Week 2 Tactics

--------------------Areola
Valencia -- Miranda -- Vestergaard -- Rose
-------------Fejsa---- Cazorla
Callejon ---------Jiminez -------Hazard
----------------Falcao

Bench - Cresswell, Zuber, Hernandez,Johnson,Fuchs,Sanabria, Fonte

Fullbacks to get up the pitch and overlap the wide forwards and whip balls in for Falcao. When defending show them inside towards our midfielders.

Miranda to pick up Forward and look to pressure him and harass. Vestergaard to cover with pace unless play a 2nd forward then keep tight aswell

Fejsa to sit infront of the defense and marshall the space an AM could occupy look to get tackles in if play one. Play out from the back into Jiminez

Cazolra to dictate play from deep and look to move forward and create chances

Jiminez to drop into gaps and look to slide balls in behind the defense for forwards.

Callejon & Hazard to play as wide forwards looking to dart in off the wing and run in between full backs & CB's to create space for the full backs. If get in behind then finish clinically

Falcao to use his physical presence to bully the CB's and look to roll them getting in behind the defence. Don't be afraid to drift about on the CB's to open spaces for the wide forwards

Subs - Cresswell for Jiminez if winning Hazard to AM Cresswell LW

----------------------------Akinfeev----------------------------
---------------Jones---------Acerbi---------Evans---------------
---Conti------------Medel-----------Garcia-------------Baines---
---------------Payet---------------------Fellaini---------------
----------------------------Rashford----------------------------

BENCH
Sportiello
Reid
Durmisi
Blin
Winks
Townsend
Eder

TACTICS
Their main threats come from the right in Valencia and Callejon, with Fellaini and Baines to try to negate those as more defensive players. Three at the back to prevent Falcao finding space, with Acerbi to be the main marker. Allow them the ball higher up but in our half we need to get physical, accept cards and bully them.

When in possession play direct football, with Fellaini a big target to aim for with long clearances, he can dominate their midfielders and if their CBs come out, bonus. Rashford to look for space in behind, drift wide as they haven't got the most mobile CBs (especially 1v1!) Rashford and Payet to get in possession as much as possible.
Try to win set pieces as Payet/Baines are great takers and we have plenty that can win aerial balls.


SUBSTITUTIONS
If winning
60' Winks for Garcia - fresh legs in midfield
80' Eder for Fellaini - more pace on the counter

If losing
60' - Eder for Acerbi – Eder upfront to create space for others, Rashford LW in a 4-2-3-1.
70' - Winks for Medel - adding creativity to midfield
80' - Townsend for Garcia, Payet to AM. Kitchen sink.

—————Romero——————
Darmian—Silva—Mere—Moreno
———Locatelli—Pellegrini———
—--Asensio————Dembele——
————Werner—Gomez————

Subs: Muslera, Jantschke, Oxford, Saponara, Spinazzola, Solanke, Pellegri.
Injured: Bruma, Scuffet, Lemina

A loose 4-2-2-2 formation in which we look to release our more talented players in positions that the opposition struggle to contain, look to keep the ball as much in the opp half. Traditional CBs have no requirement to surge forward, keep it simple. Well balanced FBs force wingers to the flanks and block crosses. Pellegrini plays as a DLP and hovers in front of the back four, whilst Locatelli is the physical link, a capable tackler in case Pellegrini is outnumbered. The important roles are the 2 advanced midfielders who play in a unmarked space, never touchline wide nor central, occupying a space where they take a defender square on and shift either way. Up front Werner is given the 10 role, dropping back to a 4231 at when needed and drags defenders with him, creating chances for himself. Gomez as the n9, keep on the shoulder of the CB and knock down to Werner.

70m Solanke > Gomez. Fresh legs, Werner going up front and Solanke providing speed to compliment.

Injuries:

Arjen Robben
Marc Albrighton
Miguel Layun

----------------------------Fahrmann-----------------------------------
Meunier-----------Lemos----------Vertonghen-----------------Gibbs
-------------------------Gustavo--Tolisso------------------------------
Ritchie---------------------Demirbay------------------------Deulofeu
----------------------------Immobile----------------------------------

Subs: Meret, Zappacosta, Martins Indi, Guardado, Coric, Llorente

Main instruction - Possess the ball. We want to target their left hand side to trouble the LB with Meunier pushing on for the overlap down that side with Ritchie pushing inside to support Immobile. Deulofeu is to do the same on the other side making sure that the pressure is being put on Spurs style. Vertonghen and Lemos will need to be supported when the possession overturns. Gustavo will be supporting in our final third screening the back line, even slotting in as an extra CB when needed. Tolisso will the creator of every play, possession is key to hurt Kalamazoo. Demirbay to be the link between Central Midfield and Immobile. Immobile will be getting fed balls through from the midfield on the shoulder of the last defender, just putting himself about and pushing on causing trouble. Lets play a controlled tempo with a patient buildup and using the ball in a smart way and not wasting it today.

