<o
> </o
>( some screenied of lineups and player ratings will be up topnight)
<o
> </o
>
<o></o><o> </o><o> </o><o> </o><o> </o><o> </o>
As we have some injuries on our players capable of playing as a lone defensive midfielder, I hade to revert to a flat 442, having Cahill helping out in the MC position to stabilise our defence<o
></o
>
<o
> </o
>
<o
> </o
>
<o
> </o
>
<st1lace w:st="on">Wigan</st1lace> (a) – EPL<o
></o
>
<o
> </o
>
<o
> </o
>
<o
> </o
>
I expected Wigan to play a defensive formation as launch quick counter attacks so in this game, I went for a slow breakdown tactic, using a deeper d-line to be able to close down more heavily on their players without risking to be put under too much pressure if they managed to put a direct ball into channels behind our d-line, creating a gap between our defensive and attacking strata’s<o
></o
>
<o
> </o
>
1<sup>st</sup> half<o
></o
>
<o
> </o
>
We started great and scored from an owngoal in the 6<sup>th</sup> minute… It was clear that <st1
lace w:st="on">Wigan</st1
lace> was unable to cope with our movements and they got dragged out of position time after another. The goals kept coming and at half time, the score line was 4-0.<o
></o
>
<o
> </o
>
2<sup>nd</sup> half<o
></o
>
<o
> </o
>
We just played pout the game, switching to a more defensive tactic, playing narrow and without the heavy closing down. This way, our players saved some energy for the coming match in <st1
lace w:st="on">Europe</st1
lace><o
></o
>
<o
> </o
>
<o
> </o
>
Final score 4-0<o
></o
>
<o
> </o
>
<o
></o
>
<o
> </o
>
________________________________<o
></o
>
<o
> </o
>
<o
> </o
>
<o
>
</o
>
<o> </o>
<st1lace w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Aberdeen</st1:city></st1lace> (a) – Uefa Cup 1<sup>st</sup><sup>st </sup>leg round 1<o
></o
>
<o
> </o
>
I put up the strongest team for this match as I was unsure how my players would react playing in <st1
lace w:st="on">Europe</st1
lace>. It turned out that <st1:city w:st="on"><st1
lace w:st="on">Aberdeen</st1
lace></st1:city> lined up a 352 suing wingbacks so just before the match started, I decided to play more direct down the flanks, putting balls in behind their wingbacks<o
></o
>
<o
> </o
>
1<sup>st</sup> half<o
></o
>
<o
> </o
>
We dominated totally and their central midfielders were dragged wide out of position when covering for their attacking wingbacks. This gave our more defensive MC, Petrov, all the time and space in the world to move into attacking positions aging and again, scoring twice, Carew also scored one goal…0-3<o
></o
>
<o> </o>
2<sup>nd</sup> half<o
></o
>
<o
> </o
>
Again, we reverted to more cautious approach to save energy and saw the game out..<o
></o
>
<o
> </o
>
Final result 0-3<o
></o
>
<o
> </o
>
<o
> </o
>
<o
> </o
>
<o
></o
>
<o
> </o
><o
> </o
>
________________________________<o
></o
>
<o
> </o
><o
> </o
><o
> </o
>
<o> </o>
Sunderland (h) – EPL
<o
> </o
>
<st1
lace w:st="on">Sunderland</st1
lace> plays a 4411, using a support man and relies heavily on strength. I chose the same tactic and in the <st1
lace w:st="on">Wigan</st1
lace> game, a slow breakdown tactic. <o
></o
>
<o
> </o
>
1<sup>st</sup> half<o
></o
>
<o
> </o
>
We scored twice early in the game as just like the previous matches, they could not cope with our movements. They also got a man sent off in the 31<sup>st</sup> minute and after that I, again, saved energy by playing out the game<o
></o
>
<o
> </o
>
2<sup>nd</sup> half<o
></o
>
<o
> </o
>
Played out the game although we should have scored some more as we certainly had the chances.<o
></o
>
<o
> </o
>
Final score 2-0<o
></o
>
<o
> </o
>
<o
> </o
>
<o
></o
>
<o
> </o
>
<o
> </o
>
<o
> </o
>
<o
> </o
>
________________________________
<o
> </o
>
<st1lace w:st="on">Sunderland</st1lace> (h) – League Cup 3rd round<o
></o
>
<o
> </o
>
<o
> </o
>
Actually, our strategy was just like in the last game and the results turned out 5the same as well<o
></o
>
<o
> </o
>
1<sup>st</sup> Half<o
></o
>
<o
> </o
>
This time, we did not look interested at all and it was clear that the players looked complacent.<o
></o
>
<o
> </o
>
2<sup>nd </sup>Half<sup><o
></o
></sup>
<o
> </o
>
At half time I gave them a hairdryer and Carew scored twice in<o
></o
>
<o
> </o
>
<o
> </o
>
Final score 2-0<o
></o
>
<o
> </o
>
<o
></o
>
<o
> </o
>
<o
> </o
>
<o
> </o
>
<o
> </o
>
Coming up… The last fixture of September and our first stern test of the season<o></o>
<o> </o>
Tottenham (a) – EPL<o
></o
>