Week 7 Tactics

-------------------------Akinfeev-------------------------
---Valencia-------Jones-----------Evans---------Caricol---
-------------------------Casemiro-------------------------
----------------Thomas-------------Fellaini---------------
--------Vazquez------------------------------Payet--------
--------------------------Falcao--------------------------


BENCH
Sportiello
Reid
Durmisi
Hernandez
Lingard
Eder
Belfodil


TACTICS
Get physical with the dwarfs and play a nasty long-ball game.


DEFENSE
Dominating midfield battle physically is crucial - as soon as they come into our half hunt them down quickly.
Iniesta must not be allowed to settle. Casemiro shadow him when he's higher up, Fellaini pressurise in advanced positions. Don't dive in, jockey, force him backwards.
Jones the main marker of Silva, track him across final third.
Our full backs match their wingers for pace, Vazquez backtrack against Ghoulam.


ATTACK
Get balls into the box/long balls - expecting them to press from the front so we're bypassing that.
Full backs will overlap, both very good crossers of the ball - get at Ghoulam/D'Ambrosio.
Vazquez and Payet drift, looking for space between fullback and centreback
Fellaini make a nuisance in the box, get himself against a fullback or drag a centreback out of position. One CM stay back, one edge of the box.
Falcao poacher in front of goal, intelligent movement and get on the end of crosses.


SUBSTITUTIONS
If winning
65' Lingard >> Vazquez. 
80' Hernandez >> Thomas

If losing
60' Eder and Lingard >> Thomas and Vazquez. 4-2-3-1, Payet AM. Play quicker football, on the ground more.

Tactics – Dwarfs v Fussball

Injuries
Juanmi 
Aymeric Laporte 
Dayot Upmecano


Substitutes: Areola, Gomez, Abate, Suarez, Fornals, Boudebouz, Sanabria

Compact defensively, CM’s protecting the defence and keeping it tight. Offensively, we exploit the wide areas with FBs overlapping and our forwards mobile, dragging their defense all over the place.

Defence

• Chiellini pick up the striker, stay tight and don’t let him turn
  
• Sule pick up any second striker, or play spare, sweeping up loose balls and tracking runs from deep. Pick up Fellaini when he gets forward.
  
• FBs pick up any widemen, and watch for their FBs getting forward.
  
• Tousart/Fabinho to protect the back four, with Fabinho paying particular attention to the AM.
  
• Forwards press from the front
  

Attack

• Callejon/Lozano to attack these spaces, get balls into the box for Silva. When the ball is on opposing flank, get in support of Silva. Interchange with each other, Iniesta and Silva stretch their defensive players, drag them out of shape and create space for each other.
  
• Iniesta play free and drift, looking to play balls into the forwards. If closely marked, drag the marker out and interchange with wingers.
  
• Silva - get on to through balls and crosses from wide.
  
• FBs get forward overlapping into space behind their FBs.
  

Subs: If losing, Sanabria for Tousart, go 4-1-3-2

SHAKHTAR SENSELESS v Kalamazoo Outrage

Injuries: Mula, Kruse, Maksimovic


Outrage today, playing 3-4-3 with the aim of overcrowding Asensio in their AM role, also the extra CB to give Werner no time on the ball.

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

Diop/Pepe/Mascherano, Pepe mark Werner, Mascherano/Diop the spare men to cover Pepe. Crowd the Outrage attack as Henrichs/Rose will drop back to assist with their wingers.

Henrichs/Rose at wingback, form a back five without the ball, bomb forward to overlap Sabitzer/Pedro when attacking.

Gagliardini/Kovacic, Gagliardini stay on Asensio, don't follow if he drifts wide, stay on him as soon as he's central. Kovacic the playmaker from deep, link our play from defence into attack, get forward on occasion.

Sabitzer/Pedro, get at the Outrage fullbacks, go outside and cross for Jesus, or cut inside and use Henrichs/Rose overlapping to create space/opportunities for yourselves or Jesus. Shoot when infield.

Jesus, with no Thiago Silva they are weaker, stay on the shoulder of the deepest CB, look for the ball in behind. Shoot on sight.

Subs 70 mins:
Losing: Diop/Pepe/Gagliardini off, Hazard/Sisto/Augustin on. 3-1-4-2, all out attack.

----------------Romero-------------

Injuries: Solanke, Silva, Scuffet


Shakhtar play a 4231 formation so we’ve opted for 4123 that focuses upon short passing & retaining possession. Go narrow when they have possession to cut off Jesus’s supply so he has to come looking for the ball.

Defence
Romero – Be vocal, intimidate the opposition and make yourself big. Be first point of attack with quick balls out.
FBs – Go narrow and close down gaps, hold up play and force opponent onto opposite foot. 
CBs – Skriniar to close down Jesus, block off channels for him to spin behind you, Mere to double up when required and play ball out.
DM – SMS be a wall in front of defence, physically bully their AM, protect flanks on counters.
CM – Pellegrini & Bentancur to close down play early, restrict options and neat interplay.

