Monday, April 28, 2008

Against megmac

starting lineup
--------Julio Cesar--------
Odd-Mexes-Pepe-Pasqual
---Cambiasso-Perrotta---
------------Narsi-----------
Ronaldo----------Rooney
----------Huntelaar--------

Frankly speaking, I have no idea what his starting lineup would look liked. I only predict that he would use plenty of wing attacks because he only got one real playmaker on his team and plenty of wingers. So I will just play with my own game.

Defense: Five out of my six defensive players came from Serie A. I intended to play a classic Italian “web” defensive system. On paper, it is as good as any Serie A team. All of them, except Pepe, started for one of the top 5 teams in Serie A or Italian NT and should understand the syetem & their roles very well. Ideally, my Serie A defenders will limit space and play a much tighter defense than Sergio Aguero and Cavenaghi have ever encountered before. Perrotta needs to make sure that SWP does not get into his game because Pasqual on the leftback is my weak link. This might be my biggest problem. Oddo and Cambiasso should be able to handle either González or Giggs on the other side.

(* this basic tactics will be used against ASF again)
Offense: Cambiasso and Perrotta are to take control of the midfield. They need to win the ball back and move it up field. They need to free up Nasri, Ronaldo & my two wingbacks. Nasri will be distributing the ball to the wings or directly to forwards. I need his flare on the midfield. If he is taken out of the game, Cambiasso and Perrotta could easily step up and become the playmakers themselves. Ronaldo would be given a free role to roam the entire offensive half of the field.. He can move from right to left as the game progressed. He can either cut inside and shoot, or move down to the baseline and cross. He would would also play combinations with his pal, Rooney. Oddo & Pasqual would surge forward to support the flank attacks. Pasqual is No Beckham, but he is considered to be one of the best crossers of the ball in Serie A. The left wing will be more direct approach. The Pasqual-to-Huntelaar combo will be an extra option on the attack. However, Zanetti will be tough to beat. Ronaldo, Roony or Nasri needs to support Pasqual occassionally on the left wing.

Despite being the 2nd highest scorer in Europe this year, Huntelaar would not be the main scoring threat. His main job is to be the decoy and to open space for Rooney and Ronaldo. He needs to hold the ball. Of course, he can still bang in a goal or two with services from Ronaldo or Pasqual. Frankly speaking, I don't think megamac's defense can hold up against my offense. He needs to play both his DM's or my attackers(Nasri, Ronaldo, Rooney) will run circles around his team. He only carried five defenders on his team. Which is too thin in my opinion. Ayala is not Ayala anymore. Both Arca and Garay(I like him very much)are too offensive minded.

SUB: If I take the lead: Nihat will come in for Huntelaar and become my “Tevez”. My three forwards will constantly switch roles and sides just liked the new Man Utd. Nasri will be “Paul Scholas”. Finally, at the end, Cristiano Zanetti and/or Materazzi will come in for my attackers.
If I am losing or tied, Montolivo will come in for Perrotta. Ronaldo, Huntelaar and Rooney combined for over 70 goals this year. I doubt it will be their fault if I could not score. So it must be the “supplier”. Montolivo will be the deep laying playmaker and Cambiasso plays as the lone DM as he have done for Argentina before. Finally, Nihat will come in for Pasqual if it still does not work.

Against Teso Dos Bichos & SirManchester

Against Teso Dos Bichos & SirManchester, I am not starting my best lineup. Robben & Materazzi will start ahead of Pepe and Nasri.

Starting Lineup:
----------Julio Cesar--------
Odd--Mexes-Materazzi--Pasqual
---Cambiasso---Perrotta---
Ronaldo-------------Robben
--------Rooney------------
-------------Huntelaar--------
Defense: All six of defensive players(plus keeper) came from Serie A. They will play a classic “web” defensive system. They should understand their roles very well. Since Toni & Kaka are familiar with Serie A defense, it will be tough to stop them. However, my defense should also know how to handle Kaka and Toni. To be honest, this will just be a battle between a Serie A offense vs a Serie A defense. Either of us will have an advantage over the other. At least, on paper, my team is as good as any Serie A team. Except Pasqual, all my defensive players are considered to be one of the best in their positions in Serie A. I started Materazzi for his experienses with Toni on the Italian NT. His size can also match up with Toni.

Offense: Cambiasso and Perrotta need to win the ball back and move it up field. Without Nasri, they need to be the playmakers too. Both of them have done that before. I am not too worried about their qualities, but Team TDB/SM got two effective DM's(Flamini & Demichelis). They can disrupt the flow of my offense. At the same time, those two cannot move the ball forward very well. So Kaka needs to track back and contribute. And I will be happy to see Kaka playing further back from goal. Hopefully, that would isolate Kaka from Toni & Terez. The same situation should apply to Ronaldo, but I am confident that Cambiasso & Perrotta can play the ball forward.

