Team Himannv
Formation: 4-3-3
Tactics: High line, high press
Generally speaking, the tactic is to win the ball higher up the pitch so that we can exploit any spaces that the opposition may leave for us. This is aided by having a hard-working frontline backed up by hard working midfielders and good defenders.
Having said that, there will obviously be times when we'd have to start from the back and play out. In those situations as well we are well equipped with a sweeper keeper in Ter Stegen and a backline that is good on the ball, along with Schweinsteiger who will obviously be a key player on the ball for us. The fullbacks are both comfortable at bombing forward. Fernandinho does most of the covering and dirty work in midfield and enables the likes of Schweinsteiger and Lucha to be more offensive minded if they need to be.
The general position of players in and attacking scenario will be something similar to the following with enough cover through the spine to deal with counters, while also having a platform to attack the opposition:
One of the players I want to highlight is Lucha. He's like a Bruno Fernandes who can keep the ball. He contributes a great deal to the pressing obviously, but also contributes goals and brings a lot to the team on the ball as well, especially in a team that will operate in transition.
Moving on to the attackers, the wide players are key to how we want to play. Littbarski drops a bit deeper than Futre as he also has creating related duties. He's two footed, extremely skillful and lovely player with technique and footwork in addition to a goal threat.
Futre on the other hand is a quick and skillful dribbler who will take absolutely anyone on.
Team Pat Mustard
Formation: 3-4-2-1
I opted to build a flavour of the month 3-4-2-1 formation fielded by both Alonso and Gasparini in the recent Europa League Final. With the draft largely purged of No. 10s in the Wirtz mould, this iteration is built more in the Atalanta mould. A good summary of Gasparini's tactics can be found here:
https://www.attackingfootball.com/atalanta-love-story-with-gasperini/
and an older but more detailed one here:
https://themastermindsite.com/2021/05/11/gian-piero-gasperini-atalanta-tactical-analysis-2020-21/
The key tenets are a three CB defence; an intense man-to-man pressing system; a commitment to positional rotation and interchange; and a front three that are comfortable playing in close proximity to each other and linking up in tight spaces.
- The intensity of the press encourages the opposition to play the long ball to escape: the GOAT sweeper-keeper in Neuer, two particularly aerially dominant central players in Mozer and Rodri, and a very quick and athletic backline in general provide the necessary security to defend against that.
- Gasparini's side CBs often peeled wide in their build-up, so Alaba and Thuram's experience at FB should prove handy. While Thuram was merely competent in possession, Alaba was outstanding, and was arguably at his most influential in this LCB position under Pep.
- While the side CBs and even the CMs rotate into wide positions quite regularly in the Gasparini carousel, the WBs are still key to the system. Marcelo and Kimmich are close to the top of the pile in terms of ability in possession and chance creation.
- Gazza should thrive in this high-octane system, particularly alongside a partner with Rodri's positional discipline and defensive nous.
- The three forwards Reus, Butragueno and Suarez all boast an impressive work rate out of possession and an immense capacity for off-the-ball running. They've all had multiple league seasons where they've hit double digits in both goals and assists (9 times for Suarez!), and all can decide a match with a moment of individual brilliance.