Week 2 Results

Arsenal 1-1 Blyth Spartans

Goals (Assists)
Arsenal – Ibrahimovic (Joaquin)
Blyth Spartans – Destro (Insigne)

MOTM – Xabi Alonso (Blyth Spartans)

Good tactics here from both teams, both quite attacking but with differing opinions certainly with the influence of their full backs in an attacking & defensive sense.

Both teams can be a real danger going forward, but I was equally impressed by the central defender partnerships and work ethics of Alonso and Gago in the two midfields.


Arsenal
Aranzubia, Arias, Fernandez, Naldo, Cole, Xavi, Gago (Coman), Joaquin, Diaby, Perisic, Ibrahimovic
Subs: Raeder, van Aken, Swift, Coman, El Haddadi

Joaquin, Perisic, Diaby

Blyth Spartans
Neto, Maggio, Rugani (Ferdinand), Vlaar, Maldini, Alonso, Rosicky (Palombo), Gauld, Berardi, Destro, Insigne
Subs: Rubinho, Ferdinand, Palombo, Dicko, Ambrosini

Insigne, Vlaar, Neto, Ferdinand
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SC Cambuur-Leeuwarden 2-1 Manchester United

Goals (Assists)
Cambuur – Andre Gomes (Goretzka)
Manchester United – Terry (Griezmann - Corner)
Cambuur – Reyes (Rafinha – Corner)

MOTM – Pirlo (Manchester United)

First and foremost an entertaining match; Manchester United have more so than most gone for a tried and trusted approach, with a good amount of older heads and it serves them well.

Pirlo is an inspired signing, and the quality he brings is still there for all to see. Up against a Cambuur team that appears to get younger every week there is obviously much that can be learnt from this ageless Italian.

Cambuur’s depth is mighty impressive, several changes not only in terms of personnel, but also Andre Gomes showing just how versatile a player he is by switching to AM for this game.

Both central defender partnerships really stand out for me. Terry & Alex is experienced as they come, and with experiences comes that reassurance that you are in safe hands. Whilst at Cambuur the potential of Reyes and Doria is outstanding.

Perhaps curious then than both teams let in goals from set plays and both of those goals came from centre backs

SC Cambuur-Leeuwarden
Ederson, Chambers, Reyes (Lucas Silva), Dória, Günter, Rômulo, Goretzka (Martinez), Baldé Diao, Gomes, Rafinha, Icardi (Raúl Jiménez)
Subs : Maignan, Lucas Silva, Martinez, Horta, Raúl Jiménez

Rômulo, Baldé Diao, Rafinha, Raúl Jiménez

Manchester United
Howard, Carvajal, Terry, Alex, Maxwell, Kehl (Lampard), Casemiro, Pirlo, Hoffman, Griezmann, Klose
Subs: Friedel, Bacuna, Bruma, Lampard, Kane

Klose, Howard, Maxwell, Pirlo
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Southend United 1-2 Salisbury City

Goals (Assists)
Southend United – Sturridge (Ox-Chamberlain)
Salisbury City – Yaya Toure (Free Kick)
Salisbury City – Yaya Toure (Paredes)

MOTM – Yaya Toure (Salisbury City)

Now this was a fixture to get the taste buds working.

Who would come out on top? Would Southend United’s affair with the fruity cause Salisbury to sell their goalkeeper at half time? (it has been known….)

With the Ox and Sturridge upfront I’ve changed my underpants twice in the last 10 minutes.

For Salisbury City however I think the midfield partnership of Biglia and Yaya Toure is as good as I’ve seen.

Southend United
Marshall, Tripper, Mustafi, Lucarelli, Ward, Geis, Pjanic, Berisha, Assombalonga (Ibe), Sturridge, Ox-Chamberlain
Subs: Thorne, Ibe, Bijker, Rabiot

Sturridge, Ward, Marshall

Salisbury City
Buffon, Paredes, Oboabona, Garay, Flanagan, Yaya Toure, Biglia, Bentaleb (Drinkwater), Campbell, Valencia, Taarabt
Subs: Blackman, Ali Adnan, Yepes, Drinkwater, Abdulrahman

Garay, Campbell, Buffon
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Basingstoke Town 0-0 Stockport County

MOTM – Ramsey (Basingstoke Town)

Firstly I have to make it public knowledge that I feel Park tried to bribe with the offer of laying on a stripogram for me if the result went in his favour.

I was going to immediately and professionally reject this offer, but when I was informed that he had hired Rap in a sailor outfit I shamably nearly gave into temptation.

