Subject: [u21] World Cup vs Norway

After being beaten in our first game against Holland, the difference between the teams being a goal from a freak back-pass (I'm not bitter), we move on to play Norway this Friday. Norway posted a 57 average rating in their 1-0 defeat of Latvia, the best in the group. If we lose, we're out of the competition, and I get to be tarred, feathered, and paraded through the streets of Old Lahnden tahn, or possibly Milton Keynes.

Any suggestions are more than welcome - sub attacker Clive Collic is out for 12 days, which is a blow when you consider that Hugh Hollis is already out for the next 2 U21 matches. Tomkellz, can you put Slater in bubble-wrap between now and Friday please ? :)...

Just an idea.. How about playing 5 defenders like the majority of the NT's?

It's something I've been considering. I like having the extra man in the middle though. If you play 5 at the back, you lose one in the middle, or one up front.

Like I say, I'm willing to listen to suggestions :).

Edit : Why do most NTs' play 5 at the back, do we think ? I must admit that I fail to understand why it's neccesary, when you can move your back 4 around to cover the wings...
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To counter the lack of pace available to defenders to switch across the pitch enabling higher def skills?

Allowing you to play a really quick defender with lower def skills to catch a striker through on goal and slowing him up for the better, slower defenders to get back and win the ball.

To counter a side being able to switch the ball to a winger quickly meaning a defender is immediately onto the winger, likely either winning the ball or conceding a throw, rather than have the winger get further down the line and ride the tackle(ooh er) allowing them to get a cross in.

To cover more spaces in the defence so that any through balls get cut out.

You know just a few things. I do realise that by playing an extra midfielder it does stop a few of these things before they even become an option, I guess it's just because managers don't feel the players at U-21 level are capable of fully executing their tactical plans and keeping the ball well enough that they don't like leaving spaces at the back.

You make an intriguing case for a 5 man defence there Cartman. I suppose we have the benefit of good defensive midfielders, such as your players Beardsley and Tickell, and I figured that if we could control the midfield by playing the midfield quite deeply and breaking up opposition play, that we could win games. Hmm - which is best ? There's only one way to find out...
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I've only stated reasons to play 5 at the back I could probably spend longer arguing the extra midfielder, though it only really becomes a decent argument if sides have players available to them to play it, no point playing 5 at the back if you've only got 4 decent defenders.

Another good point - I know wdp is a fan of 4 at the back at u21 level, I'm hoping he'll pop to thius thread at some point :).

To counter a side being able to switch the ball to a winger quickly meaning a defender is immediately onto the winger, likely either winning the ball or conceding a throw, rather than have the winger get further down the line and ride the tackle(ooh er) allowing them to get a cross in.

With mostly unbalanced players at U21 level, I think this is the main benefit... negative, but effective it would seem.

Slater will play 75 mins in my friendly, and spend the whole time stood in the corner doing nothing :) i've even took him off penalties so he can't get injured taking them ;)

i'd only play 5 at the back if you're scared of their winger, and think their centre forward is quite a bit faster than our defs. i've only had a quick look at their players but they look to have decent def's, but their midfield is a bit weaker. i'd flood the midfield, and try to dominate there. 4 centre mid's and a winger maybe... :)

I will have a look at Norway later but you have to think how to play to your players strengths and not worry hugely anout the opposition in this case. Even achieving a rating of 57 they cannot imo have vastly superior players.

How effective was the winger for us on Friday for example against Holland?

The winger created a chance that a striker in form would have put away early on in the game, and beat his man quite a few times.

Speaking of form, and strikers, 3 of our 5 best 21 year old strikers are injured, the best available has only excellent form, which leaves me to pick a 20 year old on the bench, should I choose to play 2 up front. Wonderful :).

You know, 1 striker tactics can be effective too.

They can if you have 1 great striker......and its helpful to have 2 good wingers....he has neither.

At u21 it is usually aramount to admitting defeat imo and you rarely win games with 1 striker at u21 level........I am sure I can be proven wrong however. ;)

Well, Norway beat Latvia with one striker, but don't go giving them ideas :)...

TV Studio - come and predict !

Kick off is at half 6 our time.
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Latvia vs Holland kicks off at 5:30 our time - TV Studio for their game.