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Subject: [NT] Friendlies
I have set a line-up for this weekend, which is subject to change with tomorrow's form update.
I have written the managers of selected players who have qualification matches on Sunday. Though this weekend's match is a very important one for Canada, Q-matches are also very important. Clubs invest a lot in their players, and deserve to have their best available for such critical games.
So I've given managers the opportunity to sit their players out if they wish. It's not a problem at all if they choose to - Canada has sufficient depth to deal with any absence. If managers have any reservations about me using their players, they shouldn't hesitate to ask for the weekend off. :)
I have written the managers of selected players who have qualification matches on Sunday. Though this weekend's match is a very important one for Canada, Q-matches are also very important. Clubs invest a lot in their players, and deserve to have their best available for such critical games.
So I've given managers the opportunity to sit their players out if they wish. It's not a problem at all if they choose to - Canada has sufficient depth to deal with any absence. If managers have any reservations about me using their players, they shouldn't hesitate to ask for the weekend off. :)
If you want you can use any of my players (Caron and Barera)
That's good news. :) Most managers gave the go-ahead with their players.
Received a message from the Russian manager today. He plans to use their A-squad. They had a very nice result last week against Austria, though the game was far more even then the score suggests.
Though we are several rungs ahead of them in the rankings, they obviously have a very competitive team. I figure a rugged defense and a good goal keeper gives you a chance to win any match ATM, and Russia certainly has that (tho their keeper is a little off form). The biggest discrepancy between the two squads may be in midfield - tho 21 year old Tumilovich is pretty nice and looks like he's going to be great.
Received a message from the Russian manager today. He plans to use their A-squad. They had a very nice result last week against Austria, though the game was far more even then the score suggests.
Though we are several rungs ahead of them in the rankings, they obviously have a very competitive team. I figure a rugged defense and a good goal keeper gives you a chance to win any match ATM, and Russia certainly has that (tho their keeper is a little off form). The biggest discrepancy between the two squads may be in midfield - tho 21 year old Tumilovich is pretty nice and looks like he's going to be great.
Underway against Russia.
Russia has used the same approach (442 with 2 wide flank mids) the past two weeks. A good result last week (IMO) increases the chances of a repeat this week. But the Russian manager does change things up, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see something different.
We are changing our formation this week after having used the same one two weeks running. Using a 442 with a diamond midfield. The diamond is asymmetric - the intention is to give the two side mids different attack angles with their passes. The left side mid is in a more attacking position - kind of a semi-winger. The central offensive mid works best if Russia uses two defensive mids - as they have the past few weeks.
IMO part of the reason why Austria got into trouble last week was their defense backed in a little too far. Our defense is positioned very aggressively - should help our possession and make it difficult for Russia to gain territory. My sense is that the Russian strikers aren’t technique monsters - I expect the defense to hold.
I would have liked to start Amado, but he lost a lot of form last week and has a slight knock to boot, so I’ve gone with Giacomi instead. Amado will enter in the second half if Canada isn’t leading. Olaf Lavrynenko and Fichaud get the start despite some mediocre form. Young Verville may raise a few eyebrows with his start, but he is well suited to the role, and I expect him to play well. Parker will remain a better option then Madden for a while yet, but due to form and training I’ve gone with Madden today.
If I had another order I’d flip Iginla and Caron at half-time - would kind of like to see each try both roles. But all the orders are needed for subs and card coverage.
Line-Up
Madden
Dehere, Sebrango, Fichaud, Bradshaw
Caron, G. Verville, Iginla, O. Lavrynenko
Giacomi, Wang
Bench
Parker
Holden
Barrera (70 - O. Lavrynenko)
Amado (60 - Giacomi - conditional: drawing or losing)
W Lavrynenko (80 - Wang - conditional: leading)
Giacomi takes penalties and freekicks (playing a hunch ;D), Verville covers the back 4 in case of red card.
Russia has used the same approach (442 with 2 wide flank mids) the past two weeks. A good result last week (IMO) increases the chances of a repeat this week. But the Russian manager does change things up, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see something different.
We are changing our formation this week after having used the same one two weeks running. Using a 442 with a diamond midfield. The diamond is asymmetric - the intention is to give the two side mids different attack angles with their passes. The left side mid is in a more attacking position - kind of a semi-winger. The central offensive mid works best if Russia uses two defensive mids - as they have the past few weeks.
