Season 3 Week 1 results

-------------------------De Sanctis-------------------------
----Aurier-------Caceres------------Dier----------Digne-----
-------------Mavuba---------Diaz--------Diame---------------
---------Honda------------Lacazette----------Min-Son--------

BENCH
Silvestri
Evra
Lascelles
Lampard
Tadic
Ibrahimovic
Wilson

We have Tadic, Lampard and Ibra to come on to change the game if things aren't going to plan, with Lampard alongside Mavuba in the middle, Tadic and Son on the wings and Ibra partnering Lacazette upfront. If we need to hold onto the game, bring on Lampard for Honda and move to a 4-4-2 diamond going for pure pace on the counter attack.

TACTICS
We have been written off at the end of last season, it was a poor season but we are going to come back fighting. I believe in our side, we still need a player or two, I don't deny that but I expect three points today. Let's prove the doubters wrong.

We will look to physically overpower them in midfield, they have plenty of midfielders who can pass the ball but we have three players who are physical and should look to use their power, not allowing their passers any time on the ball. When we get the ball we should look to quickly counter using the pace of our front three. Our defense has plenty of pace and can squeeze up to try and congest the pitch, Eto'o doesn't have that pace to exploit us.

PLAYER ROLES
De Sanctis - Save shots. Look to go long if the opportunity arises on the counter.
Aurier/Digne - Get forward when we have the ball, but use your pace to match their wingers, force them wide, particularly if they have the likes of Sigurdsson and Bellarabi out wide who like to cut in. Get narrow if you need to, but they cannot come in.
Caceres/Dier - Dier should be the marker of the main striker (Eto'o?) with Caceres sweeping in behind. Use your pace to force a high line.
Diaz/Diame/Mavuba - Be physical, press their midfield and don't let them settle on the ball. You all are energetic players so get in their faces. All three of you have license to get forward at times but at least one should stay back, you are all box to box men today. That is how we can beat them with our physicality which they lack.
Honda/Son - Use your pace and play as inside forwards today, look to run at their defense. Their full backs like to get forward but aren't the best defensively, exploit that. There should be space between full back and centre back, and I expect Digne/Aurier to overlap.
Lacazette - Make clever runs across their defense, I'm trusting you today as our gameplan is to counter attack. Particularly look at Campagnaro and run at him as he isn't very mobile. Fonte isn't too clever either. Look for space playing on the shoulder.

SET PIECES
Left Corner - Honda
Right Corner - Aurier
Free Kicks - Honda/Lacazette
Penalties - Lacazette

MONTPELLIER v Genk

Montpellier Injuries: Anton Mitryushkin, Benedikt Howedes, Raheem Sterling

Starting XI: Sebastien Frey, DeAndre Yedlin, Mikel San Jose, Jose Fonte, Jetro Willems, Jordy Clasie, Andrea Pirlo, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Karim Bellarabi, Lewis Holtby, Divock Origi

---------------Frey
Yedlin - San Jose - Fonte - Willems
------------Clasie - Pirlo
--Bellarabi - Sigurdsson - Holtby
---------------Origi

Subs: Julian Speroni, Jon Flanagan, Hugo Campagnaro, Seydou Keita, Teddy Bishop, Zakaria Bakkali, Samuel Eto'o

Tough game today against Genk, they have some exceptional players but even while we're missing a couple of first team players we still have the midfield pairing and attack to cause them real problems. Clasie and Pirlo can dictate possession in the middle of the park, while Bellarabi can target Evra/Digne with his pace. Genk's CB's aren't the strongest which is why I've gone with Origi over Eto'o as Origi has the power to bully the Genk defenders to create opportunities. Clasie and Pirlo to look for the ball over the top for Origi if Genk play a higher line.

Defence: Frey to stay big for one on ones and distribute to Clasie/Pirlo. San Jose to track Ibrahimovic, beat him to any passes towards him and force him to drop deeper to frustrate him, Fonte to be the first to any second balls. If they play a second striker, Fonte to mark him and Clasie to track any AM. In possession supply Clasie/Pirlo. Yedlin and Willems to overlap the wingers going forward and get crosses into Origi. Make sure you get back into position ASAP to avoid being caught out. Defensively force their wingers wide and block the crosses. Don't let them cut inside.

Midfield: Clasie/Pirlo sit infront of the back four, get the ball and look to supply the front four. Holtby and Bellarabi will play wide so they are able to switch from playing alongside Sigurdsson when we're attacking but drop and form a midfield four with Pirlo and Clasie when defending. Utilise Yedlin and Willems overlapping and use them to play them down the wing or use the space to cut inside. Sigurdsson to play as our AM, drift left and right and deeper to drag their DM out of position and look to supply Origi with plenty of opportunities. Bellarabi and Holtby as the wingers, both pick up the ball wide and cut inside to leave space for the overlapping fullback, shoot or create when in advanced positions.

