Man City Maintain Perfect Home Record…But Only Just!

Manchester City vs Liverpool Match Report

Boxing Day - Etihad Stadium - Premier League

This was the ‘One’ Boxing Day cracker that football supporters and pundits were eagerly awaiting as the Premier League’s two most prolific attacks battled each other. A Suarez-inspired Liverpool have been scoring for fun in recent weeks with an average of 4.24 goals per game since their shocking defeat to Hull City. Manchester City, on the other hand, came into the game with a perfect home record, having dismantled the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham and most recently Arsenal at The Etihad.

Tactical Setup:

Manchester City:

Manuel Pellegrini’s “no holds barred” tactics have been a joy to behold this season while playing in their own backyard. The Chilean prefers a fluid 4-4-2 formation but with Kun Aguero missing through injury, the Man City boss was forced to switch to a 4-4-1-1 system.

Pelligrini’s modified tactics retained the attacking intent of fullbacks Pablo Zabaleta and Aleksander Kolarov while Silva was asked to play centrally behind Alvaro Negredo. Samir Nasri, positioned on the left wing, was tasked with cutting inside to take on a role between the lines with his team on the front foot while Yaya Toure also pushed forward when needed.

Manchester City skipper Vincent Kompany was handed the duties of closely marking Luis Suarez.

Liverpool:

In the opposite dugout, Brendan Rodgers deployed an adaptable 4-3-3 system which relies on high pressing, quick movement and intricate passing. The Liverpool boss complained about the injuries that stricken his team over the past few weeks with the likes of Steven Gerrard and Daniel Sturridge unavailable – Jon Flanagan, who suffered a hamstring injury against Cardiff was replaced by Aly Cissokho.

Brendan Rodgers must take great credit for the tactical versatility shown by his team throughout their Premier League campaign with his side successfully interchanging between 4-2-3-1, 3-5-2 and 4-3-3 as the match required. Furthermore, this Liverpool team is no longer simply reliant on controlling the game with the Reds now equally comfortable counterattacking when needed.

Liverpool look to switch modes during different phases of the game while maintaining the core values of pass and move, high pressing line, creative movement and penetration.

First Half:

The home side began the contest on the offensive as the Citizens controlled possession and pushed up as they focused on attacking Liverpool’s left side. The combination between Zabaleta and Navas sent trembles into Reds’ defense after managing to break into the Liverpool penalty area within the first two minutes.

Minutes later, Manchester City flexed their muscles further after a whipped cross from Kolarov down the left flank bypassed Negredo and Skrtel before reaching Navas whose header hit the post.

After the early scares, Brendan’s men settled into the contest and looked to implement their high pressing game. This was also accompanied with quick fouls whenever Liverpool lost possession in an attempt to diffuse Man City’s quick counterattacks.

One Liverpool player failing to get to grips with the match was right back Glen Johnson, who quickly became the target of Manchester City’s attacking play. And on 18 minutes, the England international failed to close down Kolraov whose cross reached Negredo only for the Spaniard to shoot wide from the six yard box.

The Reds responded immediately and from a quick attack, Suarez released Sterling through an incisive through-ball and Liverpool’s number 31 relied on his pace to break on-on-one against Joe Hart. The winger then dribbled past England’s number one with the goal at his mercy. The attack ended abruptly as the assistant referee mistakenly raised the offside flag.

The refereeing error only seemed to raise the determination levels within the Liverpool camp as the Reds took control of the match with their defense pushing higher up the pitch and their passing game finally clicking in the final third and within minutes Brendan’s men were rewarded.

Henderson, who was finding more time and space to set the tempo from center midfield, passed the ball to Suarez whose one-touch flick released Sterling. The winger once again dribbled past Hart and the rushing Coutinho calmly slotted the ball home with his left foot from a tight angle.

Manchester City looked to respond immediately as Kolarov once again got the better of Johnson as the Serb’s cross reached the advanced Toure whose shot was blocked by Skrtel for a corner.

As the half progressed, it became clear that Pelligrini targeted Liverpool’s right side as the key weak point as Glen Johnson struggled for form and lacked the support from Sterling and Allen.

On the 30 minute mark, a Kolarov inspired attack resulted in a Manchester City corner which the Citizens managed to equalize from. Skrtel once again struggled in man marking from corners or set pieces this season and on this occasion Kompany’s physical prowess assured he rose above Skrtel to nod the ball home despite Allen’s attempt to clear off the line.

Liverpool pushed forward after conceding and managed to earn a corner. From the resulting corner, Yaya Toure intercepted the delivered cross as his clearance reached Navas, the Spanish winger fed Samir Nasri who quickly passed the ball to David Silva. Navas who instigated the attack continued his run forward into Liverpool’s penalty area and was found by Silva – however, Navas could only shoot high and wide.

In this seesaw contest, Liverpool responded with a dangerous chance of their own. From a quick counter attack, Coutinho broke forward from central midfield as his pass reached Sterling who was fouled with the loose ball picked up by Suarez, the Uruguayan then returned the ball to Sterling whose clever lobbed pass split the Man City defense and reached Suarez, the mercurial Liverpool captain the flicked the bal first-time to Coutinho who was through for a point blank shot on goal but Liverpool’s number 10 lacked the killer instinct with his shot and Joe Hart managed to produce a big save.

The slugfest continued as Negredo was clear through on goal minutes later only for Skrtel to intervene and deflect the ball into a corner through a well timed sliding tackle.

The open nature of the contest towards the end of the first half did eventually produce a telling result. With Liverpool looking to build another attack, the Reds lost possession in the Manchester City penalty area and the Sky Blues produced yet another superb counter attack – a series of one-touch passes sees the ball reach Nasri who switched the play to the opposing flank by finding Jesus Navas – the Spaniard then sent a defense-splitting ball to Alvaro Negredo whose strange shot with the outside of the left boot confused Mignolet and the keeper’s attempt to save sent the ball into the back of the net.

The first half had the aura of a title deciding boxing match with both sides going hammer and tongs at each other with the home team edging the contest by half time. 

Second Half:

The “All guns blazing” approach showed by both sides in the first half was replaced by a touch of sensibility from Pelligrini’s men in the second half as they looked to defend their slender lead. This in turn, forced Liverpool to rely on a more patient build up to their attacks.

Manchester City sat deeper beyond the 45 minute mark, remained compact and defended critical space which Liverpool exploited during the first half. Pelligrini’s contained approach to the second half also targeted reducing the chances of being hit by Liverpool’s incisive counterattacks.

Looking to get back in the game, Brendan Rodgers strived to dominate midfield while looking for the penetration required to break down Joe Hart and Man City’s stubborn defense. The Reds relied on Jordan Henderson as the orchestrator in the middle of the park while Joe Allen pushed up and hurried Man City’s defenders.

As expected, the Reds began the second half on the front foot with Glen Johnson pushing up the pitch from the right flank while Suarez took his mobility a gear or two in the second half as he tried to drag City’s center defenders into less favorable positions on the touch line.

Liverpool huffed and puffed during the early phases of the second half before a tricky cross from Raheem Sterling landed behind the Manchester City’s center defensive partnership and forced Hart to produce a fine save to prevent a clear cut chance for the rushing Henderson.

With the home side successfully covering space, Liverpool’s game was crying for creative passing and with Gerrard injured, the onus was on Coutinho to produce the goods. Sadly for the Reds and the Brazilian, Liverpool’s number 10 has so far struggled to hit the heights he achieved last season. Coutinho looked out of place on the left flank and was guilty of dallying on the ball before eventually making the wrong decision.

With the young Brazilian drifting out of the contest with each passing minute, Rodgers looked to bring on the direct Moses for Coutinho.

