Week Five Results

Basel vs Palermo

BASEL TACTICS:

PALERMO TACTICS:

Basel got off to a great start in this game when Adebayor managed to beat Coloccini in the middle latching onto a Lallana through ball and managed to beat Ujkani in the bottom corner. Palermo quickly got the equaliser when Perisic smashed home a free kick after Emenike was taken down. They continued to dominate and took the lead of the stroke of half time when Schneiderlin played a ball over the top for Hernandez, who knocked the ball down for Emineke to smash home. More joy was to come for Palermo with further goals coming shortly after half time for Hernandez and Perisic. There was no coming back for Basel who struggled to break through.

Basel seemed like they were playing a diamond style when attacking but on the teamsheet it has been listed as a 4-3-3. However, this played in Palermo's hands as playing without full backs, they could have been exploited out wide but they were okay on this occasion. I think that Palermo have some good players going forward and they cause problems, with the Basel defense looking a bit weak and could do with a top centre back in there. It may be a harsh result, but in this scenario, I feel that I can't do anything else. I will say that Fluxy has signed some good players in Delph and Adebayor, but on this occasion was done tactically.

Basel 1-4 Palermo
Adebayor 16 ----- Perisic 31, 70
----------------- Pardo 43
----------------- Hernandez 58


PAOK vs Montpellier

PAOK Tactics:

Montpellier tactics:

PAOK came out with their typical 4-3-3 lineup with their trademark midfield and this helped them in what was a good midfield battle throughout. However, they opened the scoring in a goal that was unrelated to that, with van Rhijn making an overlapping run and playing the ball to Menez who chipped Frey from the edge of the area. They could have had the second on the stroke of half time but Finnbogasen hit the bar after getting past San Jose. The second half started with Kagawa feeding Eto'o who beat Rekik but his shot dragged just wide. Holtby then played an excellent ball to Sigurdsson who saw his shot deflected wide. It looked like PAOK were heading for the win but in injury time Gerrard looked to receive a simple pass but slipped, allowing Eto'o to come in and make the run before feeding Origi for the simplest of finishes. It ended a fair draw.

I would have started Bellerabi for PAOK, the team is clearly a work in progress but I like what is going on there. A few positions could be improved, the defense for me is a bit weak. Montepellier do have a good midfield but I think they could do with a bit more variety in there, they are all passing style midfielders with no width or muscle in there, and I am not a fan of the full backs.

PAOK 1-1 Montpellier
Menez 35 --- Origi 90

Twente vs Granada

Twente tactics:

Granada Tactics:

A late injury for Balde Diao meant that Green had to come in and take his place. He made a bad start when he gave away a free kick in his own half which Xavi took and found Vlaar but the header went over. Green then got hold of the ball and this time whipped in a cross which found Calvalho making a late run into the box whose header crashed against the bar. Alcacer then squandered a good opportunity to score, hitting a shot well wide. Then against the run of play, Xavi found Streller with a long ball that was knocked down to Januzaj who sidefooted home to give Granada the half time lead. This was not to last long in the second half with Calhanoglu playing a one two with Berahino and equalising, then a second goal followed with Alcacer getting onto the end of an Erik Durm cross. Streller then won a soft free kick off Chambers and Xavi left this one to Januzaj. The boy wonder seemed to have snatched an unlikely point, but Twente managed to win the game with a late header from Marcos Rojo.

I don't agree with TSJ's assessment that Rojo and Chambers is a weak centre back pairing, and I also don't like the idea of putting Bernat and Jedvaj as the wingers, and Januzaj aside, they looked weak in attack. The Twente side need to improve out wide, I'm not a fan of their wingers.

FC Twente 3-2 Granada
Calhanoglu 49 ---- Januzaj 42, 76
Alcacer 52
Rojo 84

Verona vs Getafe

Verona tactics:

Getafe tactics:

Both teams came out with wingers who wanted to cut inside in 4-3-3 formations but it was Getafe who had the first chance when Mirallas cut inside and played the ball through to Di Natale but Reid got there just in time to prevent what looked like a certain goal. Good work from Janmaat down the wing lead to the ball being cut bak to Tiago who hit his shot just over from the edge of the box, via a faint deflection. The resultant corner was taken and whipped in for Sylvian Distin to open the scoring on the half hour mark. Verona nearly got the equaliser they probably deserved before half time but Sterling's shot dinked just beyond the far post. Verona continued to press and got more men forward with Behrami chipping a ball over the top but it was just too far for Moses to reach. Getafe were dangerous on the counter though and Son should have got a second when a long ball found him but Howard was quick off his line and made an excellent save. However, Verona finally got the equaliser they deserved when Sturridge was teed up by Sterling on the edge of the six yard box and the striker made no mistake. Verona stayed on the front foot with chances missed. However, the final chance of the game came from a good run down the left from Van Aanholt, who chipped the ball over the top for Moses to rifle his shot past Codina into the back of the net, but as he wheeled away to celebrate, his goal was disallowed by the offside flag to end the game 1-1.

I can see Getafe scoring going for their fast counter attacking game, Mirallas and Son always causing a threat. Getafe also hold a deep line which makes it very difficult to play in behind, and with Sterling out wide he struggles to make as much of an impact on the game. It's a difficult game to call with Verona probably just shading it, with the quality in their side. However, the two teams are very similar and I feel that Getafe do deserve something so the draw is a fair result.

Verona 1-1 Getafe
Sturridge 57 --- Distin 32


Bordeaux vs Bremen

Werder Bremen tactics:

Bordeaux tactics:

This game started with a great goal from Lacazette who managed to latch onto a long ball from Alonso and half volley it home superbly to give Bordeaux the early lead. This game then dried up a bit with no real chances created in the first half, the best of them a Kießling header when he beat Laporte in the air but saw his header saved by Kameni. The second half was more Werder Bremen attacking, with Maher driving a shot just wide from the edge of the box and Inigo Martinez heading over from a corner. McGeady played a nice one-two with Tremoulinas and had the ball at the edge of the box but was shackled by Selassie, in a nasty challenge. It looked like a penalty, but it was not given. Werder Bremen then went straight down to the other end of the pitch with Martinez finding Vilhena, who teed up Montero but Kameni saved again. Bremen then had one final chance to equalise with substitute Di Santo feeding Buffel who got his shot away but it bounced off the inside of the post and Manolas got there to clear as Bordeaux held out for all three points.

Telling Stambouli to get on Alonso probably wasn't the best decision with him being the defensive midfielder, it allowed him to be dragged out of position. The Bordeaux side is very strong defensively and while Bremen tried to get the breakthrough, they just couldn't make it. Bordeaux should probably look to improve their midfield.

Bordeaux 1-0 Werder Bremen
Lacazette 4

There wasn't much I could do as, like every week, I was Kumquat over by injuries. Good game Hero.

I was surprised to get all 3 pts. It's always handy to have a fairly solid back 4. Unfortunately most my attack was wiped out had Narsingh/Quintero & "Real Madrid/Chelsea bound" Lucas out

The Special Juan wrote:There wasn't much I could do as, like every week, I was Kumquat over by injuries.  Good game Hero.

Losing Berardi really screwed you over, I was fortunate to get the points.

Wasn't really expecting anything different, you've got to start somewhere I suppose though!

I think 4-1 was too harsh personally. A worse score than if he hadn't actually done tactics because he was outdone tactically? That's absolute nonsense! Just my opinion mind.

Marky wrote:I think 4-1 was too harsh personally. A worse score than if he hadn't actually done tactics because he was outdone tactically? That's absolute nonsense! Just my opinion mind.

So does that mean I'm restricted to giving wins to a maximum of two goals? Because I feel this would be the score and I think while it might be a little harsh, it is accurate.

I think no shows should get progressively higher scores against.
A first one warrants a 2-0 loss
Second a 4-0
Third a 6-0

Only really benefits whoever plays them later tbh

What about having a new section in the table called default wins/losses? And separate them on defaults before GD.

That would still be unfair it's not there fault if the opponent doesn't show.

But if i win three games by default and another manager plays all his games in a season and end in the same amount of points, surely the other manager should get the title?

How is it fair someone didn't get a chance to play their games because some like Olly (seems most likely) can't be bothered to do tactics

I know but getting default 2-0 win should not be worth more than a manager earning a 1-0 win in a real game.

Who's to say they wouldn't have won 2-0 anyway?

Trebs wrote:But if i win three games by default and another manager plays all his games in a season and end in the same amount of points, surely the other manager should get the title?

As Nando says, why should I be penalised because my opponent didn't do tactics.

Its not a perfect system, but its the least unfair to the majority