75th - Coric on for Demirbay to keep the pressure building
80th - Guardado on for Gustavo to keep it fresh late on
85th - Llorente to come on and be a presence up front for the last 5

Tactics – Dwarfs vs Morons

Injuries:
Lucas Alario
Giorgio Chiellini
Kasper Schmeichel

Subs:Didillon, Odriozola, Abate, Halstenberg, Suarez, Ruiz, Wickham

Tactics:
Attacking – patient passing, lots of pass and move to stretch opposition and create gaps/chances.
Iniesta to dictate play from deeper.
Corona/Bruma to attack the full backs, beat the man, get crosses low into the box.
Boudebouz in pushes on, get up in support of Silva
Full backs to bomb on overlap the wingers. Wingers tuck in when they do.
When the ball is out wide on opposite flank, widemen to get into the box in support of Silva and Boudebouz
Silva lead line, get on to through balls and crosses into the box


Defensive – High energy, high pressing line, win the ball back high up the pitch.
Sokratis and Gomez to pick up attackers, if one spare, Gomez to play spare and pick up runs into the box/loose balls
D’Ambrosio and Ghoulam to pick up widemen, Tousart to slot back in and cover this, when FBs bomb on.

Substitutions:
if losing on 65 mins, Ruiz on for Corona, go 4-4-2

-------------------------Bataila
Peres----De Ligt------Dragovic----Stark---Davies
----------------Sanson-------Kouyate-----
------------------------Ben Arfa
----------------Mitroglou-----Dembele

Bench - Sidnei, Antonelli, Henderson, Topal, Taison, Menez, Luan

Up against a very strong Dwarfs side

We'll look to frustrate them, with 3 CBs able to pick up Silva's movement, but mainly remain in position to look to pick up runners from midfield.

The two full backs are to pick up their wide attackers, playing first as defenders, but if they see space in front of them due to Dwarfs full backs raiding forward, then go forward themselves to push them back

Kouyate to play the defensive role in midfield, pick up the AM, but if he goes beyond then let a CB pick him up, then take the secondary runner from midfield

Sanson spread the ball, look to get the full backs the ball in space, if not then look to support the front 3

Ben Arfa - be our match winner, take long shots, play the risky passes in behind for the strikers

Mitroglou play the hold up if we get the ball into your feet, look for Dembele spinning in behind or Ben Arfa/FBs getting forward

Dembele run into space, target the CB replacing Chiellini

Subs
Luan for Mitroglou at 65 mins, add pace
Taison to add width if chasing the game
Henderson don't move off the bench you sack of poo

SHAKHTAR SENSELESS v Sodomy Appreciation Society

Injuries: Maksimovic, Kramer, Ruffier


---

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

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

Defence, Fazio mark their striker, Nastasic to play as the spare man to get to any second balls. Henrichs/Gerhardt to overlap our wingers going forward, but track back quickly.

Midfield, Mascherano/Kovacic sit in front of the back four, ensure we are hard to penetrate. In possession Kovacic use your passing and power to get the ball forward. Kruse will be between their midfield and defence, occasionally get up with Jesus.

Attack, Juanmi/Ljajic to run at the SAS defence, get crosses in to Jesus but on occasion cut infield, either to link with Kruse, Kovacic or Jesus, or to feed Henrichs and Gerhardt overlapping you. Shoot when it opens up. Jesus to get onto the end of every cross and pass, shoot on sight, try to spin in behind the last defender.

Substitutions
If winning: Kruse off, Asamoah on. 4-5-1, Juanmi RM, Ljajic LM.

