Tactics Week 5

Injuries
Jürgen Locadia
Marco van Ginkel
Steven Bergwijn
Patrick Roberts


Formation - 4-2-2-2

GK - Joroen Zoet
RB - Santiago Arias
CB - Lucas Hernandez
CB - Hector Moreno
LB - Jetro Willems
LCM - Ruben Neves
RCM - Davy Propper
RW - Ricardo Horta
LW - Gaston Pereiro
ST - Luuk De Jong
ST - Enes Unal

Subs
Andres Guardado
Danny Ward
Siem De Jong
Bart Ramselar
Zinchenko
Kieran Tierney
Joshua Brenet

---------------------Zoet---------------------------
Arias---------Moreno-----Hernandez-------Willems
-------------Neves-------------Propper--------------
Horta-------------------------------------------Pereiro
---------------DeJong-------Unal-------------------

Tactics:

Lets attack like the Nazis in Poland - full throttle ahead. Neves to sit in front of the CB's, allowing the full backs to bomb on, Propper up and down the middle like a mad man, Horta and Pereiro have license to hit the byline or cut inside - Unal I want to drop in a link play, with De Jong the poacher on the last shoulder. In defence, Full backs drop in narrow, wingers get back and double up with the FBs, strikers harry their CBs. Score lots of goals please lads.

Subs: 70th minute - Tierney for Willems, Brenet for Arias, Guardado for Propper

---------------Pickford------------
Semedo---Rekik--Cahill-----Bedimo
---------Sanson--Vainqueur-----
Thauvin------Lopez-----Konoplyankya
-------------Ben Yedder-----------

Subs: Pele, Doria, Sakai, Anguissa, Cabella, Sarr, N'Jie.

We've opted for the 4-2-3-1 today, Leipzig are probably title favourites but we are at home and want to make a statement that we aren't going to rollover for them. They played a 4-3-3 last week so if that is the case then we will need to dominate that midfield area with our 5. Asensio is likely to be playing in the central area so Vainqueur is to track him and squeeze any play out before it makes it through to Kane. Cahill and Rekik will have the job of marking Kane and making sure he can't get free to do his work on the ball. Bedimo and Semedo are to be supportive in attacks but in a structured way working up and down the pitch with plenty of energy. Lopez is to roam in and around the final third as a 10, looking to slot the ball through to Ben Yedder who will be looking to spin the defenders getting in behind. Thauvin i want you to push forward down the flank to put pressure onto the replacement leftback as Kolasniac is injured with Semedo overlapping.

70th-Cabellla for Lopez, continuing creativity
80th- N'Jie for Ben Yedder to refresh pace

-------------------------------Woodman------------------------------
Pereira-----------Orban-------Doucoure----------Marin
---------------------Cyprien--------Tousart-----------------------------------
-------------------------------Asensio-----------------------------------------
---------------Abraham------Kane------Gnabry-------------------


Subs - Zagadou, Onomah, Bentancur, Calvert Lewin, Woodburn, Solanke,  Gomes

GAMEPLAN
Going with the 4213 formation we'll look to use our front three to terrorise Marseille defence. Pressure them from the get go and try and score an early goal.

DEFENCE
Reliable keeper in goal. Doucoure to mark their main striker and Orban to do covering. Fullbacks make overlapping runs and get crosses into the box. Tousart's main role defend and cut passing lanes and close down attackers. Cover for our fullbacks when they are attacking. Cyprien will be playing as a b2b and will help both attack and defence. Make runs forward and play quick one twos to create space in middle.


ATTACK  
Wingers bring pace to team. Get to byline and whip in low crosses for striker to finish. Asensio to play quick passes with teammates and make runs into box. Kane to play as a proper old school number 9. Get on end of crosses and use your expert poacher skills to get goals.

Subs if drawing/winning 65MINS
Lewin for Gnabry
Onomah for Tousart
Solanke for Abraham
- like for like position wise

Subs if LOSING 65MINS
Lewin for Tousart
Gnarbry and Kane in strike, Lewin LW. Push defence up and try and score a goal.

HOFFENHEIM v Celta Vigo

Injuries: Gotze, Henrique, Hoffmann, Tiquinho

Baumann
Henrichs - Schar - Sule - T Hernandez
Rudy - Gueye
Pulisic - Amiri - Piazon
Ibrahimovic

Subs: Stolz, Naldo, Toljan, Rupp, Shabani, Jonas, Isak

---

Home debut for me 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, Sule mark their striker, Schar to play as the spare man to get to any second balls. Henrichs and Theo 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 Amiri. Amiri will use his trickery to create space and chances.

