Week 8 Tactics

INJURIES
Winston Reid
Morgan Sanson
Raul Garcia

TEAM
-----------------------Akinfeev-----------------------
---Valencia------Jones--------Kompany-------Caricol---
-----------------Thomas--------Casemiro---------------
--------Payet------------------------------Lingard----
------------------------------------------------------
-----------------Falcao--------Rashford---------------

BENCH
Sportiello
Evans
Young
Rodrigo Hernandez
Fellaini
Vazquez
Eder


TACTICS vs Kalamazoo Outrage

Play counter-attacking football. 
Werner out so false nine possible, the back four must hold narrow positions, stopping Dembele/Asensio coming infield. Defend in two banks of four with Casemiro and Thomas deep protecting the back four.

Valencia/Caricol - Be aggressive going forward, especially Valencia allowing Payet infield. When defending take up narrow edge of the box positions.

Kompany/Jones - Hold a solid backline, Kompany leading. Sit deep so they can't play in behind.

Casemiro/Thomas - Protect the space in front of the back four. Obstruct the quick possession football they want to play. Don't chase higher up.

Lingard - Help Caricol, tracking back against Hysaj overlapping. Counter quickly, getting wide and stretching their defense.

Payet - Main playmaker. Drift infield, looking for space and find that killer pass.

Falcao - Poacher/target man, lead the line. 

Rashford - Stay high and get in behind - quicker than Skriniar and Silva so use that. Create more space for Falcao and Payet if they drop deep.


SUBSTITUTIONS
If winning:
60' - Vazquez >> Payet
80' - Fellaini >> striker - extra midfielder
85' - Young >> Lingard

If losing:
60' - Fellaini >> Thomas 
70' - Eder >> Lingard 
80' - Young >> Caricol

------------------------Romero----------------------
Hysaj--------Silva------Skriniar-------Grimaldo
-----------------SMS----Pellegrini-----------------
-----Dembele------Asensio-----Oyarzabal-----
-----------------------Gomez-------------------------

Injuries: Werner, Oxford, Locatelli

Gameplan:

Against a pressing physical side we’ll play a game of evasion, intelligent off-ball movement which opens space and have them chasing shadows. Press their defense to release the ball early countering their long ball.

Defence:

GK – Ensure the back four are aware of threats early, make sure you have space in the box.
FBs -  Be aware of movement from Rashford & Payet, go narrow defensively & block crosses.
CBs –Silva manmark Falcao with Skriniar tracking runs of Rashford in danger areas. Play ball out to wings. Push up for offside trap.
CMs – SMS shield the back four, mark Fellaini in box, block channels with awareness and movement. Pellgerini simple game of move into space, 1 touch passing.
WGs – Protect FBs when rqd & double up.

Attack:

WGs – Constant movement, if one has the ball then other as extra threat in box for knockdowns.
AM – Read the game early, know when to spread, when to penetrate, when to retain. Control.
ST – Be strong & physical early with Kompany, flick ball onto other threats in the box.

Subs: 

Bentancur > Gomez 70m. Asensio play up front.
Mere > Pellegrini 80m Extra protection at back, go counter.

Tactics – Dwarfs v Wanka

Injuries
Juanmi (sold)
Faouzi Ghoulam
Thomas Didillon (sold)


Substitutes: Areola, Abate, Upamecano, Suarez, Boudebouz, Sanabria

Compact defensively, CM’s protecting the defence and keeping it tight. Offensively, we exploit the wide areas with FBs overlapping and our forwards mobile, dragging their defense all over the place.

Defence

• Chiellini pick up the main striker, stay tight and don’t let him turn
  
• Sule pick up any second striker, or play spare, sweeping up loose balls and tracking runs from deep.
  
• FBs pick up any widemen, force them to cross from deep.
  
• Tousart/Fabinho to protect the back four, tracking the AM
  
• Forwards press from the front
  

Attack

• Callejon/Phllip Cut inside and support Jesus. When the ball is on opposing flank, go central. Swap sides and keep the opposition guessing.
  
• Iniesta play free and drift, looking to play balls into the forwards. If closely marked, drag the marker out and interchange with wingers.
  
• Jesus - operate around 18yd box, get on to through balls and crosses from wide.
  
• FBs get forward overlapping but never at the same time.
  