If losing: Fazio/Nastasic off, Martinez/Augustin on. All out attack, 3-1-4-2

Starting XI
GK - Timo Horn
RB - Juanfran
RCB - Davinson Sanchez
LCB - Terence Kongolo
LB - Jorge
CDM - Giannelli Imbula
RM/RW - Patrick Roberts
RAM - Josep Iilcic
LAM - Carlos Vela
LM/LW - Dries Mertens
ST - Tammy Abraham

Subs
Aymen Abdennour
Ryan Shawcross
Oguzhan Ozyakup
Marlos
Gervinho
James Maddison
Jordan Amavi

-------------------------------Horn--------------------------------
Juanfran--------Sanchez------------Kongolo---------———Jorge
----------------------------Imbula---------------------------------
Roberts--------Ilicic------------------Vela-----------------Mertens
---------------------------Abraham---------------------------------

Tactics: We're gonna go after Senseless here. Imbula you play CDM and sit all day, allowing the FBs to bomb on in attack. Roberts/Mertens will cut in, and FBs overlap, overloading Senseless’s crappy defence. Ilicic and Vela get in between the lines in attacking, look to shoot when you get a chance. Abraham play as the target man, look for crosses from the FBs. Mertens abuse the RB.

Defensively - we press high and often. We have the pace at the back to deal with anything they play over the top, so lets force their defence to play risky passes. Vela/Ilicic destroy Kovacic every chance you get. Back four, when defending the area sit narrow, and force them to cross to their small strikers.

Subs: 70 mins - Ozyakup for Vela - go 4-2-3-1 with Ozyakup alongside Imbula, Ilicic CAM. 75 mins - Marlos for Roberts - fresh legs.

Week 2: Ebbsfleet v Fiorentina Turner

Injuries:  Vierinha, Leon Goretzka, Mikel San Jose

Team (3-4-3 with wingbacks)

-------------------Handanovic--------------------
---------Bartra—----Ake--------Retsos---------
Trippier-----Ramires----Bender-----Kolarov
---------Pedro---Ibrahimovic---Brandt--------

Subs: Neto, Potuk, Souare, Simpson, Lingard, Plea, Vardy

Attacking mentality here. Expect Belotti to be lone CF so Ake stay close and outmuscle him. Bartra / Retsos mindful if he tries to get in behind or of AM/SS.

Bailey being left-footed LW is likely to keep near byline and cross for Belotti. If so, Bartra stay back slightly and help Ake out with Belotti in air and any SS’s. Fiorentina may change wings so be alert for swap, coming inside and shooting. Wiljnadum may play RW so push him towards the byline as threat is less.

Wingbacks get forward, providing crosses for Zlatan and in-running wingers. Opposing FB’s might do same so meet them head-on. Ramires / Bender providing strong midfield partnership. Hound De Rossi’s lack of pace. Get ball quickly and out to wings.

Pedro/Brandt to cut inside and feed from Zlatan’s knockdowns. Range shooting if option but utilize pace/trickery as main threat. Zlatan, be a nuisance for weak CB pairing. Be strong to win aerial balls first. In area go for goal; outside area knock down for wingers and get in box for rebounds.

Sub 75min (if losing/drawing) Lingard for Brandt / Vardy for Retsos – Fresh legs on left. Vardy playing with direct pace on knockdowns.

ebbsfleet vs TINA TURNER

Injuries:  Chiesa, Felipe, Ilsanker

……………………………………Buffon……………………………………
Montoya……………….Mori…………Izzo…………………….Wendell
……………………………De Rossi………Wijnaldum………………………
Alves…………………………………Jota…………………………………Bailey
…………………………………………Belotti…………………………………

Subs: Fabianski, Holgate, Mesa, Malli, Cutrone, Denisov, Badelj

Fast paced 4-2-3-1 today, get it down move it along direct balls into space out-wide looking to use the pace and movement of our front-four to turn ebbsfleets defence and get in behind them.

Buffon captains the side on his debut, still one of the very best in the game

Montoya comes in at RB and will push on with Wendell giving us over-laps out-wide allowing our wingers to cut inside and occupy the spare CB to create space for Bellotti.

Izzo and Mori go man-to-man if they go one-up-top then Izzo’s his skin.

De Rossi the midfield anchor allowing Wij to go box-to-box and add his goal scoring touch to the front-line.

Jota plays just off the shoulder of Belotti in a kind of big man/little man combo, great touch and speed should well.

Alves is my joker, I know he’s not a winger but he’s better attacking than defending so this relieves some of the pressure from him.

Bailey is rapid but raw, we’ll nurture him and let his pace worry the opposition.

Belotti is our marquee signing and a proven goal getter, just play to his strengths and we’ll be hard to beat.

Subs:


65 mins:
Badelj > De Rossi

75 mins:
Cutrone > Belotti