doesn't deserve to start.

Hasenhuttl should play Bertrand at left-back, Vestergaard and Bednarek in the centre, and Valery at right-back, without feeling the need to push the reset button at the first sign of something going wrong.

Things may well go array, for this is a Southampton side low on confidence, but by allowing four first-team defenders to develop a relationship together, that could well be the start of an upturn of fortunes at the back.