IMO part of the reason why Austria got into trouble last week was their defense backed in a little too far. Our defense is positioned very aggressively - should help our possession and make it difficult for Russia to gain territory. My sense is that the Russian strikers aren’t technique monsters - I expect the defense to hold.
I would have liked to start Amado, but he lost a lot of form last week and has a slight knock to boot, so I’ve gone with Giacomi instead. Amado will enter in the second half if Canada isn’t leading. Olaf Lavrynenko and Fichaud get the start despite some mediocre form. Young Verville may raise a few eyebrows with his start, but he is well suited to the role, and I expect him to play well. Parker will remain a better option then Madden for a while yet, but due to form and training I’ve gone with Madden today.
If I had another order I’d flip Iginla and Caron at half-time - would kind of like to see each try both roles. But all the orders are needed for subs and card coverage.
Line-Up
Madden
Dehere, Sebrango, Fichaud, Bradshaw
Caron, G. Verville, Iginla, O. Lavrynenko
Giacomi, Wang
Bench
Parker
Holden
Barrera (70 - O. Lavrynenko)
Amado (60 - Giacomi - conditional: drawing or losing)
W Lavrynenko (80 - Wang - conditional: leading)
Giacomi takes penalties and freekicks (playing a hunch ;D), Verville covers the back 4 in case of red card.
Nice match from the lads. :) I was expecting a closer affair.
I was pleased with the tactic. I had considered 5 at the back an option for them, which was part of the reason why I didn't want a true winger. The aggressive defensive line was effective - really added to the territorial advantage without surrendering any breakaways. Thought our throw-ins were good and theirs well covered.
Giacomi looked fantastic early on. An unfortunate knock - hopefully his form holds up. Wang was also very sharp - his technique and tackling skills were both a problem for the Russian defense. Amado generated some excellent chances - would have been nice to see one go in (Russian keeper was decent in general, but awesome against Amado - kind of like Biron last week).
Caron was great - proved difficult to tackle, and did well picking out Wang. Probably deserved a few more assists. Iginla also played very well, but didn't have the same space to work with that Caron had. Both O. Lavrynenko and G. Verville could have been a little sharper - both held on to the ball too long a couple of times.
Defense played great. Dehere in particular was awesome. Was only beaten once by the Russian winger, and that was purely tactical (no fault of his). He made a number of good ball decisions, and didn't kick it out (that I recall). Bradshaw almost as good on the other side - tho he wasn't tested as much defensively. He had a couple of opportunities to get crosses into the box - would like to see him do better with those. Fichaud and Sebrango were solid in the middle and able to cover any slips by the other.
Madden wasn't really tested.
A solid win against a decent opponent should leave us in good stead in the rankings going into next weekend (when I believe the WC draw is held). Only down-side in this match was Caron picking up his second yellow card. Don't like our stars accumulating cards heading into Qualifications.
I was pleased with the tactic. I had considered 5 at the back an option for them, which was part of the reason why I didn't want a true winger. The aggressive defensive line was effective - really added to the territorial advantage without surrendering any breakaways. Thought our throw-ins were good and theirs well covered.
Giacomi looked fantastic early on. An unfortunate knock - hopefully his form holds up. Wang was also very sharp - his technique and tackling skills were both a problem for the Russian defense. Amado generated some excellent chances - would have been nice to see one go in (Russian keeper was decent in general, but awesome against Amado - kind of like Biron last week).
Caron was great - proved difficult to tackle, and did well picking out Wang. Probably deserved a few more assists. Iginla also played very well, but didn't have the same space to work with that Caron had. Both O. Lavrynenko and G. Verville could have been a little sharper - both held on to the ball too long a couple of times.
Defense played great. Dehere in particular was awesome. Was only beaten once by the Russian winger, and that was purely tactical (no fault of his). He made a number of good ball decisions, and didn't kick it out (that I recall). Bradshaw almost as good on the other side - tho he wasn't tested as much defensively. He had a couple of opportunities to get crosses into the box - would like to see him do better with those. Fichaud and Sebrango were solid in the middle and able to cover any slips by the other.
Madden wasn't really tested.
A solid win against a decent opponent should leave us in good stead in the rankings going into next weekend (when I believe the WC draw is held). Only down-side in this match was Caron picking up his second yellow card. Don't like our stars accumulating cards heading into Qualifications.
This week's match against Turkey is booked.
I've long held Turkey is one of the more under-rated NTs in Sokker. Their ranking has improved over the past few seasons - but they are still stronger then it indicates. Their team has all the tools (and with a good sized user base, they are developing more depth).