Attack 
CM – Pellegrini the more offensive of the two, link up play with the forward options.
FW – High line for Asensio & Dembele, swap positions throughout game, penetrate gaps left by their attacking FBs
ST – Constant movement, make a meal of Pepe’s tackles, tire out their older CBs

Subs
65m – Oyarzabal > Bentancur, go 4231 with Asensio at AM
75m – Sancho > Dembele, fresh legs on flanks 

Ebbsfleet v Deportivo Wanka

Injuries: Zlatan (2nd week in a row), Bruma, Kolarov

Formation: 4-4-1-1
-----------------------Handanovic-----------------------
Trippier--------Bartra-------Martinez---------Emerson
Goretzka-------Silva----------Bender------------Brandt
---------------------------Ljajic---------------------------
-------------------------Bakambu------------------------

Subs: Neto, Tete, Winks, Powell, Arnaiz, Neres, Guruzeta

Martinez to mark main CF. Bartra to provide cover.  Attacks to come from wings so be strong for any crosses that come in.

Trippier to overlap Goretzka in space that from Alonso getting forward and being dispossessed. Look for Bakambu/Ljajic in box or Goretzka running inside beside you.

Emerson - hold back to defend against RB/wingers coming forward. Stop crosses being made.

Goretzka - play on right to check forward runs of Alonso and Deulofeu. Move inside when we have possession.

Silva - play deeper and create attacks to avoid being marked out the game. 

Bender – DM cover. Provide strength in centre if wingers come inside on right.

Brandt - Wanka’s right side not strong. Cross or go on inside and shoot depending on options. Attack FB as they will get forward. Will be stamina test to also go against your pace in defence.

Ljajic to run at defence and provide space for Bakambu. Take on CB pairing or shoot from range.

Bakambu – work the two CB’s. Ljajic will use pace so chances to be played in behind when CB’s are forced to come meet him. 

Subs (if losing 75min) Neres for Ljajic. Play 4-3-3 with Neres/Bakambu/Brandt up front

--------------------Belenov
--------Sokratis -- Miranda -- Hernandez 
Pereira --- Dembele --- Parolo ----Marcos Alonso
------------------Papu Gomez
----------Rodrigo ------- Aduriz

Bench = Diakhaby, Fuchs, Medel,Cazorla,Lodeiro,Penaranda,Jiminez 

Defense
- Miranda to get tight to Bakambu
- Sokratis & Hernandez to watch for runners from midfield & help double up with the wing backs
- Pereira & Alonso to drop into a back 5 when defending and show wingers inside
- Dembele & Parolo to sit infront of the defense and cut the supply when defending, Dembele to get on Goretzka, Parolo on Silva
- Gomez to press Silva 

Attack
- Occasionally hit long balls to Aduriz
- Wing backs to get forward and whip crosses in early instead of taking on full backs unless feel can get past
- Dembele to go box to box to link the play together get balls into the forwards
- Parolo to sit deep and get the ball out wide quickly
- Gomez to drift about in the hole dragging Bender out the space before using his pace to run on in behind.
- Aduriz to get in the box for headers from early cross and poach, Look for flick ons from long balls
- Rodrigo to use blistering pace to get in behind for through balls and on the end of the crosses 

Subs - Jiminez & Medel for Rodrigo & Gomez - 80th min - Go to a solid 5-3-2

Fiorentina (3-4-3)

Injuries
Cutrone
Barzagli
Dzeko


……………………………………….Buffon………………………….
…………………Caldara……Felipe………Llorente………….
Alves…………….De Rossi…………..Kessie…………Wendell
Chiesa……………………………Belotti………………….Orsolini

Subs: Fabianski, Denisov, Izzo, Badelk, Malli, Larson, Delaney

Couple of key injuries leads to a re-shuffle..Milky has a good side and Llorente and Immobile are hard to shut down, that said Caldara and Llorente will man mark them (should it be both up top) Felipe if it’s just the one.
We’re taking the game to them, fast paced slick wing play is the order of the day, get Chiesa and Orsolini in behind the defence as they run on ahead of Belotti who’ll hang back slightly ready for the drag back (like those cheap FIFA goals)

De Rossi will sit and anchor the side, has decent passing skills so will be the QB today taking it off the defence and pinging it forwards, Kessi will play B2B adding to our attacking numbers.
Caldara and Llorente will still step out of defence allowing us easier passing triangles to by-pass the press from Arsebag.
Belotti is known for his work-rate and he’ll press from the front harrying the CB’s and with our wingers occupying their FB’s it’ll force longer passes, which is bread and butter for De Rossi and Kessie to mop up.