Attack, Pulisic and Piazon to run at the Celta defence, get crosses in to Ibrahimovic but on occasion cut infield, either to link with Amiri or Ibrahimovic, or to feed Henrichs and Theo 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: Amiri off, Rupp on. 4-5-1, Pulisic RW, Piazon LW.

If losing: Schar/Gueye off, Isak/Jonas on. All out attack, 3-1-4-2.

--------------Lopez
-----Llorente--Vickers--Gibson
Trippier--Romeu-Chalobah---Castro
---Castillejo----------Bongonda
---------------Sandro
Mallo, Planas, Hernandez, Grujic, Wood, Kamano, Guidetti

Today the line up offers more fluidity going forward than before, whilst keeping a solid defence. Romeu is very good at breaking up the play, which is his job to day, allowing Chalobah to be a more cultured DM, and hold the ball, giving us a bit more finesse in the middle. Romeu’s primary duty will be to protect Vickers, counteracting possible attempts to exploit his youth. Trippier and Castro will both be allowed to get up and down the line, contributing to our attack.
In attack we have a front three who like the ball on the deck, hence the inclusion of Chalobah. They will thrive off through balls, and low, drilled balls into the box from the full backs. All of these players have a bit of pace, and like to run at opponents, and they are all free to do that, interchanging at speed to good affect.
Subs
65 mins
Hernandez replaces Romeu
Fresh legs in midfield, will play same role as player he replaces.
If losing/drawing
Kamano replaces Castillejo
Wood replaces Bongonda
Sandro drops to the left side of the attack, and Wood is used as the figurehead to the attack. Kamano and Sandro push past him.

Real Sociedad

Injuries:
CB Lyanco
17 CM Carlos Alena HG
2 GK Ander Bardaji HG
4 RB Aitor Bunuel HG

……………………………………Buffon………………………………………
Calabria………………Inigo…………Navas………….Emerson
………………………….Illarramendi…….Wanyama………..
Vela……………………………….Canales…………………..Oyarzabal
………………………………………Onyekuru………………………………..

Subs: Bunuel, Biraschi, Granero, Alena, Leandrinho, Origi, Borja

Tino Bambino’s last game in charge before going to Atalanta – lets send him off with a win. Today is all about fast paced wing play forcing the opposition backwards and keeping their own FB’s from venturing forwards – Wanyama and Illarra are key today as they will hold the middle ground – Illarra will finally show why he’s the “new Xabi Alonso” whilst Wanyama is the muscle in the engine room that all the top teams need.
Our front four is just pure pace, Onyekuru may not be well known but top scored in Belgium and earnt a move to Everton so they must see something in him.

Subs 65 mins fresh legs:
Leandrinho > Oyarzabal
Origi > Onyekuru

Atalanta

Injuries:
Rashford
Silva
Mendy
Papu

…………………………………………strakosha…………………………….
…………………………Barzagli………Caldara……….Toloi………..
Conti……………………Freuler……….Kessie……………..Spinazzola
……………………………………….Montolivo………………………….
……………………………..Mor………………Kelechi…………

Subs: Rossi, Diakhaby, Hateboer, D’Alessandro, Raimondi, Harrop, Migliaccio

Tino comes in to replace Hodgey – and settles into his new home with a traditional 3-5-2 and utilising the prandelli-esque “Tiki-talia”

pass move one touch football today, as the ball does the leg work, pull the opposition out of position and then hit a long ball over the top to utilise the pace and power of our front two.

The back three is pretty solid but RCB and LCB will act as full-backs allowing Conti and Spinazzola to push as far forward as possible and give us much needed width.
Kessie and Freuler keep it simple in the engine room and allow us to keep the play ticking over. Monty reprises the trequartista role he played at Fiorentina in his youth..great eyes for a pass will do a job there.

Kelechi and Mor – may be green but good pace and decent finishing should be a potent combo.

Subs 65 mins fresh legs:
Migliaccio > Freuler
D’Alessandro > Monty (who then switches with Kessie)

------------------------Boer

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

Passlack---Ziyech--Locatelli----Dembele---Stafylidis

----------------Dolberg--Mbappe

Subs - Alblas, Sinkgraven, Tuanzebe, Fornals, Kluivert, Traore, Dembele

Tactics

Going forwards, we want to exploit them missing their best defender in Chiellini - playing two pacey physical threats up front, both willing to run in behind and see how they cope without their defensive leader.