Much like the first 45 minutes, Liverpool enjoyed their best spell midway through the second half as Jordan Henderson successfully pushed forward to assist the isolated Luis Suarez. Through a quick counterattack from a Man City corner, Henderson received the ball on the right flank and drove forward before delivering a teasing low cross which Lescott tackled unconvincingly – the loose ball reached Glen Johnson who was once again betrayed by his first touch and Hart dived to concede to a corner.

The Liverpool pressure continued to pile as Henderson forced Hart to produce another save from a cheeky back flick.

As the Liverpool attack continued to be most effective on the right flank through Sterling and Johnson, Pellegrini looked to rectify the defensive frailties by bringing on James Milner for the tiring Samir Nasri.

Moments later, Liverpool got the opportunity they have been waiting for. Luis Suarez successfully managed to drag Vincent Kompany out of position to the left wing touchline and with nimble movement broke free past the Belgium skipper and into the Manchester City penalty box – the Uruguayan then delivered a delicious cross to the rushing Raheem Sterling. With the goal gaping and Joe Hart out of the equation, the young winger showed his tender age by shooting high above the goal.

One could notice the winds blowing out of Liverpool’s sales as the chance went begging.

The effects of that miss, compounded by the combination of Milner and Kolarov nullified the danger Liverpool’s right flank as the second half drew to a close.

With the contest slipping through his hands, Brendan Rodgers brought on forgotten man Iago Aspas for Lucas Leiva in order to support Suarez in attack. Almost immediately, Pellegrini responded by strengthening his defensive midfield further by introducing Javi Garcia for David Silva.

Pellegrini’s tactical changes in the second half proved enough for the Citizens to maintain their perfect home record as the Reds failed to create any telling chances in the dying minutes of the contest.

Conclusion:

This was a contest where Liverpool’s injuries finally caught up with them. Liverpool needed another striker to take the pressure off Suarez who was left isolated against two big, strong and quick center defenders. Vincent Kompany was a shadow to Suarez throughout the 90 minutes and had Sturridge been available then the City skipper would have had to contend with two lethal attackers instead of just one.

Liverpool could have also used the creative talents of Steven Gerrard in center midfield to help break down the congested city defense in the second half.

Furthermore, the combination of Toure, Silva and Nasri in Man City’s midfield forced the likes of Allen and Henderson to think twice before moving forward and leaving space behind. They kept them burdened defensively. Henderson was thus unable to take on the advanced role he occupied in the matches versus Spurs and Cardiff. These factors resulted in the isolation of Luis Suarez.

Defensively, for all of Skrtel’s commendable efforts for defending from open play, the Slovak international needs to massively improve his marking from set pieces. The Liverpool defender always seems more concerned with his opponent’s shirt than the actual flight of the ball.

Still, the Reds must take heart from the impressive defending demonstrated in the second half – it is true that the Citizens did not look to attack as effectively as the first half but the combination of Skrtel, Sakho and Lucas did well in closing down space and blocking shots from distance thus guarding Mignolet’s goal and limiting Man City to minimal chances in the second half. Another defensive plus for Rodgers is the performance of Aly Cissokho who grew into the game and delivered his best game in a Liverpool shirt.

For Manchester City, Pellegrini showed an excellent reading of the game throughout the 90 minutes. The Chilean coach took full advantage of the lead acquired late in the first half and made the tactical changes to stifle Liverpool’s attacks in the second half while the introduction of Milner and Javi Garcia were inspired decisions tailored for any attempts made by Brendan Rodgers to turn the game around.

This was a thrilling encounter between two sides who truly personify the “Beautiful Game”. Manchester City are strongly becoming the team to beat this season while for Liverpool, this was a game that confirmed their top four credentials to even compete with Europe’s best once again next season.

The Curious Case of Liverpool FC

It is difficult to criticize a team that is currently in the Premier League’s top four after a solid start to their season but Liverpool have been a team plagued with conundrums across each and every aspect so far this campaign – a factor that has left critics wondering how much have the Reds really developed during this 2013/14 Premier League season?

To find out, let us take a closer look at the enigmas swarming Brendan Rodgers and his men…

Attack:

With 25 goals scored in the first 13 games in the Premier League, Brendan’s men are currently the third highest scorers this campaign behind Manchester City and Arsenal. In terms of chance creation, the Anfield club also maintains a lofty ranking as they lie fifth with 146 chances created.

The SAS are playing a major role in Liverpool’s attacking success as they are the league’s most prolific strike partnership in England with 18 goals between them – but, apart from Sturridge and Suarez, only Gerrard, Coutinho, Moses and Skrtel have found the net for their club this season.

If we take a closer look at the goals Liverpool have scored after 13 games, we notice that 10 goals have come from set pieces – in fact, The Reds did not score a single goal from open play during their last two games away to Everton and Hull City with the goals coming from a corner, a direct free kick, a crossed free kick and another direct free kick by Steven Gerrard at the KC Stadium.

Liverpool have struggled to create enough chances from open play during the last couple of matches.

Brendan Rodgers preaches “Possession and Penetration” and his club is certainly maintaining the lion’s share of possession in their Premier League contests so far with an average of 53% but Brendan’s men are not showing enough in terms of breaking down opposition defenses.

This could be due to the creative deficiencies afflicting the team’s center midfield, wingers and fullbacks. Steven Gerrard, despite the question marks on his fitness, leads Liverpool’s assist charts with six while Jose Enrique lies second with two assists prior to his injury. The worry though, is that only Allen, Henderson, Sterling and Cissokho have notched in assists from open play.

Under Rodgers, Liverpool rely on the attacking impetus of the fullbacks, wingers as well as the forward movement from center midfield to supply the frontline. With the fullbacks mustering only three assists and the wingers notching in with just a single assist so far, we notice a drought in the input from two of three critical supply lines.

In attack, Liverpool are overly reliant on Sturridge and Suarez while Steven Gerrard’s inspirational influence is yet to be replicated by another member of Liverpool’s first team squad.

Defense:

Defensively, Liverpool have conceded 16 goals in their 13 matches so far this season, averaging 1.2 goals per game – an average which is similar to the club’s defensive record last season. 

As a statistic, this might not seem too alarming but if we consider that Brendan’s men have allowed 28 attempts on goal in the last two matches against Everton and Hull City then that is certainly becomes a cause for concern.

Simon Mignolet was forced to produce a series of one-on-one saves at Goodison Park as the Toffees rained-in a total of 12 shots on target.

Liverpool have been stricken with several injuries to their defensive ranks with Glen Johnson, Daniel Agger, Kolo Toure sidelined while Jose Enrique is not expected to return before next February.

Meanwhile, Martin Kelly’s prolonged return from injury and Aly Cissokho’s loss of form only seems to make Liverpool’s squad look thinner in terms of fullback options.

The injuries though, are not the only reason behind the defensive inconsistencies for the Reds this season – Brendan Rodgers must raise his hand and accept part of the responsibility for that.

The Liverpool boss is yet to settle on a stable back four or even a first choice center defensive partnership with Kolo Toure, Daniel Agger, Martin Skrtel and Mamadou Sakho competing for the vacancies. 

The chopping and changing of the back four, whether forced through injuries or due to managerial decisions, are not allowing the defenders to build the chemistry and understanding akin of a solid defensive unit.

Liverpool have only kept one clean sheet since the 1st of September, which came during the demolition of Fulham at Anfield, and since then the Reds have conceded six goals in two away matches.

It is not all doom and gloom for Brendan’s men defensively with Martin Skrtel showing resurgence in form while Mamadou Sakho has the makings of a domineering center back for the coming years. The key though, is for Rodgers to settle down on an established back four to take the team forward for the rest of the season.

Squad:

After the recent defeat to Hull City, the Liverpool boss stated: “The quality of our squad isn't big enough to cope with two big players (Sturridge & Coutinho) like that missing. No doubt it was a disruption.”

Liverpool have struggled with injuries and suspensions to attacking talent this campaign with Suarez missing from the first six matches of the season, Coutinho and Aspas injured for six weeks and now Sturridge out for up to eight weeks.