Alves and Wendell will play their natural attacking game push forward as high and often as they can..Robbens the danger so whichever wing he pops up on, give him a few little digs to make his head drop..not enough to warrant a red card

Injuries: André Zambo Anguissa, Gonzalo Martinez, Miguel Layun


------------------Fahrmann---------------------
Meunier-----Rugani-----Vertonghen-------Gaya
-----------------Fernandinho-------------------
------------Herrera------Tolisso----------------
Robben----------Immobile------------Brahimi


Subs: Berisha, Zappacosta, Martins Indi, Davis, Coric, Albrighton, Llorente


Defensively
-Fernandinho to cut out play from the central area likely to be attempting to feed Belotti up front
-Rugani and Vertonghen to stand ground and cover each other with Belotti likely to be making runs off the shoulder
-Gaya and Meunier to protect Brahimi and Robben when they are going foward, behind the ball when we lose possession 
-Herrera operating as Box to Box defensively picking up the spare man when out of possession


Attacking
-Gaya and Meunier to press the wings and provide the width in the opposition half
-Fernandinho to stay a little deeper in case of the turn over of possession
-Herrera to push forward just behind Tolisso in a supporting role
-Tolisso to push on from deep and pull the strings looking to play the front 3 in
-Robben and Brahimi to cut inside onto stronger feet and have a go or play in Immobile
-With Barzagli missing, this will significantly weaken the Fiorentina Turner back line and a more central attacking approach will benefit us


80th - Coric on for Herrera to keep the energy up in support
85th - Llorente on for Immobile to keep pressuring the back line

Injuries

Mario Lemina 
Amadou Diawara 
Patrick Roberts 


XI (5-2-1-2)

GK - Timo Horn
RCB - Aymen Abdennuor
CB - Davinson Sanchez
LCB - Terenece Kongolo

RWB - Juanfran
LWB - Sead Kolasinac

RCM - Giannelli Imbula
LCM - Oguzhan Ozyakup

CAM - Josep Ilicic

CF - Dries Mertens
CF - Gervinho

Subs
Gabriel Mercado
James Maddison
Carlos Vela
Alexander Isak
Tammy Abraham
Jan Bednarek
Jorge

------------------------------------Horn----------------------------------
------------------Abdennour----Sanchez----Kongolo---------------
Juanfran---------------------------------------------------------Kolasinac
----------------------Imbula------------Ozyakup------------------------
---------------------------------Ilicic--------------------------------------
----------------------Gervinho--------Mertens---------------------------


Overall - Slight change from last week's formation in light of Moron's injuries - we're going to attack them down the middle with Tah out injured, with two fast strikers up top. Overall we play on the counter again, looking to sit deep and break quickly with our front two causing their weaker CBs issues in particular. Defensively we flood the middle of the pitch, looking to negate Rabiot and Jorginho's influence with our three midfielders. Back five stays narrow, wingbacks looking to force any wingers into the flooded middle and thus break up play. 

Attacking - Playing on the counter means when we attack, we attack with great pace and look to play forward with incisive through balls. Ozyakup, get it into Mertens/Ilicic asap. We attack their weak middle, Mertens/Gervinho look to mix up going in behind and coming to get the ball and run at them. Lots of shots from midfielders too, their keeper is not up to standard. Wingbacks, if you are able to support the attack, then do so.

Defending - Look to sit in deep today, with the back five sitting compact and wingbacks forcing the wingers inside where it is congested and thus we can break up play. Imbula/Ozyakup/Ilicic be rough with Rabiot/Jorginho, look to harass and stop them playing. If they play two up top, Sanchez covers and other two pickup, if they play one up front Sanchez marks with Kongolo/Abdennour picking up runs from midfield. 

Subs:

If winning - 70 mins - Mercado for Juanfran, Jorge for Kolasinac. Same formation and instruction - fresh legs at wingback

If losing - 70 mins - Abraham for Abdennour. and Vela for Gervinho Go 4-1-2-1-2 diamond, with Imbula DM, Ilicic/Ozyakup CM, Vela CAM, with Mertens/Abraham up top. GO FOR IT!

----------------------Heaton-

Conti--------De Ligt--------Stark-------Davies

---------------------Jorginho

-------------Soler-----------Rabiot

--Guedes-----------Dolberg--------Richarlison

Subs - Sidnei, Klostermann, Dahoud, Taison, Havertz, Dembele

We'll target their injuries by picking a strong midfield 3, get on top physically, dominate the ball from the off, giving our front 3 a chance to attack 

Their strikers will be marked by CBs - if only one, De Ligt cover 

Jorginho sit in front of defence cutting off supply, with their injuries we'd expect more of a threat to come from the wings. Game controller when we've got ball, always an option, keep the ball moving

FBs force wings out wide, don't let them cut in and shoot. Conti stay back, Davies get forwar

Rabiot/Soler play as box to box midfielders - drop in defensively when under pressure, primarily get in the face of their CMs, put them on back foot, win ball high up field, then release front 3. Long shots when on

Dolberg occupy CBs, try and drag Sanchez out wide if man marked

Guedes/Richarlison - both to constantly dribble and attack, take shots on goal, make out to in runs off the ball for the defence, Richarlison to look for Davies overlapping 

Subs
Dahoud - 65 - Replace tired midfielder for more energy
Taison for Soler if losing at 65 - 4-2-3-1 and go on the attack