It should be a good game. No restrictions have been negotiated. I plan to use the A-squad. Will be my last opportunity to do so, as it will be B-squad guys next week against Peru (to protect A-squad availability for the first Qualification match the following week).
I've long held Turkey is one of the more under-rated NTs in Sokker. Their ranking has improved over the past few seasons - but they are still stronger then it indicates. Their team has all the tools (and with a good sized user base, they are developing more depth).
It should be a good game. No restrictions have been negotiated. I plan to use the A-squad. Will be my last opportunity to do so, as it will be B-squad guys next week against Peru (to protect A-squad availability for the first Qualification match the following week).
Line-up is set for Turkey.
They've had some nice results lately - deserved wins over Norway and Brasil. This should be a good match. :)
They've had some nice results lately - deserved wins over Norway and Brasil. This should be a good match. :)
Underway against Turkey.
Turkey has a good manager who changes tactics regularly. It’s hard to know for sure what’s coming.
They played 5 at the back last week against Brasil, and it was very effective. Caron has been sufficiently scary lately that they may well play 5 at the back again. As such, I’ve pulled Caron back a little. When the opponent plays 5 in the line, the space is in front of the defense. If they play 5, that’s where I hope Ruben will be.
One thing that’s fairly constant in Turkey’s tactics is 2 defensive midfielders. IMO that calls for a central offensive middie. So Iginla is positioned centrally again this week.
Turkey has been using a very aggressive defensive line. I’ve pulled our strikers back some, but I still expect numerous off-sides. Against this kind of approach, pacey-techy strikers are (IMO) the best counter. So Wang and Amado are the two starting strikers.
I have gone several weeks in a row with 1 defensive mid. So this week there’s two - to change things up as much as anything. If Turkey does play an aggressive line, 2 defensive mids should pay dividends - assuming the offensive guys use the support.
4 at the back. Turkey doesn’t play with width that often, and I’m optimistic our guys can cover them well if they do. Turkey often plays adjacent strikers - makes it tempting to use a “wall” defense, but I’ve gone with the more traditional approach.
Wang takes penalties, freekicks are open. O Lavrynenko covers the back line for red cards (except for Dehere - ran out of orders).
Line-Up
Madden
Bradshaw, Fichaud, Sebrango, Dehere
O Lavrynenko, Verville, Iginla, Caron
Amado, Wang
Bench
Parker
Holden
Barrera (60 - Verville)
Lemieux (80 - O - Lav)
W Lavrynenko (70 - Amado)Underway against Turkey.
Turkey has a good manager who changes tactics regularly. It’s hard to know for sure what’s coming.
They played 5 at the back last week against Brasil, and it was very effective. Caron has been sufficiently scary lately that they may well play 5 at the back again. As such, I’ve pulled Caron back a little. When the opponent plays 5 in the line, the space is in front of the defense. If they play 5, that’s where I hope Ruben will be.
One thing that’s fairly constant in Turkey’s tactics is 2 defensive midfielders. IMO that calls for a central offensive middie. So Iginla is positioned centrally again this week.
Turkey has been using a very aggressive defensive line. I’ve pulled our strikers back some, but I still expect numerous off-sides. Against this kind of approach, pacey-techy strikers are (IMO) the best counter. So Wang and Amado are the two starting strikers.
I have gone several weeks in a row with 1 defensive mid. So this week there’s two - to change things up as much as anything. If Turkey does play an aggressive line, 2 defensive mids should pay dividends - assuming the offensive guys use the support.
4 at the back. Turkey doesn’t play with width that often, and I’m optimistic our guys can cover them well if they do. Turkey often plays adjacent strikers - makes it tempting to use a “wall” defense, but I’ve gone with the more traditional approach.
Wang takes penalties, freekicks are open. O Lavrynenko covers the back line for red cards (except for Dehere - ran out of orders).
Line-Up
Madden
Bradshaw, Fichaud, Sebrango, Dehere
O Lavrynenko, Verville, Iginla, Caron
Amado, Wang
Bench
Parker
Holden
Barrera (60 - Verville)
Lemieux (80 - O - Lav)
W Lavrynenko (70 - Amado)
Turkey has a good manager who changes tactics regularly. It’s hard to know for sure what’s coming.
They played 5 at the back last week against Brasil, and it was very effective. Caron has been sufficiently scary lately that they may well play 5 at the back again. As such, I’ve pulled Caron back a little. When the opponent plays 5 in the line, the space is in front of the defense. If they play 5, that’s where I hope Ruben will be.
One thing that’s fairly constant in Turkey’s tactics is 2 defensive midfielders. IMO that calls for a central offensive middie. So Iginla is positioned centrally again this week.
Turkey has been using a very aggressive defensive line. I’ve pulled our strikers back some, but I still expect numerous off-sides. Against this kind of approach, pacey-techy strikers are (IMO) the best counter. So Wang and Amado are the two starting strikers.
I have gone several weeks in a row with 1 defensive mid. So this week there’s two - to change things up as much as anything. If Turkey does play an aggressive line, 2 defensive mids should pay dividends - assuming the offensive guys use the support.
4 at the back. Turkey doesn’t play with width that often, and I’m optimistic our guys can cover them well if they do. Turkey often plays adjacent strikers - makes it tempting to use a “wall” defense, but I’ve gone with the more traditional approach.
Wang takes penalties, freekicks are open. O Lavrynenko covers the back line for red cards (except for Dehere - ran out of orders).
Line-Up
Madden
Bradshaw, Fichaud, Sebrango, Dehere
O Lavrynenko, Verville, Iginla, Caron
Amado, Wang
Bench
Parker
Holden
Barrera (60 - Verville)
Lemieux (80 - O - Lav)
W Lavrynenko (70 - Amado)Underway against Turkey.
Turkey has a good manager who changes tactics regularly. It’s hard to know for sure what’s coming.
They played 5 at the back last week against Brasil, and it was very effective. Caron has been sufficiently scary lately that they may well play 5 at the back again. As such, I’ve pulled Caron back a little. When the opponent plays 5 in the line, the space is in front of the defense. If they play 5, that’s where I hope Ruben will be.
One thing that’s fairly constant in Turkey’s tactics is 2 defensive midfielders. IMO that calls for a central offensive middie. So Iginla is positioned centrally again this week.
Turkey has been using a very aggressive defensive line. I’ve pulled our strikers back some, but I still expect numerous off-sides. Against this kind of approach, pacey-techy strikers are (IMO) the best counter. So Wang and Amado are the two starting strikers.
I have gone several weeks in a row with 1 defensive mid. So this week there’s two - to change things up as much as anything. If Turkey does play an aggressive line, 2 defensive mids should pay dividends - assuming the offensive guys use the support.
4 at the back. Turkey doesn’t play with width that often, and I’m optimistic our guys can cover them well if they do. Turkey often plays adjacent strikers - makes it tempting to use a “wall” defense, but I’ve gone with the more traditional approach.
Wang takes penalties, freekicks are open. O Lavrynenko covers the back line for red cards (except for Dehere - ran out of orders).
Line-Up
Madden
Bradshaw, Fichaud, Sebrango, Dehere
O Lavrynenko, Verville, Iginla, Caron
Amado, Wang
Bench
Parker
Holden
Barrera (60 - Verville)
Lemieux (80 - O - Lav)
W Lavrynenko (70 - Amado)
I'm not sure what you mean ...
This match felt like a loss right from the start. The team did not look sharp. One of the more fumbly bumbly matches we've had this season. Still, we had the lead when we went down to 10 men.
Not a good match from Fichaud. Missed a number of tackles. Both he and Bradshaw were beaten on the first goal, and of course the penalty surrendered. I probably should have gone with a higher form option.
Our defensive midfield didn't play well either. Couldn't tackle Turkey's middies, which tilted the possession and territory numbers. I screwed up the last sub ... Lemieux was supposed to take O Lavrynenko. Apologies to Barrera.
Wang didn't have a good match either. He had a number of good chances, and didn't convert any of them. W Lavrynenko wasn't much use with Caron out of the game. A disappointing result for my last A-squad match. :/
Good news was that both Fichaud and Caron cleaned their slates with respect to cards. Dehere, unfortunately, picked up his second yellow.
This match felt like a loss right from the start. The team did not look sharp. One of the more fumbly bumbly matches we've had this season. Still, we had the lead when we went down to 10 men.
Not a good match from Fichaud. Missed a number of tackles. Both he and Bradshaw were beaten on the first goal, and of course the penalty surrendered. I probably should have gone with a higher form option.
Our defensive midfield didn't play well either. Couldn't tackle Turkey's middies, which tilted the possession and territory numbers. I screwed up the last sub ... Lemieux was supposed to take O Lavrynenko. Apologies to Barrera.
