Week 15 tactics - Sponsored by PSG destroying Barca

SUNDERLAND

TEAM
Mannone
Fosu mensah Veltman Bartra van Aanholt
Gueye Castro
Redmond Alli Lookman
Defoe

BENCH
Mika
Mawson
Jorge
Romeu
Arter
Origi
Wilson

TACTICS (149 words)
This week we're going to look to have a go at Burnley using pace out wide with Lookman and Redmond stretching their defence, especially if they play wing backs we can really test them. Alli to look for space across the final third with Defoe the finisher, trying to play at pace.

Their main threats in midfield are Coutinho and Dembele. Out of possession I want Alli on Dembele, and Coutinho man-marked by Gueye. If he plays wide then that full back should stay back at all times and either side can match him for pace, don't let him cut inside. We don't usually go man-marking but I believe it is the best tactic today.

SUBS
If winning - Romeu and Origi for Lookman and a CM. Fresh legs.
If losing - Origi and Wilson for Redmond and Lookman. Play both as inside forwards and pace against a tiring defense.

VS

BURNLEY

Buffon
Sanchez---Barzagli---Elvedi
Conti---Dembele------Bakayoko---Grimaldo
Coutinho
Iheanacho---Belotti

Subs: Robinson, Navarro, Holgate, Stephens, Davies, Hogan, Eggestein

Defence
Barzagli mark striker, Elvedi pick up any second striker. Sanchez spare watching Alli’s runs from midfield if Bakayoko loses him.
Conti/Grimaldo - pick up wingers, force them wide or to cross from deep.
Dembele/Bakayoko protecting defence with Bakayoko getting in Alli’s face, allowing wingbacks to join the attack

Attack
Pressure makeshift defence high up the pitch, try and force mistakes from their lack of familiarity.
Dembele - pull strings from deep, feeding the players ahead of him. Bakayoko occasionally joining attack, but not at the expense of letting Alli get free.
Coutinho - free role behind strikers, with freedom to roam.
Conti/Grimaldo provide width, getting ball into the box with crosses between keeper and CBs
Belotti/Iheanacho play in tandem to test new defence. Keep mobile, look to get on to through balls and crosses from wide

Subs: On 65 mins Holgate for Elvedi, on 70 mins Navarro for Conti, Davies for Bakayoko – all fresh legs

MIDDLESBORO

----------------Konstantopolous

Valencia----Van Dijk------Lindelof --- Tierney

--------Rabiot------Weigl----Cyprien

--Mane------------------------------Iwobi

-----------------Ibrahimovic

Subs - Gibson, Nsue, Locatelli, Sims, Merino, Isak

Game plan - use our midfield trio to dominate the game, press on to their midfielders and attack with width to put pressure on their defence leaving Zlatan room

Van Dijk to mark main striker, Lindelof cover
FBs free to go forward and provide width one at a time
Weigl to sit deepest and control the game, Rabiot to pick passes and support attack
Cyprien to support Tierney against Robben if that side, prevent him cutting in and show down the line
Mane and Iwobi to run with the ball, and run in behind off Ibra when he holds it up
Ibra hold up the ball, get into the box and finish chances - look to play in Mane/iwobi

VS

WATFORD

Injuries: Sebastian Prodl, Etienne Capoue, Radamel Falcao, Sead Kolasinac

-------------Gomes------------
---Rudiger--Silva--Kaboul----
Moses--Behrami--Motta--Alonso
Robben----Immobile----Sarabia

Subs: Pantilimon, Mariappa, Janmaat, Holebas, Watson, Amrabat, Sinclair

Looks like Middlesborough may opt to play a 4-4-2 we will be targeting the wide areas with Robben and Sarabia pushing on to the full backs with Alonso and Moses joining them. Behrami and Motta to protect but Behrami is to do a lot of the movement with Motta covering that hole. Immobile to get into the box where Robben and Sarabia will be pushing out wide to try to swing crosses in. Robben to mix it up a bit and look to cut inside and have a go. Kaboul, Silva and Rudiger to keep as a tight unit with Rudiger and Kaboul doing the outside running with Silva covering the central area. Immobile you will need to keep moving in the area and look to control the CB's and outplay them.

80th - Watson for Behrami
85th - Amrabat for Sarabia

Will do the table later, but I think the title race is developing into a 3 horse race, with all three playing each other in the coming weeks.