Week 11 Tactics

---------------------------Krul

----------De Ligt-------Sanchez------Ake

Veltman-------Ceballos------Motta------Stafylidis

--------------Jesus-------------------Mbappe

-------------------------Dolberg

Subs - Boer, Sinkgraven, Locatelli, Kluivert, Traore, Dembele

Looking to target Hoffenheim's injuries at CB with 3 forwards interchanging to pull their defenders out of position with runners going beyond Dolberg who is primarily the lead striker. All 3 are capable of leading the line, but all are capable dribblers and can pick a pass

Wing backs are going to play primarily defensive roles against the threat from the wings, Sanchez has the power to match Ibra 1 on 1 but will have cover from De Ligt. Ake to stay aware of the threat from Pulisic on his side

Ceballos and Motta to dictate play from deep, focus on getting the ball forward early

Jesus use his work rate to press their deepest midfielder and prevent them dictating.

Subs
Traore for De Ligt is an option to add width if we're lacking it going to a 4-2-3-1 - happy to make a change at half time if its not working with the front 3 as we start them

If winning at 70, replace any tired legs with Locatelli/Sinkgraven/Dembele

Ajax v HOFFENHEIM

Injuries: Naldo, Vogt, Isak, Sule


---

Away to Ajax today, I want us to play a pressing game whenever they are in our half and utilise our pace when counter attacking.

Baumann, command your area at all times, distribute long and wide, be wary of long range efforts.

Defence, Theo mark their striker, Schar to play as the spare man to get to any second balls. Henrichs and Toljan to overlap our wingers going forward, but track back quickly.

Midfield, Rudy and Gueye sit in front of the back four, ensure we are hard to penetrate. In possession use your passing and power to get the ball to Jonas. Jonas will use his trickery to create space and chances.

Attack, Pulisic and Amiri to run at the Ajax defence, get crosses in to Ibrahimovic but on occasion cut infield, either to link with Jonas or Ibrahimovic, or to feed Henrichs and Toljan overlapping you. Shoot when it opens up. Ibrahimovic to get onto the end of every cross and pass, shoot on sight, try to spin in behind the last defender.

Substitutions
If winning: Jonas off, Rupp on. 4-5-1, Pulisic RW, Amiri LW.

If losing: Theo/Gueye off, Shabani/Tiquinho on. All out attack, 3-1-4-2.

---------------Cardinale-----------
Klostermann-Kimbembe-Mere-Dalbert
--------------Koziello--------------
--Mboula--Bakayoko-Seri--Dembele--
---------------Werner--------------

Subs: Nkunku, Gomes, Sarr, Under, Saint-Maximin, Holding

Marseille play 4123 so we're playing 4141 which is the best counter formation as it thwarts the opponents possession and with deeper wingers cuts of the supply to their attack.
Expect a physical battle in midfield but we can excel there with Koziello pulling strings. Bakayoko as B2B, take the ball forward and swamp their defence. Seri enforce, break down their attacks.
FBs keep their wingers on the wrong foot and block crosses, Kimbembe & Mere to play out to the flanks, don’t be drawn out of position, retain discipline.
Mboula & Dembele to avoid hitting balls into the box due to their height but instead hit diagonal through balls and also run into the space Werner’s movement creates.
Werner to never stand still, drag markers and look to cause confusion with the loss of Cahill at the back for them.


70m – Nkunku > Seri, take over role of enforcer
80m – Under > Mboula, fresh legs on the flanks.

---------------Pickford--------------
Semedo---Rekik---Doria---Bedimo
----------------Sertic----------------
----------Sanson----Linetty---------
Sarr---------Ben Yedder---Thauvin

Subs: Pele, Hubocan, Evra, Sakai, Vainqueur, Lopez, Machach.

Possession style against Nice
Semedo and Bedimo to run the flanks, protecting and attacking down the wings overlapping for Thauvin and Sarr
Doria and Rekik to be alert and protect our box, be strong in the air and play the ball out from the back
Sertic to screen the back 4, protecting from the oncoming attacks
Sanson to push on and look to move the ball into dangerous areas, working the defence hard
Linetty to work a box to box role, moving up and down with the play and the turnover of possession always being an outlet
Sarr to work on the right flank using Semedo as the overlap in attacks and getting back as cover in defensive situations
Thauvin to Push on more down the right hand side and work the ball into the box for Ben Yedder
Ben Yedder is to push onto the defence and look to get in behind with passes coming from Sanson in the midfield area

80th - Lopez on for Sarr to keep the pressure high out wide
85th - Vainqueur on for Sertic to keep the energy up protecting the back 4

--------------------------------Heaton--------------------------------
------Byram----------Skriniar-----Evans-------Grimaldo-------
---------------------Bender--------------Keita-----------------------
--------Gnabry-----------------------------------------Ounas-------
----------------------Deeney----------Fletcher----------------------

BENCH
Gomes
Christie
Semedo
Arter
Zakaria
Livermore
Guedes


TACTICS
Really attacking line-up today, looking to win against this Swansea side. Their main threats come from Oxlade-Chamberlain and Sigurdsson, I want Grimaldo to be more defensive with Bender dropping to occupy the space behind the striker that Siggy likes to exploit. Looking to press them high up the pitch, be aggressive in winning the ball back and completely dominate the game.