I noticed a weakness in TDS/SirMan's fullbacks. Ujfalus(mistake-prone this season), Cole(not the same player at Arsenal) and Sagnol(slow for a fullback against my fast wingers but he might be playing CB) all have sub par season. So I will start Robben instead of Nasri to give more width. Robben & Ronaldo(Ro-Ro) will run down the flank. They would either cut inside and shoot, or move downfield and cross. They will constantly switch sides causing confusion on their defense. Depending on the game situation, my two wingbacks, will surge forward to support the wingers. Pasqual is No Beckham, but he is considered to be one of the best crosser of the ball in Serie A. My weaker left side might be a surprise for them as Robben should be a boost.. Huntelaar will be ready in the middle ~ either opening up space for the other forwards or scoring himself. With Robben on the team, Rooney does not need to track to the left as much as he should be doing for other games. Thus, he has more freedom to score or help his pal, Ronaldo in the middle. His role will be expanded.

Cohesion: We all know about Rooney-Ronaldo. Robben and Huntelaar also played togeher for Holland. My defense also got a Inter Milan presense with Cambiasso-Materazzi-Julio Cesar, and a Roma presense with Perrotta & Mexes. Oddo has played with Materazzi for Italy.

SUBS:
If winning, Zanetti & Montolivo go in for Huntelaar & Robben. Montolivo reunites with Pasqual on the left. Rooney & Ronaldo will move upfront & do their magic liked Man Utd(without Saha). Montolivio provides long & short pass to break up the defense. Pepe will come in late in the game for either Ronaldo or Rooney.
If losing, Nasri goes in for Pasqual and play in front of the DM's. If it does not work, Nihat comes in for Robben in the very end.

Against ASF

My starting lineup:

--------Julio Cesar--------
Odd-Mexes-Pepe-Pasqual
---Cambiasso-Perrotta---
------------Narsi-----------
Ronaldo----------Rooney
----------Huntelaar--------

Defense: Five out of my six defensive players came from Serie A. I intended to play a classic Italian “web” defensive system. On paper, it is as good as any Serie A team. All of them, except Pepe, started for one of the top 5 teams in Serie A or Italian NT, and should understand the syetem & their roles very well.

Riquelme is the key to ASF's team. He has problems playing with another playmaker in the past and needs two DM's to support him.. So I am going to borrow a page out from Dunga's playbook. My defenders will stop Riquelme from getting into his game. They will not allow him to have the ball for too long, but also not to foul him in dangerious position and give him the chance to score on set pierce. They will force him to play backward. With Riquelme out of the equation, his attack will be limited. Yakubu has great European continental experienses, but mostly in the UEFA Cup or the earlier rounds of CL. Pepe should know how to handle his former teammate, Lisandro López. Lavezzi has a wonderful season, but he lacks international experienses. They won't cause my team troubles on their own. However, ASF should also know this better than me. He will use two forwards. Instead, he will start another midfielder to support Riquelme. Can Rquelme co-exist with any creative player? Or can Cambiasso & Perrotta take Riquelme out of the game(easier said than done to be honest)?

Offense: ASF probably will do the same thing to me. He will play two DM's as Riquelme is useless defensively. The game will be a battle of midfield. It will be a sluggish game. His two DM's will cause my team plenty of troubles. Nasri will be invincible from time to time just liked Riquelme to his team.. Cambiasso and Perrotta can carry the ball better than ASF's two DM's. My transitional game will be better than his. This could be the deciding factor of the game.

Below will be the same basic tactics I used against against megamac.

Offense: Cambiasso and Perrotta are to take control of the midfield. They need to win the ball back and move it up field. They need to free up Nasri, Ronaldo & my two wingbacks. Nasri will be distributing the ball to the wings or directly to forwards. I need his flare on the midfield. If he is taken out of the game, Cambiasso and Perrotta could easily step up and become the playmakers themselves. Ronaldo would be given a free role to roam the entire offensive half of the field.. He can move from right to left as the game progressed. He can either cut inside and shoot, or move down to the baseline and cross. He would would also play combinations with his pal, Rooney. Oddo & Pasqual would surge forward to support my wings. Pasqual is No Beckham, but he is considered to be one of the best crossers of the ball in Serie A. The left wing will be more direct approach. The Pasqual-to-Huntelaar combo will be an extra option on the attack. Roony or Nasri needs to support Pasqual occassionally as my left side is weak.

Despite being the 2nd highest scorer in Europe this year, Huntelaar would not be the main scoring threat. His main job is to be the decoy and to open space for Rooney and Ronaldo. He need to hold the ball. Of course, he can still bang in a goal or two with services from Ronaldo or Pasqual.

SUB:
If I take the lead: Nihat will come in for Huntelaar and become my “Tevez”. My three forwards will constantly switch roles and sides just liked the new Man Utd. Nasri will be “Paul Scholas”. Finally, at the end, Cristiano Zanetti and/or Materazzi will come in for my attackers.

If I am losing or tied, Montolivo will come in for Perrotta. Ronaldo, Huntelaar and Rooney combined for over 70 goals this year. I doubt it will be their fault if I could not score. So it must be the “supplier”. Montolivo will be the deep laying playmaker and Cambiasso plays as the lone DM as he have done for Argentina before. Finally, Nihat will come in for Pasqual if it still does not work.