Isotope
Pat_Mustard
Isotope Tactics
Meanwhile, Vidal brings a perfect mix of grit and creativity, keeping the team connected from back to front. Makélélé in DM, Cannavaro and Marquinho, rock-solid at the back, are more than ready to shut down any attack that comes their way.
Pat_Mustard Tactics
Formation: Diamond/narrow 4-4-2. Drop back and defend deep out of possession. I couldn't resist the aesthetics of lining up in the diamond, and we will use that shape in phases, but with the opposition looking very strong on the wings with the likes of Robben, we'll generally revert to 2 banks of 4 in the defensive phase. Whereas we deployed an overtly counter-attacking strategy in our last match vs Xavi and Busquets, we'll intersperse counters with possession phases here, as I expect us to edge the battle for midfield control here even if Iso goes 4-3-3 with Makelele/Vidal/Veron, and certainly if he goes with a 4-2-3-1.
Pat_Mustard
Isotope Tactics
- Sexy GOAT wingers + beautiful midfield play = Pure football poetry.
- Ronaldinho and Robben are about to torch Pat’s center-backs with pace.
- Roles? Clear as day. Everyone knows their part and plays it to perfection.
- In midfield, Verón’s pinpoint passes—short or long—will feed Robben’s bursts forward, or setting up this Magician:
Meanwhile, Vidal brings a perfect mix of grit and creativity, keeping the team connected from back to front. Makélélé in DM, Cannavaro and Marquinho, rock-solid at the back, are more than ready to shut down any attack that comes their way.
Pat_Mustard Tactics
Formation: Diamond/narrow 4-4-2. Drop back and defend deep out of possession. I couldn't resist the aesthetics of lining up in the diamond, and we will use that shape in phases, but with the opposition looking very strong on the wings with the likes of Robben, we'll generally revert to 2 banks of 4 in the defensive phase. Whereas we deployed an overtly counter-attacking strategy in our last match vs Xavi and Busquets, we'll intersperse counters with possession phases here, as I expect us to edge the battle for midfield control here even if Iso goes 4-3-3 with Makelele/Vidal/Veron, and certainly if he goes with a 4-2-3-1.
- We've made substantial upgrades to the defence, with arguably the GOAT GK Buffon replacing Martinez, and Lahm coming in for Hakimi. The Lahm upgrade seems particularly fortuitous given that we're up against Ronaldinho and/or Ribery.
- The CBs, Rodri and Ballack should enable us to be exceptional on both offensive and defensive set pieces.
- Varane's sweeper-ish style of defending and recovery pace will complement Terry well, and Koke's diligence and defensive capabilities should mitigate against the defensive vulnerabilities of Hernandez. Conversely, Hernandez is a superb outlet on the counter with his blistering pace and ball-carrying ability.
- The midfield is probably the most tactically significant component of the team. All four players are positionally versatile, outstandingly well-rounded, and as a unit capable of adjusting their shape and functions in-game. Their attacking productivity can't be faulted either - 25 goals and assists in 58 matches from Koke in his most prolific season, 25 in 45 from Mendieta, 36 in 50 from Ballack (in a similar role at the tip of a diamond for Leverkusen from memory?), 23 in 50 from Rodri. Rodri, admittedly, will have to play more conservatively here, given the attacking tendencies of his partners.
- The front two have the quality to decide any match on their own, and Suarez seems a fine foil as a line-leader to create space for Mbappe. Mbappe is given licence to cheat in his defensive work and position himself to maximise his threat on the counter, with Suarez pressing like a maniac to compensate. With the other 9 outfielders having brilliant workrate, we feel we can accomodate one lazy genius in Mbappe.