Defensively, Sanchez to man mark Belotti with his pace and power, De Ligt to cover. We've got Ake and Stafylidis to cover the dual threat from Robben/Alves on the right wing, and Locatelli will offer protection in the middle.

Dembele and Ziyech our box to box midfielders will look to get on top of a midfield missing Benassi - carry the ball through the middle past their midfield, look to draw the CBs and get the strikers in.

Passlack to look to provide the width going forwards, Stafylidis primarily playing a defensive role

Subs

If losing at 70 - Dembele and Traore on as pacey attacking options, Fornals on to give us a more creative midfielder
If winning at 70 - wing backs drop to make it 5 at the back, replace tired midfielders and get Dembele/Traore on for rapid counter attacks

----------------Ederson
Alves---De Rossi---Pepe---Plattenhardt
-----------Baselli------Dahoud
----Robben-------Ljajic-------Falque-----
------------------Belotti

Moreira, Foyth, Maouassa, Araujo, Harit, Salcedo, Silva

For the first 15 minutes of each half we are going to try and blitz the opposition, pressing them all over the pitch and using the pace in attack to catch them cold, then settle down into a 3 quarter press, letting the opposition CB's have the ball as much as they want.

 The midfield 3 can all pick a pass and will focus on getting the ball out to the front 3. The wingers will be using their pace and trickery to cut inside and try to draw the full backs inside, leaving space for our full backs who will look to get up the pitch forcing either the opposition winger to track back and stifle their attacking play, or leaving the defence outnumbered.

Subs
If we are winning we will bring on Harit for Falque and purely counter attack, if we are drawing or losing we will bring on Silva for Ljajic, go 442 and get crosses into the box.

------------------------Cardinale-------------------------
Klostermann---Mere---Kimpembe---Sessegnon
------------------------Koziello---------------------------
Mboula-----Bakayoko------Seri-----------Dembele
------------------------Werner---------------------------

Subs: Augustin, Nkunku, Gomes, Saint-Maximin, Sarr, Meite, Dalbert

Flexible 4-1-4-1 formation which depending upon Treb’s tactics can quickly alter to more defensive 4231 with Seri dropping deeper or attacking 433 with wingers playing higher.
Koziello in key DLP role, anticipate and intercept covering defence, kickstart attacking movements. 2 central midfielders alternate B2B & defensive cover, physical presence dominate possession. Communication paramount between midfield trio.
In defence got combination of old & new school CB in Mere & Kimpembe, Mere mark Balotelli, get in his ear early on and disrupt game, Kimpembe double up where required but also play the ball out to flanks. FBs contain, slow down opposing players and push onto weaker foot, when we have possession then push forward offering support to wingers.
Mboula & Dembele as floating wingers, defensively come inside & restrict space, in possession push forward with opposite winger acting as 2nd striker. Werner’s speed & intelligence to drag markers frees space for wingers to exploit. Beat offside traps onto through balls. All attacking players have speed in abundance so hit hard and fast on counters.

70m: Saint-Maximin > Mboula, Dembele swap flanks, fresh pace against tiring defence
80m: If losing Augustin > Koziello 442, if winning Nkunku > Koziello 451.

-------------------------Heaton-------------------------
---Byram--------Semedo-----Evans------Grimaldo---
-----------------Livermore----Capoue-----------------
----------Atsu--------Cleverley © ------Niang----------
-------------------------Balotelli-------------------------

BENCH
Gomes
Maoussa
Lascelles
Arter
Zakaria
Philipp
Fletcher


TACTICS
For many of our team, this is the final goodbye. Let's go out with a win.


DEFENSE
Going forward they have a lot of pace and young players, and from the first minute we need to rough them up, get physical with them. Defend deep to stop them getting space in behind. Wherever Dembele goes, Livermore should track, not allowing him a moment on the ball.

ATTACK
Quick counter attacking. Niang and Atsu to stretch out the pitch, make their defense split open as wide as possible and get crosses into the box. Holding is out, Balotelli can bully their centre backs, intimidate them. Livermore to stays back, Capoue gets forward, Cleverley to play in the #10 role where he won't let me down, make runs in between their defense and midfield, pick out the passes.


SUBSTITUTIONS (62’)
If winning - Zakaria and Arter for Livermore and Capoue, fresh legs in midfield.
If losing - Philipp and Fletcher for Capoue and Atsu. Move to a 4-2-1-3 with Philipp behind the three strikers.