Week 5 Tactics

———----—Scuffet——————
Gomez—Silva—Mere—Grimaldo
------Milinkovic---Pellegrini---------
-Sancho----Asensio-----Dembele------
-------------Werner---------------------

Subs: Jantschke, Oxford, Saponara, Spinazzola, Gomez, Bentancur, Locatelli

A loose 4231 formation in which we look to release our more talented players in positions that the opposition struggle to contain, look to keep the ball as much in the opp half. Traditional CBs have no requirement to surge forward, keep it simple. Well balanced FBs force wingers to the flanks and block crosses, in attack look to double up and free our wingers. Pellegrini plays as a DLP and hovers in front of the back four, whilst SMS is the physical link, a capable tackler in case Pellegrini is outnumbered, try to niggle Fellaini early on and get him to react with those elbows.
The important roles are the 2 inside wingers who play in a unmarked space, never touchline wide nor central, occupying a space where they take a defender square on and shift either way. Up front Asensio is given the 10 role, dropping back to assist the midfield when needed and drags defenders with him, creating chances for himself. Werner as the n9, keep on the shoulder of the CB then look to burst with pace when required.

70m Bentancur > Sancho. Go 433 with SMS as  B2B.

---------------------------Akinfeev---------------------------
------Conti---------Jones------------Evans-------Cresswell----
----------------------------Thomas----------------------------
--------------Garcia---------------------Fellaini-------------
-----Vazquez--------------------------------------Lingard-----
---------------------------Rashford---------------------------

BENCH
Sportiello
Reid
Durmisi
Blin
Periera
Payet
Eder


TACTICS
Difficult game against Hero - plenty of thought has gone into my selection.

Their front three is very dangerous but we can get at their defense, but we must work hard, frustrate and absorb everything they throw with a disciplined line-up.


DEFENSE
Our team is stability personified - two banks of four with Thomas sitting in between. Don't get dragged out chasing, hold a back fourwith little space in between to work. Our midfield line in front should get stuck in, force their midfielders into physical conflict which they will want to avoid.
Both wingers selected for their high workrate, get back and defend the wide areas, almost like Mourinho's wingbacks.


ATTACK
Their defense can be got at. Hit them quickly with pace - Rashford getting in behind, Fellaini high as the target for long balls.
Pass the ball quickly, get our wingers running at them as their full backs will push on (especially Grimaldo) and create a quick overload.
Frustrating them will cause a gung-ho impatience and we will take full advantage.


SUBSTITUTIONS
Winning 70' - Periera and Payet for Lingard and Vazquez, fresh legs for counterattacking.

Losing 70' - Payet and Eder for Lingard and Garcia, 4-4-2.

------------------Schmeichel
Valencia --- Miranda -- Hernandez -- Rose
------------- Parolo -- Dembele
--------Fekir -------------------Bruma
-------------Rodrigo --- Falcao

Bench - Belenov, Diakhaby, Medel, Fejsa,Cazorla,Lodeiro, Penaranda

Miranda pick up Silva and look to keep tight to him, stop him getting space to shoot
Lucas use his pace to cover for Miranda and double up with Rose on Callejon down the ring
Valencia & Rose to get up the pitch when have the time look to show their wingers inside
Dembele & Parolo to play as DM's looking to break up plays and dominate the midfield with a physical presence
Dembele control the play getting the ball into the AM's
Parolo to cut supply into Silva & double up with Valencia on Lozano
Fekir & Bruma to play as AM's
Fekir to look for passes in behind the defense for the forwards
Bruma to use pace and trickery to get at their DM's and make runs between full backs and CB's
Rodrigo drift about out to the wings to stretch the defense and look to use his electric pace to get in behind off Falcao
Falcao  drop into the gap between CB's and look to play for flick on's for Rodrigo, Get in box for poaching when Fekir has it

Subs - Cazorla for Parolo if losing,
If winning Rodrigo wide right 4-3-3 Fekir  70th min

Tactics – Dwarfs v Deportivo Wanka


Substitutes: Areola, Abate, Fornals, Boudebouz, Lens, Sanabria,

Defence
Restrict service forward, starve the forwards, with the defence cleaning up what gets through.
Chiellini to pick up Falcao, don’t let him bully you or roll in behind. Laporte play spare, using pace to anticipate through balls and balls in behind.
FBs pick up the wide men. Keep them wide, make them have to beat the man on the outside playing through balls to starve Falcao of service
When defending, Lozano to drop on to the deep playmaker to limit his time to pick passes.

