king1319Everyone and their mother knows Napoli loves to soak up the pressure and hit back. Even before the game you knew whoever controls territory/possesion would lose. Perharps a way to invite Napoli in is to play more defenders and hit them back. A slow, stop start mourinhio type game would at least keep a low scoreline. The final group stage game earlier in this season is evidence he can get something out of his team.More ofetn than not the game can go beyond tactics. Quality, desire, talent and availibilty of some of his players didnt help.
Nontheless here is my team and gameplan.
CB's- David Luiz man mark Hamsik and break foward only ONCE in the game.
Cahil and Ivanovic, do the job on Cavani (easier said than done)
Fullbacks- stay conservative, but there are 4 other defenders playing if necessary
res brotheres, run hard and defend well, most likely replaced by Lampard and /or Essien
Mata, little defensive responisbilty, watching one of the cm's and be the playmaker
Stu- stay high and wide and try to commit a Aronica and or Zuniga
Drogba - hold up well and do the best with the little service you get.
22.02.2012
mojojojo101If you were going out to draw against Napoli you'd basically just want to give them the ball and stay compact at the back, they are much more comfortable counter attacking than they are building up attacks slowly from deep.
As far as Chelsea goes I think AVB was pressured into some odd desicions on Tuesday night.
I personally would have picked Torres way ahead of Drogba for this game. Napoli play with defenders who are slow and more than comfortable dealing with high balls, Drogba's battering ram playstyle plays into thier hands where as Torres' ability in deep and wide positions would have caused the back 3 a whole lot of problems.
The other odd desicion was not to name a recognised holding midfielder. Napoli were always going to rely on counter attacks and having a player comfortable with keeping the area in front of the defence would have been helpful. It also would have potentially allowed the two full backs forward, stretching play in the final third and causing problems or Napoli's 3/5 man defence.
To be honest though Chelsea lost tonight because they didn't play well. They gave the ball away too easily in the middle of the pitch, didn't track runners (Malouda did a particularly awful job on Maggio in the first half) and didn't take the chances that were presented to them.
22.02.2012
ZolaNot starting with Essien was a very weird decision. What's wrong using extra cover in your midfield in an away CL game?
22.02.2012
king1319@mojojojo101
I meant draw in Napoli as in soak up the pressure. I agree with everything you said, but the bit on the drogba selection. Tactiacally Torres is way better suited for this game, but the problem is you dont know weather you will get a good game out of him. I can sense there was alot of pressure to play drogba instead
This game was crying for a holding midfielder, I get the feeling Essien is not yet 100% otherwise he would be a consistent starter.
As I mentioned earlier, some things are just beyond tactics, some of the defending was horrible
22.02.2012
king1319Also, considering Napoli's front three just want to attack, does anyone think 3 conservative centrebacks and David Luiz would work? I know Terry is injured but hypothetically
22.02.2012
mojojojo101@king1319 Ah fair enough, I misunderstood the title then got a little bit of a rant going... my apologies.
As for a conservative back 3 against Napoli I don't personally think it's the greatest idea. When defending you generally want to match your opponents players plus have a spare man, against the movement and individual skill of the Napoli front 3 just lining up with 3 defenders against them would be a massive risk.
I personally would also like a 3rd man in the centre of midfield, just because both Gargano and Inler are very hard working and talented players who would just simply overwhelm most 2 man partnerships tin the centre of the pitch.
What might work however would be to use a lopsided back 3/5 with one full back being deployed higher up the pitch (probably on the left with the job of tracking Maggio) and the other deployed deeper to pick up the player coming in from wide (normally Lavezzi). That would leave two centre backs to deal with Cavani and a 'centre-half' to deal with Hamsik.
Your other option would be to use a narrow and defensive back four but that would leave you vunerable to the marauding runs of Maggio and Dossena/Zuniga.
The thing with Napoli is they always play (basically) the same way and once a European team looks at what Italian teams have done to them this season (they've largely worked out how to counter Napoli tactically although I don't watch enough of their games to say exactly how) which sees Napoli in a somewhat underwhelming 6th position in Seire A.
22.02.2012
king1319@mojojojo101
the lopsided 3/5 at the back would probably work well, maybe 4 cb's did not work cos Ivanovic was Dani Alves
26.02.2012
king1319@mojojojo101
the lopsided 3/5 at the back would probably work well, maybe 4 cb's did not work cos Ivanovic was Dani Alves
26.02.2012
king1319A holding midfeilder is essential though
26.02.2012
