Formation for Rome

[Karloski]

Probably a bit premature, but what formation (considering all players are fit) would you go with in Rome?

Would it differ depending on the opposition? or do you have a preffered side that you feel would beat either team?

Feel free to move this if a thread already exists.

With the loss of Fletcher. I'm currently thinking this team would set up well against Barca:


--------------VDS

O'Shea----Ferdinand----Vidic-----Evra

----------------Carrick
-----Anderson-------------Park

Tevez----------Ronaldo--------Rooney

Subs: Berbatov, Scholes, Giggs, Raphael, Evans, Foster, Nani

With the amount of possession that Barca keep, I'm thinking Scholes and Giggs might not have the legs and would be better utilised as subs. Also I think the front 3 would scare the life out of Barca's defence and probably keep their fullbacks busy.


Against Chelsea:

--------------VDS

O'Shea----Ferdinand----Vidic-----Evra

------Carrick----------Anderson
---------------Giggs

Ronaldo-------Berbatov--------Rooney

Subs: Park, Scholes, Tevez, Raphael, Evans, Foster, Nani

I think it might be a better against Chelsea's defence to have a point man (Berbatov) to hold up the ball with players running around him.


I'll probably change my mind when it gets closer, but thats my initial thoughts.

[Bronaldo]

Still a lot of games to play before then

Can we also get a [R]

Formation is based on our performances from now on. Should have a Results tag

[johno]

I agree that it is a bit too early to start talking formation for the final.

There are a couple things that are still to be decided. The opponent is a huge factor.


Against Barca, Scholes might be an option because he'll help us keep possession. Against Chelsea, as DS mentioned, they have no answer for Giggsy through the middle.

We know that if fit, Carrick is guaranteed to start. You'd suspect that Berbatov will start on the bench (barring phenomenal form) and that Park will be heavily considered regardless of opponent because his work rate will help to negate the loss of Fletcher. Still, there are a host of things to be worked out until then. Should be interesting.

[Dark Savante]

As it's settled now, I would expect us to work their wings like crazy. They press brilliantly high up the pitch, but the further back you go the worse they get. Spraying balls out to the flanks will give them all kinds of problems and actually has you bypass the midfield as you don't need to play through them to make those passes.

They are vulnerable to the counter-attack as well. Width, width, width is what we're going to see.

----------------VDS
-----------Rio--------Vidic
O'Shea*-------------------Evra
---------Carrick--Anderson
---------------Giggs
Park-------Ronaldo-------Rooney

Nani may well get a spot in the squad now as well. I doubt Berbatov gets a sniff unless we have injuries or he is immense in training.

[Amdrag]

Why did O'Shea win a star? :)

[michael24710]

As it's settled now, I would expect us to work their wings like crazy. They press brilliantly high up the pitch, but the further back you go the worse they get. Spraying balls out to the flanks will give them all kinds of problems and actually has you bypass the midfield as you don't need to play through them to make those passes.

They are vulnerable to the counter-attack as well. Width, width, width is what we're going to see.

----------------VDS
-----------Rio--------Vidic
O'Shea*-------------------Evra
---------Carrick--Anderson
---------------Giggs
Park-------Ronaldo-------Rooney

Nani may well get a spot in the squad now as well. I doubt Berbatov gets a sniff unless we have injuries or he is immense in training.

Surely park would be on the flank with evra in order to double team messi in a manner similar to last year? How do you rate our chances assuming no injuries.

[Harry Boulton]

So, Barcelona it is then. With Alves, Marquez and Abidal all injured or suspended. That's 3 of their preferred 4 defender all out.

Rooney and Ronaldo should be licking their lips.

Xavi and Iniesta are going to have to be at their ball-retaining best to protect a backline shorn of 3 of it's biggest players. If we flood the midfield then not only could we cut the supply line but we can put them under pressure and allow Ronaldo and Rooney to run at their depleted back line.

[Bronaldo]

Rooney would to fine against Messi. I'm most worried about who will track Iniesta and who will mark Henry

[Stud83]

Width, width, width is what we're going to see.

this.

[Amdrag]

Our speed is going to harm them. Anelka and Drogba were through plenty of times and lost out to not be quick enough.

[Dark Savante]

Why did O'Shea win a star? :)
Fergie said he definitely starts the final.

Surely park would be on the flank with evra in order to double team messi in a manner similar to last year? How do you rate our chances assuming no injuries.
Rooney forces the double team on the flank. Him being on Messi's side means the FB has to stay where he is and it isolates Messi from his flanker. We're likely to have Anderson tucking in and helping Evra and hitting the long ball out to Rooney who is going to be one-on-one with his FB at that moment.. we're very good on those kind of counters.

[michael24710]

Fergie said he definitely starts the final.


Rooney forces the double team on the flank. Him being on Messi's side means the FB has to stay where he is and it isolates Messi from his flanker. We're likely to have Anderson tucking in and helping Evra and hitting the long ball out to Rooney who is going to be one-on-one with his FB at that moment.. we're very good on those kind of counters.

Makes sense, cheers :)

[benni...]

that FB will most likely be Puyol, and I favour Rooney in that match up.

