QUARTER FINAL TACTICS

Injuries: Phil Bardsley, Victor Wanyama, Stephen Ireland

Starting XI:
-----------------------------4-2-3-1

------------------------Keiren Westwood

Matthew Lowton – Jores Okore – Joseph Yobo – Emilio Izaguirre

----------------Michael Bradley – Gareth Barry

Pablo Hernandez - Andreas Weimann - Gabriel Agbonlahor

-----------------------Christian Benteke


Subs: Brad Guzan, Ciaran Clark, Siaka Tiene, Karim El Ahmadi, George Boyd, Peter Odemwingie, Jamie Mackie


Tactics: A tough game ahead, Norwich’s main threat is Van Wolfswinkel, so I want Okore to outpace him and Yobo to beast him. Like us, they will also be looking to put their opponents under pressure, however they we are stronger in midfield even without Wanyama, so I want us to get at them early, take control of the ball and look to get at them.

Our back four will look to build attacks from the back, and cut off the supply to Van Wolfswinkel. With Bradley and Barry ahead of them, we have a solid base. Start from the back, go through midfield with Bradley, Barry and Weimann dropping deep.

Look for the runs forward from Hernandez and Agbonlahor, alternatively play it to Benteke who can hold up play and feed the three men behind him. Weimann is not expected to chase back, he is our more advanced midfielder with the aim of creating for us. Bradley and Barry our DM’s when we don’t have the ball, help out the back four and cover when either fullback gets forward.


Subs 70 mins:
If winning: El Ahmadi on, Weimann off. El Ahmadi the third CM and we go to 4-5-1.
If drawing: "Hey there you with the sad face, come up to my place and live it up". No changes.
If losing: Mackie on, Hernandez off. Weimann to RF, Agbonlahor to LF, Mackie and Benteke at CF in a 4-2-4. If we get level, Weimann and Agbonlahor to drop back to RM and LM respectively.

Aston Villa vs THE MIGHTY YELLOWS!

Injuries: David Fox, Alexander Tettey, Russell Martin
Formation: 4-1-4-1
Starting XI:
GK - John Ruddy
RB - Steven Whittaker
CB - Sebastien Bassong
CB - Brede Hangeland
LB - Javier Garrido
CDM - Liam Bridcutt
RM - Robert Snodgrass
CM - Marco Van Ginkel
CM - Jonny Howson
LM - Anthony Pilkington
ST - Ricky Van Wolfswinkel

Subs:
Mark Bunn
Michael Turner
Ron Vlaar
Elliott Bennett
Kei Kamara
Luciano Becchio




Team Talk: Right guys we expect they'll set out in there usual 4-2-3-1, so we've set up to sit back and defend properly, then to use our pace and skill out wide to take advantage of there FB's who are very suspect defensively, and there CB's who Van Wolfswinkel can dominate. We have the ability to break from deep in midfield, but also match them man for man. Sharp incisive counter attacks, draw them onto us, and then force the error by pressing in the right areas, and go like the wind.

Tactical Instructions:
Ruddy - Command the back four today. Anything floated up in the air, you come and get it. They will take shots from long range, so be ready, nothing will beat you from there if you keep your concentration. Look to distribute long to RVW or through the full backs.
Whittaker and Garrido - They will look to hurt us with there wing play today. Force the wingers out wide, and into crosses, we can handle there aerial threat. If you can get forward, do so. However do not leave us exposed to a counter from them. Look to find Van Ginkel if the keeper feeds you the ball.
Hangeland and Bassong - The back four need to be in a good straight line, Hangeland is our leader at the back and should control this. We should be generally just on the edge of the area where there is not enough space to play behind and trying to restrict them too long range efforts.
Bridcutt - Big role today as you look to keep there CAM quiet. He will play CAM for the most part, but do not let yourself be drawn out wide as he will try to do. Let him drift out there, as he will cramp the space for the wingers, and be ineffective. You sit back always and screen the back four, cover if a FB goes forward. Look to feed Van Ginkel if you get the ball.
Howson and Van Ginkel - Big role for you two today. You must be disciplined in your defensive duties, and when we do attack look to get it out wide quick and make the box. Howson you have the youth in your legs to get around there playmaker, make sure he doesn't have time to pick up the ball deep and pull the strings. Van Ginkel you track the other CM. Both of you have very good long shots, so don't be afraid to shoot if you get the chance.
Snodgrass and Pilkington - Boys a huge role today. You must be disciplined in your defensive duties. Get back in and double up with your FB's, and don't let the wingers/fb's cut inside, force them wide. When we counter, we are looking to you two to cause trouble. Take on your full backs and whip in crosses for Van Wolfswinkel, or cut inside and shoot. Be direct, it is important we attack at pace.
Van Wolfswinkel - Big role for you today and you play it amazingly well. If we have to go long quickly, we hit you. You must hold the ball up, so it allows us to relieve some pressure. When holding it up, look to hit Van Ginkel or the wingers. We will look to get crosses in, you are a great header of the ball, so look to pinch us some goals to win us the game.

