GW5 & 6

Newcastle United vs Liverpool

The Toon side were big favourites for this, and was hard to see anything than a home win, until there was a red card. Home, quality, form, and good tactics. The Toon tactics did read a lot like a geometry puzzle, but couldn’t fault the gameplan or tactical side.
I wasn’t sure on the use of Salah and Son as attacking midfielders - think could more clearly define their roles, and in this game thought it was a missed trick to not target Pool’s fbs. Also as a wb don’t think Shaw isn’t at quality of rest of team (fb I’d say fine), also not sure on Luka in the Cm role in a 2 in bigger games (see below and Tino tactics).
The Wolves side came out and thought the width to target Toon’s back 3 who played wbs high was a good tactic.
Wolves also emphasised the pace in midfield and thought this would help - though Toon definitely had control. But I thought these touches gave Wolves the gameplan slots.

The red card went to Toon and Dias. Toon still picked up a lot of slots but this slid things and evened slots up so in the end after the bad luck of the red, Ludy got the luck in the final spins.

Toon 2-1 Wolves
Salah (Son), Lewa (Son) ; Neto (Dumfries)
🟥 Dias

Chelsea vs City

The away Fan made it very difficult for the home Fan - City really a very hard team to play against, with perfect strikers to play on the break. And thought the counter attack was the key thing that was missing for the away side - also Saul more of a Cm for me and think a better link between midfield and attack would’ve been a big plus. Thought this would also help defence to relieve pressure.
As I’d see Chelsea dominating and City being pushed back, making it difficult for City to build attacks with the quality of the home side. I think the home sides wide players and fbs would work well to create against the strong City side with such a strong threat from deep. With the home side dominating think they’d create a lot more. Think Grealish in AM is perfect in a game like this where you have control and upper hand, but for bigger games his best work seems to come from left imo.
Quality wise for City, Coady and Onyeka aren’t at standard of rest for me but with tactics this wasn’t an issue (quality slots to Chelsea though). Against smaller teams think Tierney at lcb would in that formation.
Subs wise thought both made sense and good quality. Home side has the slot advantage then and comes out on top.
No upsets here as fruity played ball for the favourites.

Chelsea 2 - 0 City
Mbappe (Grealish), Ferran (Robertson)


Leeds Utd vs Man Utd

No idea why these clubs hate each other but Lubo paints the perfect pantomime villain for this derby, making his team travel to Manchester and back for this home game.
Leeds tactics were bold and with Utd inviting pressure early on gave them momentum. As the game went on though I thought the extra man in attack would hand control to the away side with their strong Cm, formation and pace up top.
Tactics wise slots were quite even then, as couldn’t pick a clear winner in my head - liked Lubo’s game plan but thought some of Nadz tactics would give upper hand in other areas.
Quality wise I don’t think there was much between the teams, but Leeds had a couple of real difference makers in Neuer and Kane.
Subs wise I preferred Leeds options, as thought they’d take more more control with them winning vs Utd losing shape changes. I like gung ho but thought a cb should’ve gone.
Overall, with home advantage Leeds went in to slots as favourites and it landed in their favour.

Leeds 2 - 1 Man Utd
Chiesa (Kane), Kane (Depay) ; Rashford (Dest)

Arsenal vs Brentford

Turns out this is should be more of a Derby than Leeds/Utd, but does anyone go that far west in london. Thought this would play out as quite an even and tight match. Gunners with the upper hand, but thought Bees tactics would counter their setup well.
The bees had a good mix of energy and experience, and thought their midfield trio was a great mix. Really liked the fluidity or springy quality Welshy called it.
Arsenal also have great quality in Cm, think they’d just have the upper hand here and could see Barella as being a real difference maker. Tactically thought the home side were also very solid.
Quality wise things Arsenal just had the upper hand, Bees had plenty of quality and a couple star names, think the stars of 3 of their defenders will continue to grow but for now I gave Ars the edge.
For Ars, just me but I’d play Alba over Chilwell/Auba over Diaby but that’s just personal/tactical preference rather than a weakness.
The fruity saw that this wasn’t a re-run of the violation of Arsenal a few weeks ago and didn’t add to Jet’s Bees nightmares, they went in with the advantage and it played out that way.

Arsenal 1 - 0 Brentford
Saka (Benzema)


Wolves vs Spurs

The Black Country air seemed to tickle TABs throat for this clash of Titans against Tino’s galacticos, but it was Ronaldo and Messi that was the real battle.
The home team enjoyed more possession, their strong 4 man midfield full of quality, and the deeper trio in particular will always see them strong in possession added with fbs giving width and quality in attack I saw them have more control. Their attacking threats would cause the attacking Spurs side and back 3 trouble.
This helped the home side create a lot of chances - but their attacking play also left them open, especially out wide and with the quality of Spurs attack no surprise they’d exploit this, so I also expected their attacks to come out on top of the tactical battle. Defences 0 attacks 2.
Spurs knew they were going on the attack so both sides game plans were very good - can’t criticise these Spurs tactics they made a lot of sense. It wasn’t the prettiest at times as was congested midfield so was often like pinball in my head.
Quality wise it was very even both full of stars, Ronaldo vs Messi, but Semedo the weakness that stands out in the two sides for me and was one of the areas Spurs were targeting and think this would’ve worked. For Spurs there’s no personnel that I’d call weak, but thought formation would’ve been better with another Cm over Havertz see him as more of a second striker and have Messi for that role. Also not a fan of Aguero next to Messi, think would be better with a harder working + more pace, buildup (Jesus) - but that’s just me (and Argentina).
Subs wise I gave Spurs the edge for mixing it up. With form also going for Spurs.
Overall then slots were very even in end - so it came down to luck and the deciding spin went TABs way.

Wolves 2 - 3 Spurs
Ronaldo (Spina), Griezzman (Verratti) ; Messi (Pogba), Aguero (Sane), Jesus (Hazard)