MAN UNITED, LIVERPOOL, EVERTON & SPURS: Tactical Analysis. Every season, the battle for fourth place is just as exciting as for the title and against relegation. With four teams in contention this season, the struggle promises to be as exciting as ever… LIVERPOOL Strengths: With arguably the most potent attack in England, the Reds have regularly found ways to score goals. Sturridge, Suarez, Sterling and Coutinho have all been lethal for most of this term. This is also testament to the midfield, where Jordan Henderson has been a revelation alongside Steven Gerrard. It is by no means a foregone conclusion that the title will be contended by three sides. Weaknesses: Simon Mignolet has been excellent in the way that he makes world-class saves but these are often shrouded by glaring errors. The Belgian looks unconvincing defending set pieces and has a habit for a howler. Kolo Toure is in the same boat; the veteran centre-half is by no means a backup but he has lost his pace and with it his comfort on the ball. Key Player: Daniel Agger Whilst there have been little issues in the offence for Rodgers’ side, there has been a habit of conceding silly goals. Agger’s return could prove pivotal as the Dane both marshals and epitomises everything good about the Reds’ backline. TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR Strengths: Tim Sherwood has managed to club together the nomadic squad which he assumed control of to make Spurs a very hard team to beat. Depth in defence, a stunning goalkeeper and a midfield packed with sterling athletes has made Tottenham look more how spectators expected them to after their summer spending spree. Weaknesses: Creating chances has been a bit of a problem all season for Spurs. Christian Erikson leads the ratings with a mere four assists, and this lack of creativity could prove fatal in any game. Nacer Chadli and Erik Lamela were billed as more-than-adequate replacements for Gareth Bale but neither has done anything of note to justify their price tags. Key Player: Emmanuel Adebayor Goals. It’s all about goals, or a lack thereof, at White Hart Lane. Soldado proved to be limp but ‘Manu’ has decided to show once again the brilliant form which made him one of the most feared centre forwards in the country. EVERTON Strengths: Unlike their neighbours, Roberto Martinez’s outfit has a watertight defence. All of their back four have been nothing short of world class this season and this alone has the potential to win games. Any concerns over adjusting without David Moyes have been well and truly quelled. Weaknesses: He started the season explosively, but Romelu Lukaku has scored only one goal in his last ten matches. The form of Steven Naismith and the arrival of Lacina Traore could make this marginal, but Lukaku must regain fitness and form should he look to propel the Toffees to a Champions League berth. Key Player: Ross Barkley It may seem harsh to bestow this upon such a young man but on his day Barkley shows signs of brilliance more associated with much more mature players. With a thunderous strike and a tremendous work ethic, Barkley can not only propel Everton to Europe but secure himself a place on the plane to Brazil. MANCHESTER UNITED Strengths: Many critics have lambasted the Champions, but it is important to remember they retain almost exactly the same squad which won the title. Add Marouane Fellaini and Juan Mata to the fold and it is easy to see the Red Devils return to glory in the near future. Their continued excellence in Europe will provide further encouragement to Moyes and co. Weaknesses: Fellaini has failed to make an impact, the back four all look either inexperienced or past it and Moyes’ tactics have failed to impress. The Scot seemingly tries to cram all of his best players into the same starting XI, and with three of their best attackers being left-footed this may serve to be a tactical downfall. Key Player: Wayne Rooney Van Persie supplies plenty of goals and Mata creates multiple chances, but Moyes has the luxury of having a man who can perform both roles. He has a record of performing badly in the run-up to a major tournament, and if that record continues it could be curtains for United. Agree? Comment.
Posted on: Sat, 22 Feb 2014 16:24:06 +0000
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