Subs: If losing, Sanabria for Tousart, go 4-1-3-2

----------------------------Strakosha
--------Diakhaby ---- Miranda ---- Lucas Hernandez
Pereira -------Dembele ------ Zakaria ------Marcos Alonso
------------------Fekir ---------- Lozano
--------------------------Gomez 

Bench - Belenov, Fuchs, Parolo,Rodrigo, Deulofeu,Diaz & Aduriz

Miranda get tight to Jesus if drops off leave him,in 18 yard keep tight stop him poaching
Lucas watch for runners from midfield and double up on Callejon with Alonso
Diakhaby  cover miranda with his pace and double up with Pereira on Philipp
Pereira  show Phillip down the line, make him cross it
Alonso force Callejon inside towards Zakaria
Zakaria sit infront of the defense and and cut the supply to Jesus
Dembele go box to box and get to Iniesta 
Fekir, Gomez & Lozano pressure Iniesta & Fabinho

Attack
Wing backs overlap and cross into the box for the forward
Dembele  go box to box, link play into front 3
Zakaria  sit deep get the ball into the wing backs
Fekir/Lozano & Gomez  rotate as a front 3
Fekir  drift about in the gaps to drag Fabinho out of position
Lozano  use his pace to make runs in behind between full backs & centre backs
Gomez  make diagonal runs in behind off Chiellini in behind Sule to open the space for Fekir/Lozano to move into
All 3 look to shoot if given time or in behind 

Sub - Aduriz for Gomez -  after 80 mins

SHAKHTAR SENSELESS v Olympique Marswag

Injuries: T Hazard, Rose, Ferri


Marswag today, playing 3-4-3 with the aim of using the wingbacks to get at the Marswag defence, and doubling up on their wingers when they attack.

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

Azpilicueta/Maksimovic/Mascherano, Maksimovic mark Immobile, Azpilicueta/Mascherano the spare men to cover Maksimovic. Crowd the Marswag attack as Henrichs/Asamoah will drop back to assist with their wingers.

Henrichs/Asamoah at wingback, form a back five without the ball, bomb forward to overlap Sabitzer/Douglas Costa when attacking.

Gagliardini/Kovacic, Gagliardini stay on their AM, don't follow if he drifts wide, stay on him as soon as he's central. Kovacic the playmaker from deep, link our play from defence into attack, get forward on occasion.

Sabitzer/Douglas Costa, get at the Outrage fullbacks, go outside and cross for Andre Silva, or cut inside and use Henrichs/Asamoah overlapping to create space/opportunities for yourselves or Silva. Shoot when infield.

Andre Silva, stay on the shoulder of the deepest CB, look for the ball in behind. Shoot on sight.

Subs 70 mins:
Losing: Henrichs/Asamoah/Gagliardini off, Vinicius Junior/Sisto/Augustin on. 3-1-4-2, all out attack.

Injuries:
Bruno Martins Indi
Corentin Tolisso
Ante Coric


----------------------Fahrmann----------------------
Meunier-------Rugani------Vertonghen-------Gaya
-----------------------Anguissa----------------------
--------------Fernandinho---Herrera----------------
Robben---------------Immobile-------------Thauvin


Subs: Berisha, Zappacosta, Chalobah, Davis, Martinez, Albrighton, Llorente


Without Ball
-Meunier and Gaya to drop back behind the ball supporting Thauvin and Meunier out wide. 
-Anguissa to slot in as almost an extra CB in front of the CB's
-Fernandinho and Herrera to put the energy into getting back behind the ball in support 
-Thauvin and Robben to drop back to the halfway line and look to be an outlet in turnover of possession 

With Ball
-Relying on Herrera and Fernandinho to pull the strings pushing on into the final third
-Gaya and Meunier to push on out wide in support of Thauvin and Robben
-Thauvin and Robben tucking in from the wide areas playing Immobile in
-Immobile pushing onto the last defender looking to run the channels in behind the back line


80th - Davis on for Anguissa
85th - Llorente on for Immobile, switch play to hit Llorente in the centre from out wide

Ebbsfleet v Deportivo Moron

Injuries: Cedric Bakambu, Neto, Lys Mouseet

Formation: 4-2-3-1

---------------------------Gomes-----------------------------
Trippier----------Bartra-------Martinez-------Kolarov
-------------------Goretzka----Torreira--------------------
--------Neres-------------Silva---------------Brandt-------
-------------------------Ibrahimovic-------------------------

Subs: Millinkovic-Savic, Tete, Bruma, Bender, Winks, Ljajic, Guruzeta 

Back 4 – Tighten line to restrict space. Moron frontline works on pace so crowd area and make them rely on crossing which we can deal with. Show wingers flanks as coming inside plays into Torriera’s/CB’s hands. Trippier/Kolarov get forward as stretches Moron’s midfield supplying space for Silva.

Goretzka – Box to box, help Torreira dominate midfield centre then go past Silva in attack. Find Zlatan for quick counter. Shoot where available 

Torreira – Press AM/Inside wingers, breaking up play and stopping flow in attacks. Release Goretzka/Silva quickly and hang back for counters. Rinse /repeat.

Silva –With Jorginho injured, manipulate play. Interchange with Goretzka as he pushes past. Look for Zlatan to hold up ball and play our wingers in on goal as you get up field.

Neres/Brandt – Take on tiring FB’s and cut inside. Hover around either end of the box and break into the gap between CB’s/FB’s. Get on the end of through balls and convert.