Top class players such as Suarez, Coutinho and Sturridge are certainly hard to replace but this must not veil critical errors conducted by the Anfield club during the summer transfer window.

Rodgers stressed the importance of adding 20 more goals from new signings this season. Yet, after the conclusion of 13 matches, Liverpool’s new signings have produced only three assists (Toure, Cissokho and Aspas) while Moses is the only new signing finding the back of the net.

After Liverpool’s early foray of signings at the start of the summer transfer window, Brendan Rodgers announced that the focus during the remainder of the summer would be on players who would improve the first team.

Unfortunately for Rodgers and the Reds, apart from Simon Mignolet, none of Liverpool’s new signings have forced their way on to the first team.

Lest we forget, Liverpool produced a rampaging run towards the end of last season with Daniel Sturridge coming off the bench as the Reds deployed Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing as inverted wingers with Coutinho impressive behind Luis Suarez.

The beleaguered Stewart Downing never won a popularity contest at Anfield but Liverpool are yet to replace the tactical qualities provided by their former winger. Moses and Sterling are both right footed and would struggle in cutting inside from the right wing.

In a recent interview, Rodgers confirmed his preference of the 4-2-3-1 or the 4-3-3 but the Northern Irishman does not possess the qualities in his squad needed to implement these tactics optimally.

Another critical first team gap, not addressed in the summer, is Liverpool’s dearth of flexibility in center midfield. Jordan Henderson is a hard worker who could cover several positions and is improving all the time but he cannot provide the creative spark from midfield. Joe Allen, on the other hand, is struggling with injuries and seems weighed by the expectations of playing for the Anfield giants. Steven Gerrard, who will be 34 next May, does not seem to have the fitness levels needed to influence the game beyond the 60 minute mark while Lucas lacks adequate cover.

Failure to add reinforcements in the summer to critical first team vacancies resulted in an imbalanced Liverpool squad which is resulting in confusion to Brendan Rodgers and his back room staff. Running the club sustainably is all well and good but expecting to sign players such as Coutinho at the bargain basement every transfer window is simply unrealistic – FSG, the Recruitment Committee and LFC management must learn from their repeated failures during the summer transfer windows.

Tactics:

Brendan Rodgers has shown tactical adaptability and a sense of pragmatism this campaign as he shuffled his team and personal orders to nullify opposition attack and ensure victory.

This worked a charm when Liverpool gifted possession to Aston Villa who are a team far more comfortable on the counterattack – the Villans struggled to break down the Reds’ congested defense with Brendan’s men emerging victorious. The success against Manchester United a few days later was yet another example.

The Liverpool boss must also take great credit for switching tactics to a 3-5-2 formation. A series of injuries forced Rodgers into a creative solution and the Northern Irishman responded with a tactic which extracted the best out of the players available for selection and amassed 10 points out of a possible 12 before reverting back to his favored 4-2-3-1 formation in the second half against Arsenal.

But, in Liverpool’s world of quandary, tactical ingenuity walks hand-in-hand with strategic errors.

There is no shame in losing to a dominant Arsenal side but the defeats to Southampton and more recently Hull City were extremely avoidable.

Against the Saints, the decision to play four center backs across Liverpool’s back four proved to be a very problematic decision by Brendan Rodgers. Pochettino’s own depiction of the 4-2-3-1 features a very fluent and interchangeable trio in the shape of Lallana, Rodriguez and Osvaldo –Toure and Sakho struggled in dealing with their direct opponents on the flanks while also failing to provide any positive impact going forward.

During the defeat to Hull City, Brendan Rodgers again decided to shuffle his back four with Toure partnering Skrtel in center defense. With the Tigers maintaining a high pressing game throughout the contest, the need for a ball playing center back who could help build attack from the back was there for all to see – Brendan Rodgers failed to act and the result was a very disappointing defeat.

The loss to Hull City also revealed another dent in Liverpool’s armor – the Reds have repeatedly struggled against teams which play with high intensity and an advanced pressing game.

Coutinho, who was superb for Liverpool towards the end of last season behind Suarez in the Trequarista role, has been predominantly positioned on the left this campaign. With Rodgers playing the Brazilian out of position, the youngster is yet to provide a single assist from 557 minutes this season. 

Dilemmas dilemmas dilemmas!

So back to the main question…have Liverpool really improved?

The answer has to be a yes! Liverpool have already racked up seven wins this season – it took the club until December 30th of 2012 to get the same amount of wins last season.

The Reds continue to move in the right direction under Rodgers – but – the main worry for the Merseysiders is their tendency to repeat old errors.

For the third straight summer since FSG have taken over, the club endured a poor transfer window and failed to address key gaps in the first team.

After the defeat to Hull City, the Liverpool boss issued a rallying cry to his youngsters and reserve squad members to stand up and be counted. 

That rings bells doesn’t it? 

Brendan Rodgers issued a similar cry last season after failing to improve the squad during the summer window. It is about time the Reds show a long term approach to their transfer policy instead of shooting themselves in the foot every year between July and September!

During the second half of last season, Liverpool felt like a perfectly synched team with all players pulling their weight in the same direction – the club was not reliant on one or two players being in top form to get the desired three points. This has been the main difference this season – Liverpool have returned to old habits of relying on the star names of their squad. With Gerrard aging and Sturridge now injured, Brendan Rodgers must restore productivity to every single member of his starting eleven in order to continue the Reds’ push four top-four finish come next May.

The Reds are improving, yes, but the club needs to move on from repetitive and continuous blunders. The best news for Liverpool is that there certainly is a massive room for further growth and development.

Sources: squawka.com, transfermarkt.com

In Retrospect: Liverpool's Transfer Window Review

With 11 games gone and the season taking shape, we have now accumulated enough data to provide a fair and accurate verdict on Liverpool’s summer transfer dealings.

So without much ado, let’s begin:

Simon Mignolet

It is not an easy decision to get rid of a goal keeper of Pepe Reina’s caliber and then replace him with an up and comer but that is exactly what Brendan Rodgers did when he sent Reina on loan to Napoli in the summer and replaced him with Sunderland’s Simon Mignolet.

It is true that Reina hasn’t been at his peak for the past couple of seasons, but the decision taken by Liverpool’s management was risky and could have had negative implications.

Simon Mignolet was quick to prove the wisdom of Rodger’s decision.

The Belgian goal keeper saved a last gasp penalty on his Anfield debut to hand his new team a deserved three points against a resilient Stoke side. Mignolet then produced a series of impressive displays racking up three clean sheets in the first three games of the campaign.

What Mignolet adds to Liverpool’s defensive unit is excellent shot stopping ability, an attribute required from a side looking to dominate possession and force their opponents to attempts from distance.

Although, Liverpool’s new number 22 could only manage just one clean sheet since September 1st, he still has gone a long way to validate Rodgers decision of changing the man between the sticks at Anfield.

Rating: 8/10

Kolo Toure

With Jamie Carragher retiring, Brendan Rodgers identified a need for an experienced center back who could read the game properly and would add commanding vocal leadership at the back.

The answer came in the shape of Kolo Toure, available on free transfer after Manchester City refused to renew his contract.

The 32 year old, who struggled with long injury layoffs in recent seasons, started eight games for Liverpool so far this season with the Reds’ medical team playing a key role in keeping the Ivorian international fit and ready.

A passionate leader, Toure adds organization, commitment and inspiration to Liverpool’s defense and provides an excellent short term solution for Rodgers while Carragher’s long term replacement comes to prominence.

Rating: 7/10

Mamadou Sakho

A player labeled as “Marquee” by Ian Ayre, Mamadou Sakho certainly represents a coup for Liverpool’s recruiting department. Deemed surplus to requirements at PSG after the signing of Marquinhos, Liverpool pounced by bringing in the France international for 17 million pounds.

