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Tactics v Barcelona

sit deep, real deep, two banks of 5 not a lick between them, daws would have to play, lots of play acting, diving, shirt pulling, pinching, short tugging, poking, toe stamping, time wasting, anything to disrupt the game and their rhythm, the way chelsea beat them in the cl semi year before last, a few tactical maulings like Terry on Sanchez as well at the right time
 
I read an analysis of how Mourinho's Inter side knocked them out of the Champs league and one of the things that Inter did was to have their players dribble out of defense, looking for challenges/fouls. Once a foul was given, it forced Barca to drop back in case they played it long. Were we to try that, we'd need Dembele in the side for sure.
 
------------------Sandro-------------------
Paulino---Kaboul-----Capoue------Vert
Erickson--Benteleb--Livermore--Carroll
-------------Sig-------Dembele

There is a reason why we are building a team of CM.
 
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Loris
Sandro Sandro Sandro Sandro

Sandro Sandro Sandro Sandro

Sandro Sandro

Everyone would be dead by half time and the cloning machine wouldn't cost as much as we got for Bale.
 
Lloris

Walker Kaboul Dawson Verts

Sandro Dembele Capoue

Lennon Ade Eriksen​


Have them press all game long and try to hit them on the break with Lennon and Ade. I picked Eriksen instead of Townsend due to the defensive side of things.
 
I would pick Rose ahead of Dawson and have Vertonghen in the centre. Vertonghen is the better defender and Barca won't threaten in the air.

I think it's a shame that Bentaleb doesn't have better defensive game. We need a player in there who can pass.

I would play a narrow formation. Allow Barca to throw in crosses galore as they don't have anyone with aerial prowess. Just force Barca wide.

Capoue and Sandro sat in front of the defence. That much is certainly required to shield the defence.

Eriksen needs to be in there as much for his movement as his defensive skills. Barca will press and it's movement of our players that will help to get past those pressing tactics. When Nasri came on last night, his movement off the ball caused Barca more problems than they had experienced prior to this change.

Away from home, I'd use Dembele but at home I'm unsure that he's ideal. His play is often laboured, he holds on to the ball for too long. Away from home his defensive work would be more appreciated.

I would want a player capable of quick passes there instead at home. Either that or Paulinho. Paulinho's movement, drifting in to attacking positions could help us. Though I believe that Holtby could be ideal in this game. Holtby has good passing & movement. He could drift about trying to play the right passes. His defensive game isn't amazing but he could help out.

Lennon on the right for counters and he works hard defensively. And Adebayor in there too.
 
Let me change that. I mean push the ball wide for Barca's attacks. Let them have the ball wide where they can't hurt us as much. We will use with to attack them. I hope people understand what I'm getting at, even if I've not worded it very well. :oops:
 
Lloris
Walker - Kaboul - Vertonghen - Rose
Dembele - Sandro - Eriksen
Townsend - Adebayor - Lennon​

--

I'd have that defence because I feel it is our best defence. I really like the idea of Kaboul and Vertonghen and even if there were some things that needed ironing out between them against Saudi Sportswashing Machine, it was amazingly their FIRST game together, we kept a cleansheet and they will only get better together in time. Rose and Walker needed for their pace and because they are the best choices in their positions currently at the club.

I'd actually have Eriksen central midfield as I feel we need someone who can play football in the middle of the park and can release our pace up top. Sandro is an obvious one, to sit deep and help the defence whenever possible. I've gone for Dembele over Paulinho or Bentaleb just because of his sheer strength on the ball, his ability to keep the ball, dribble past a few players and bulldoze his way through.

Now, you may be wondering why I have gone with that three, simple. Adebayor to drop deep into midfield when we don't have the ball, preferably on Busquets as I feel he is the most underrated part of the Barca team and then Lennon on the left, yes the left, just so he can track back and help Rose. I feel Alves would tear Rose apart, not to mention the likes of Pedro or Sanchez that would be up against him, Lennon is better than Townsend defensively so I have no doubt Lennon would work hard in that respect, this is why I also feel Sherwood played him against Saudi Sportswashing Machine, to help Naughton out defensively.
 
I'm torn between two approaches:

-------------Lloris

Walker Kaboul Chiriches Verts

--Paulinho Sandro Capoue

---Lennon Ade Chadli

and

-------------Lloris

Walker Kaboul Chiriches Verts

--Paulinho Sandro Dembele

---Lamela Soldado Eriksen


Option 1 is our defensively strongest team - a CM wall of steel. The front trio are those who can hold the ball up (Ade and Chadli) with a bit of pace to support them (Lennon). This is ultra-defensive (Lennon and Chadli are our best defensive wide players IMO) and is really set-up for us nicking one.

Option 2 is a more possession side - 4 more ballplayers in there (Dembele, Soldado and the two Eriks) to try and out-tiki-taka the masters (though still with strong foundations).
 
I wouldn't have Rose out on the wing as he will get ripped apart and he always seems to lose his man. Verts would be better at one on ones out on the wing as Barca look to dribble in the box from the wing rather than cross it.
 
I'd employ the mascots to surreptitiously tie the Barca players shoe laces together, in a really tight triple knot. Hopefully while they are falling over and trying to untangle the knots we could hopefully get a couple of goals ahead, and hope to hold out once they sort themselves out.
 
Compact the middle of the pitch and force them to use the flanks, so long as we keep the penalty box packed they shouldn't be able to get the ball to feet with the resulting cross.
Go for the BFS approach of no recognised striker and two quick wingers who we hit with quick out balls to start counter attacks.

-------------Lloris--------------
Walker--Kaboul-Vertonghen-Rose
--------Sandro-Dembele--------
-----Paulinho-----Eriksen-------
Townsend---------------Lennon
 
The tactics that have worked

- Be defensively prepared to allow them possession in front of you.
- Create a threat against them (their weakest area)
- Leverage your physically dominant players
 
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