We have players who can cross the ball and Deeney can win aerial balls against their defense, Fletcher should be pushing their defense back by trying to run in behind. Either they go deep to stop that, allowing more space for the wingers and Deeney, or they stay higher up and Fletcher makes runs all day. Naby Keita should push up and help to create, with Bender sitting deeper. Always looking for the overlapping run from Byram with Gnabry cutting in.

SUBSTITUTIONS
If winning 70’ – Arter and Livermore for Ounas and Bender, move to a 4-5-1/4-3-3 and have fresh legs.
If losing 70’ – Arter for Bender, add creativity.
If losing 80’ – Guedes for Ounas.

-------------------------------Badaishille------------------------------
Fosu-Mensah-----Fernandez-------------Maguire--------------Olsson
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------Ki-------------------------Cork--------------------
------------------------------Sigurdsson--------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oxlade-Chamberlain---------Llorente-------------------------Montero

Subs: Mawson, Taylor, Carroll, Davies, Dyer, King

We will look to evolve our 4231 into more of a 433 this week and use the width and pace of our wide men to expose and out manoeuvre the Watford defence.

Sigurdsson to provide the creative spark and look to find the wide in space, or play in Llorente so he hold up the ball or get a shot away. Llorente to move in between the CBs, and use his physicality to distract and put the CBs off their game. Balls to feet, pass and move, let them chase shadows, don't be caught over-stretching.

Maguire looking to man mark Deeney out of the game and keep him quiet. This should stunt their forward play. The back four need to stay connected at all times to prevent being dragged or isolated.

Look to bring on Davies and King to provide fresh legs and impetus in attack. Their more direct approach, coupled with their pace will hopefully catch watford out at some point.
Dyer to come on later if wind men are struggling.

----------------Handanovic
----Van Dijk----De Rossi----Chiellini
Alves---Dahoud----Benassi---Plattenhardt
----Robben------Belotti--------Falque-----


Tavares, Maoussa, Jagielka, Baselli, Harit, Jensen, Brewster

We have brought out the 343 this week, but we are going to press our arses off tonight, dont let the opposition have a breather at any point. We will also aim the keep the tempo as high when we have the ball, get the ball out to the the front 3 quickly.

 De Rossi will have licence to join the midfield if they look like they are getting outnumbered. The wingers will be using their pace and trickery to cut inside and try to draw their full backs inside, let our full backs bomb on, as they both have the energy to get back quickly, which will force either the opposition wingers to track back and stifle their attacking play, or leaving the defence outnumbered. When defending, we will hunt in packs, allow De Rossi to step into midfield to join the pressing if needs be.

Subs - 60 mins
If we are winning we will bring on Harit and Baselli for Ljajic and Benassi and purely counter attack, if we are drawing or losing we will bring on Harit for Plattenhardt, with the wing backs acting as wingers.

-------------------------------Woodman------------------------------
Pereira-----------Orban-------Vallejo----------Robertson
----------------------------Bentancur--------------------------------------
-----------Cyprien----------------------------Tolisso----------------------
--------------------------------Asensio-----------------------------------
-------------------Solanke------------Philipp-------------------------


Subs - Bednarek, Sancho, Calvert Lewin, Diakhaby, Richarlison


GAMEPLAN
Today we're gonna pack the midfield with some b2b players who will help both in attack and defence. I want Cyprien and Tolisso to help our fullbacks in defending duties against Robben and Falque. Defend deep and play on the counter.

DEFENCE
Vallejo mark their main striker, Orban to do covering. Fullbacks make overlapping runs and get crosses into the box. Bentancur main role defend, cut passing lanes and close down attackers. Cyprien and Tolisso will be playing as b2b and will help both attack and defence. Make runs forward, play quick one twos to create space in middle. CM's to drift out wide and get crosses in occasionally.


ATTACK
Asensio to play quick passes with teammates and make runs into box. Solanke to play on shoulder of Chiellini. Philipp use dribbling ability to link up play and play quick passes with fellow teammates. Track back and help the defence when the oppo are in our half.


SUBS
drawing/winning 65MINS
Lewin for Solanke
Richarlison for Philipp
- like for like position wise

LOSING 65MINS
Lewin for Bentancur
Lewin LW. Push defence up try and score goals