Week 6 Tactics

Fussball v Ebbsfleet United

Injuries – Ibrahimovic, Bartra and Goretzka

Formation: 4-2-3-1

-------------------------Handanovic----------------------------
Trippier----------Bruma---------Martinez--------Kolarov
---------------------Bender--------Winks----------------------
----------Neres-------------Silva---------------Brandt--------
----------------------------Bakambu-----------------------------

Subs: Neto, Emerson, Tete, Ljajic, Arnaiz, Powell, Mousett

Play attacking with aim of keeping possession; targeting Fussball tactics of sitting deep to offset pace attack

Bruma/Martinez – Martinez mark CF, probably Rashford. Intend to starve him of service. Don’t be dragged out.  Keep shape, when Rashford running at us. Stop with strength rather combat with speed.

Trippier/Kolarov – By keeping possession, look for opportunities to go past wingers. Get crosses in for Bakambu. Without ball, tighten back four to force Fussball to flanks and restrict space to run into centrally.

Bender/Winks – Keep the ball. Fussball midfield is weaker so play ball round them. Look for Silva or overlaps. Without ball, pay attention to AM/Wingers. Look to dispossess when they come inside to start our attacks.

Silva – Free role. If marked, move deeper to drag opponent out, creating space for Brandt/Neres. Keep possession, look for options presented around you.

Neres/Brandt – Always moving around Fussball defence. Look for clinical through ball, and beat with superior pace.

Bakambu –Play CB shoulder. Beat for pace over short distance on through balls. If space restricted, go out wide to pull CB’s out to create space for Brandt/Neres

Subs: (losing after 75mins) – Ljajic for Winks. Play 4-3-3. Balls over top for pace of front 3

INJURIES
CM Marouane Fellaini - £10.8m
LB Aaron Cresswell - £10.8m
CM Gini Wijnaldum - 25.2m



-------------------------Akinfeev-------------------------
------------------Jones------------Evans------------------
-----Conti-------------------------------------Caricol----
--------------------Thomas-------Garcia-------------------
---Vazquez------------------------------Eder--------------
---------------------------Payet--------------------------
-------------------------Rashford-------------------------


BENCH
Sportiello
Reid
Durmisi
Rodrigo Hernandez
Periera
Lingard
Belfodil


TACTICS
Playing aggressive, attacking from the first minute - I want quick play, front four interchanging. Press quickly, don't allow them to settle and isolate Bakambu. Winks and Silva are their key players, don't allow them time on the ball.


DEFENSE
Bakambu is very quick and Jones/Evans must always have a step head start in any running race, not getting drawn out of position. 
Expecting wingers despite the diamond last week - Conti to be more cautious with getting forward as he is against Brandt.
Our four in midfield are hardworking, work as a unit and press quickly, Thomas mainly against their key man David Silva 


ATTACK
Caricol should overlap, allowing Eder to get into the box. 
Vazquez to get wide, stretch Kolarov as he isn't the most mobile
Payet to roam across the final third, constantly playing quick one-twos. 
Rashford is likely to be man-marked so drift wide and look for space in behind, drag their centre-backs out of position. 


SUBSTITUTIONS
If winning
60' - Periera >> Eder
80' - Rodrigo Hernandez >> Garcia
Straight swaps - fresh legs.

If losing
70' - Lingard and Periera >> Conti and Vazquez. 
Move to an attacking 3-5-2 
Jones-Evans-Thomas
Lingard-Payet-Garcia-Periera-Caricol
Rashford-Eder

SHAKHTAR SENSELESS v Fiorentina Turner

Injuries: Deulofeu, Pedro, Trapp


----------

Home to Fiorentina, Mission: Revenge. Play a pressing game whenever they are in our half, utilise our pace when counter attacking.

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

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

Midfield, Gagliardini/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. Hazard will be between their midfield and defence, occasionally get up with Jesus.

Attack, Sabitzer/Sisto to run at the Fiorentina defence, get crosses in to Jesus but on occasion cut infield, either to link with Kovacic, Hazard or Jesus, or to feed Henrichs and Toljan 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: Hazard off, Asamoah on, Asamoah CM alongside Gagliardini/Kovacic, 4-5-1, Sabitzer RM, Sisto LM.

If losing: Maksimovic/Gagliardini off, Kruse/Augustin on. All out attack, 3-1-4-2.