Attack
We expect opposition FBs getting forward, and a lack of real physicality in DM, so we will exploit space behind FBs and between midfield and attack.
Laporte start attacks from deep, bringing the ball out and supplying Tousart/front 4
Juanmi/Callejon to attack the area behind FBs. Run at defence, get balls into the box low between defence and keeper
Lozano - operate in free area behind the striker, working their DMs. Play through balls into Silva. When the ball is wide, support Silva.
Silva - operate around 18yd box, get on to through balls and crosses from wide.

Subs:
if losing, Sanabria for Juanmi – go 4-4-2

Injuries: Daniele Rugani, Etrit Berisha, Thomas Meunier

------------------------------Fahrmann------------------------
Zappacosta------Martins Indi-------Vertonghen--------Gaya
--------------------Fernandinho-----Tolisso-----------------
Robben------------------------Coric--------------------Brahimi
------------------------------Immobile--------------------------

Subs: Layun, Riedewald, Guardado, Davis, Albrighton, Martinez, Llorente

Attacking
Midfield possession is key today. We have the ability to dominate this area of the field so lets do that
Tolisso will be powering forward pulling strings with the ball, always looking to spark an attack - everything starts with Tolisso
Brahimi and Robben are to cut inside and put pressure on the CB's centrally
Coric to operate in the 10 role behind Immobile looking to supply the ball
Immobile to push onto the CB's and making himself known in and around the box

Defending
Zappacosta and Gaya will be getting back behind the ball when we lose possession
Robben and Brahimi to drop in when out of possession to support the FB's
Fernandinho to operate in front of the back 4, cutting out play ASAP
Coric to drop in to support the central area
Martins Indi and Vertonghen to be strong and powerful in the air, not allowing any aerial threat

80th - Guardado on for Coric to drop into a 4-3-3 late on
85th - Llorente on for Immobile and look to push out wide to hit him with crosses late on

Olympique Marswag v SHAKHTAR SENSELESS

Injuries: Stambouli, Augustin, Walker-Peters


Away to Marswag, play a pressing game whenever they are in our half, utilise our pace when counter attacking.

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

Defence, Pepe 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, Mascherano/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/Pedro to run at the injury hit Marswag 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 Mascherano/Kovacic, 4-5-1, Sabitzer RM, Pedro LM.

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

----------------------Mignolet
Klostermann----Tah------Stark----Davies
----------------------Jorginho
--------------Rabiot----------Sanson
-Taison-------------Dolberg---------Richarlison

Bench - Peres, De Ligt, Soler, Ben Arfa, Dembele

Looking to take control of midfield - Ebbsfleet tend to play 2 CM, we're going with 3 to win possession battle forcing them backwards

Klostermann playing defensive role against Brandt, Davies to support the attack. If Brandt swaps, Davies go defensive

Tah pick up main striker, use physicality to match Vardy's runs, Stark as covering defender - keep deep line to slow Vardy

Jorginho is midfield controller - stay in front of back 4 for protection, pick up midfield runs, keep ball moving

Rabiot/Sanson - support attack when we have ball, when we don't, one drops deep with Jorginho, the other presses their midfield. Take long shots, look for front 3 when they have defenders isolated

Taison/Richarlison - dribble with pace and power, commit full backs, try and force them on to back foot - swap wings when its on, put crosses in, take shots on goal

Dolberg - lead the line, but be willing to drop out wide if the CBs are man marking - drag one of them out and let midfield run into the gaps

Subs
Winning at 70 - sub tired players for Soler/Dembele - play more on the counter
Losing at 70 - Ben Arfa for Sanson - 4-2-3-1 and go all out attack

Ebbsfleet United v Deportivo Moron

Injuries: Malcom, Lys Mousset and David Neres

Formation: 4-4-2 (diamond)

---------------------Handanovic------------------------
Trippier------Bartra-------Martinez-------Kolarov
------------------------Bender---------------------------
-----------Goretzka-------------Winks-----------------
--------------------------Ljajic----------------------------
------------Ibrahimovic-------Vardy------------------

Subs: Neto, Emerson, Ake, Tete, Brandt, Arnaiz, Bruma

Intend to exploit confusion in Moron’s defensive and play on communication issues shown by their GK. Direct game towards Zlatan who pulls CB’s out to flanks.

