Under 21 League

No worries if these are too late to count

Overview of our 4-3-3 formation

Under 23 Players – Yannick Gerhardt & Mitchell Weiser



------------------------------Rajkovic
Klostermann------Stark---------------Tah-----------Gerhardt
----------------Christiansen-------------Dahoud
------------------------------Stendera
--------Mor------------------Selke---------------Werner

Subs: Semper, Weiser, Grillitsch, Öztunali, Kurt

Corners: Mor (Öztunali) /Werner
Pens: Selke
Free Kicks: Stendera
Captain: Stark


Our system has four defenders; two centre-halves and two full-backs. The midfield will be deployed with two holding midfielders at the base of a central midfield triangle that includes one advanced central midfielder.

Up top, we have two wide forwards and a centre-forward who leads the attack through the middle.
When our team has the ball, the two full-backs will be detailed to push into the opponents’ half to supply width in attacks.

In midfield Christiansen and Dahoud will act as our anchor-men sitting in front of the centre-backs, freeing Stendera to push forward and support play through the middle.

In the forward positions, our wide forwards Mor and Werner will converge centrally from the flanks and look to attack the inside channels or affect the game in between the opposition defenders and midfielders.

Selke our centre forward in this system will work as the furthest striker, playing off the shoulder of the last opposition central defender, from where he can feed on the service from the full-backs and through-balls from midfielders.

When defending, we’ll conform to a 4-5-1 formation with the two wide forwards dropping into midfield to track back with the opposition full-backs.

Our central midfielders will have the collective duty of stopping the opposition’s central midfielders from creating chances and taking shots in front of the defence, while the back-four acts as the last line of defence in front of the keeper.

Most teams play with only one or two strikers up top so three strikers will form a potent front-line with our centre forward stretching the opponents’ defensive line as the furthest striker while our wide forwards exploit the space that is created from the movement of the target man.

I would expect our wide forwards to pose the biggest threat to our opposition with their movement because they can run the channels, drop into pockets of space in between the lines or run in behind the opponent’s full-backs.

It will take a lot of co-ordination and defensive discipline from our opposition’s central defenders, full-backs and central midfielders to contain these mobile wide forwards.

Subs: 75th Min – Keep the opposition defence more than busy with the introduction of Weiser on for Klostermann & Öztunali on for Mor

Don't worry think it's fine as long as they're in this weekend

cheers bro

comment by Fan Gillhaus 1903 (U3339)
posted 2 weeks, 2 days ago
--------------------Lafont---------------------
Mensah------Ginter--N.Sule------Jackson
-------------Lemina-----Benassi-------------
Redmond---------Draxler---------Berahino
--------------------Sanabria-------------------

Prowse, Hughes, Brandt, Babacar

The back four will stay tight and the fullbacks will only attack when in no danger, and one at a time we cant be left exposed if we lose possession. Stay tight to your man, Ginter will man mark the striker very closely and Sule will be the spare defender and help out if need be.Both comfortable on the ball so they will be allowed to take the ball out of defence and start attacks from deep. Jackson will cover and make a back three when Mensah attacks as he will be allowed to do at will. But stay tight as a four and stya focussed

Lemina and Benassi in front will help out defensively when called upon, Lemina restricting the AM to as little as possible and Benassi hassling the other AM, when in possession pass it about and always be available for the ball back to start again if need be. Confident in there abilities but nothing silly. Just pass and move.

The wingers can switch about at will and use speed and good technique to get passed there markers, do this to confuse there defence and run them ragged, all three good in attack, quickl and skillful, look to support Sanabria and make themselves available to him for pass backs or knock downs. Drive at there defence, show no fear, there will be teams with more experience in this competition, but, if we go at them, playing quick passing game, with plenty of movement especially in the final third we have a chance. Draxler I want just off Sanabria more of a SS than an AM, support him as much as possible, Sanabria is lightening quick so look to pick him out with precise passing into the gaps for Sanabria to latch on to. Also look to get into open spaces and always look to get his foot on the ball, I want Draxler to be heavily involved from start to finish to see what he can do.

Sanabria is a good outlet up top, good movement, quick and strong look to hold off his man and go for goal, plenty movement behind him so look to brig others into play, try to make holes in there defence for them to move into, but if you get a sniff go for goal.