Wang didn't have a good match either. He had a number of good chances, and didn't convert any of them. W Lavrynenko wasn't much use with Caron out of the game. A disappointing result for my last A-squad match. :/
Good news was that both Fichaud and Caron cleaned their slates with respect to cards. Dehere, unfortunately, picked up his second yellow.
Well, what can we say here?
1. WC group draw was already before the match, so no harm done.
2. Red cards happen and its very hard to win with only 10 men.
3. No injuries!
4. WC group draw was already before the match, so no harm done. :P
1. WC group draw was already before the match, so no harm done.
2. Red cards happen and its very hard to win with only 10 men.
3. No injuries!
4. WC group draw was already before the match, so no harm done. :P
Seca
I think vondocha means that you post the same text twice in your post.
Funny Barrera played only a few minutes, but it is OK I am going to train stamina this week and he already has formidable.
Thank you for all your effort in the NT and specially for the contact you have with the Canadian community.
Edit: grammar mistake
(edited)
I think vondocha means that you post the same text twice in your post.
Funny Barrera played only a few minutes, but it is OK I am going to train stamina this week and he already has formidable.
Thank you for all your effort in the NT and specially for the contact you have with the Canadian community.
Edit: grammar mistake
(edited)
I think vondocha means that you post the same text twice in your post.
yep :)
yep :)
I see. :) I must have hit paste twice. Apologies. It was 5 AM, and I still had a reasonable amount of beer in my system.
The red card to Caron hurt quite a bit in this match. It meant all of our attacks from then on went straight up the middle into the heart of their defense - these were defended fairly easily, especially after Amado was taken off. Of the 4 midfielders, the flank mid was probably the one we could least afford to lose in this match.
The red card to Caron hurt quite a bit in this match. It meant all of our attacks from then on went straight up the middle into the heart of their defense - these were defended fairly easily, especially after Amado was taken off. Of the 4 midfielders, the flank mid was probably the one we could least afford to lose in this match.
We are booked with Peru for this weekend.
None of our top players will take part. Don't need to be picking up any unnecessary knocks or suspensions the week before the World Cup. We'll also have a contest winner in the line-up ... once I figure out who that is. :) Peru has said they will be using an U23 line-up.
None of our top players will take part. Don't need to be picking up any unnecessary knocks or suspensions the week before the World Cup. We'll also have a contest winner in the line-up ... once I figure out who that is. :) Peru has said they will be using an U23 line-up.
Some final thoughts on the Turkey match.
It was one of those games where a lot of the "micro" luck didn't go our way. There were a number of mishandled passes that normally would have been clean. Bounces not going the way they should. Amado was cleanly tackled a few times when I thought he was by ... lots of little things.
4 goals against is alarming. 2 of the goals were bad bounce goals - not much you can do about them (we actually had one of these too). 2 of them came after some shoddy defending - these are more of a concern. First goal Bradshaw then Fichaud were beaten, last goal O Lav, Dehere and Fichaud all successively missed tackles culminating in the penalty. Turkey is a much improved technical team - particularly in midfield. In the matches leading into this one I could see they were breaking a lot of tackles. But it's still a little uncharacteristic of our side to defend poorly. Some of it is form (Fichaud, O Lav). Hopefully it's just an aberration.
Pulling Caron back a bit out of his preferred pure winger role is often a little risky. I was kind of hoping he'd pick up a card ... just wasn't the colour I wanted. :D
Once I get Hilversum's player I'll have a line-up for this weekend.
It was one of those games where a lot of the "micro" luck didn't go our way. There were a number of mishandled passes that normally would have been clean. Bounces not going the way they should. Amado was cleanly tackled a few times when I thought he was by ... lots of little things.
4 goals against is alarming. 2 of the goals were bad bounce goals - not much you can do about them (we actually had one of these too). 2 of them came after some shoddy defending - these are more of a concern. First goal Bradshaw then Fichaud were beaten, last goal O Lav, Dehere and Fichaud all successively missed tackles culminating in the penalty. Turkey is a much improved technical team - particularly in midfield. In the matches leading into this one I could see they were breaking a lot of tackles. But it's still a little uncharacteristic of our side to defend poorly. Some of it is form (Fichaud, O Lav). Hopefully it's just an aberration.
Pulling Caron back a bit out of his preferred pure winger role is often a little risky. I was kind of hoping he'd pick up a card ... just wasn't the colour I wanted. :D
Once I get Hilversum's player I'll have a line-up for this weekend.