The Stain Tactics
Using these tactics was never the idea so it's up to you if my players can pull it off. Was going to play 4-3-3 but things happened and here we are.
Tactical instructions:
All out attack, intensive pressing, trying to play it direct as much as possible but obviously it will be heavily possession based. This needs a high defensive line and us playing the offside trap so this we'll do.
Player instructions:
GK:
Planicka, one of the best keepers from the olden times. Due to his relatively short stature, he developed his jumping and coming off the line. Not your typical line keeper from back then, he was a commanding penalty box keeper. A forward thinking keeper like him would do well sweeping in front of the box and here he'll have to do just that. Thank feck Marty doesn't have Sarosi.
Libero:
Rune Braseth. A world class libero several seasons in the BuLi. Will try and stay in line with his fellow defenders but is the main man to sweep up balls in behind. He was bloody fast which is handy. He'll bring the ball out of defense and look to hoof Koeman like balls in the wingers direction at times. Mainly we want to play the ball short so he will typically look for the CB's and more often than not, Busquets.
Wide centre backs:
Carvalho is suited to possession based footy, not necessarily cause he did it under Mourinho but because he was good at it.
Riccardo Ferri was more of a stopper and a good one at that. Dunno enough about him but he must have been at least decent on the ball considering he played next to Baresi for Italy.
DM:
Busquets will do his thing and drop into defense at times.
CM's:
Touré tasked with a more attacking boxbox role to draw out that 20-goals-playing-in-a-double-pivot-role-for-City-in-their-13/14 PL-winning-run form.
Mendieta will make runs of course but tasked mainly with a deeper lying play maker role.
AM:
You know, i think my self picked semi sheep Chris Sutton could do a decent job playing the Bakero role. Just stand with his back to goal in the hole and play simple passes to then make the odd runs and get his head on the ball for an occasional goal.
Sócrates can do that and much more.
Wingers:
Rivaldo and David Silva will begin by staying wide and then drifting inside, making runs in behind or going direct for the goal.
False 9:
Pelé will play a Laudrup type role and be free to do what he wants. He will pull defenders out of position for others to run into. The front four is very fluid but
Pelé is the focal point for our attacks.
Marty Tactics
My team is set up with versatile players all the way through. Whilst I’ve set up with a back 4, Briegel and Pirri can both step into midfield at any point to switch to a 3-5-2. If Briegel steps up, Pirri sits in centre of the back 3, If Pirri supports Makelele then Cannavaro is absolutely capable of controlling the backline.
Makelele’s job is simple…to sit in front of the backline and break up the attacks and midfield runs. Coluna (one of the best box-to-box midfielders ever) will provide energy in abundance and with Jinky Johnstone’s trickery on the right and Schiaffino on the left (who was also a very energetic winger that tracked back), my midfield is solid.
Up front I have a goal machine in Kubala and one of the best number 10’s in the business. This formation will certainly favour a second striker in the Keegan mould, with his energy, willingness to run the channels and compete for every ball. With his energy, vision and link play alongside Schiaffino and Johnstone, there won’t be any problem with supply of chances to Kubala.
And just how good was Kubala:
When he [Kubala] was on the pitch we had the feeling that we couldn’t lose. He dominated the game and dominated the ball, created an atmosphere of optimism, a winner’s mentality… he transformed football — Gustau Biosca
Ladislao ‘László’ Kubala is one of Barça’s best players ever, arguably forming the top three with Johan Cruijff and Lionel Messi. The write-up in full here….
As Alfredo di Stefano, said: "Kubala was one of the best there has ever been. His game was pure, crystalline, a real joy for the fans. What I remember is his spirit of comradeship, the loyalty he showed as a friend."
The Stain’s team will likely shape up as a 3-5-2, which is fine. I don’t see where the blistering pace comes from in his team to get in behind my defence. He’ll be playing the tika taka possession football which is fine for periods but with Coluna and Keegan’s work rate align with Makelele’s positional play he’ll find it hard to break down. Of course his overrated striker might score one but that’s it! Haha.