The 23 year old became a regular in the Liverpool starting eleven after Rodgers switched to a 3-4-1-2 formation pushing Daniel Agger out of the side.

Sakho’s physical prowess is there for all to see with the Frenchman boasting a domineering figure, good pace and balance. Liverpool’s new signing also demonstrated good touch and pass while striding forward.

It hasn’t been just a stroll for Sakho though, with the defender directly linked to his side’s two defeats this season. Sakho looked out of sorts when deployed in the left back position against Swansea during Liverpool’s defeat at Anfield – he also labored against Arsenal’s fluidity and could have done better on both goals that Liverpool conceded.

Although Liverpool are yet to keep a single clean sheet with Sakho in the side, the new number 17 has certainly shown enough promise for the future in what could be described as a decent start to his career with the Reds.

Rating: 6/10

Luis Alberto

When Liverpool signed Luis Alberto from Seville, the Anfield club targeted adding a young forward to the squad who possess good movement, accurate passing and delivery who could grow to become a crucial member of the first team in the near future.

Brendan Rodgers is slowly bedding the young Spaniard into the Liverpool first team squad with five substitute appearances under his belt this far.

Luis Alberto enjoyed an impressive cameo against Newcastle helping Liverpool dominate possession in midfield while demonstrating his varied passing range. The number six also showed his eye for goal by netting a hat-trick for the Liverpool Under-21's against Sunderland.

As Alberto gets to grips with the physical demands of the Premier League, the classy attacking midfielder should feature more with the season progressing.

Rating: 5/10

Iago Aspas

Aspas was one of Liverpool’s early signings during the summer transfer window with Rodgers interested in the forwards’ movement and hard work.

The Spaniard began the first three games of the campaign in the deep-lying forward role behind Daniel Sturridge and he certainly showed a lot of endeavor and commitment.

Aspas did struggle with the physical demands of the Premier League though and was easily pushed off the ball on several occasions. Liverpool’s number nine also seemed to drift out of the game frequently and failed to impose his will on proceedings as he could only muster 2 shots on target and just a single assist.

With Suarez returning from his prolonged ban, Aspas was ushered out of the starting 11 and before Aspas could work himself back into contention, he suffered a torn thigh muscle injury.

With only six games under his belt and considering the move to a new league and country, it would be unfair to brand this transfer as a flop. Brendan Rodgers has shown a ruthless side towards underperforming players and Iago Aspas certainly has to show considerable improvement during the remainder of the season to avoid the same fate of Fabio Borini and Nuri Sahin.

Rating: 4/10

Aly Cissokho

Brendan Rodgers looked to add fierce competition to Jose Enrique who struggled on occasions last season but with Liverpool lacking an adequate cover, the Reds boss was forced to stick with the Spanish left-back despite his loss of form.

Liverpool earmarked Brazilian Guilherme Siqueira as the player who would challenge Enrique for the left-back berth but with the club unable to conclude a deal with Granada, Liverpool moved for Valencia’s Aly Cissokho on loan.

The France international, has so far failed to trouble Enrique’s domination of the left-back position. In fact, Cissokho’s abject performances added a new dimension of appreciation from Liverpool’s fans to their number three.

Cissokho, a one-dimensional full back with an almost inexistent right foot, struggled immensely when deployed in left wing back position in Liverpool’s 3-4-1-2 formation and was culpable for his club’s defensive frailties against Arsenal. The Frenchman also failed to produce any impact when placed in his favorable left back spot.

Aly Cissokho, who joined late in the window, seems a stopgap until the club can finally sign adequate competition for Jose Enrique.

Rating: 4/10

Victor Moses

The Nigerian international, represents another last ditch attempt from the Liverpool hierarchy to cover for a failed transfer.

Since the start of the summer, Brendan Rodgers highlighted the need for an attacking midfielder with guile and creativity who is adept at playing on the flanks as well as between the lines. Liverpool’s primary target was Henrikh Mkhitaryan of Shakhtar Donetsk but the Armenian opted to join Champions League finalists Dortmund instead.

Liverpool then set their target on Willian and after agreeing a deal with Anzhi Makhachkala, the Merseysiders failed to agree terms with the player who eventually joined Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea.

With the clock ticking and the window heading to a close, Brendan Rodgers used his old connection to Chelsea and his friendship with Mourinho to bring in Victor Moses on transfer deadline day.

The Nigerian winger produced an instant impact after scoring on his full-debut away to Swansea. But sadly for Moses, that goal was his last telling contribution to the side.

Moses struggled after Rodgers switched formations to 3-4-1-2 as the 22 year old was tasked with playing the attacking midfield role behind Suarez and Sturridge. The unfamiliarity of the role was evident as Moses failed to find the space necessary between the lines and more crucially he could not provide his team with a single assist.

When Liverpool signed Moses on loan, Chelsea refused to negotiate the sale of the winger after the conclusion of the loan period – a blessing in disguise for Rodgers and co with the transfer having the vibe of another temporary solution for the Reds.

Rating: 4/10

Conclusion

Liverpool spent around 43 million pounds in luring the players mentioned above while also spending another seven million for Tiago Ilori from Sporting Lisbon who is yet to feature for the Reds this season.

Simon Mignolet and Kolo Toure have been Liverpool’s best performers out of Anfield’s new comers while Mamadou Sakho and Luis Alberto seem to be good players who could play an important role with Liverpool’s first team during the current campaign. Meanwhile, the loanees are yet to show their worth of a full time contract with the Merseyside club.

In a recent interview, Brendan Rodgers summed-up Liverpool’s summer transfer activity by stating: “We've got a squad and we've got enough cover but in the future the focus is on bringing in players that can come straight in and improve our team”.

Absolutely!

If Liverpool are to continue their chase for a Champions League spot come the end of the season, then the club management should put in all effort during the winter transfer window to bring in players who would force their way into the starting 11 immediately.

Overall Transfer Rating: 6/10

Investigating Roma’s Early Season Success

It is not every day when we get to witness history, so when an event of historic proportions comes along one must take a deep breath and simply marvel at the magic of such a momentous occasion. 

When A.S. Roma beat Chievo Verona last Thursday, they became the first team in the 115 year history of the Italian League Championship to win the first ten games of the season. 

Roma’s perfect ten have turned a club expected to hover around mid-table into a global sensation. 

Now, let us go over the reasons behind the success of the capital club this season. 

1. Rudi Garcia

It hasn’t been easy for Thomas DiBenedetto since he took over the reins at Roma in the summer of 2011. The American entrepreneur has been forced to recruit three separate managers in three years and after another disappointing season at the hands of Zdenek Zeman and Aurelio Andreazzoli, yet another summer of change beckoned for the Giallorossi. 

On June 12, 2013 the vacated managerial post was handed to Lille manager Rudi Garcia. 

The French tactician who masterminded Lille’s league and cup double triumph in 2011, gained fame for unearthing talents such as Eden Hazard, Yohan Cabaye, Mathieu Debuchy and Adil Rami to name a few. 

Rudi Garcia has a knack of getting the best out of the talents available at his disposal and that is exactly what the Frenchman is achieving at A.S. Roma. 

Under-performing players are suddenly becoming integral to the Giallorossi first team and good players have gained a touch of “world class” around them. 

Gervinho, much maligned at Arsenal, is producing the sort of form which made him one of Europe’s most sought-after wingers while at Lille. Young stars like Florenzi look older and wiser while old heads like Maicon and Totti seem a couple of years younger. Meanwhile, world class talents like Pjanic and De Rossi continue to be nurtured and developed. 

Garcia’a man management talents did not just leave an impact on the first-teamers with squad members coming in and performing well when called upon with Dodo, Torosidis and Marquinho as perfect examples. 

Suddenly, with Garcia at the helm, Roma’s mid-table squad seems good enough for a title challenge. 