Attack: Origi to mark the deepest Genk defender, use your pace and positioning to worry their defenders, drift wide to drag defenders with you, to allow Sigurdsson/Bellarabi/Holtby to make runs down the middle into space for Clasie/Pirlo to pick them out. You more than capable of scoring and assisting, so get shots in where you can and look for your teammate in a better position. Switch positions on occasion to keep the Genk players guessing and drag them out of position.

Subs 70 mins:
If winning: Holtby and Origi off, Keita and Eto'o on. Switch to 4-5-1 with Keita playing at CM alongside Clasie and Pirlo, and forming a midfield three, Bellarabi/Sigurdsson to wide midfield. Absorb pressure then look for Eto'o on the counter.

-------------------Frey
---Yedlin - San Jose - Fonte - Willems
Bellarabi - Clasie - Pirlo - Keita - Sigurdsson
-------------------Eto'o

If drawing: Origi off, Eto'o on. Like for like, new striker with fresh legs, utilise your pace and experience as we push for the winner.

If losing: Willems and Clasie off, Bakkali and Eto'o on. Change to 3-1-4-2; Push for goals.

--------------------Frey
-------Yedlin - San Jose - Fonte
-------------------Pirlo
Bellarabi - Holtby - Sigurdsson - Bakkali
---------------Origi - Eto'o

------------------Olimpa
------Varane ---Manolas --Gabriel
Arbeloa -- Alonso - Krychowiak ----Tremoulinas
------------------Praet
------------Aguero----Sakho

Subs: Jug/Chalme/El Ghazi/Narsingh/Vietto/Ayoze/Drogba

Hero predicted XI: Rafael,Rafinha,Pepe,Subotic,Siquera,Fabregas/McCarthy/Keita/Calhanoglu/Hazard/Tevez

Team Talk: We're up against Hero who is always good tactically so we're going to exploit through the middle as Fabregas & Calhanoglu are lacklustre defensively.

Defensive Tactics
- When defending we will go to a flat back 5 with Arbeloa & Varane doubling Hazard and Gabriel & Tremoulinas doubling Keita, Varane & Gabriel will take turns in doubling up for Tevez with Manolas, Varane & Gabriel will defend vs wingers on counte when full backs push up pitch
- Manolas to get tight with Tevez to stop him turning and running at you.
- Arbeloa will force Hazard down the line, If he cuts inside Varane will come over and stop him,Varane to use his pace to cover off Tevez & Hazard getting in behind their markers
- Gabriel will double up with Tremoulinas to cover Keita when he cuts inside, Otherwise to watch for Calhanoglu making runs into the box
- Arbeloa & Tremoulinas will force Hazard/Keita
- Krychowiak to charge about midfield and look to get tight to Fabregas everytime he touches the ball, Take him out the game
- Alonso will sit infront of the back 3 and look to stop Calhanoglu getting a supply into Tevez

Attacking Tactics
- Arbeloa & Tremoulinas will get up the pitch to force Rafinha & Siquiera back in their own half. If they want to leave Pepe/Subo exposed they can. Look to whip balls in along the floor at pace with the occasional floater to the back post for Sakho
- Alonso to drift about midfield playing short passes into feet with the long back in behind Pepe or into the space where the full backs have gone up pitch
- Krychowiak look to bomb forwards go box to box and look to link up with play and take the pressure off Praet & Alonso by forcing McCarthy to come towards you.
- Praet sits in the little gap just behind Fabregas and will look to slide the ball in behind Subotic for Aguero to run onto.
- Sakho to get onto Pepe and look to dominate him aerially in the box with your leap and look to roll him as he likes to get tight.
- Aguero to sit off Subotic and make the diagonal run in behind the defense, Look to use the channel to get in behind Subotic and take him on pace wise. Once in the box finish as you do so well

- Subs: Gabriel off for Narsingh if losing - go 4-2-3-1 with Sakho behind Aguero and Praet out on the left.

Formation 4-2-3-1
------------------Rafael------------------
Rafinha---Subotic---Pepe---Siqueira
--------McCarthy---Fabregas----------
-----Diao---Calhanoglu---Hazard----
----------------Tevez-------------------

This is it.
The season opener and up against the pre-season favourites. As such we're going with a tried and tested 4-2-3-1 utilising our solid core. There's going to several key battles throughout the pitch, Pepe v Aguero, Fabregas v Alonso, Tevez v Varane but one in which I believe we can really show our class is Hazard against the right side of their defence whether that is Arbeloa in a four man or a wing back.

