Edgar Allan Pillow
Ero-Sennin
![](https://oi57.tinypic.com/4rurle.jpg)
![](https://sharemytactics.com/27442/heh-formation-tactics.png)
................................. Team @antohan ................................................................................. Team @BorisDeLeFora ...................................
Formation change by BorisDeLeFora (antohan 5 - 3 BorisDeLeFora)
Original Fomration:
Original Fomration:
![](https://sharemytactics.com/27250/heh-formation-tactics.png)
antohan changes formation with a substitute (antohan 14 - 5 BorisDeLeFora)
Fomration change by antohan (antohan 14 - 5 Boris)
![](https://oi62.tinypic.com/2mhg3r6.jpg)
Fomration change by antohan (antohan 14 - 5 Boris)
![](https://oi59.tinypic.com/73pf9s.jpg)
TEAM antohan
TACTICS
I thought long and hard about this one given the reception expected for a back three in the caf these days. The problem ultimately is about tactics and personnel though. I have the better personnel and strength across the board and will dominate this game as Boris' midfield runs around chasing shadows and trying to cover weaknesses.
IN POSSESSION
Nedved against Zambrotta, Boniek against Cole, Kohler and Popescu hardly a match for Vieri and Baggio... In any case, Kohler will have his work cut out with his own job so forget about him covering jack. And at the centre of it Götze, a player they will underrate at their peril as he is precisely in the kind of setup where he will thrive, dribbling, keeping it all free-flowing and showing up unmarked in the box, much like Platini used to with Zibi.
There will be gaps and players beaten everywhere, constantly, and his midfielders will have to be working full time on covering them. In the meantime, Effenberg and Hierro calmly control the game from midfield when needed with their excellent passing, offering a "fallback and redistribute play" option and occasionally (never jointly) making runs that wil wreak havoc as both were excellent from long range.
The defenders do nothing going forward, they keep a high defensive line and support the midfield. Period.
WHEN POSSESSION IS LOST
Considering the pressure they are all under, chances are the ball will just be aimlessly ballooned or lost. All five midfielders have a great work ethic and truly form a five man midfield when it comes to recovery work. Götze presses the outball, while Nedved and Boniek are hard to beat as the outside midfielders tracking back on the flank. They have the stamina and willingness to do that comfortably when required.
It is important to bear in mind the high defensive line here, which has been carefully pieced together. Chilavert was an outstanding sweeper keeper who will likely get the ball straight back to the forwards. Abidal is comfortable and proven as LCB, arguably one of the best in the draft for that. Likewise with Ferrara. And then there's Thiago Silva, who single-handedly held together a defence with a bunch of gung-ho spackers like David Luiz, Marcelo and Dani Alves. The debacle that ensued when he got suspended should be proof enough of his worth and the comfort Thiago will find himself in with Abidal and Ferrara either side of him. Pace is not an issue, no one player from the opposition has a pace advantage bar Klinsmann on Ferrara, who is still quicker than Batistuta or Del Piero. Positionally they are all sound and safe as houses.
When "worrying about the flanks" you should consider where an attacking fullback is typically positioned after an attacking phase: Boniek and Nedved are in a rather similar position, have the pace and discipline to get back, and the high defensive line means the distance to recover is shorter than usual. It really isn't an issue as I'm not facing Robben or Ronaldo.
WHY I WILL WIN
Because his defence can't live with my attack, quite simply, and my defensive setup can handle what he throws at me on the break.
I know, recent games of ours have scarred our fans on the ability of a side to keep up the tempo long enough and hold on to a lead. Never mind, once I get to a comfortable margin I can drop Hierro into a 4-man defence, swap Götze for Lucho and play out the game comfortably with a boring 4-4-2. In fact, I'd do it purely to add another goal or two as he goes all gung-ho trying to close the gap.
![](https://sharemytactics.com/27359/Rest-in-peace-Boris-formation-tactics.png)
Why not start that way? Because Boris doesn't have the creativity in midfield to put that side under pressure and we would be arguing about a deadlock in a game with zero initiative, with one side not quite being able to counter when the other isn't very good going forward. Boring. It is relevant though to point out the setup allows for a Plan B.
3-1/4-1 this.
PLAYER PROFILES
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TEAM BorisDeLeFora
Please do forgive the Ashley Cole joke.
So, when my team gets the ball, it will play simple fairly direct football. The ball would either be pinged into Batistuta or Kinsmann from deep or spread to Donadoni or a full back out wide to get crosses in.
With the technical quality of Popescu and my midfielders they will be ale to play good passes into feet for my strikers. Yes they may not play incisive through balls all the time but that's not necessarily part of the game plan. Both Batistuta and Klinsman have the technical ability and strength to at a decent level hold the ball up or play simple lay offs out wide or for Robson or to a lesser extent Tigana to get shots off.
Donadoni's crossing ability in particular is key to my side, because any decent ball into the box and the aerial ability and movement of my strikers will cause havoc.
In terms of shape the side is obviously a bit lopsided, but Abidal wasn't a rampaging attacking full back. Klinsmann's work rate will help to an extent but the main key is Tigana's athleticism an defensive ability. He will be playing as a right sided cm and will us his pace to get out to the wing to support Zambrotta when required.
Last edited: