Talking Tactics Before a Trip to Old Trafford

By: Daryl | May 29th, 2009

The first game under the new regime went very smoothly. But that was away to Watford in the FA Cup Third Round. Our next game is a trip to Old Trafford to face Man Utd in the Prem.

But don’t be too scared. This isn’t Fergie’s Man Utd. It’s January 2012 and the old man has retired (his final game was the 2011 Champions League Final defeat to Liverpool, which is likely the exact opposite of how he wanted to go.)

The new man in charge at Old Trafford is none other than Juande Ramos.

Here’s the team he put out vs Man City in their last league game:

They lost 2-0 and they currently sit 7th in the Prem after 19 games. But they’re clearly still a huge threat, so my dilemma is whether to stick with my attacking formation or try and contain them. Which is where you guys come in…

So, here are my available players (the day before the game, and try and ignore the fact that it’s Friday 13th)…

Lewandowski is back from injury, match fit and at 94%. Marquinhos is back from Olympic qualifying duty with Brazil and at 93% condition. Jonas is in training but at 66% so doesn’t look like making it.

And here are how I see my tactical options.

1. Go For It. Usual formation, but with Lewandowski partnerying The Pog:

2. The Cowardly Contain and Counter. Which would look something like this:

Wouldn’t have to be Pog up top. Lewandowski or Marquinhos might work better. And I get the feeling those team instructions could use some tweaking, so let me know if you have any better ideas.

3. Something else. Maybe a nice simple 4-4-2 with more balance instructions:

Which would seem to make sense, except that it hasn’t been very successful in the past, and it would be a big change for the players.

Thoughts?

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Category: FM09

Tags: FM09, Football Manager 2009, Man Utd, Newcastle, Old Trafford, Worldwide Soccer Manager 2009

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Comments  

• Aaron |  May 29th, 2009 at 11:10 pm

  
  
  

  go for regular attacking formamtion. that Man U team doesnt look very good.

  Posted from United States

  

• SP |  May 30th, 2009 at 1:56 am

  
  
  

  yep go for option #1. and thank god magic juande is not really in charge of man utd.

  Posted from United States

  

• Samir |  May 30th, 2009 at 4:57 am

  
  
  

  Ok, I think you should try the 4-4-2, BUT, if the game isn’t going okay, change Arshavin to support Lewandowski and the Pog, trying a 4-3-1-2, it always works for my super Napoli, mostly in the second half. If you change to 4-3-1-2, put your mentality a little bit more offensive, your passing style get it to direct, your tempo to quick, and most of all, play a large width with counter attack and a target man… If you give me your mail I may send you a photo of my Napoli tactics with 4-3-1-2…

  Posted from Dominican Republic

  

• Weston |  May 30th, 2009 at 5:40 am

  
  
  

  does anybody know anything about championship manager for the iPhone/iPod? All I can find on the appstore is soccer manager and I don’t know if it is any good or the same thing as CM.

  Posted from United States

  

• Oz47 |  May 30th, 2009 at 6:24 am

  
  
  

  Option 3 – Man for man yor midfield is better in a straight match-up.

  Posted from United States

  

• Toby |  May 30th, 2009 at 8:38 am

  
  
  

  option one! shoot to kill!

  Posted from United Kingdom

  

• James |  May 30th, 2009 at 4:06 pm

  
  
  

  Option 1.. You are better than them so all should be fine.. Hopefully.

  Anyone else notice on the chalkboard picture..
  one team was playing 4-4-2 (11 players) whilst the other was playing 5-3-1 (10 players).

  Posted from United Kingdom

  

• t'OM |  May 30th, 2009 at 8:19 pm

  
  
  

  Smash them down the left. Their right side looks weak. Option 1, focussing passing down the left.

  Posted from Australia

  

• Daryl |  May 31st, 2009 at 10:33 am

  
  
  

  Weston, this is all the info I could find:
  http://www.championshipmanager.co.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.772

  Posted from United States

  

• Marco |  June 1st, 2009 at 5:24 pm

  
  
  

  1-1-4-4. No not 4-1-1. Were talking 1 defender, 1 midfielder, 4 attacking midfielders and 4 strikers. Because you come from the score more than them school

  Posted from United States

  

• Daryl |  June 2nd, 2009 at 1:18 pm

  
  
  

  That might be a little too adventurous Marco! But seems like option 1 is the clear favourite here, so attacking Man Utd at Old Trafford it is.

  Posted from United States

  

• Daryl |  June 2nd, 2009 at 8:54 pm

  
  
  

  Quick update:

  Played the game earlier. Got outplayed in the first half, and only made it to HT at 0-0 thanks to Igor Akinfeev’s heroics.

  Switched to a 4-1-3-2 (basically dropped AM to CM) at half-time, and second half was much more even. But the still goalless game was abandoned after 77 minutes due to a shock lightning storm (blue screen error).

  Posted from United States

  

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