2. Transfers

Thomas DiBenedetto comes from the “Moneyball” school of thought implemented successfully at the Oakland Athletics under Billy Beane and with the recently crowned World Series winners, the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox are owned by Fenway Sports Group (FSG) of which DiBenedetto is a partner. 

Moneyball is a methodology which originated within the statistics of Major League Baseball where players are rated on statistical values which influence the course of a baseball match. 

As a transfer strategy, Moneyball represents signing players based on their contribution to certain facets of play such as passing accuracy, pressing, crossing etc. Moneyball also focuses on acquiring talents who seem to have lost their way or seem to be underperforming for one reason or another – which allows the transfer to be negotiated at a lower value. 

DiBenedetto and the Roma board were heavily criticized in the summer for the transfer dealings which took place at the capital club. Roma supporters and Serie A pundits accused the owners of asset-stripping after the club brought in around 105 million euro in transfer outgoings. 

Marquinhos, Osvaldo and Lamela were sold for large transfer fees while Bojan, Stekelenburg and Tachtsidis also departed. 

With a clear transfer strategy and an ironclad football ideology, the capital club reinvested wisely by bringing in players who would make an instant impact on the starting eleven. 

Mehdi Benatia replaced Marquinhos, Ljajic and Gervinho covered for losing Erik Lamela and Bojan while Morgan De Sanctis took Stekelnburg’s spot as the club’s number one. 

The Stadio Olimpico also witnessed the arrival of Kevin Strootman to strengthen the midfield options after the retirement of Simone Perotta and the sale of Tachtisidis. Last but not least, Maicon joined on a free transfer from Manchester City. 

The new signings came straight into the first team with brilliant success which ensured that the likes of Marquinhos and Lamela are far from being missed. 

3. Tactics

Garcia, a philosopher with firm footballing principles, is an advocate of possession based attacking football which relies on clever movement, intricate passing and a high pressing game. 

Barring injury, Rudi Garcia lines up his Roma side in a progressive 4-3-3 formation with Totti as the mobile false nine. The defence is shielded by Danielle De Rossi while Pjanic and Strootman are allowed to foray into forward positions. The wingers Florenzi and Gervinho cut inside to add more numbers for the defenders to contend with while the fullbacks play a key role in the attacking third through their continuous overlaps. 

Garcia is not a gung-ho tactician though, his team is well drilled defensively and the high pressing game instigated by Roma’s attacking trio is crucial for quelling opposition attacks. In midfield, Strootman is tasked to cover for the forward movement of the left back while Florenzi and Pjanic drop back when needed to aid on the right flank. Benatia and Castan have formed a formidable partnership at the heart of Roma’s defence as the tactically adept Moroccan complements the physical prowess of Leandro Castan. 

Roma’s free flowing attacking football seems a page out Luciano Spalletti’s tactical notebook where the former Roma boss deployed an experimental 4-6-0 formation which kept all opposition defenders guessing due to the unpredictable movement from the team’s midfielders. 

This Roma side is not without a plan B though with Garcia and his charges showing tactical adaptability when required. The injury to Totti could have proven damaging to the fortunes of the capital club but Garcia modified the personal orders of his midfielders and wingers to get the best out of Marco Borriello as the battering ram. 

Garcia’s varied tactics are proving problematic to his Serie A counterparts and that has been critical to the success of the Giallorossi this campaign. 

4. Squad

Roma’s manager has been forced to make full use of his squad due to injuries and suspensions, pushing key players out of the starting line-up as Francesco Totti, Gervinho and Maicon, amongst others, were side-lined in recent weeks. 

The first team vacancies provided Rudi Garcia with an opportunity to test the mettle of squad members vying for first team berths and the likes of Ljajic, Borriello, Bradley and Dodo did not disappoint. 

19 different players have been utilized by Roma’s management in the 11 Serie A games this season – a sign that Garcia is willing to grant first team opportunities to those who work hard and show desire on the training ground. 

With motivation levels high and first team opportunities within their reach, Roma’s squad players are rising to the occasion and providing Garcia with plenty of selection headaches. 

5. Meanest Defence, Highly Prolific Attack

A.S. Roma seem to be a conundrum to the opposition on both sides of the pitch as they currently lead the defensive charts, while in attack, the Giallorossi, who scored 25 goals this season, lay second behind Inter Milan. 

The attacking stats would have been even better had Totti and Gervinho been available for the last three games against Udinese, Chievo Verona and Torino as Garcia’s man struggled to score more than one goal on each occasion. 

In defence, Roma are yet to concede a single goal at the Stadio Olimpico while De Sanctis has only been beaten twice away from home. The partnership of Benatia and Castan boasts the best defensive record across the European continent with just the single goal conceded. 

Conclusion

Rudi Garcia is building a title challenger based on defensive solidity and fluent attacking creativity worthy of the “La Magica” nickname. Roma’s perfect 10 is a wonderful achievement which bodes well for this young project and despite the recent draw with Torino, the capital’s undefeated club will continue to push for the Serie A title come next May.

Sources: http://www.transfermarkt.com http://espnfc.com http://www.squawka.com

Garcia's Roma Maintain Perfection Against Napoli

It was a battle between two sides enjoying a prosperous revolution under new management as A.S. Roma hosted S.S.C. Napoli at the Stadio Olimpico. 

Rudi Garcia’s charges are enjoying the best start to a Serie A campaign in the history of the capitol club with seven wins from their seven outings so far this season. Roma are also proudly sitting atop both the attacking and defensive charts with 20 goals scored and just the one goal conceded. 

Undefeated Napoli, on the other hand, are progressing well under the meticulous eye of Rafa Benitez who has guided his team to six wins in seven games this season, including an away triumph against A.C. Milan. The only disappointing result for the San Paolo side came in a home draw to lowly Sassuolo 

Despite both managers playing down the immediate impact of the score line, the battle at the Olimpico would still reveal a lot in terms of how the title race would shapeup for the remainder of the season. 

Tactical Setup:

A.S. Roma:

Rudi Garcia deploys a very fluid 4-3-3 system reliant on dominating possession and building the attack patiently with short intricate passes. 

Roma’s fullbacks are crucial to the success of their tactics as they take-on very advanced positions on both flanks as soon as Garcia’s men hold possession. The overlap allows the wingers to cut inside and add more numbers for the rival defenses to contend with. Roma’s forward ranks are reinforced further due to the forward movement of Miralem Pjanic. 

Garcia began the game with club captain Francesco Totti leading the line but much like his colleagues, Totti was asked to move around constantly as he dropped deeper when needed and popped up on the flanks on occasions. 

With Maicon, Dodo, Pjanic, Gervinho, Florenzi and Totti in constant motion, the opposing defenders and goalkeeper would have their work cut out throughout the 90 minutes. 

At the back, Rudi Garcia’s orders completed what seemed a well-drilled tactical approach for the Rome club. Physical specimen Leandro Castan played a key role in clearing risks of counterattacks by closely marking Napoli’s advanced forward – the Brazilian also appeared on several occasions mopping up at left back with Dodo returning from an attacking foray. 

Another player tasked with making up for Dodo’s defensive deficiencies was Dutchman Kevin Strootman who patrolled Roma’s midfield responsibly throughout the contest. 

Benatia and De Rossi, the least mobile of all outfield players, maintained tactical positions key to retaining possession and defending against quick counterattacks. 

S.S.C Napoli:

Under Walter Mazzarri, the 3-5-2 formation became synonymous with Napoli but where Benitez goes, the 4-2-3-1 system usually follows. The Spanish tactician utilized the transfer kitty received from the Edison Cavani transfer to create Napoli’s new squad in his own image. 

Rafa is a manager who prepares his line-up to stifle the opposition by nullifying their points of strength and taking advantage of their weaknesses. With that in mind, Napoli relied on a deep defensive line which would allow minimum space for Roma’s forwards to run to while looking for quick counterattacks over the top. Napoli’s midfield were assigned precise defensive orders as Inler and Behrami stood firm in front of the center backs to negate Roma’s dangerous through-balls from center midfield – Napoli’s defensive minded center midfielders were also tasked with minimizing space between the lines. 