Two very narrow formations which made it quite hectic in midfield, and with an untried 16 year old in the Stockport goal I didn’t know what to expect!

Basingstoke Town
Fabianski, Corchia, Zouma, Heylen, Kurwaza (Grimaldo), Carvalho, Ramsey, Vilhena, Morrison, Deulofeu, Berbatov
Subs: Mersin, Bellerin, Grimaldo, Kiwomya & Robinson

Carvalho, Berbatov, Heylen, Corchia

Stockport County
van der Sar, Clyne, Ginter, Fonte, Durm, Schneiderlin, Rakitic, Clasie, Quintero, Lambert, Gallagher (Driussi)
Subs: Targett, Burns, Reed, Grealish, Driussi

Clasie, Clyne, Durm, Driussi
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Taiwan 2-2 FC Pride

Goals (Assists)
FC Pride – Robben (Free Kick)
FC Pride – Robben (Penalty)
Taiwan – di Natale (Barkley)
Taiwan – Barkley (J. Rodriguez)

MOTM – Robben (FC Pride)

With the fruity’s of Tippy sorely tested earlier on, here in Pride we have the man who quite clearly deeply offended the fruity in a past life and will eternally suffer for it.

Whenever I look at Ludy’s tactics I think he has James Rodriguez in his team! What Taiwan do have however is a very solid looking team on paper with more than likely the best set of full backs in the league, and of course a brilliant young player in Barkley in AM. Perhaps the most underrated team in the league?

Looking at FC Pride you’ll forgive me for being immediately drawn to the name of Robben on his left flank. Pride’s teams always seem to have that match winner glaring at you (as well as a lovely sprinkling of young talents). That is before the fruity comes into play.

Two dynamic sets of tactics, bodes very well for a tasty amount of goals.

Taiwan
Scuffet, Coleman, Musacchio, Laporte, Shaw, Can, Ward-Prowse, J.Rodriguez, Barkley, Brandt (Dembele), Di Natale
SUBS: De Santis, Hendrix, Tielemans, Dembele, Mosquito
Musacchio, Barkley, J. Rodriguez

FC Pride
Enyeama, Janko, Luisão, Omeruo, Oczipka, Kouyate, Baker (Schöpf) , Lingard, Robben, Immobile, Hazard
Subs: Aréola, Lawrence, Green, Schöpf, Wilson

Lingard, Omeruo
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Barcelona 1-2 Colchester United

Goals (Assists)
Colchester United – Origi (Lallana)
Barcelona – Tello (Gabi)
Colchester United – Gerrard (Penalty)

MOTM – Origi (Colchester United)

As I mentioned last week I think Lubo’s tactics have shown the greatest amount of improvement. Really well thought out and I’m glad he took heed of my constructive statement last week.
I’m equally delighted that Di has thrown off the shackles of the defensive tactics used in the last dream league. Barcelona play some very nice football.

All in all a close match but last minute despair for Barcelona as Gerrard keeps a cool head as Colchester United score a late penalty.

Barcelona
Speroni, Arbeloa, Martinez, Distin, Balenzagia, Gabi, Jonathan (Gurpegi), Giovani, Cuenca (Affelay), Tello, Aduriz
Subs: San Jose, Gurpegi, Affelay, Kishna, Bamford

Aduriz, Gabi

Colchester United
Ikeme, Janmaat, Kalas, Balanta, Vrsjalko, Gerrard, Ignjovski (Lindeloff), Lallana, Origi, McDaid (Morgan), Ramos
Subs: Ikeme, Kitsiou, Morgan, Nathan, Lindeloff

Ikeme, McDaid
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Fishguard Sports v Sekhukhune Lions

A game that usually doesn't fail to upset.

However this match was a bit of a dull fest with neither team really getting the luck required to make the difference.

Welshy's team were pushed back by the Lions however they were comfertable on the ball to make sure the high pressure from the Lions never really put them into an awkward situation.

A few close attempts and a beautiful one handed diving save from Ospina were the only real highlights to talk about and maybe this match came too early in the season with both teams subconciously thinking of not losing the game.

On the whole I guess both managers should be happy with the point but upset that they didn't get the break that could have made the difference.

Full Time
Fishguard Sports 0v0 Sekhukhune Lions

Goal Scorers --


Fishguard 4- Jojic, Blind, Jedvaj, Klaassen
Lions 2 - Cigerci, Lacazette.

MOTM - Veltman, never got pressurised by the defence enough to make a mistake and played it calm...dealt with Leiva's teams "vertical passes" well too.