wk9

Newcastle vs Spurs
A battle between two sides that will be right up there at the end of the season competing for the title and the cups, a boisterous Geordie crowd, lording it over Spurs with their billionaire owner Ludy sat in the dug-out. Home advantage to the barcodes but Spurs even in a relatively poor run of form take the form slot.
Ludy, going with an expansive 4-3-3 trying to press home his advantage vs a ballsy 3-2-3-2 employed by Tab.

Ludy I liked the tactics but they did confuse me somewhat, I’m not sure your FB’s are really the kind you want as auxiliary midfielders, and whilst I agree it allows a certain degree of control in the middle it also stifles it (more so when combined with Tabs midfield) so space would be at a premium, you then say that you want to utilize the wide players, but you’ve banged them all in the middle, including telling Son and Olmo to come in off the flank?

But I do like the side, and the tactics are clever enough to make me want to re-read them what I would say though is that Tabs version of the 3-2-3-2 has enough bodies in many respects to plug the gaps as you’re creating them, thus leading to a potential stale-mate.
You do get a slot though for managing to type Modric, fresh legs, that fecker never had legs when he was a teen.

Tab, tis a calculated risk that formation, but it’s one I enjoyed using when I came back and whilst it can have it’s defensive weaknesses in wider areas, it gives a platform for some very good attacking football
The key to it working is the engine and in Neves and Fabinho you have two very good players, that keep the side ticking over, I like it a lot.
Leave out the tactical analysis that’s my job
I liked the transition into a 4-2-3-1 and to paraphrase RoF “I want a right back that can play centre-back, or I might want a centre back that can play right back" you’re full backs and Fabinho, feelsa much more natural transition than Ludy’s where he’d have just been better off letting his FB’s run the line and stretching out your defence.

All in all a tight affair that really could have gone either way, the slots we’re pretty much an even split but the fruity we’ll she has her own ideas.
A/A/D
Newcastle 1-2 Spurs
Lewa (son)
Messi (KDB) Jesus (Sancho)

MOTM – Fabinho -Doesn’t get the plaudits he deserves, but he did his role to aplomb.




Leicester vs Brentford
Getting any points from Leicester away is always a tall order, Brentford go there giving up the form slot plus home advantage, makes this task harder still, But just like their gaffer The honeybees are dogged lil fecks and won’t just lie down. Rof has fitted a revolving door at the training ground and shuffled the pack, The foxes fans we’re gutted to see Mane and Carvajal leave, as well as club legend Kasper Schmeichel but the thought of seeing Neymar line up alongside Sterling, Bruno and Benzema must have given them something to smile about, I mean they live in the east midlands so other than spice there’s not much else going on.

I’ve never rated Benz, but have to say the numbers he’s currently producing are right up there with the very best in the business, and with Neymar alongside him, Brentfords defence would be in for a very busy afternoon, I like the “lop-sided" defence and can see it’s value, and whilst your formation is no longer fashionable it has the key ingredients I like (2 up top, lightening quick winger, and a solid midfield) Rodri is perhaps under-rated by many but it’s his leg work that allows his more illustrious team-mates to play with freedom.

Welshy always has a key for a good talent, whether it be a star name just under the radar, or an up and comer, I like the balance of the side, I like the fluidity of the tactics and I feel you’d give Lesta a good ole game today.. your front-four is pretty exciting and will get you enough goals to win you a fair few points, ASM would be impossible to stop but I think that’s because not even he knows what he’s gonna do. Suarez is still deadly and Domenico has 3 in 5 in Serie A already. I just feel when it comes down it, Rof’s more experienced back-line would get a firmer grip on your attack than the other way round.

Leicester go into the fruity with the lions share of the slots and will be hoping for another solid home win, the fruity………….
H/H/H

Leicester 3-1 Brentford
Marquinhos (Bruno) Laporte (Bruno) Benzema (Neymar)
Suarez (Berardi)

MOTM – Bruno – two perfect corner deliveries utilizing the height of Lesta set his team on the way.




Man Utd vs Arsenal

Back when Jesus was still in loincloths this fixture conjured up images of two title contenders swinging at each other, and going toe-to-toe for domestic supremacy. These days they’re not at the elite level but both are showing signs of a renaissance, United perhaps not quite getting results they deserve but still a solid side, where as Jets Arsenal are perhaps over-achieving and find themselves sat in a lofty 3rd position. Arsenal are in fact the form team in the division bringing 4 straight wins and a form slot up the M6.
Nadz 4-2-3-1 vs Jets 3-5-2 see’s more congestion than the M25 at rush hour, Nadz instructing his team to sit deep and keep it contained in the early stages and Jet opting for a narrower formation to combat the frenchness of United, saw us all reaching for a Pan Bagnat

Nadz, I like the team instructions, and whilst I laugh about it, I understand the semi-cautious approach in the early stages, your midfield will always keep you in games, and I’m keen to see how Greenwood develops as you could have yourself a very good button man, the wingers are good and Wirtz is in a huge purple patch IRL. There’s some really good strength on the bench too

Jet, I do like your team, it has a bit of everything, Maignan started really brightly in Milan shame he’s out for a bit now, the defence is pretty good, I do like Hakimi (even if he has the stain of Inter on him) Tielemans is a baller and the front three (I’m including Barella) will always find a way to create chances.

Close game this, Arsenal edging the slots and carrying more match-winners, over to everyones favourite fruity.
D/A/H , is that a fullhouse? Don’t think a draw really helps either side but it’s probably a fair result

Man Utd 1-1 Arsenal
Greenwood (sulemana)
PEA (Dybala)

MOTM – Ndidi, seems to be the week of the midfield generals to stand up and be counted for their sides.






Chelsea vs Leeds
Think both sets of hoolies are more interesting than these two mid-table sides, they deserve to be the last game of MOTD. Fan must be feeling the pressure now, as he’s turning slowly into the leagues Steve Bruce, beware of men approaching carrying umbrellas. Lubo’s steadfast approach to transfers and refusing to entertain offers for the crown jewels whilst admirable, also sees him stagnate a little.

Fan I like your starting XI, decent formation and a strong spine, the front-four will trouble a lot of teams, and you have possibly the strongest FB pairing in the league, so where does it go wrong? Must be the manager I reckon I do genuinely like the tactics though, and I expect you to dominate large portions of the game, and you obvs have the players to make this possession count.

Lubo, I like the 3-4-3 it does give you a decent opportunity to get a grip on the game, think your midfield matches up nicely against Fans, as that’s probably his weakest area on the pitch, could maybe have dropped another in there to secure the middle but that’s obviously at a cost elsewhere.
Left tactics late this week, not out of computer troubles, but instead so we can avoid Fan taking a sneaky peak. There’ll be no spying here, nosiree. In an attempt to bamboozle the Scotsman, This made me chuckle more than it should have.
I liked your game plan and thought you would be able to stifle his attacks but obviously over-time his possession heavy football would take it’s toll


Leeds were canny today and put up a good fight, but with Fan taking a 4 slot head start into the fruity it’s gonna be a tall order for everyones favourite yorkshireman

Fruity, H/A/H
Chelsea 2-1 Leeds
Torres x2 (Grealish,De Jong)
Kane (Chiesa)

MOTM – Torres, the Spaniard has earned his beleaguered manager a bit more time, with this match winning brace