Tina Turner away at Shaktar

Injuries:
Wendell
Izzo
Delaney


…………………………………………Buffon……………………………
……………………..Llorente……Barzagli…….Caldara…………..
……………………………..De Rossi……….Kessie……………………….
Alves………………………………..Jota………………………Chiesa
………………………….Dzeko…………….Belotti…………………..
Subs: Fabianski, Felipe, Ilsanker, Malli, Orsolini, Cutrone, Badelj

Jesus is their dangerman – Barzagli to stick tight to him goal side, De Rossi to shadow him front the font, knobble him always, smash him on his touch and keep him from having an impact on this game
Llorente and Caldara to shuffle wide to deal with the wingers, show them the line don’t dive in…if he beats you wipe him out. aggressive football.
Kessie is the driving force goes B2B linking up with Jota and adding weight to our attack.
Alves comes in as a winger, great delivery on him will run the line and bang crosses in for our front two to attack.  Chiesa is the inside-forward drifting in to attack the back stick right peg on him so those cut in and shots off his better.
Jota is a lovely clever player with great dribbling skills, simple, collect the ball and drive it forwards, draw players to you then release them off into space.
Dzeko  the physical presence looking to bully the defence and use his height to attack any long balls.  be the springboard for our attack, Belotti is the goalpoacher playing off the shoulder using his acceleration to latch onto any flick-ons and punish Shaktar’s defence. 

Subs N/A

Tactics – Dwarfs v SAS

Injuries
Faouzi Ghoulam
Juanmi
Jeremain Lens


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

Defence

• Threat will come from Mertens and Abraham. Restrict these two and SAS look toothless.
  
• Laporte pick up Mertens. Use your pace don’t give him a yard.
  
• Chiellini mark Abraham, use your experience and dirty tricks to keep him quiet.
  
• Upamecano play spare, watch for runs from midfield and sweep up when the forwards get free from Chiellini and Laporte.
  
• Abate/D’Ambrosio pick up any widemen, and watch for the FBs getting forward.
  
• Tousart sit and protect the back four.
  
• Forwards press from the front
  

Attack

• We expect opposition FBs getting forward so we will exploit space behind FBs.
  
• 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.
  
• Iniesta play free and drift, looking to play balls into the forwards. If closely marked, drag the marker out and switch with wingers.
  
• Laporte start attacks from deep, bring ball out supplying Tousart/front 4
  
• Silva - operate around 18yd box, get on to through balls and crosses from wide.
  
• Abate/D’Ambrosio get forward occasionally, but not at expense of defending
  

Subs: on 70mins 
if losing, Sanabria for Upamecano – go 4-1-3-2
if winning, Suarez for Iniesta, go 5-4-1

Injuries
Mario Lemina
Josip Ilicic
Davinson Sanchez 


XI (5-2-2-1)

GK - Timo Horn
RCB - Aymen Abdennuor
CB - Terence Kongolo
LCB - Sead Kolasinac

RWB - Juanfran
LWB - Jorge

RCM - Amadou Diawara
LCM - Oguzhan Ozyakup

RW - Marlos
CF - Dries Mertens
LW - Gervinho

Subs
Gabriel Mercado
Gianni Imbula
Carlos Vela
Alexander Isak
Tammy Abraham
Jan Bednarek
Patrick Roberts

------------------------------------Horn----------------------------------
------------------Abdennour----Kongolo----Kolasinac---------------
Juanfran---------------------------------------------------------Jorge
----------------------Diawara------------Ozyakup------------------------
------ Marlos-----------------Mertens-------------------Gervinho------

Overall - Slight change from last week's formation - we're going to be compact in defence, with Diawara breaking up play in the middle, and the wingbacks making a back five. We are going to play on the counter mainly, trying to use the pace and skill of our front three to combine against their slower defence. 

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 asap if you can and support attacks where you can, Diawara will sit and cover. Wingbacks, if you are able to support the attack, then do so, but your main role today is to defend.

Defending - Look to sit in deep today, with the back five sitting compact forcing them to try and go wide with crosses, where we will have the extra men to clear in the box. Two CMs, look to pickup runs of the CAM and stop him playing, we're ok with shots from 30+ yards out! Front three where you can just sit behind the ball, but always look to take advantage of the space if their FBs get forward.

Subs:

If winning - 70 mins - Mercado for Juanfran, Roberts for Marlos. Same formation and instruction - fresh legs.

If losing - 70 mins - Roberts for Jorge and Abraham for Marlos. Switch to a 4-2-2-2, with Juanfran RB, Kolasinac going LB, Roberts RAM, Gervinho LAM, Mertens and Abraham up top. Go for it!

