Pre-Season Friendly

Team Sheets and tactics due by COB Thur
Predictions due Fri. Results done Mon

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Newcastle v Aston Villa
Sunny, 11 Degrees, 9mph Winds

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Newcastle United 2 - 2 Aston Villa
Villa -------------------- Chamakh
Cabaye ---------------- Petrov

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Man Utd vs Liverpool
Sunny, 11 Degrees, 8mph Winds

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Manchester United 3 - 1 Liverpool
Rooney ----------------- Suarez
Hernandez
Welbeck

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Chelsea vs Everton
Sunny, 12 Degrees, 4mph Winds

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Chelsea 3 - 1 Everton
Mata 2 ------ Baines
Sturridge

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Tottenham vs Man City
Cloudy, 11 Degrees, 4mph Winds

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Tottenham Hotspur 1 - 3 Manchester City
VdV --------------------- Aguero
--------------------------- Nasri
--------------------------- Balotelli

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Stoke City vs Arsenal
Sunny, 11 Degrees, 7mph Winds

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Stoke City 1 - 3 Arsenal
K.Jones -------- Bent 2
------------------- Vermaelen

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Marker

ARSENAL:

FIRST HALF:

------------------ Szczesny ------------------
----------------------------------------------
Sagna ---- Dunne (c) ---- Vermaelen ---- Gibbs
----------------------------------------------
------------------ De Jong -------------------
----------------------------------------------
----------- Wilshere ---- M.Arteta ------------
-- Walcott ------------------------ Cazorla ---
----------------------------------------------
----------------- Van Persie ------------------




SECOND HALF:

-------------------- Fabianski -------------------
-------------------------------------------------
Jenkinson - Mertesacker -- Koscielny --- Capdevila
-------------------------------------------------
--------------- Barton ---- A.Diaby --------------
-------------------------------------------------
------------------- Ramsey (c) ------------------
----- Benayoun ------------------- Rosicky ------
-------------------------------------------------
--------------------- D.Bent --------------------




Tactics:

Possession. Possession. Possession.
Short passing, movement off the ball, triangles all over the pitch, keep the ball on the floor, patient build up play, wait for the right moment to probe, don't force the issue. Defend as a team from the front, wingers to assist full backs.

First Half

-------------------- Krul -------------------
-------------------------------------------------
Simpson - Colocinni(c) -- S Taylor --- R Taylor
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-------- Tiote ---------------- Cabaya ----------
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------------------- Ben Arfa ------------------
----- Anelka ------------------- Johnson ------
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--------------------- Villa --------------------


Second Half

-------------------- Harper -------------------
-------------------------------------------------
R Taylor - Williamson -- S Taylor (c) --- Santon
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-------- Gosling ---------------- Cabaya ----------
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------------------- Ben Arfa ------------------
----- Oberton ------------------- Jonas ------
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--------------------- Crouch --------------------


Tactics: Keep the ball on the deck , players allowed to roam and go looking for the ball , through balls along the deck using out pace outwide to cause problems. Raylor to pump ball into the 18 yard area to pull keeper off line and use Colo as the target man.

Spurs vs City

1st half
------------------Friedel
Walker - Dawson - Gallas - assou ekotto
------------- Parker -------- Modric
Lennon -------------- VDV -------------- Bale
--------------------Eto'o

2nd Half
-----------Gomes
Corluka -- King --- Kaboul ---- Bassong
---------Huddlestone ----- Sandro
Krancjar ----------------------------Pienaar
-------------Adebayor ------ Pavlychenko

Tactics: Just a general keep fit game getting back up to speed before the season starts go out and enjoy the game

FIRST HALF:

---------------------------------GIVEN-------------------------------------------

FERREIRA-------CUELLAR-----------SHAWCROSS-----------WARNOCK


--------------------PETROV---------------DELPH------------------------

ALBRIGHTON----------------NOLAN-----------------------KALOU

------------------------------AGBONLAHOR----------------------

Second Half:

-------------------------------GIVEN-------------------------------

ANYUKOV-------COLLINS--------SHAWCROSS------CLARK

-----------------PETROV-----------SONG----------------------

GERVINHO----------------------------------------N'ZOGBIA

---------------CHAMAKH---------IBRAHIMOVIC---------------------

Tactics:

1st half keep possesion, its pre season so dont over do it, just slowly build up to fitness level. Use Agbonlahor's pace with through balls. Nolan arrives in box late. Defense stay back man mark.