[Karloski]

They press brilliantly high up the pitch, but the further back you go the worse they get. Spraying balls out to the flanks will give them all kinds of problems and actually has you bypass the midfield as you don't need to play through them to make those passes.

This is what I've also noticed over the two games against Chelsea. They dont give players anytime on the ball. On quite a few occasions I saw up to 4 Barca players surrounding a player. The thing is it works for them because they have so much of the ball, they spend less time chasing around the pitch.

I think there are a couple of ways to play this. Firstly, we know we defend well as a team. So we can play it similar to Chelsea's second leg. Defend, suck e'm in and hit them on the break at pace. Alternatively we can be a bit braver. They leave so much space at the back (added to the fact they will have a weakened back line). We can make sure we leave players up. They are weak against accurate longballs so not only will it give us the opportunity for instant attacks (with support), they will be constantly weary of the threat. If we try and fight fire with fire, with a possession game, I think we're in trouble.

Does anybody know if the Rome pitch is big?

[Dark Savante]

You want the smartest and fastest attacking trio right up the pitch against them, yeah. They are not designed to stop that kind of football, what's more, you can keep your shape all across midfield whilst spraying such simple balls out wide.

Very similar to how Porto went at us with their front three all night in the home leg and pinned us back with only those 3.

We won't engage them in midfield. It will be wide, wide, wide with Ronaldo bombing through the middle straight at Pique.

Possession isn't of much importance in such a scenario either.

Barca never ever work the byline. It was their major failing against Chelsea and their best chance of getting in behind the backline. If they are going to play all in front of us, as they do, then condensing the midfield and having a dense mass of bodies for them to get through is almost a default strategy.

We're going to be cagey, but could easily cause them problems with just 3 men.

[Bronaldo]

We need to go at them like Valencia did a couple weeks ago. Bypass most of the midfield and play the ball more directly to the flanks and over the top for Ronaldo.

[Harry Boulton]

Rooney would to fine against Messi. I'm most worried about who will track Iniesta and who will mark Henry


I'd rather see Rooney concentrating on attacking their depleted defence than tracking back and marking Messi.

I agree that our midfield needs to try and avoid getting sucked into a game of cat and mouse with theirs. Scholes and Carrick are fine players but I don't fancy their chances of getting the better of Xavi and Iniesta. Anderson too wouldn't do well against them. Xavi and Iniesta will pass it round athletic, energetic players and Anderson fits into that category.

I think the best way forward is to play it wide. Their defence is there for the taking but we have to get the ball there first without losing possession and leaving ourselves open to be hit by Messi, Eto'o and Henry, being fed by Xavi and Iniesta.

I'm not entirely sure of how I'd set us up if it were down to me. Head says that hard working players like Park would do well in this game, but on the other hand Barca's intelligence in mnidfield will simply make those kinds of players irrelavant.

[sdotsom]

We need an athletic bunch in midfield because we are not going to out-pass Iniesta and Xavi, who are 2 of the top 5 midfielders in the world. Instead, athletic players like Anderson and Fletch who can force loss of possession through their energy will be called upon. Then, Rooney and Ronaldo....they are always gonna have a good chance with the makeshift backline.

[johno]

As it's settled now, I would expect us to work their wings like crazy. They press brilliantly high up the pitch, but the further back you go the worse they get. Spraying balls out to the flanks will give them all kinds of problems and actually has you bypass the midfield as you don't need to play through them to make those passes.

They are vulnerable to the counter-attack as well. Width, width, width is what we're going to see.

----------------VDS
-----------Rio--------Vidic
O'Shea*-------------------Evra
---------Carrick--Anderson
---------------Giggs
Park-------Ronaldo-------Rooney

Nani may well get a spot in the squad now as well. I doubt Berbatov gets a sniff unless we have injuries or he is immense in training.

Pretty close to what I've suggested in other threads.

We won't engage them in midfield. It will be wide, wide, wide with Ronaldo bombing through the middle straight at Pique.

I'm in agreement here, I suspect we'll see Ronaldo and Rooney interchanging just a bit though. Anderson linking the attack will be important imo.

Barca never ever work the byline. It was their major failing against Chelsea and their best chance of getting in behind the backline. If they are going to play all in front of us, as they do, then condensing the midfield and having a dense mass of bodies for them to get through is almost a default strategy.

We're going to be cagey, but could easily cause them problems with just 3 men.

agreed. You could see Guardiola gesturing for that during the game, they don't have a single winger on their books. Not one :eek:

I'd rather see Rooney concentrating on attacking their depleted defence than tracking back and marking Messi.

I think we'll be ceding the midfield to Barca for the most part. We'll see Anderson press high up the pitch occasionally, but the 2nd marker for Messi will be one of Carrick and Giggs (going by the formation DS set up). The idea is, for the player on the left for us, to open up the field. Ronaldo is capable of finding his shot and a pass wherever he plays, Rooney is very right footed and so is Park. Playing Rooney on the left allows him to cross and shoot on a cut back. He's been in fantastic form playing on the left recently so no reason to change it.

[Vermont Red]

As Fergie used Rooney on the same side as Walcott, I don't see any reason why he wouldn't be used on the same side as Messi.