---------------Romero------------------
Retsos--Silva--Skriniar—Grimaldo
-----Milinkovic Savic-Bentancur-----------
--------------Pellegrini--------------
Dembele-----Werner----Oyarzabal
 
Injuries: Asensio, Saponara, Gomez
 
Subs: Gomez, Mere, Locatelli, Sancho, Solanke, Scuffet, Verdi.
 
Overall: A battle of attrition in the centre which we wish to gain early physical dominance, then keep both threat and presence in opposing half. Intelligent reading of the game combined with quick passes and movement is key.
 
Defence
 
Romero - Be big in the box, look to be the first point of attack with quick balls out.
Retsos/Grimaldo - Close down spaces, force the opponent onto their weaker foot and block crosses.
Silva - Marshal the back line, ensure they keep shape, alert and are disciplined.
Skriniar - Mark their main striker in the final third, don’t be dragged out of position. Use height to advantage in both boxes.
SMS/Bentancur – Work hard. Read the game, react and intercept, protect the defence then launch attacks. Physically bully opponents.
 
Attack
 
Pellegrini – Quick play, turn defence into offense in a second, look for movement & space ahead.
Dembele/Oyarzabal – Decision making is vital, mix up play between taking on the defence or pass & move. Don’t let opposition second guess you.
Werner – Constant movement, let the defence chase your shadow as you find space.
 
Subs:
70m – Mere > Bentancur, Skriniar goes to DM and adds extra protection.
80m – Sancho > Oyarzabal

-------------------Arrizabalega
--------De Ligt--------Tah------Stark
--------Henderson -Jorginho--Rabiot
-Guedes------------Havertz--------Richarlison
---------------------Dolberg

Bench - Peres, Klostermann, Davies, Soler, Taison

Tactics

Back 3 to stay compact, Tah pick up Werner using physicality to throw him off his game.

If they play 2 up front, we've got a spare CB to cover both strikers

Henderson/Rabiot switch depending where Dembele starts - Henderson play the donkey role on his side of the field, cut off supply into his feet and double up on him

We think they'll look to target our FBs - tactic is to play without any, stay narrow and let them get outside us, flood the width of the box with 6 players who'll challenge as soon as their wide players get close, easily able to clear away crosses.

Lightning quick front 4 to carry the ball with pace at defenders. We'll challenge their FBs 1 on 1, cutting in on their weaker foot

Havertz pull the strings, give their DMs problems on whether to follow or hold position - look to feed the ball into Dolberg and wings

Dolberg - run in behind all day, need to create gaps between midfield/defence for AMs to attack

Subs

Soler for energy in midfield in last 20
Taison to offer pace against a tired FB

----------------Strakosha
-----Sokratis ---Miranda -- Diakhaby
Valencia -- Dembele -- Parolo ------Marcos Alonso
--------------------Fekir
--------------Falcao --- Rodrigo

Bench - Belenov, Medel, Cazorla, Lodeiro, Jiminez, Penaranda 


Miranda to pick up the main forward and bully him
Sokratis & Diakhaby to watch for runners from midfield,cover with pace & double up with the wing backs
Valencia & Alonso to bomb forwards and get balls into the box, When defending show wingers inside towards the dm's
Dembele to control the play from deep look to get the ball into Fekir or to a wing back
Parolo to sit infront of the defense and cut the supply into the main forward
Fekir to sit in the pocket and drift about look to create for the front 2 and break beyond them into goalscoring chances
Rodrigo to use his pace to pull the centre backs apart 
Falcao to bully the CB and look to roll in behind and get in box for crosses

Subs - Cazorla for Rodrigo if winning go 3-4-2-1

Injuries:
Arjen Robben
Trevoh Chalobah
Jairo Riedewald

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

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

Defending
-Meunier and Gaya to be watching the wide play sticking to the defensive line when we lose the ball
-Vertonghen to mark the striker with Rugani peeling off in cover
-Fernandinho to drop in deep to defend when we lose the ball, pushing in as a screen in front of the defensive line
-Martinez and Brahimi to drop back deeper when we lose possession to help out the back line
-Herrera getting up and down the pitch operating as a box to box midfielder, helping out with the defensive situations

Attacking
-Play out from the back with Vertonghen pushing it into Tolisso to pull the strings
-Tolisso driving forward into the space as the artist in midfield
-Keeping possession is key with triangles being formed with the shape when we attack
-Herrera to push on when we have the ball, attacking the box with the forward players
-Martinez and Brahimi to push onto the full back areas putting pressure on out wide
-Immobile staying centrally always creating an option for the players behind, be physical and make yourself known

80th - Llorente on for Immobile to give another presence up top
85th - Anguissa on for Fernandinho keeping the energy flowing