2nd half: Feed Ibrahimovic. High work rate from Petrov and Song, get stuck in. Rely on Gervinho's pace down the right and N'Zogbia's service to find Ibrahimovic. Chamakh plays as poacher. Anyukov overlap down right and Clark tucks inside to make it a 3 at back if losing.

Stoke City (vs Arsenal)

Starting XI

---------------------- Foster -----------------------
vd Wiel ----- Woodgate ---- Upson ----- Higginbotham
-------------- Meireles ----- Schwein' ---------------
Duff ---------------------------------------- Di Maria
---------------------- J.Cole ------------------------
---------------------- Higuain -----------------------

At half time:

Sorensen replaces Foster (GK)
Delap replaces Higginbotham (LB)
Huth replaces Woodgate (RCB)
Palacios replaces Meireles (RCM)
Pennant replaces Duff (RW)
Walters replaces J.Cole (CAM)

After 60 minutes:

Shotton replaces VdW (RB)
Wilkinson replaces Upson (LCB)
Etherington replaces Di Maria (LW)
Jones replaces Higuain (ST)

playing the final 30 minutes with:

---------------------- Sorensen ------------------------
Shotton ----------- Huth ---- Wilkinson ------------ Delap
---------------- Palacios ----- Schwein' -----------------
Pennant ------------------------------------- Etherington
----------------------- Walters -------------------------
----------------------- K.Jones--------------------------

Tactics:
Look to move the ball to the flanks quickly to get our wingers into play, stretch the play and put pressure on their fullbacks. Fullbacks and wingers will work in tandem both offensively and defensively. Cole/Walters will be free to move across the line to link up play with the wide men and central midfield players. Meireles will stay deeper than Schweinsteiger in general but one of the pair will stay back when the other goes forward.

When not in possession, put pressure on the ball. Arsenal like to keep the ball and play pretty passes. Once they move forward, we'll pressurise the man on the ball to try to force a mistake. If one comes, look for Cole/Walters or the wide men and hit them fast to utilise Higuain's pace.

MAN UTD


FIRST HALF:

---------------- de Gea --------------
--------------------------------------
Rafael ----- Jones ---- Vidić ----- Evra
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Nani --- Cleverley ---- Carrick --- Park
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---------- Rooney --- Berbatov -------


SECOND HALF:

------------- Lindegaard --------------
--------------------------------------
Smalling -- Evans --- Ferdinand -- Fábio
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Valencia -- Giggs --- Anderson -- Young
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------- Hernández --- Welbeck --------

1st half

------------------------------------- Reina ------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Johnson ----------- Carragher ---------------------- Alex ---------------- Aurelio
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Navas ------------- Gerrard ----------------------- Adam --------------- Downing
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------ Suarez -------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------ Forlan --------------------------------------


2nd half...

Carroll & Henderson come on in place of Forlan and Downing.

-------- Henderson ------------ Adam ------------
-------------------------------------------------------
Navas --------------- Gerrard ------------ Suarez
--------------------------------------------------------
------------------------ Carroll ----------------------

Around the hour mark, Kelly & Kuyt directly replace Johnson and Navas

Around 80 minutes, Bellamy on for Gerrard to inject some pace into the attack.

General tactics. High pressure. Close down midfield pairing. Limit their ball possession. Defence to keep tight to the front men. When on the ball, supply the wide men to run at the full backs and whip in balls for the front men to attack. Bring Gerrard into play often especially when Carroll comes on. Look to knock downs for Gerrard to attack and fathom chances for us.

