Poch has some big decisions to make on Wednesday - not just in terms of personnel, but the formation we go with, and the approach we take.
PERSONNEL
We know the bulk of the side are 100% starters, whatever - Lloris, Jan, Sanchez, Trippier, Dembele, Alli, Eriksen, Kane. Three places are up for grabs in a team with a back 4...
Rose v Davies
You would have to say Davies is in the driving seat here, he has been very good this season. He did have a huge brainfart in Turin though, and both goals came from his part of the pitch. Rose is lacking match-fitness but has performed well when called upon recently.
Dier v Wanyama
As above really, Dier is firmly in the driving seat. Vic probably gets in my first XI, but he has had a long time out and looked shocking at Rochdale. Possibility both could start, but more of that later.
Lamela v Son v Moura
After this week this should be straightforward, Sonny is back with two braces, and his pace on the break is a lovely weapon to have. However, Lamela played a key role for us in Turin, in a game we almost totally controlled. Moura is the outsider here. I would be very surprised to see him start.
FORMATION
We have a lot of options for how to set up, but I guess really it comes down to two. Without Toby and Wanyama for long stretches, the back four has been the default for us this season, but with Wanyama now involved we have the option of reverting to a back three...
4231
I think this is the most likely. It allows us to incorporate one of Son or Lamela, and we have been in great form of late so it would appear to be silly to change it. However, Juve did open us up a few times in the first game, despite their lack of possession. Davinson looked a bit shakey, in a shakey performance overall by the back four.
3421
Allows us a bit more security at the back, at the expense of a forward (albeit freeing up the FBs). Dier could drop in to RCB (his best position in my opinion), Jan goes to LCB, and Davinson is freed up to sweep with his pace,. Vic and Dembele are a formidable partnership in this formation, but how ready Vic is we do not know.
APPROACH
Front foot, or hit on the break. Decisions...
Dominating the ball
It came as a big surprise to me how much we dominated the ball in the first leg. No two games are the same though, and I am sure Allegri will have a plan in place to try and avoid that happening again. If we go with the front-foot option, then Lamela really has to be favourite to start, and it is a back four.
Hitting on the break
Probably not having to win the game, possibly not even having to score, it may well suit us to sit deep and hit them on the break. With a back four Sonny is favourite to start if we approach it like this, and we showed how dangerous we can be v Madrid and Dortmund. If we go with a back 3, the pace and directness of Rose will probably be needed.
POSITIVES
It is nice to have some positive dilemmas to ponder to be honest. None of the above options are unpalatable to me, and there are options that have not even been put on the table.
In years gone by, we have had a paper-thin squad and the dilemma has been how we manage the bare resources we have. Now we have bona-fide options across the pitch and we are looking at how we can leave players out.
A few dilemmas for Wednesday
posted on 5/3/18
Good article once again, was about to comment on it this morning until I got on the tube
I think I’d be tempted to go for:
Lloris
Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Rose
Dier, Dembele
Eriksen, Alli, Son
Kane
Gone for Rose there as he’s got more chance to deal with Costa’s pace (I’m assuming Juve go 4231).
As to how we play it, whilst I expect the crowd to be ok with it, they were fine against Dortmund at Wembley, I don’t think we can really set up to play defensively. Just don’t think it’s in our nature. Play on the front foot, the higher up we are, the further away Dybala is from our goal.
posted on 5/3/18
Any news on Dembele? Heard he was limping during the game on Saturday and was taken off as a precaution.
posted on 5/3/18
What about Son at LB
posted on 5/3/18
To be fair, I dont trust us defending so go on the front foot and get one goal.
Lloris
Tripper-Snachez-Jan-Davies
Dier-Dembele
Eriksen-Alli-Son
Kane
posted on 6/3/18
Poch is a positive coach. He tries to counter the oppositions strengths by imposing our strengths on them. Juve in their own league are defensively very sound,keep possession and have quality forwards. They don't have massive pace or lots of highly skillful individuals.
To me this makes them not a great counter attacking side. If we allow them to dominate they will build pressure and create chances.
When we got into the game last time we totally dominated them. They couldn't get out and kept just humping it clear to the irritation of the home fans.
They will be more aware of our ability to dominate from the CM. they will try and counter this so it will not be so easy. They will see Dembele as the linchpin so will either step off him closing off the spaces which Eriksen and Alli found, defending deep, or try to do a job on him and give him no time.
If they do step off him and sit deep it's not the best way of getting the goal they need. Will they put faith in their apparent defensive strength knowing we scored 2 or will they go toe to toe. I think they will be defensively tight initially. Keeping in the game. And will may be come at us in the latter stages.
I think Poch goes with the same line up and formation as before. Save Son for the latter stages. Have Lamelas ball retention and hard work. We cannot gift them 2 goals. We will create chances. We need to be clinical. It could at been 4-4 last time. We can't let that be a possibility.
The beauty for us is that if Juve come at us we have the quality to pick them apart on the counter.
If they sit back we have shown we can dominate and break the defence that only let in 1 goal in weeks and weeks
Juves tactial dilemma is much greater. They will not want to be too open and will not necessarily feel they can rely on their defence to close us out for 90 mins. Whatever approach they take we have the options to adapt to it.
posted on 6/3/18
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posted on 6/3/18
Italian football daily suggests we have an average defence subject to many errors in a game. Not sure if their journos have watched a game?
posted on 6/3/18
I disagree about massive pace or skillful forwards, Devon.
Costa and Dybala are arguably more skillful than any player we have. Similarly Costa has pace in abundance and their fullbacks are both quick.
Also despite them both being injured, Bernardaschi and Cuadrado are both really quick and skillful.
posted on 6/3/18
this is going to be a very difficult game.
for all our dominance in the first game (where we played very well), we still couldn't beat them... and actually they missed a pen to let us off the hook.
if we are not at the races then we will be knocked out.
posted on 6/3/18
It will be a difficult game I think. Not a dig at Pool but I would have preferred to face WC Portocabin than Juve any day.