The Tactics Thread

[Randall 315]

4-4-2 diamond lets go.

[strong centreback 157]

I personally thought it was more a 4312 than a 442 diamond, similar to what carlo used at ac milan whilst there.

[jjd06e 37]

Looks like Anelka is playing the attacking midfield role behind Torres and Drogba

http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/news/2011/02/06/carlo-ancelotti-to-go-3-up-top-with-torres-Drogba-and-anelka-against-liverpool-today-102039-22902175/

CARLO ANCELOTTI is ready to unleash Fernando Torres on Liverpool today – alongside Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka in an all-guns-blazing Chelsea line-up.

Spanish superstar Torres, a £50million British transfer-record buy, seems certain to start in an explosive debut at Stamford Bridge against Liverpool where he was an idol until demanding a move last week – running a gauntlet of hate from visiting fans.

And Stamford Bridge boss Ancelotti is ready to pair Torres and Drogba, with Anelka in behind them as the attacking point of a midfield diamond, as the champions go hell-for-leather in their bid to close the gap on Premier League leaders Manchester United, who amazingly slipped up at bottom club Wolves.

Ancelotti said: “I think that they are all able to play together. I think it is not a problem, it is a challenge.

“It is a good challenge for everyone – for myself and also the players. I think Anelka has played very well in that position behind the strikers. So this is good news.”

You know Lampard is a lock, so it looks like the final 2 midfield roles will be a battle between Essien/Mikel/Ramires/Malouda. One of Essien or Mikel is a lock to play the back role.

[Kostas 1,468]

Cue Chelsea fans over-analysing diamonds faults after our first defeat. It's going to be 2008 all over again.

[Madmax 9,219]

[Clevemayer 764]

^+1

superb Madmax this is exactly what I'm regarding as our strongest line-up right now may be drop anelka and get torres there because I think anelka is worse than Drogs right now (I know this sounds impossible but its like that) with josh comeing on for franky every now and then for about 30 - 45 Min.

:goodpost:

[DYC. 7,542]

For the Man Utd game:

Cech

Ivanovic - Terry - Luiz

Mikel

Bos------------------------------------Cole

Ess/Rami - Lamps

Anelka - Torres

This will probably be United's line-up:

VDS

O'Shea - Smalling - Vidic - Evra

Carrick/Scholes

Fletcher - Gibson/Anderson

Nani - Berbatov - Rooney

[Bir_CFC 3,455]

For the Man Utd game:

Cech

Ivanovic - Terry - Luiz

Mikel

Bos------------------------------------Cole

Ess/Rami - Lamps

Anelka - Torres

No, we're not stooping to Scumpool levels.

[DYC. 7,542]

No, we're not stooping to Scumpool levels.

Cole and Bos aren't defenders in my formation (that's why I put them in front of Mikel in the holding role). Think Dani Alves at Barcelona or Marcelo at Real, they spend more time on the opposition half than their own.

This was Liverpool's formation:

Reina

Skrtel

Kelly - Carragher - Agger - Johnson

Lucas

Maxi - Gerrard

Mereiles

Kuyt

Malouda and Anelka offer us nothing from the wing and Bos and Cole already play like wingbacks. Only this way we have more security at the back and Mikel won't be such a risk with all the defensive responsibility.

Barcelona play in a somewhat similair way when in possession (at times), only like this:

Valdes

Piqué - Busquets - Puyol/Abi

Xavi - Iniesta

Alves-------------------Messi------------------Maxwell

Pedro---------------------Villa

[Bir_CFC 3,455]

I don't want to play with 3 centre-backs, thats what I mean by stooping to scumpool level. We already play like that on defence cause Mikel drops deep and plays like a 3rd centre-back.

Mikel dropping deep is good enough as far defense is concerned.

[steve5221 91]

I dont think 3 at the back, that is the tatic for a smash and grab win and we can't do that at home. Plus Ferguson f**cks up the tactics against us usually and is likely to drop Berbatov and go 4-5-1.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

For United

Čech

// Ivanović - Luiz - Terry - Cole \\

Mikel - Essien

\\ Ramires - Lampard - Malouda //

Torres

[zolayes 14,489]

would like us to try 3 5 2 or 3 1 3 1 2

[steve5221 91]

That could work, Torres scares the sh*t out of Vidic and Ferdinand when up front alone.......

[Rambo 1,729]

Not a big fan of Mikel and Essien playing together in the midfield.