Reading F.C

Southend United tactics - 1 yellow
Leeds utd - 3 yellows


Ok, the first game is over and it seems we were unlucky not to get anything out of the game.
We have the first team full this week and hope to take advantage of a Leeds team who lost by the greatest margin and are probably low on confidence.

We plan to set up like this.

----------------Mignolet--------------
Ivanovic-Bonucci-Ogbonna-Blind
----------Alonso-Wanyama-----------
Oscar---------Eriksen------------Insigne
----------------Balotelli------------------

Subs: Sturridge,Thauvin,Ljajic, Florenzi, Poli

Game plan: I want us to push Leeds back, using our skilful players to break through their defence and our strong midfield to make sure they can’t create anything.

Keeper: Mignolet, one of the best shot stoppers around, while I don’t want to see him with a one on one on his hands I have complete faith he is the person that is most likely to win the duel. When taking goal kicks look for Balotelli who can hold the ball up for others but also turn into space and create something route 1. Alternatively play the ball into the wide positions where we can stretch their defence.

Defence: Our defenders are carefully scouted to play in a specific way.
As you will notice both of our fullbacks are equally good at playing both fullback and centre back.
This is for a specific reason, when on the attack I want to overload their wings, so if we are attacking down the right Ivanovic will overlap Oscar and provide the width whilst Oscar will move more centrally. When this happens we will move to 3 at the back and Wanyama protecting.

The team will look like this

-------------------Mignolet----------------
---Bonucci----Ogbonna-----Blind-------
-----------------Wanyama----------------
-----------Alonso-----Eriksen-------------
-Ivanovic-------Oscar-----------Insigne
------------------Balotelli-------------------

And vice versa on the other wing. We will only have one full back moving forward at one time, we will not be caught out with just two defenders covering our goal.
The other key point to our defence is both our centre backs are comfortable playing as full back, so when they are filling in for the attacking full back they will be comfortable if the opposition launch a quick counter and will be comfortable with wingers running at them if that ever is the case.
Bonucci is the organiser of the defence and keeps his partnership with real life team mate Ogbonna, which has now become our teams long standing defensive duo…they know each others games a play to each others styles.
They play fast wingers and I want our fullbacks to show them down the line, they love cutting in and their crossing ability is to be questioned, besides we have two monster CB’s who should be winning aerial duels…if their wingers are shown down the line they’ve got nowt.

Midfield: Alonso and Eriksen providing ammo for the front 3 is jizzable Alonso is able to spot a pass that others are unable to and Eriksen has the ability to play the intricate balls that will cause opposition defences problems.
Alonso and Wanyama are to look to boss the midfield and put the tackles in, turn possession over and restart attacks. Alonso brings the experience and it’s his duty to organise the middle of the park, I don’t want to see Alonso or Wanyama getting forward as this wouldn’t be playing to their strengths control the middle and let the others work their thang.
Eriksen is to join attacks when on the front foot but also expected to track back when defending, he has a good engine on him and has proved he is able to cope with a fast tempo game. His awareness on a football pitch is a great asset.

Oscar and Insigne in free roles, impossible to defend and this is where they are the most dangerous, supplying and supporting Balotelli I want them to use their directness and pace to cause Leeds problems, look for the diagonal runs and get into space for Alonso’s balls
Insigne is a shining talent at Napoli and Oscar has proved his worth for Chelsea both will be looking to get on the scoresheet today.

Striker: Balo the boy is a true talent, capable of the unbelievable. If Balotelli is on form there isn’t a defence in the world that can stop him. Support him and try to get him involved as much as possible. I am asking him to close down their defence quickly when they have the ball and try to force an error.

Subs:
My subs are based on certain situations.

If Balotelli has lost his head at any point in the game we will take him off and replace him with Sturridge, I don’t have time for Tantrums and Sturridge is a man in hot form.

Alonso will probably start to tire after about 65mins, we shall replace him with AC Milan’s summer signing Poli. Poli is a great engine who can pick out a pass, whilst not the passing ability of Alonso he makes up for it in workrate.

If 2 goals up after 75mins we will bring Ljajic on for Insigne straight swap.

If losing after 70mins: Oscar will move centrally and we will bring Florenzi and Sturridge on for Insigne and Eriksen
-----------------Mignolet---------------
Wisdom-Bonucci-Ogbonna-Blind
-----------Poli-----Wanyama-----------
Florenzi-------Oscar------------Sturridge
-------------------Balo-----------------------
If Balotelli has already come off then we will keep Insigne on with Sturridge up top.
Florenzi and Sturridge are both in hot goal scoring form for Roma and Liverpool respectively and I will be looking for them to turn the game for us.

Pens: Balotelli: Has only missed one career penalty in real life.
FK:Alonso/Balotelli/Eriksen mix and match
Corners: Alonso
If we are winning by more than two goals and get a penalty after 85mins I will ask Mignolet to take the pen


Cheers Fanboy