Zlatan – Brush CB’s marking aside and hold up ball. Options come from midfield. Interchange then get into box so CB’s concentrate on you and not our pace attack. Convert any balls that come your way there.

Subs: (losing after 70mins) – Ljajic for Gortezka – Play 4-1-4-1

--------------------------Heaton--------------------

Tactics 
Play through the centre with 2 forwards with the pace and power to trouble CBs - we think they'll be set up for wingers

Defence
Tah match Ibra's physicality, don't follow if he drops deep 
CBs to maintain a solid high line when we have the ball, we have the pace to recover
Wing backs drop deep when defending
Dahoud sit in front of back 3, priority is preventing Silva playing through balls and dictating the game
Rabiot/Soler drop alongside Dahoud and squeeze the space 
One forward to drop onto deepest midfielder

Attack
Guedes/Dolberg alternate roaming role, draw out CBs to create space to blast into
Both attack defenders on the ball, get into the box for crosses when wing backs have the ball
Rabiot/Soler - box-to-box, support attackers through running beyond them, play through balls, get into the box for crosses 
Wing backs - provide width, take advantage of 1on1s with FBs and get crosses in

Subs 
Losing at 70 - Coman/Taison for Stark/Dahoud - 4-4-2 with wingers
Winning at 70 - Coman for Guedes, fresh pace for counter attack

Tina Turner vs Shearer and Sutton Athletic (4-3-1-2)
Injuries:
Caldara, Kessie,Buffon

………………………………………Fabianski……………………….
Alves…………………..Barzagli………….Llorente……………Wendell
………………..Ceballos………….De Rossi………Banega………………..
…………………………………………Lo Celso…………………………………..
……………………………….Dzeko…………….Belotti…………………….

Subs: Babacan, Izzo, Felipe, Badelj, Chiesa, Cutrone, Delaney

Change of set-up against the Peoples Champion, no not the Rock, the other one Olly the great.
It’s all about playing to one’s strengths, I’ve systematically removed our wingers, so we go with a side with a lot of core strength, don’t have the pace to play on the break so we’re going with a system that allows possession heavy football. 
Barzagli and Llorente will hold a deeper line making their lack of pace a moot point. Wendell and Alves will be flying forward giving us much needed width.
De Rossi is the midfield general will hold the centre and provide cover to the defence, with the ball keep it simple, Ceballos and Banega give us 2 deep-lying-playmakers, but both can put a foot in.
Lo Celso is a highly talented player will look to link the play nicely and play between the lines, running into the gaps our front two provide.
Dzeko brings the power and physicality any good side needs, will bully the defence and look to hold it up for strike-partner Belotti to be our fox in the box and power us to a much needed victory.

Subs 65 mins
Chiesa > Lo Celso
Badelj > Ceballos

XI (5-2-1-2)

GK - Kiko Casilla

RCB - Aymen Abdennuor
CB - Davinson Sanchez
LCB - Terence Kongolo

RWB - Gervinho
LWB - Sead Kolasinac

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

ST - Dries Mertens
ST - Son Heung Min

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

------------------------------------Casilla----------------------------------
------------------Abdennour-----Sanchez----Kongolo-------------------
Gervinho----------------------------------------------------------Kolasinac
----------------------Diawara------------Lemina------------------------
----------------------------------Ilicic--------------------------------------
------------------------Mertens---------Son------------------------------

Overall - Going to go onto the front foot this week - we're going to look to dominate possession, with Lemina/Ilicic pulling the string and Diawara breaking up play in the middle. Attacking wingbacks, who will look to keep their wingbacks pinned back. Use the movement and pace of Son/Mertens against their weak back three, and backup GK to create chances. In defence we press high, they lack pace up top, so we can push high with our athletic back three able to cover anything over the top.

Attacking - On the attack we look to keep possession, drawing them out of their defensive shape with the movement of the front three. Wingbacks offer the width, really get forward and look to pin their wingbacks deep. Diawara will provide cover by sitting. Mertens/Son, look to use your exceptional movement and finishing against their weak back three, and backup GK. 

Defending - Really press high today, they are slow up top, so we should be able to squeeze high with our athletic back three. Abdennour/Kongolo pickup the STs, with Sanchez covering. Diawara/Lemina look to really get into their CMs, you will be more physical and athletic than them, use this to your advantage. Ilicic support Mertens/Son in pressing the CBs, don't let them play out. Gervinho/Kolasinac, with the high press you guys need to be brave and push onto the wingbacks, don't let them pin you back - you pin them back. Win the ball high up the field, and get the ball back for our attackers.

Subs:

If winning - 70 mins - Mercado for Gervinho, Imbula for Lemina, Roberts for Ilicic. Same formation and instruction - fresh legs.

If losing - 70 mins - Roberts for Kolasinac, Mercado for Gervinho. Switch to a 4-2-2-2, with Mercado RB, Kongolo going LB, Roberts RAM, Ilicic LAM. Same CM/CBs and STs. Really press and go for it.