Captain:- Ginter
Penalties:- Berahino
Free Kicks - Draxler
Corners - Wingers

Subs
HT - Prowse for Benassi, Brandt for Redmond, Babacar for Sanabria

losing after 65 mins Berahino up front with Babacar, Draxler LW
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Don't even know if I'm still in! Just in case...

Overview of our 4-3-3 formation

Under 23 Players – Yannick Gerhardt & Mitchell Weiser



------------------------------Rajkovic
Klostermann------Stark---------------Tah-----------Gerhardt
----------------Christiansen-------------Dahoud
------------------------------Stendera
--------Mor------------------Selke---------------Werner

Subs: Semper, Weiser, Grillitsch, Öztunali, Kurt

Corners: Mor (Öztunali) /Werner
Pens: Selke
Free Kicks: Stendera
Captain: Stark


Our system has four defenders; two centre-halves and two full-backs. The midfield will be deployed with two holding midfielders at the base of a central midfield triangle that includes one advanced central midfielder.

Up top, we have two wide forwards and a centre-forward who leads the attack through the middle.
When our team has the ball, the two full-backs will be detailed to push into the opponents’ half to supply width in attacks.

In midfield Christiansen and Dahoud will act as our anchor-men sitting in front of the centre-backs, freeing Stendera to push forward and support play through the middle.

In the forward positions, our wide forwards Mor and Werner will converge centrally from the flanks and look to attack the inside channels or affect the game in between the opposition defenders and midfielders.

Selke our centre forward in this system will work as the furthest striker, playing off the shoulder of the last opposition central defender, from where he can feed on the service from the full-backs and through-balls from midfielders.

When defending, we’ll conform to a 4-5-1 formation with the two wide forwards dropping into midfield to track back with the opposition full-backs.

Our central midfielders will have the collective duty of stopping the opposition’s central midfielders from creating chances and taking shots in front of the defence, while the back-four acts as the last line of defence in front of the keeper.

Most teams play with only one or two strikers up top so three strikers will form a potent front-line with our centre forward stretching the opponents’ defensive line as the furthest striker while our wide forwards exploit the space that is created from the movement of the target man.

I would expect our wide forwards to pose the biggest threat to our opposition with their movement because they can run the channels, drop into pockets of space in between the lines or run in behind the opponent’s full-backs.

It will take a lot of co-ordination and defensive discipline from our opposition’s central defenders, full-backs and central midfielders to contain these mobile wide forwards.

Subs: 75th Min – Keep the opposition defence more than busy with the introduction of Weiser on for Klostermann & Öztunali on for Mor

Semi Final 1
Hull vs Man Utd

A packed Anfield we're willing Hull on today as they took on the resident Scousers bête noire (sorry for the use of French)
tough game to call this as I really like Welshy's set-up but I think this was one game too far and United got the job done in extra time

Goals:
Selke (stendera)
Tah (werner corner)
Berahino (Benassi)
Sanabria (Redmond)
Draxler (solo effort)

MOTM - Draxler - playing in the hole, everything went through him

Semi Final 2
Liverpool vs Chelsea

Clash of the titans here the traditional big club from Merseyside vs the nouveau riche from the West End (feckin French slipped out again)

both sides setting up pretty much the same, which can cause the game to get a little stifled, but it makes it easier to call on paper as it becomes a series of head to heads - I think Liverpools trident would have a fair bit of joy against Chelsea's defence, where as I think Chelsea's largely unproven attack would struggle against a tight Scouse defence.
Midfield for me is much muchness and for once in it's life the fruity agreed
Goals:
Lukaku (Carrasco)
Lukaku (RLC)
Lukaku (Williams)
Rashford (Alli)

MOTM - Overall play is still a little lacking in Lukaku but a hat-trick has to be applauded

-------------------Lafont-------------------
Mensah--M.Ginter--Rudiger--Jackson
-------------Prowse---Lemina------------
Redmond-------Draxler-------Anderson
------------------Berahino-----------------

N.Sule, Brandt, Benassi, Sanabria, Babacar

The back four will stay tight and the fullbacks will only attack when in no danger, and one at a time we cant be left exposed if we lose possession. Stay tight to your man, Rudiger will man mark the striker probably Lukaku very closely, use his upper body strength to keep him away from goal and Ginter will be the spare defender and help out if need be.Both comfortable on the ball so they will be allowed to take the ball out of defence and start attacks from deep. Jackson will cover and make a back three when Mensah attacks as he will be allowed to do at will. But stay tight as a four and stay focussed. Lafont behind the back four must stay calm, a young lad but veru good and instills confidence in the defence ahead of him. Will be confindent coming off his line for high balls or to close down the ball quickly at the forwards feet. Release early if need be.