Subs:
If winning: 70 mins - Turner for Bridcutt. Go 5-4-1 with Turner at CB, shut up shop.
If losing/drawing: 70 mins - Snodgrass for Becchio, Pilkington for Kamara. Go 4-3-3, with 3 strikers up top, and aerial bombardment

-------------------------------Stekelenburg-------------------------------
------Reither-----------Samba---------------Mirin-------------Fucile------
-----------------------Capoue---------------Sidwell-----------------------
Redmond-------------------------------------------------------------Varela
---------------------------------Berbatov---------------------------------
----------------------------------Adriano---------------------------------

BENCH
Gillet
O'Brien
Manolev
Richardson
Emmanuelson
Ruiz
Rodallega


TACTICS
First game in the play offs today and we want to open our account with a convincing win. Strong back four should all work as a unit, and when we get forward use plenty of wing play.


DEFENSE
Holt is a physical player who will be man-marked by Samba if he plays, Holt is good in the air but Samba is better and stronger. Don't let him win anything. If Bent plays then we will play a deep line to try to negate his pace, give him nowhere to run and especially don't let him get in behind or have space to get shots away. They are likely to play with pacey wingers but we need our full backs to stand strong and force them wide, don't go diving in with silly tackles, look to contain but use the superior strength. Capoue and Sidwell need to work together in front of the back four to provide protection, rather than running and chasing the ball get just in front and make sure there is no room for them to play and that the only thing they can do is attempt long balls from a long way out.


ATTACK
Redmond and Varela should run at the defense all day long and get crosses into the box. Adriano and Berbatov should make plenty of clever runs, the former slightly higher but constantly swap positions and work in tandem, make yourselves difficult to pick up if they try to man-mark and drag the defenders out of position. One central midfielder should get forward at a time in support of the attacks and the full backs have license to get forward to support their wingers. Both centre backs are good in the air so should get forward for set pieces.


SET PIECES
Left Corner - Sidwell
Right Corner - Redmond
Free Kicks - Varela
Penalties - Berbatov


SUBSTITUTIONS
If winning bring on Emmanuelson for one of the strikers, playing 4-2-3-1 and dominate possession.
If drawing bring on Ruiz and Emmanuelson for Redmond and Sidwell. Move to a narrow 4-4-2.
If losing bring on O'Brien and Ruiz on for Fucile and Reither, move to three at the back and three strikers.

-----------------Gordon
--------Forre ---Astori---Williams
Clyne-----------------------------Shaw
------Coquelin-------Schneiderlin
--------------Taarabt
----------Lambert -- Guidetti

Subs: Neville/Yoshida/Hooiveld/Lallana/Kačaniklić/Sergi Roberto/Phillips

Team Talk: The league is going down so time to go out with a bang

Gordon: Expecting balls in behind for the main forward so if they come in the box come and clear it either if pick then release to a full back

Forren: I want you to watch for on coming attackers presumably Marveaux/Kebe, Make sure they can't get the ball into Aspas, If they come down the right wing then double up with Clyne

Astori: Your a beast in the air so your be up against Aspas, He likes to drop off and run in behind, Make sure he doesn't by keeping tight to him

Williams: Your going to be spare defender clearing up what mess is made if Aspas turns Astori then you get back at him, If Kebe/Marveaux get in behind use your pace to clear up, If they come down the left wing double team with Shaw

Clyne: It's all about defending and attacking as a unit today, you like to get forward so when we have the ball you will create the width for us,When defending sit in and make sure they can't get down the wing, Look to whip crosses in as we have the height of Lambert in the box

Shaw: Same as Clyne we go forward as a unit so when we do your be the width on our left take on Gunter with Pace as their winger won't want to track back,When defending don't let him get the cross in

Coquelin: Sit in front of the defence today look to sit on their AM or block the line into Aspas, Make sure he doesn't have time to settle on the ball get to his knockdowns, if they AM drifts behind then leave him Williams will pick him up

Schneiderlin: Your be key today as your be the source of our play with your range of passing, If have the ball look to get it into Taarabt or out to a winger, On occasions don't be afraid to hit it long to Lambert. When Defending sit with Coquelin block the space into Aspas to limit his supply, Don't be afraid to get amongst the midfield

Taarabt: Your in a free role today Adel, since we're playing with wing back you can drift from right to left to centre whereever you need to be to influence the play, Guidetti will make runs in behind with his blistering pace,Lambert will be available to link up with to make runs off of, If we're defending then sit on their DM make sure he doesn't have too much time on the ball, Don't be afraid to shoot either we know your capable of it

Lambert: I want you to stick onto Sunzu today, Bully him use your height and strength to dominate him, Look for flicks on or chest it down and release it and make you way into the box, If in the box come from the far post inwards to make sure he can't back into you.

Guidetti: The main reason your playing today is movement , Hughes isn't the fastest CB so i want you to make runs in behind off him weather it's a Lambert flick on or a Taarabt through ball just make sure you get goal side of him don't let him force you away from goal.

Subs: Phillips for Forren after 65 mins go 4-4-2 Phillips RW Taarabt LW

Formation: 4-4-2
Injuries: Pavel Pogrebnyak, Daniel Carrico, Jason Roberts

GK: Alex McCarthy
RB: Chris Gunter
CB: Alex Pearce
CB: Aaron Hughes
LB: Martin Olsson
RM: Jimmy Kébé
CM: Wilson Palacios
CM: Steven N'Zonzi
LM: Sylvain Marveaux
FW: Iago Aspas
FW: Adam le Fondre

Tactics:

Being the number 6 seed has given us a tough draw away from home, but the pressure is on the favourites to get the result here so play with freedom and have a real go! Work & create the space for each other and let’s provide a real threat going forward with plenty of movement and pace.

Defensively, work as a unit shutting down the attacking play. CB’s we’ll have to match Lambert physically and aerially to compete with aerial balls. Command the 18 yard box compacting the space with a narrow line. Full-Backs drop off slightly to invite the runners, keep them on the by-line isolated stopping them from cutting inside. Rotate in overlapping going forward.

CM’s, bully their midfield, they’ll either have youngsters who will drop their heads or Neville who hasn’t got the legs anymore. Make life difficult with strong physical challenges. Make yourselves available for the short option as all times. Wingers, run into the space left by their full-backs as they like to get forward so expose and hurt them in a foot race. Drill crosses into the box. Forwards use your pace to cause problems. Torment them from the front closing them down. Look to run into the space behind playing off the last defenders shoulders working the offside traps. Enjoy yourselves!

Subs - Stoppila Sunzu to replace Alex Pearce on 52 Mins. Fresh legs and aerial threat working on man marking Lambert

Subs - William Vainqueur to replace Wilson Palacios on 79 Mins. Fresh legs in the centre of the park. Look to support forwards with late runs. Pick simple passes

------------Foster
Reid -- Coates -- McAuley -- Ridgewell
-------- Leitner -- Mulumbu
Brunt -------- Diego ------- Ince
------------- Lukaku

Team talk:
Right lads we've made massive progress over the past few games. QPR are beatable. They don't have good balance whilst defending as their wingers won't track back. Michu will more than likely be upfront by himself will struggle if we cut off all their supply to him. He's not going to run past our defence as he possesses no pace. We'll utilise our wings and look to create lots of chances for the in form Lukaku. Diego look to receive the ball from our DMs and quickly supply Lukaku!

Attacking tactics:
* Ince and Brunt get at their fullbacks. Their wingers won't track back so run at them.
* Lukaku use your strength and look to get on the end of the crosses. Take your chances!
* Diego you're our attacking creativity look for through balls that will split their defence open
* Mulumbu & Leitner look to build up quickly and supply the men in front of you with precise passes to feet

Defending tactics:
* brunt and Ince track back so were not light at the back
* Leitner & Mulumbu sit in front of our defence. Look to break up play
* CB's zonally mark and don't be dragged out of positions
* Fullbacks alternate your runs don't leave us light at the back.