Further up the pitch, Insigne, Pandev and Callejon were asked to press the home side’s defensive unit in order to allow minimum time in building an attack from the back. 

First Half:

The home side, supported by a vibrant Stadio Olimpico, began the game on the front foot as Roma dominated possession with Dodo and Maicon stretching Napoli’s defense. 

Roma’s left side held the lion’s share of the action as Dodo and the rejuvenated Gervinho combined to torment Christian Maggio who was returning from a niggling injury. Kevin Strootman played a significant role in the opening minutes as he dropped deep to instigate the attacking moves. 

The home side huffed and puffed with Pjanic and De Rossi troubling Reina before the Giallorossi created their first real chance on 16 minutes. Pjanic received the ball in center midfield and after a clever one-two with Totti, the Bosnian playmaker released a deft through-ball which reached Gervinho but the Ivorian winger shot with his weaker foot and could not hit the target. 

The Rome club continued their ascendancy as their attractive one-touch football left their opponents bamboozled on several occasions. Napoli also struggled with their passing as Roma’s forwards looked to regain possession high up the pitch forcing the away side to hoof the ball forward. Napoli, who prefer to build patiently from the back, simply could not get into the game. 

The away side’s disciplined midfield cancelled out Roma’s trio throughout the first half causing a stranglehold in center midfield – the onus was then on the flanks and that is where Roma’s superiority showed. 

Even with Roma having the edge, it took an inspired tackle from De Rossi to keep the scores level. A quick passing move through the middle saw Insigne break Roma’s high offside trap and released Goran Pandev clean through against De Sanctis – Napoli’s former keeper parried the shot but with the ball heading goal wards De Rossi intervened. 

Minutes later, Rudi Garcia was forced to make the first change of the match as he replaced the injured Totti by Marco Borriello. The less-mobile Italian striker who possesses a large frame was deployed as a battering ram and a focal point for Roma’s attack. 

Borriello almost enjoyed an immediate impact as his knockdown from a Strootman long ball cleared Florenzi for a shot from outside the box but the young midfielder could not find the target. 

Injury then struck the Napoli ranks as Paolo Cannavaro was introduced for the stricken Britos. 

With the half coming to a close, the Pandev-Insigne partnership was at it again – a clever turn and pass on the edge of the penalty box from Pandev freed Insigne but the forward could only hit the side netting for another hands-on-head moment for Benitez and co. 

As Rafa and Garcia worked on their halftime team talks, Pjanic produced a moment of magic to change the complexion of the contest. 

Paolo Cannavaro, who was still getting to grips with the pace of the game, mistimed his tackle on Gervinho and received a yellow card. The free kick, positioned towards the left of the penalty area, was shot to perfection by Pjanic who took the ball above the wall before diving beautifully into the back of the net. 

Second Half:

Pjanic’s last gasp screamer ensured that Benitez had to turn things around for the second half. 

Under the Spaniard’s orders, Napoli began the second half with their defense pushing higher and their midfield keeping possession. The away side relied on short intricate passes through the center of the park before looking to release their most advanced forward. 

Rafa also ordered his fullbacks to push higher as they were positioned around the halfway line while Callejon and Insigne were asked to cut inside and move closer to Pandev. 

With Inler and Behrami dominating the battle in center midfield, Napoli found success with their passing and were able to find space between the lines. 

Against the run of play, it was Roma who created the first major opportunity of the second half as an in-swinging corner was missed by Hamsik and reached De Rossi on the far-post but the stand-in skipper couldn’t anticipate the cross and the chance went begging. 

After the scare, Napoli returned to their control in the center of midfield with Behrami at the hub. The Swiss international regained possession almost immediately for the away side as he chased loose balls and dived into tackles quickly before Roma could spring any form of counterattack. 

Despite their dominion, Napoli were left frustrated as they lacked the penetration and the cutting edge. With Maggio unfit and Mesto out-of-position, the fullbacks could not provide the outlet required to trouble Roma’s defense on the flanks. Hamsik’s lack of form was another factor of irritation for the Naples club. 

Napoli were also slow and predictable in building their attack and were eventually limited to long shots from distance. 

Rafa looked to rectify his side’s issues in attack by introducing Gonzalo Higuain for Goran Pandev on 68 minutes. 

Unfortunately for the Spaniard, the outcome of his latest tactical switch would be short lived – Cannavaro, who struggled with Borriello’s physical strength in the second half, pulled down Roma’s number 88 inside the penalty area – the referee pointed to the spot and duly sent-off Napoli’s beleaguered center back. 

With Totti on the sidelines, Pjanic stepped up to the plate and took his penalty successfully to give his manager the comfort of a two-goal cushion. 

Using their numerical advantage, Roma produced a master class of passing for the remainder of the contest as the Giallorossi created several attacking plays spamming 15 passes or more. 

The match came to a close with the Stadio Olimpico faithful celebrating their club’s eighth triumph in eight league games this season thus equaling a record set by Juventus during the 1985-86 and 1930-31 campaigns. 

Verdict:

Matches at the top of the table are usually decided by minute events swaying towards one team or another. Had Pandev or Insigne possessed the killer instinct when through on goal in the first half then Napoli would have emerged with at least one point from this match. 

Instead, Rafa Benitez was left ruing the injury to Britos and the subsequent introduction of Paolo Cannavaro – THE event which tilted matters in Roma’s favor. 

Despite these fine margins, Rudy Garcia’s role in the revolution at Roma must not be devaluated. The French coach is proving to be an excellent man manager as he is getting the best out of his players – Maicon is producing the kind of form he delivered under Mourinho at Inter Milan while Gervinho looks reborn after his struggles at Arsenal. 

Moreover, Garcia seems to have put together a group of players who gelled seamlessly. At the back, for example, the signing of Benatia to partner Castan is proving to be a masterstroke as the Moroccans’s reading of the game is complimented beautifully by the marauding Brazilian. 

Before the match, Roma’s manager played down the impact of their perfect start to the campaign claiming that the target for this season was still qualification to European competition. 

But deep down inside, the dream of Serie A glory must be brewing in the mind of Garcia after Roma equaled Juve’s eight match winning streak at the start of the season. Garcia knows that the Bianconeri emerged as title winners on both occasions they managed that feat! 

Garcia’s Giallorossi are now the last remaining perfect team across the major European league championships and Roma’s new manager believes his balanced squad possess the credentials to remain at the top come the end of the season.

Hodgson’s Gallant Alter Ego Leads England to Crucial Victory

World Cup Qualification - Group H

England vs Montenegro Tactical Analysis

11 October 2013

England’s must win game against Montenegro presented Roy Hodgson with his first genuine “do-or-die” challenge as England boss with the World Cup qualification to Brazil 2014 hanging in the balance. England head to the final two matches of the qualifying campaign as group leaders but with Montenegro, Ukraine and Poland in close proximity, Roy’s men must be victorious to avoid a nail-biting affair of continental play-offs and possible elimination. 

If there was one word to describe England’s qualifying campaign so far then “Timid” would be my word of choice. The Three Lions collected maximum points only against the minnows of Group H with wins against Moldova and San Marino home and away – but England were found wanting when confronting their direct qualification challengers as they drew with Poland and Montenegro away as well as Ukraine home and away. 

In typical Hodgson fashion, England look solid at the back while lacking the creativity going forward but most crucially Roy Hodgson is habitually setting England up to avoid defeat instead of aiming for the win. 

The pressure on Hodgson’s approach mounted after England’s insipid display in Ukraine. 

The appointment of a new ambitious FA chairman in Greg Dyke only added to the strain felt by Hodgson as Dyke refused to guarantee the safety of Roy’s position should England fail to qualify to Brazil 2014. 

