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