Subject: World Cup Qualifiers

Group J
1. Lietuva 0 0 0 0 0-0 0
2. USA 0 0 0 0 0-0 0
3. Brasil 0 0 0 0 0-0 0
4. Colombia 0 0 0 0 0-0 0
5. Schweiz 0 0 0 0 0-0 0

I'd love to hear each of the serious NT candidates break down the opponents in Group J.

...Really :p?

yeah, actually.

Sure, then i don't have to scout them myself :)

Lietuva is the class of the group, and brings an awesome group of midfielders and attackers. The entire team looks like it has some serious pace, which we've had problems with in the past. Their defense and keeper aren't up to the the same level as the rest of the team, and could provide us with some opportunities.

Depending on how our lineup shakes out I'd probably play a 5-3-2 against their usual 4-3-3. Exactly how I'd set those 5 defenders depends upon their skills, but my preference would be 3 in the back with 2 up front. Hopefully one of our mids could provide a defensive presence as well. The plan would be to cut off their attacks before they get close enough to fire off a shot.

On the offensive end the intent would be to try and form our attacks from the outside as they pack their 4 defenders closely in the middle. The center of the field would be left a little more open, giving room for our defenders to fire counterattack passes straight up to the forwards. Stokes had better be ready for some through passes, and to head some crosses into the goal!

3 in the back and 2 up front? so more of a 3-5-2 with very defensive mids? not sure about that because they dont have much of an offensive mid presence, theyre more about pushed up offensive wingers.

id go into more detail about how id want to play against them, but talking about this sort of thing could leak out information if they happened to find it. this thread is sort of inappropriate, and completely irrelevant tacticwise if they themselves elect a new coach as well and change their formation

not sure if it's irrelevant, because it demonstrates a person's ability to analyze other teams.

However, inappropriate? Maybe.

Then again, I'd like to think a NT manager wouldn't use the same tactics/setup all season. Thats just asking to be figured out.

I just mean that the 5 defenders woulnd't be playing in a straing line, like . . . . . but 2 of them would be slightly ahead so that a forward coming our way wouldn't just need to dribble past 1 defender to get a clear shot on goal, but would have to dribble past the defender who's up front a hair, and then past a second defender as well.

I'm not worried about leaking information at this point. Right now it's just speculation since I can't see the player's skills.

It wouldn't shock me if USA struggle to qualify from that group. Brasil and Colombia are both tough sides, which should not be under-estimated.

Switzerland should be a lot better than they are ranked aswell.

true its a very competitive group

I wasn't asking you guys to give away your tactic against them as much as to analyze them, who we'll have problems with, what their strengths seem to be, etc.

I really don't want to give away future opportunities to exploit something by giving away our plans...