Lemina and Prowse in front will help out defensively when called upon, Lemina restricting the AM to as little as possible and Prowse hassling the other AM, when in possession pass it about and always be available for the ball back to start again if need be. Confident in there abilities but nothing silly. Just pass and move.

The wingers can switch about at will and use speed and good technique to get passed there markers, do this to confuse there defence and run them ragged, all three good in attack, quick and skillful, look to support Berahino and make themselves available to him for pass backs or knock downs. Drive at there defence, show no fear, there will be teams with more experience in this competition, but, if we go at them, playing quick passing game, with plenty of movement especially in the final third we have a chance. Draxler I want just off Berahino more of a SS than an AM, support him as much as possible, Berahino is lightening quick so look to pick him out with precise passing into the gaps for Berahino to latch on to. Also look to get into open spaces and always look to get his foot on the ball, I want Draxler to be heavily involved from start to finish to see what he can do.

Berahino is a good outlet up top, good movement, quick and strong look to hold off his man and go for goal, plenty movement behind him so look to brig others into play, try to make holes in there defence for them to move into, but if you get a sniff go for goal.

Captain:- Ginter
Penalties:- Berahino
Free Kicks - Draxler
Corners - Wingers

Subs:-
Losing
65 Mins - Sanabria for Redmond, he goes up top and Berahino out wide
75 Mins - Babacar for Anderson, Draxler to the LW and go 442 with Brandt also coming on for Berahino

Winning:-
75 Mins - Benassi for Anderson, he goes into CM and Draxler out LW and Babacar for Berahino great at holding things up, if we concede after this then Sanabria on for Prowse

Drawing:-
Brandt for Redmond, Sanabria for Anderson and he switches with Berahino on 75 mins, Benassi for Prowse

-----------------------Scuffet
Christensen----Zouma------Mammana——Gaya
----------------Donsah----Tielemans
-------------------Loftus-Cheek
Williams--------------Lukaku----------Carrasco

Subs: A.Blin, C.Musonda, H.Lozano, B.Traore, M.Cornet

Captain: Kurt Zouma
Free Kicks: Youri Tielemans
Corners: Youri Tielemans
Penalties: Youri Tielemans

Final day and we go with the same side that has got us this far. We will look to overpower our opponents today, making the game tight in midfield and looking to draw them forward so we can hit them with our pace in behind.

Off the ball we will set up to defend in a compact, narrow 4-3-3, defending the field in three separate areas, the two flanks and the central third, make sure that every inch of space is covered, suffocating our opponents and controlling the game even without possession. Defending starts from halfway with Lukaku and YFC(or Williams if the ball is on the right), closing down their CMs with the free winger pushed up onto his FB and the two CMs closing the route into the final third, these two must work tirelessly to disrupt the two forward thinking United midfielders, don't allow them to settle in possession, force rushed passes. Donsah acts as the spare man, his job is to sweep up in midfield, if he sees a pass on, he's the one getting there to close down and win the ball and put us back on the attack, playing on the front foot even in his deeper midfield role in order to force the AM back away from the front line. Designed to rush United out to the unmarked FB, once we have them in the wide areas we feel we can win the battles, in particularly slowing them down and make sure their possession can't be built up on, keeping them moving backwards and side ways until they lose concentration and the ball. When we defend the flanks it allows us to make things extra compact by shuffling our set up across to meet the United advances, the key pairing here being the FB and wide man who go man v man against their opposite numbers, whilst the striker and midfield come across the close off the central route, making sure we have 6 men suffocating the attack, leaving our other wide man as the outball and the FB on that side tucked in alongside the CB allowing us to have a back 3. This will leave United squeezed onto the touchline where they are at their least threatening, up against two FBs who are strong in one on ones and two hard working wingers, limit them to crosses which we can deal with, any attempt to go in field is blocked by the sheer numbers and compactness of our side, any attempt to find the strikers will be intercepted by our CBs who will always be on their toes, ready to win the ball and set up attacks with their good distribution.