Handanovic, usual dependable display, compared to GK opponent! Bartra/Martinez our strong CB partnership. Sit relatively deep to offset pace attack. Lone striker – Martinez to mark. 2 up front look to tighten up/restrict space. Tripper/Kolarov get forward to create width options alongside Gortezka/Winks. Track back though - mindful of wingers coming on the inside. Bender, CDM providing cover on flanks if Trippier gets forward. Pressing game against slow CM partnership and get ball up the pitch quickly. Goretzka, push ball forward. Look for Zlatan knockdowns and space created centrally. Winks, get ball up pitch quickly. Without ball, sit back alongside Bender to cover counters on left. Ljajic - exploit central space/break forward unmarked. Attack defence pulled apart by tactics. Zlatan - drag CB out to flanks when receiving direct ball. CB’s unsure whether to sit or follow, especially if man-marked. Creates space Vardy/Gortezka/Ljajic can exploit. Vardy, look to pace attack around Zlatan so you have a headstart against out of position CB’s.

Sub (if losing after 80mins) – Brandt for Vardy, Arnaiz for Winks. Play 4-2-3-1

XI (5-2-1-2)

GK - Timo Horn
RCB - Aymen Abdennuor
CB - Davinson Sanchez
LCB - Terence Kongolo

RWB - Juanfran
LWB - Sead Kolasinac

RCM - Amadou Diawara
LCM - Mario Lemina
CAM - Josep Ilicic

ST - Dries Mertens
ST - Tammy Abraham

Subs
Gabriel Mercado
Gervinho
Gianni Imbula
Carlos Vela
Patrick Roberts
Alexander Isak
Oguzhan Ozyakup

------------------------------------Horn----------------------------------
------------------Abdennour-----Sanchez----Kongolo-------------------
Juanfran----------------------------------------------------------Kolasinac
----------------------Diawara------------Lemina------------------------
----------------------------------Ilicic--------------------------------------
------------------------Mertens---------Abraham-------------------------

Overall - Going to stick with what worked last week - we're going to be compact in defence, with Diawara breaking up play in the middle, and the wingbacks making a back five. When we have the ball we keep it on the ground, and have two forms of attack through Ilicic/Mertens running at their defence or use the wingbacks out wide to get crosses in for Abraham.

Attacking - Abraham is the target man, with Mertens/Ilicic feeding off his knock downs. If we have possession, Lemina/Ilicic dictate the game. Kolasinac/Juanfran look to support and get crosses in when possible, when we have possession. If we counter, it goes through Mertens. Diawara to sit in deep, and occasionally break forward when he sees fit.

Defending - Diawara screen the CBs. Lemina/Ilicic to put pressure on the CMs in possession, you are more athletic than them so use that. Sanchez you mark the striker (likely Belotti) up top, with Abdennour/Kongolo keeping tabs on the runners from deep. If they go two up top (Belotti/Dzeko) Abdennour/Kongolo mark, with Sanchez on the cover. Kolasinac/Juanfran tuck in when defending to make a back five. Mertens/Abraham to press the CB's when they have possession, see if we can nick it up top

Subs:

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

If losing - 70 mins - Roberts for Kolasinac and Isak for Abraham. Switch to a 4-2-2-2, with Juanfran RB, Kongolo going LB, Roberts RAM, Ilicic LAM. Same CM/CBs, and Isak joining Mertens up top. Really press and go for it.

Injuries
Wendell
Montoya
Orsolini



.........................................Buffon.....................
........................Llorente.....Barzagli.....Caldara.......
Alves.......................Kessie........De Rossi...........Montoya
.........................................Chiesa.......................
.................................Dzeko........Belotti..........

Subs: Fabianski, Denisov, Izzo, Badlej, Jota, Felipe, Ilsanker


Switch of the system today gives us a solid core and a genuine goal threat.  Fast paced counter-attacking football from us today.  Llorente and Caldara to shuffle wide to help cover the flanks allowing Alves and Montoya the freedom to push forward.

Kessie and De Rossi add muscle to the midfield, DDR will anchor the midfield whilst Kessie has the engine to get forward and join the attack.

Chiesa plays as the #10 will be given free licence to drift wide and link the play.

Dzeko and Belotti is a partnership bang in form in Serie A...Dzeko plays as the target man bullying the defence and creating spaces for the fox in the box Belotti to cause some real damage to the scoreline