D1|Fixture 2| HP vs Nikos

[Highway Penguin]

0-4 = 0 goals
5-8 = 1 goal
9-12 = 2 goals
13-16 = 3 goals
17-20 = 4 goals

HP-
-----------------------Gomes-----------------------
-Friedrich------Carragher----Cris----------Maldini----
------------------------Xavi------------------------
----------------Sissoko--------Edu-----------------
--Jesus Navas-------------------------Robinho------
-----------------------Eto'o------------------------

Subs:
Kuijt, Serginho, De la Pena, Petrov, Toldo

Nikos-
--------------------------Nikopolidis----------------------

--Seitaridis------Cacapa------Alex-------Givet------Berthod--

--------------------------Makelele------------------------

-----Gerrard--------------------------------------Figo-----

--------------------Trezeguet------Raul--------------------

Subs: Coupet, Dellas, Joaquin, Juninho, Charisteas.

http://img479.imageshack.us/img479/4930/santiagobernabeu1fo.jpg

[Preki-USA]

nikos' line up is not nice here, he could do a lot better there is no one in the center of the pitch, i think if you go back to the formation you used last week you'll be set.

HP's team is solid with great players all around, im not a jesus navas fan but he'll get the job done, my only advice to you would be to switch sissoko and xavi as xavi brings more to the attack than sissoko and getting xavi close to the forwards will only make good things happen

[David P]

Nikos i really think you wasted good use of your squads potential bro, HP a very wise choice playing xavi behind sissoko, Xavi has way more experiance and will be in a more commanding position behind than infront.

[Keyser Soze]

Nikos, I'm afraid David and Preki are right, your formation has fucked it up for you, leaving Makelele isolated on his own is a bad idea, especially playing against HP as his midfield trio is usually top notch. I think you could of played a midfield 3 of:

----------------Makelele-------------
---------Gerrard---------Juninho------

This would of given HP's midfield a run for his money, to say the least.

Nikos' defence is decent with 5 at the back but I still think HP's pacey attacking line can unlock it. Trezegeut and Raul are big threats however, but I don't think they will see too much of the ball with HP's midfield dominating possession. HP's defence is solid enough aswell if any dangers were to arise from Nikos' strikeforce. Robinho and Navas are very tricky wingers and would give Seitardis and Berthod a very hard time, but Cacapa and Givet may be able to help them out. With HP controlling the game, I'm sure Eto'o would see enough of the ball to put away atleast one goal.

HP gets this, pretty comfortably. However, it could have been a totally different story had Nikos matched HP's midfield or atleast gave them a harder time.

[Scarface]

HP would take this, as his three-man midfield would dominate through the middle. Robinho and Jesus Navas pose a danger on the wings and can create chances for the deadly Cameroonian. Nikos has some dangerous attackers, however, HP's midfield could cut their supply. Due to the numbers and strength in Nikos' backline, HP would struggle to break through, but due to the midfield domination and the quality in attack HP has, they are bound to get 2 or 3 chances and one or two of them will be put away. 2-0.

[Nedy]

HP for me......because his midfield looks amazing with this formation......also, his defense is better than Nikos.......

[Highway Penguin]

Nikos, I think you would have been fine playing a 4-3-2-1 or a 4-3-3. The 5 at the back seems a bit to excessive for me, as I don't think it's that necessary to have 5 to defend my attack line. :)

The season is young and we'll meet again, hopefully you'll come out guns bazing as you've got great potential in your squad. :)

[nikos24]

Gamoto.

This is ridiculously one-sided. Ah well, next round again.

It seems I put out the wrong formation or something. Just looking to stop Dinho and Eto'o, I guess 5 won't work. Better look for some altervatives and make use of my players, you are right Vic. Thanks Mat for the comment, I can use that piece of advice effectively. Thanks for the other comments too.

All I can say is ... (Blank) :tongue:

[Hunter]

HP would take this one for me. Nikos's formation isn't in the correct place to stop and counter attack against HP, therefore having difficulty scoring a goal.

Nikos would have trouble cutting off the supply to Samuel Eto'o and with him being in form this season he will cause havoc. If my memory serves me right he has averaged a goal in very game for Barelcona.

HP 2 - 0 Nikos

[Hansel]

Well everyone has covered it so..... HP for me, even though Nikos has an AMAZING team that mid-field formation isn't to good... Maybe a diamond would be better?

[Ronaldo 9]

Voted for HP, because I think Nik used the totally wrong formation. with 5 defenders in the back how would you create any decent chances from midfield to forward? and I also think that Makelele is put in the wrong place.. many games are coming for you man you'll make it up.. and HP, this is a really great formation keep it up.

[Barry]

Its quite a daring formation, I think he can keep it closed at the back and counter his way out to grab a goal with Raul and Trezeguet, who when on form is deadly and only needs 1 or 2 chances for a goal. Same goes for Eto'o though.

Xavi could split defences with his amazing accurate and brilliant passes, but I think Nikos' defence could cope with the mdifield strength of HP. If one or two defenders occasionaly help out Makelele, he'll be fine.

Nikos 2-1 HP.

[Usul]

Putting Givet in central defense was a waste. It might have been wiser to stick with a four man defnce, Makelele and Gerrard in the middle and Figo und Joaquin on the wings. You underrestimated your side and overestimated his. You could have a very powerful midfield with Makelele, Juninho and Gerrard as Mat clearly depicted.

[Yossi]

I reckon HP would win, as Nikos has nothing in midfield and is just inviting pressure on to his defence by having Makelele and no-one else in the middle. HP also has enough attacking players to break down Nikos' defence.

[nikos24]

Might aswell just close this thread already, it's getting worse.

I guess I made a mistake, no worries, I will try coming up with something special in the next games.

This one has been given away.

[martin_cranie]

I hate to jump on the band-wagon here, but I agree with the general opinion concerning Nikos's formation. To put it simply the midfield is sparse, and the defence is over crowded. If you really wanted to cause problems for Eto'o and Robinho etc... then you should have bulked out your midfield, not defence. They say that prevention is better than cure, and having that midfield won't prevent much i'm affraid. In essence my point is that your first line of defence should always be midfield, not central defence as is the case here.

You would carry a threat with Trez and Raul, however the midfield would be too busy trying to compete against HP's trio and forwards to really link up with your forwards.

HP to win 3-0.

[Rangers_Fureva]

HP

He would overpower Nikos in midfeild, and as quite a few people have said, Nikos you screwed this one up mate. Sorry, it could have been a closer game if you squeezed Figo and Gerrard in a bit. Unlucky mate.

[Barry]

You learn from mistakes, I'd be the one to tell ya :tongue:

Dont worry,with that kind of players you are very strong, especially in midfield.

[Yossi]

I reckon Nikos' main mistake was not testing out such an unusual system in a friendly.