With the tension piling around the England boss and with the nation expecting a positive result, it was up to Roy Hodgson to react. In turn, England’s imperiled manager responded by digging into his personality’s hidden adventurous side. 

Tactical Setup:

England:

Hodgson lined-up his team with a 4-2-3-1 formation with three forwards and a winger spearheading the Three Lion’s attack. Relying on inverted wingers, Hodgson placed Daniel Welbeck on the left wing while Tottenham’s young winger Andros Townsend was positioned on the right. Wayne Rooney and Daniel Sturridge were given a chance to establish their new partnership after previously playing a total of 30 minutes together. 

The England manager decided to utilize his trusted lieutenants in center midfield as the Gerrard-Lampard partnership was restored for the 55th time during their long international careers. 

In defense, Kyle Walker retained his position at right back with Glen Johnson yet to return from injury while Leighton Baines deputized for the injured Ashley Cole at left back. Hodgson stuck with his preferred selection at center back as Gary Cahill partnered Everton’s Phil Jagielka. 

With England retaining possession and building an attack, the inverted wingers were asked to stretch the Montenegro defense as both Townsend and Welbeck would commence their runs from their respective touchlines. England’s fullbacks were tasked with supporting the attack by overlapping as England’s wingers would cut inside into the opposition penalty area as the attacking move progressed. 

Gerrard and Lampard were assigned disciplined roles as they maintained a deeper position throughout the 90 minutes. 

Montenegro:

Branko Brnovic, the Montenegro head coach, struggled with headaches of his own after losing six first-choice players including star striker Mirko Vucinic, goalkeeper Mladen Bosovic and defender Marko Basa. 

The defiant Brnovic, who played down the impact of the injury crisis, set up his Montenegro side to frustrate England as his team sat deep and limited the space around their penalty area. 

With Vucinic missing, Montenegro relied on the creativity of Stevan Jovetic and the physical presence of Dejan Damjanovic in attack as Brnovic looked for quick and incisive counter attacks. Stevan Jovetic was given the freedom to roam in order to use the lack of a dedicated defensive midfielder in England’s team selection. 

First Half:

Roy Hodgson’s men started positively as England’s new number seven, Andros Townsend, wasted no time in introducing himself to the defenders of Montenegro with a series of direct runs starting from the half-way line. 

England continued to dominate possession for long periods of the first-half but they failed to create clear cut chances to trouble keeper Vukasin Poleksic as the Three Lions lacked the penetration needed to break down the congested Montenegro defense. 

Montenegro, after weathering England’s early storm unscathed, settled more into the game as the half progressed and began causing trouble through long balls over the top and into the middle of the pitch with Jovetic’s covert runs proving problematic for the likes of Gerrard and Walker. 

England were finally able to create a chance of note on 40 minutes as Townsend broke into the penalty box and his saved shot reached Rooney who shot off-target. 

Almost immediately, Sturridge was left unmarked from a corner delivered by Steven Gerrard but the Liverpool striker hacked at the shot and the chance went begging. 

Sturridge was again presented with an opportunity to score before the half came to a close but the keeper saved well from a back heel by England’s number nine. 

The referee blew the whistle for half time with Brnovic the happier of the two managers as England were left frustrated. 

Second Half:

The second half started with the news confirming Ukraine’s win in the decisive game against Poland; a result which enforces the “must-win” factor on both nations in the duel between England and Montenegro. 

Perhaps, the result in Kiev had a bigger impact on the psyche of Montenegro as they began the half looking to sneak a goal passed Joe Hart. In pushing forward, Brnovic’s side left a gap on their left side which Townsend utilized to maximum effect. 

England’s young winger picked up the ball behind the half way line and went on a darting run towards the Montenegro byline. Townsend then sent a cross which Savic could only head onto the path of Danny Welbeck – Poleksic would save the shot from England’s number 11 but Rooney latched on to the loose ball and scored by shooting under the keeper’s desperate lunge. 

The goal relaxed the nerves of the home side and inflicted more pressure on Brnovic who had to adopt more of an attacking approach for the remainder of the match to avoid elimination. 

The Montenegro manager began his team’s strategic adjustment by replacing right back Pavicevic with winger Fatos Beqiraj and Zverotic tasked with deploying the right back position. 

Sadly for Brnovic, with his tactical changes to the right flank still taking shape, England capitalized on the resulting uncertainty. Daniel Sturridge, who became more mobile as the match progressed, released Welbeck through a clever back-heel from England’s left wing and the pass attempted by the Manchester United forward deflected off the backtracking Boskovic and into his own net. 

With the away side now looking desperate, star man Jovetic attempted a pile-driver from distance which rifled off Joe Hart’s crossbar. 

Despite the scare, the comfort of a two goal cushion turned England into a much better side with the forwards now showing beautiful movement upfront aided by the calming presence of Michael Carrick in center midfield after replacing Frank Lampard. England created chance after chance with shots from Gerrard, Welbeck and Baines frightening Poleksic. 

Minutes later, against the run of play, Montenegro pulled a goal back through Dejan Damjanovic. Fatos Beqiraj was allowed to shoot from outside the box with Gerrard and Baines guilty of lazy defending – the shot reached the path of Damjanovic who guided the ball home for his second goal against England during the current qualifying campaign. 

The tension returned to haunt Wembley – will England through away a two-goal lead once again versus Montenegro? 

The response to that question was emphatic from Roy Hodgson’s men! 

England first looked to absorb the panic by enjoying a good period of calm possession instigated by Michael Carrick. Then, the brilliant Townsend ensured a full debut which will be remembered for a very long time. 

Tottenham’s youngster picked up the ball around the half-way line and after a strong dribble sent a missile which hit the inside of the post and into the net. 

Townsend was taken-off minutes later to a rapturous ovation from the adoring Wembley crowd and replaced by Jack Wilshere. 

After England’s third, Brnovic threw the towel and brought off Jovetic for Kasalica as Montenegro began to tire both physically and mentally. 

Hodgson looked to gain a strangle hold on the match for the remaining minutes by strengthening England’s center midfield with the introduction of James Milner. The change saw England line up in a 4-3-3 formation with Rooney now placed on the left wing and Welbeck moving to the right side. 

The Three Lions capped off an impressive performance with Daniel Sturridge earning a penalty in the final minute of added-on time and scoring the resulting spot-kick to take the score-line to a resounding 4-1. 

Verdict:

Full credit must go to Roy Hodgson for embracing an adventurous strategy in such “do-or-die” settings and the result was one of England’s better performances in recent years. 

After the match, Hodgson stressed that picking Andros Townsend was not an easy decision: “We agonized over selecting Andros Townsend. We argued back and forth and had a lot of time to think about it.” Hodgson said. “To leave people like Jack Wilshere and James Milner out, with all the good work he's put in for us in this group and the attacking flair they bring, was not easy.“ 

"But we envisaged something and it came off. “ Hodgson continued. “We thought Andros's pace against a packed defense would open doors.” 

Roy’s vision came to reality after Andros Townsend became the catalyst to a critical triumph. 

Hodgson must also be applauded for his reading of the match. The introduction of Michael Carrick for Frank Lampard was an inspired move which brought much needed solidity and assurance to England’s midfield. 

England have been stifled by the weight of expectations and fear of loss on several occasions over the last few years. Watching England play with such attacking verve was a joy to behold as the shackles were dropped and the forwards were allowed the freedom to put their opponents to the sword. 

Still, this was a game which was always dependant on who would score the first goal. Had Montenegro been able to use England’s gaps in center midfield then this would have a completely different article. 

England enjoyed the “ideal case situation” in key moments of the match as they were able to score immediately after half time, established a two-goal cushion and then score right after conceding to calm down their nerves but that should come as no surprise as fortune usually favors the brave. 