First half:

--------------------------------- Cech -------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hutton --------------- D Luiz -------------- Terry ----------- Ivanovic
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--------------------- Fletcher ------------- Essien -------------------
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------------------------------- Lampard -----------------------------
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------------ Robben ------------------------------- Mata ------------
-------------------------------- Torres ------------------------------

Second Half:

--------------------------------- Green -------------------------------
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Hutton --------------- Cahill ---------------- Skrtel ---------- Ivanovic
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---------------------- Mikel ---------------- Ramires ------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------- Bannan -----------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
------------ Robben ---------------------------- Malouda ------------
------------------------------- Sturridge ------------------------------

Tactics: Keep the ball on the deck, build attacks from the back and look to play through the central midfielders at all times. Defence keeps a high line and the wing backs will look to get forward whenever possible. Essien/Mikel will sit and be given a free role in front of the back 4 to dictate the game. With the ball we play as a 4-3-3 with the wingers supporting the main striker, without the ball Mata/Malouda will track back and Fletcher/Ramires will move to the right and create a narrow 4 man midfield to suffocate Everton attacks. Mainly go out and enjoy the game, play freely with the ball and enjoy yourselves.

---------------------------- Howard -------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------
Heitinga --------- Jagielka (c) ------- Distin ----------- Baines
--------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------- Rodwell --------- Fellaini -----------------
--------------------------------------------------------------
--------- Pedro R ------------- Cahill ---------- Coleman -----
-------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------- Benzema ----------------------

for the first half

---------------------------- Howard -------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------
Hibbert ---------- Jagielka (c) ------- Distin ----------- Baines
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-------------------- Rodwell --------- Neville -----------------
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--------- Drenthe ----------- Barkley ------------ Osman -----
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----------------------------- Zamora ------------------------

for the second half

We need to retain possession when we have it as we're away from home against Chelsea. They have a very strong midfield, so our midfield needs to work hard, track back and pressurise when the ball is in our half. We will leave the ball alone when they have it in their half and sit back. We expect pressure, so we have fast wingers and a potent finisher who we will counter attack with. The right winger to go down outside and cross, left winger to come inside and shoot. Man-marking. Everyone must close down shots at every opportunity. Essien and Fletcher can have as much as the ball as they want, but we must man-mark and pressurise the front four in our half. Enjoy the game and show me why to pick you.

Man City tactics

1st Half:

---------------------------- Hart --------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
Richards --------- Kompany ------ Lescott ------------ Clichy
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------------------ Barry ---------- Busquets ----------------
------------------------------------------------------------
D. Silva ------------------- Aguero ---------------- Arshavin
------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------- Dzeko --------------------------

2nd Half:

---------------------------- Hart --------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
Zabaleta ---------- Kompany ------ K Toure ---------- Bridge
------------------------------------------------------------
----------------- De Jong ----------- Y Toure --------------
------------------------------------------------------------
Milner ---------------------- Nasri ------------------ Balotelli
-----------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------- Tevez--------------------------

The shackles have been released and I want the players to go out and show me what they can do. There's no pressure on the lads today, I just want them to go out and express themselves.

Newcastle 2 - 2 Aston Villa
Villa 21' ------ Ibrahimovic 62'
Anelka 40' ---- Gervinho 77'

I see Newcastle causing Villa problems in the first half, and taking a lead into half time but then Villa look a much better side with the changes, and look very dangerous attacking wise, and pulling 2 goals back to level things up.

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Man Utd 2 - 1 Liverpool
Rooney 12' --- Suarez 61'
Hernandez 68'

Very thight game here. Both of Utd's sides look first class, although see liverpool having some joy in the middle of midfield. A tight game with not a lot in it, but think Utd just have that little but more class up top.

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Chelsea 2 - 1 Everton
Mata 29' ---- Zamora 70'
Sturridge 82'

Should be a great game with two stromng sides. Chelsea have such class up front, and see Mata giving Hutton problems. Chelsea to take the lead before half time, and just about hold on to it in the end.

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Tottenham 2 - 3 Man City
VdV 8' --------- Dzeko 33'
Adebayor 67' --- Nasri 57'
---------------- Milner 88'

Really good game. Difficult to seperate after the first half, and see it ending a goal a piece, and the second half a similar story, but think City have that extra bit of class to win the game late on.

