Team Aldo/Stain Tactics
Tactical Layout
Protecting one of the best German goalkeepers of his time,
Raimond Aumann, is a tightly-knit unit of hard as nails defenders across the leagues. In the middle,
Paolo Montero and
Thomas Linkeform the central defensive partnership. Montero will be marshalling the unit with his no nonsense approach and keep it disciplined. In Linke, he has just the partner to provide immense aerial strength and tackling whilst being calm and organised at the back.
Vincent Candela will be playing as an attacking left-back using his wonderful skills and control on the ball to combine with Davids/Henry going forward. He had loads of pace and stamina to run up and down the flank as well as being a support act in penetrating runs. On the other flank is
Jocelyn Angloma. A physical specimen, strong, powerful and concentrated in defense. He will be playing in a more defense minded role providing support going forward and tucking in with the rest of the defensive unit at the back.
Anchoring the midfield is the Argentine powerhouse
Javier Mascherano. He will act as a link between defence and midfield. When in possession, he will drop in to central defense with Montero and Linke drifting wider and Candela becoming the left-wingback. He'll be at home in this role bringing out the best of his abilities that has made him a key figure at Barcelona. He brings tough tackling, aggression and is as good a shield for a defense as you can find.
In central mid we find the general
Edgar Davids. With Mascherano behind him providing the platform, Davids has full freedom to impact the midfield battle both in defense and attack, using his phenomenal athleticism and stamina as well as his class and technique on the ball. As they say, a true box to box midfielder in his element, he'll be a star in this team.
Bringing out the best of this bunch is the Spanish midfielder
Gaizka Mendieta. Again, in a right-sided attacking midfield role he'll be at his finest, providing the attacking punch this team needs with his wonderful technique, passing and shooting ability as well as using his work ethic and stamina to be a presence in midfield. He will defend with the rest of the unit. Davids and Mendieta are two complete midfielders playing in the roles that would be best suited to their abilities and they'll make a difference in controlling the game at the heart of it.
In possession, we aim to keep the ball moving quickly and have it reach the feet of the attacking players at the right time. Given the class and ability of our midfield unit, we will be playing on the front foot, assuming control of the game more often than not. Dictating terms and pegging the opposition back whilst also launching swift transitions as the midfield unit presented here is used to playing at a high tempo and showing intent when it matters. They'll add a lot of intensity to the game and use it to their advantage.
The right winger is the German World Cup winner
Pierre Littbarski. A complete winger capable of playing either side or through the middle, he marries world class dribbling with great technique, pace, powerful shooting and an aggressive mentality. He'll be having the freedom to take on his man time and again or alternatively combine with the likes of Angloma/Mendieta/Makaay and conjure a fast, clinical attack.
Running the left channel is
Thierry Henry, in the role he played at Barca. A key part of a devastating trio. His role in this team is to stretch play, provide pace, control and great one touch play and most importantly, being a presence in the box and add immensely to the goal threat, which he will be sharing mainly with Das Phantom,
Roy Makaay.
A complete centre forward, his role is to spear head the attack, occupy the CB's, use his phenomenal aerial ability to get at the end of crosses and also make use of his world class finishing with either foot to finish the chances.
Key Factors
- Davids and Mendieta in the middle, an uncompromising midfield duo. Their ability in both defense and attack will keep the game in our hands, and they will play a high intensity game.
- The left side of Candela-Davids-Henry. Candela will be perfect to bomb forward and combine with Davids and a cutting-in Henry using his excellent control and interplay. They can be seen complementing each other beautifully and this results in an imposing and threatening area for our team.
- Similarly, Mendieta and Littbarski would be dovetailing beautifully, with Mendieta's ability to go wide complementing Littbarski's style of cutting in and the two would again use the ball intelligently as well as dangerously in that area.
- Mascherano will be in his comfort zone with the two CB's providing him space to drop into central defense and he is capable of completely dominating that deeper zone of play.
- The goal threat of Henry+Makaay with support from Littbarski and Mendieta is a big task to handle for any team.
- Makaay's fantastic aerial ability will be devastating with the crosses coming in from the likes of Candela, Angloma and Littbarski.
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