Advantage Roy Hodgson – now the England manager must choose which persona to don before the decider against Poland. 

*Interview with Roy Hodgson was taken from theguardian.com by Dominic Fifield 

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/oct/12/england-montenegro-roy-hodgson-andros-townsend

Spoils shared between Master and Protege

Premier League

Spurs vs Chelsea Match Analysis

September 28, 2013

The London derby between Spurs and Chelsea has a very different vibe about it this season. The White Hart Lane club are no longer the perennial under-achievers of London as they target a solid top-four finish this season with an eye on competing for the Premier League trophy. AVB’s side looks at Chelsea now as equals. 

To add to the drama, the contest pits Master and Apprentice in a head-to-head for the first time in the careers of Jose Mourinho and Andre Villas-Boas. AVB was part of Jose’s backroom staff for seven years at Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan before the young Portuguese tactician decided to part-ways with Mourinho to take on a more senior role. 

In the build-up to the contest, AVB stated: “We had a great personal and professional relationship before. We don't have that now”. 

"I was never his No.2," AVB continued. "I was part of his staff, but I was never his assistant. That's one of the reasons we went our separate ways. I thought I could give him a lot more but he didn't feel the need to have someone next to him”. 

Mourinho’s response was passive-aggressive: “I'm not a kid. I don't discuss this with the media, it's a personal thing. I don't care what he says. I'm not here to do that. I'm not interested”. 

The rivalry between the coaches was expected to add more tension to what is usually a very intense affair. 

That, however, was not the case during the first half of the match. 

Spurs began the derby in the ascendancy with Christian Eriksen finding space in forward positions due to his intelligent movement. The Dane also showcased sublime vision and quick thinking as he played a role in every opportunity Tottenham created. 

Chelsea, on the other hand, were subdued with Mikel looking slow and labored in defensive midfield. Jose Mourinho deployed his trusted lieutenants for this key game as Frank Lampard, John Terry and Ashley Cole were involved in the starting line-up. 

Tottenham’s energetic midfield dominated the game during the first 20 minutes with Paulinho pushing forward while Townsend and Sigurdsson moved infield from their wide positions to aid the physical Soldado who was asked to rough-up the Blues’ center defenders. 

In the 19th minute, the home side was rewarded for their promising start. 

A quick turn from Christian Eriksen got him past Frank Lampard and towards the Chelsea penalty area. His quick pass from the left reached Soldado who set-up the rushing Sigurdsson for the opening goal of the contest. 

The Iceland international has been in superb form this season with AVB getting the best out of the advanced midfielder from wide left which allows Sigurdsson’s to cut inside undetected using his clever forward runs. 

Chelsea will point to the pedestrian Mikel who failed to react to Eriksen’s forward surge thus allowing Soldado the time and space to lay the pass to Sigurdsson. 

Spurs, enthused by the goal, continued to push forward and nearly doubled their advantage minutes later as Townsend and Walker combined down the right flank to deliver a dangerous cross which Paulinho would have directed goal-wards if it wasn’t for a crucial interception by Ivanovic. 

The uninspired Blues continued to struggle in midfield with Paulinho breaking dangerously on several occasions. The impressive Dembele, who was positioned deeper, controlled the tempo and pressed high up the pitch as the Chelsea defense looked to establish an attack. 

Mourinho’s midfield trio of Mikel, Lampard and Oscar clearly wasn’t working while Ramires was wasted on the right flank. 

Despite the Blues finally coming to life during the last 10 minutes, it was Spurs who once again produced another threatening chance. 

A clever back-heel from Walker on the right, reached the direct Townsend who ran at Terry and reached the Chelsea penalty area – the young England winger passed to Paulinho but the Brazilian could only hit the side netting with the goal at his mercy. 

Advantage to the Apprentice at half-time! 

The second half started with a tactical change by Mourinho as Mata replaced the disinterested Mikel. The switch forced a series of changes to the Chelsea midfield as Ramires moved to the holding midfield role with Oscar asked to operate from the left. Eden Hazard also took-on a new post as central attacking midfielder. 

Another significant change by the Blues boss was in the role of Fernando Torres. Chelsea’s number nine was employed as the battering ram in the first half but was asked to drop deeper and run at defenders during the second 45 minutes. 

The changes worked a charm! 

First, Torres dribbled well on the right side and sent a good cross into the Spurs six-yard box – unfortunately for the Blues, Oscar failed to hit the ball cleanly and the chance was wasted. 

Minutes later, the Spaniard again dribbled past the Tottenham defense and was left one-on-one with Hugo Lloris who saved brilliantly. 

The menacing Torres became a nuisance to AVB’s defenders, particularly Vertonghen who clashed with Torres after a dive by the Belgian international. The reaction from Torres earned him a yellow-card. 

Villas-Boas reacted to the tactical changes made by Mourinho by implementing a high-offside line which caught the Chelsea attackers on several occasions. The White Hart Lane club also became reliant on quick counterattacks. 

Spurs though, struggled to get their midfield into the game with Ramires playing a key role in improving the Blues from the holding-midfield position in the second half. Mourinho also ensured that Eriksen would be closed-down quickly thus stifling the Danish international. 

On 65 minutes, Chelsea earned a free-kick close to the center circle which the impressive Mata delivered accurately to John Terry who headed home for a deserved equalizer. The Chelsea captain moved away from Dawson and was then left unmarked by Vertonghen and Townsend for a free header. 

With the wind in their sales, Mourinho brought-on Andre Schurrle for the quiet Eden Hazard to try and win the game. The German international was deployed on the left wing for Chelsea. 

AVB responded by taking-off Eriksen and replacing him with Lewis Holtby with the Dane going-off to a standing ovation from the Spurs faithful. Eriksen was the star of the show during the first half but Mourinho’s changes in the second half rendered him helpless. 

The young Spurs boss also substituted the tiring Soldado with Jermain Defoe. 

The intimidating Torres continued to torment the Tottenham defense, this time through a pass to Andre Schurrle and Lloris once again saved well from a one-on-one situation for the Blues. 

The absorbing tale of Fernando Torres in this derby was to come to an abrupt end though. The Spaniard, attempted to win the header against Jan Vertonghen which was judged to be on the aggressive side. This was one duel too many for Torres and Vertnoghen as the referee showed the number nine his second yellow of the contest and was sent-off. 

With Chelsea down to 10 men, Mourinho introduced Azpilicueta for Oscar with the Spanish fullback asked to play a role on the left side of midfield. 

The red card swayed the game back in favor of the home team as the Spurs midfield regained control of center midfield and relied on patient possession football to try and break down the Chelsea defense who sat deep in the last few minutes of the contest. 

Spurs were unable to create any clear-cut chances with AVB’s charges limited to a couple of shots from outside the box from Sigurdsson and Defoe. 

The full time whistle came with Mentor and Apprentice on an even keel. 

Villas-Boas will be proud of getting his team up for the game as they started as the better side but the “Happy One” was superior in reading the contest and made the changes necessary. 

Mourinho recently blamed a change of philosophy at the club for the faltering start of the Blues this season but the issue seems to be a mental one more than anything else. Chelsea are not showing the hunger and the winning attitude they mirrored during the first coming of the Special One – the Stamford Bridge side start their matches with a laid-back approach and generally seem saturated. 

The performance of Torres is a big plus for Chelsea despite the red card. Another Spaniard making a strong case is Juan Mata who is making it very difficult for Mourinho to keep him out of the starting line-up. 

Spurs on the other hand will be delighted with Christian Eriksen who looks a very astute signing capable of having a big impact. For AVB, this is a positive point against direct competitor for a top-four position in the league this season. Spurs must ensure that they keep racking up the points while the new players are bedding into their new surroundings to ensure they could push on after Christmas with a more settled squad. 

The one-all score line is a fair result in what should become a common duel between Mourinho and Villas-Boas as each manager continues the process of shaping-up their squads.