GK: Speak with your defence, organise them for set pieces, be on your toes constantly ready for Aguero and or Drogba to strike. Play safe and look to catch the ball rather than punch, ensure you dominate your box.

FBs: Both of you are forward thinking fullbacks and both are comfortable in possession of the ball so I want you both to push their wingers back, their wingers can't pose a threat defending in their own half. If their wingers have the ball then don't go to ground, stay with them and force them wide into corners then block the cross. Look to double up where possible with our wingers going forward.

CBs: Pepe to keep Aguero in his pocket, ensure early on he knows who's the daddy and don't let him get goal side. Subotic to double up when needed but mainly to ensure a second striker or a winger doesn't break into the box.

CMs: McCarthy to stay back and keep a close check on their AM, don't allow him time on the ball to dictate play and nullify his threat when he's in a central position, be a terrier at his heels all the time. Fabregas to pass the balls out to the wings especially linking up with Hazard but has the remit if in space to run with the ball if there's the opportunity.

Wingers: This week to really play on flanks and bomb past the FBs to hit low crosses into the box for Tevez to run onto. Look to work with our FBs when they come forward to time runs past the French defence.

AM/SS: Calhanoglu to play in a high AM/SS role this week with the instruction to time runs into the box as the wingers cross to either latch onto them or to open them up to provide space for Tevez.

ST: Use your engine to never stop causing problems for the Bordeaux defence, drag your markers about and don't be afraid to niggle them, let them lash out to get them treading cautiously and for set pieces in dangerous positions for Hazard to strike.

Subs:
Medran, Rabiot, Fernandez, Blackett, Suarez, Muric, Ould-Chikh

Starting line-up:

----------------- Fernandez
--------- Jedvaj - Vlaar - Alderweireld
Ivanovic --------- Xavi ----------- Ljajic
-------- Klaassen ------- Motta
--------- Sanchez ------- Kane

Subs: Fabinho, Veltman, Marrone, Buonanotte, di Natale, Streller, Zivkovic
Injuries: Gianluigi Buffon, Erik Durm, Mitchel te Vrede

General:
Our first game of the new season, and your first game playing for me. If we work hard, talk to each other, and play as a unit, we can beat every team we face. Our opponents today, Bremen, are going to have a strong midfield but I expect us to be up for every challenge, in for every header, and to use our pace to exploit the flanks. With the likes of Terry and Gundogan expect a physical game – don’t hesitate, get stuck into them and show them you’re up for a fight.

Defensive Tactics:
Back three to marshal the striker, likely Kiessling. I want Vlaar to man-mark him using your strength and positioning to keep him quiet. Jedvaj will patrol the right side of defence, teaming up with Ivanovic to keep any wingers out wide. Same for Alderweireld on the left, I want you to work with Ljajic to stop any wingers cutting inside. Xavi, Klaassen and Motta to go for every challenge, win every tackle, ensure that the opposition CMs have no time on the ball. Harry them, punish them.

Attacking Tactics:
Kane to play the leading role, I want you to use your strength and positional sense to slip past Terry and into space. Sanchez will play slightly off you in a free role, make sure you are always in a position to receive a pass.

Sanchez is to have a free role, drift into space, then get on the ball and attack the defence. With Klaassen and Motta breaking out, Kane ahead of you and Ivanovic and Ljajic out wide, Bremen cannot contain you – do what you do best, use your pace to break past your man and get shots on goal.

Ivanovic and Ljajic are to provide outlets out wide. Use them – both can cross well for Kane and Sanchez.

Sub:
If losing on 75 minutes: di Natale on for Klaassen. Focus on doubling up on full backs and putting crosses into the box for the two strikers.

--------------- Fernandez
Ivanovic - Jedvaj - Vlaar - Alderweireld
Sanchez -- Xavi -- Motta -------- Ljajic
--------- di Natale ---- Kane

-------------------Wolf---------------------

----Carvajal—Terry—Martinez—Alonso

----------Gundogan---Kroos-------------

-------------------Maher------------------

Kishna-----—---Keissling—--------Buffel

Today will be an interesting one, we are up against a returning Azzy who will be looking to get a win on the board with Granada. I want us to go out there and prove that we can hang with the best and try and improve on last season. I’m not sure what sort of formation Azzy will go with but I’m sure he will put out a strong side.

Defensive Tactics: I want to be able to play a controlled game today but I do feel we will come under pressure a lot so we need to be prepared to stand up and soak up the pressure. I am not going to allow us to sit deep today and take any extra pressure that we can’t afford to take. We need to look to mark out their striker and watch their runners that I think they will have coming from out wide. Look for diagonal runs into the box and look to shepherd them out wide. Martinez and Terry you both will need to get your head on all set pieces and command the ball in the air. Kroos, you will be just floating in and around the area in front of Martinez and Terry for extra support and I want you to always look to pressure Granada in and around that area when they are on the ball. I want out main focus to be PATIENCE as we may go long periods without the ball and we need to be on our toes at all times.

Attacking Tactics: We may not get much attacking in today and that’s why I want us to make it count when we do have the ball with a patient build up and using the ball in clever ways. It looks like Durm is out injured so I want us to focus the attacks down their left hand side mainly. Kishna I am relying on you to be one of the furthest men forward as this is your side of the pitch when we hit them on the break and we need to attack them fast especially when hitting them on the counter attack which may happen a lot.  Keissling you are most likely going to be off the ball quite a bit today but again you will need to be patient and when you get on the ball to use it properly, we will need to be clinical in front of goal today because chances could be few and far between.

Just finally to recap, we want to play a prepared game today, defending when needed and then straight out of the blocks to hit back on the counter attack. I don’t want us to sit back and soak up pressure as this can be dangerous but when defending we need to be organised and comfortable.

Milik on for Keissling – 80th Minute

87th Minute - Di Santo on for Buffel and switch to a 4-4-2 for the last few minutes

Tactics:

• We aim to keep possession primarily, allowing us to push our FBs up the field and the wingers to come infield
  
• Carrick sits deeper, Schneiderlin more of a box to box role, linking between attack and defense, more defense though
  
• Pjanic to sit between the lines, keep working away to find space, stay patient.
  
• Mirallas and Januzaj to try and turn and run at the defense if given an opportunity, utilise the overlap as both a threat and a decoy.
  
• Costa to be a poacher in the box, wind up the CBs, keep chipping away until they lose patience.
  
• Astori to get physical with their main forward, Davies sweeps up behind.
  

--------------------------------Casillas------------------------------
--------Clyne----------Mexes---------Martins Indi------Gaya------
--------------------------Blind---------Guarin-----------------------
-------Quaresma------------dos Santos-------------Meyer--------
--------------------------------Dybala-------------------------------
Subs: Sommer, Suchy, Poconogli, Umana Elneny, Adili, Adriano.

-Casillas organises defence using his experience, Clyne and Gaya tuck in when defending and go forward when attacking, Mexes marks the striker with his physicality and BMI sweeps in behind the defence, playing out from the back.
-Blind is the holding midfielder, covering the full backs, switching to a 3 at the back when we have the ball, Guarin is the deep lying playmaker, spreading the passes to the full backs and further forward, everything needs to come through him, playing forward passes and supporting Blind when defending.
-Quaresma and Meyer hug the touchline to spread the defence and create gaps in he defence. Dos Santos looks to run beyond Dybala into the gaps created to create space in the midfield to give the ball to Dybala's feet. Dos Santos looks to create and move the DM about and create gaps for Meyer to come inside as the inside forward and exploit when he gets the ball.
-Dybala looks to drop 5 yards deeper to receive the ball at his feet and to drag the defender out of position. Look to link up with dos Santos and get in front of his marker from low crosses from wide areas. Look to use his pace and energy to spin off the defender and leaving him 1v1 with the deepest CB when he wants the ball for feet, but sometimes, drop deeper and look for a pass for him to run onto.

Set Pieces (A) - dos Santos, each side and corners
Set Pieces (D) - Mexes in our own half

Subs (if winning after 70 mins):
Adriano for Dybala - Same stuff as Dybala, fresh legs
Elneny for Guarin - DM alongside Blind, fresh legs, tighten the defence up, tougher to break down
Adili for dos Santos - AM, fresh legs to make an impact and run at the tired DM's legs

Subs (if drawing after 70 mins):
Adriano for dos Santos - Switch to 4-4-2 attacking in hope of getting a winner and to pick the ball up, turn and run at a tired defence
Elneny for Guarin - Not to leave ourselves too open at the back, both full backs bomb on and him and Blind cover (Blind to cover LB and Elneny RB)

Subs (if losing after 65 mins):
Adriano for Gaya - 3-5-2, Blind goes to CB as ball playing CB, Adrian goes up top with Dybala, Quaresma RW, Meyer LW and dos Santos in AM
Elneny for Clyne - He goes alongside Guarin in the 2 deeper midfielders and holds, just like Blind did
Adili for Quaresma - Give us a different outlook on the RW and to run at the tired LB.