If they get deep into our half we will begin focusing on controlling space rather than pressing their men, drop off and make sure their are no gaps to play through. At this stage we will look to make things narrow in midfield with the wide players tucking in, DMs(Tielemans drops in beside Donsah) covering the space behind so that United can't play in the lines. Defence drops deep and the FBs narrow to the CBs, keeping the defence narrow and sat deep on the edge of our box means that United can't use their pace to get through us, they will be forced into wide areas and we are strong aerially and can cope with crosses and sideways movement. Force United to keep going side to side and backwards, as soon as the ball is there to be won, stepping in and looking to release Williams/YFC down the wings or Lukaku over the top or down the sides of the CB, our pace upfront is a huge asset on the break. Zouma will man mark the CF today with his power, Mammana will use his reading of the game to sweep.

Going forward we look to introduce a certain amount of freedom into the side. Attacks should start where we win the ball, this way it allows us to attack in numbers due to our pressing system being compact, quick link up play, initially by getting wide before looking to come infield in the final third, either with a cross or cutting in and showing our creativity with one twos and little slide rule balls into the channels. This means that when we attack, we go down the side where we won the ball, if we win it central we look to get YFC on the ball, so with the ball out wide we have the winger and FB able to link up quickly to get us into the final third, both FBs very good at running beyond their wide man. Loftus-Cheek in the middle looks to go out to the side of the build up and act as a creative force, linking the attack, picking the right pass and using his quick movement to make him hard to pick up, dragging players away from the middle which in turn allows for Tielemans to have a little more attacking freedom in a box to box role, finding space infield for a pass in the final third, once found he will pick the final ball 9 times out of 10 as well as having a lethal shot and can also arrive late in the box in a Lampard style, with Ruben looking to make clever runs down the sides of the defenders to get in the box. On the opposite side of the build up the winger will hog the touch line, keeping things stretched, we already have Tielemans and RLC to play centrally, we don't need another. With the defence stretched it keeps space open in the final third and also means we can quickly come infield and as soon as the ball comes infield, either with a pass to Tielemans in space or RLC and Lukaku between the lines, the winger not involved with the build up must be on his toes and looking to run in behind, with his marker either being sucked in due to the play being on the other side, or just two slow in a foot race to get to the through ball against Williams/YFC, this can be a great weapon for us. Lukaku comes into the side today to give us a real focal point, grab the attention of the CBs and keep them occupied so others can sneak in behind, playing quick one twos with him, and on the counter looking to run the sides of the CBs, if we get him away with a first time ball he won't be stopped. Not only that but he is a lethal finisher, when the ball comes infield look to run the sides of the CB and crosses will generally be aimed his way. Further back the likes of Donsah and Mammana(the rest of the back 4 too) push higher up as we break forward so they don't become detached and vulnerable to the counter, by making it compact it's harder for United to break through the numbers and in the two mentioned here we have players who can put us right back on the attack. Plan B if this doesn't work, go into a 4-4-2 with Ruben RAM and Williams pushed in alongside Lukaku so we have two forwards to release against their CBs.

If Winning: Blin for Loftus-Cheek 70’, sits in behind Donsah and Tielemans and allows them the space to press the opposition. Traore and Charly for Williams and Lukaku 80’.

If Drawing: Lozano for Loftus-Cheek 70’, looks to be creative behind the strikers. Cornet for YFC 75’. Traore for Williams 80’.

If Losing: Lozano for Gaya 65’, 3-5-2 with Williams up alongside Lukaku. Charly for Donsah 70’, Ruben drops deeper, Charly behind the strikers using his trickery to create. Traore for Williams 80’, poacher in the box. Cornet for YFC 85’, bigger goal threat.

Pens:

1. Tielemans
2. Lukaku
3. Christensen
4. Traore
5. Lozano
6. RLC
7. Donsah
8. Charly Musonda

U21 Final

Utd vs Liverpool

Heavyweight tussle between England's 2 historic "big clubs" on paper at least both sides set up in a similar 4-3-3

Fan has a lovely spine to his team and I feel they'd be very nice to watch.. LSTD his tactics today reminded me very much of Prandelli and his Italian experiment I thought it was a clever touch tucking his men infield and compacting the space that utd had to work in.

Berahino opened the scoring 20 mins in getting onto a draxler through ball and drilling it hard and low.

Lukaku equalised on the hour with a fine solo goal powering through the Utd defence, the ball barely looked under control but hey ho

Zouma was the match winner in the 75th minute rising highest to power in tielemans corner

Full time

Utd 1-2 liverpool