Man Utd 2-1 Liverpool
Berbatov 12'--Forlan 33'
Welbeck 64'

Chelsea 2-0 Everton
Robben 23'
Sturridge 25'

Tottenham 0-1 Man City
---------Balotelli 76'

Stoke 1-3 Arsenal
Higuain 2'----Van Persie 24', 44'
----------------Ramsey---90'

Newcastle United 1 - 1 Aston Villa
Villa 28' ------------------ Gervinho 62'

Manchester United 2 - 2 Liverpool
Rooney 27' --------------- Forlan 9'
Hernandez 70' ---------- Gerrard 82'

Chelsea 2 - 1 Everton
Torres 12' --- Benzema 29'
Mata 45'

Tottenham Hotspur 1 - 3 Manchester City
VdV 39' --------------------- Aguero 7', 31'
--------------------- Tevez 68'

Newcastle 2-1 villa
Villa (2) ------ Ibra

Man Utd 1-1 Liverpool
Rooney ------ Suarez

Chelsea 3-1 Everton
Sturridge ---- Baines (p)
Mata (2)

Arsenal 2-1 Stoke
Van Persie -- Jones
Bent

Man U 3 Liverpool 2

Rooney 12 , 45
Welbeck 79

Forlan 1 , Navas 84

Thriller in derby game , Young will cause Johnson and Kelly problems second half. Lpool great going forward but a but suspect at the back

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Chelsea 3 Everton 1

Torres 17 , 29
Cahill 48

Baines 7

Chelsea stronger through out , Torres in great nick at the moment. Everton can't get into the game second half.

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Spurs 2 Man City 5

Van Der Vart (p) 22 , Pavlachenko 55

Aguero 12 , 30 , 35 , Tevez 60 , Nasri 78

Spurs strong team and game is closer than scoreline suggests but city can't stop the quality from the bench running havoc.

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Stoke 1 Arsenel 2

Higuain 13
Van Persie 22 , Bent 70

pretty even first half with the britannia a tough place to go , second half Bent causes Huth and Wilkinson problems and eventually sneaks the winner.

Newcastle 2-3 Aston Villa
Villa, Cabaye: Chamamkh (2), Petrov

Entertaining game settled by Petrov from distance late in the second half.

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Chelsea 2-1 Everton
Mata, Hutton: Pedro

Unlucky for Everton not to nick a point. Pedro terrorised Ivanovic and put the away side ahead. Mata equalised near to half time with a close range finish. Second half, Chelsea have the better of play and get the winner through an intended cross from Hutton which flew straight in.

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Tottenham 0-0 Man City

Nothing exciting happening in the match. Pavlyuchenko hit the bar with a snap shot being the pick of the action.

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Stoke 0-1 Arsenal
Barton

Late late goal. Stoke matched Arsenal throughout until the 87th min when a deflected Barton strike flew in off the post.

Newcastle 2 - 2 Aston Villa
Tiote, Cabaye
Ibrahimovic, N'Zogbia

Newcastle dominated first half but wise move from Fisher at half-time led to marvellous comeback.

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Man Utd 1 - 0 Liverpool
Hernández

Tight game with Man Utd's defence firm and Liverpool's midfield strong, but United's depth of quality up front won it for them.

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Tottenham 1 - 2 Man City
van der Vaart
Balotelli, Nasri

Tight game in the first half with Spurs putting in dogged performance and deservedly leading. Wholesale changes at the break put them on back foot and City's class shone through.

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Stoke 0 - 1 Arsenal
Bent

Tough on Stoke who were tenacious and showed promise. Changes of second-half seemed to have gone against Luke but Bent snatched it late on.

Newcastle 1 - 2 Aston Villa
Ben Arfa ; Petrov, Ibrahimovich

See it as being a tight affair in the first half, but Villa's injection of class in the second half see's them grab the win.

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Man Utd 2 - 1 Liverpool
Young, Hernandez ; Suarez

Cagey game but in the second half Carragher and Alex struggled to deal with Welbeck and Hernandez's pace,

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Chelsea 2 - 2 Everton
Mata, Luiz ; Pedro, Zamora

Chelsea's midfield dominated which lead to plenty of opportunities. Pedro lead several counter attacks which caught Invanovic out and brought the visitors level.

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Stoke City 1 - 3 Arsenal
Di Maria ; Vermealen, Cazorla, Bent

Both sides competed well in midfield but Arsenal's counter attack was sublime and was eventually the difference.