Skip to main content

Winning The Champion's League: Managing The Substitutes

 Champion's League restarts today. 

            There were several criticisms towards Setien for not using his substitutes well and we can only hope that the same does not carry forward. So, what should he do ?

1. Do not allow Suarez to play full games. 

            It is a well known fact that Suarez is not young and healthy, and still, he is one of the deadliest strikers in the world. This means we cannot afford to not play him, and we cannot afford to play him full match either, so the best solution would be for him and Griezmann to split minutes, sometimes Suarez starting and coming off, and sometimes vice versa.

2. Bring on fresh legs earlier

            When the team is struggling, and we are forced to change things a bit, sometimes the best thing is to bring in a fresh player to add flair and energy. But, Setien has been too late to react. 


            Both the problems relate to him being Passive. All in all, he needs to be proactive. Proactive in tactics, proactive in substitutions. If we scrape past Napoli with a weakened squad, we might have a real shot at the trophy. 

Predictions- Round of 16 

Man City V/S Real Madrid (2-1)

            They are going to play out a 1-1 draw with man city screwing all the chances they get, and yet Man City are going through. 

Juventus V/S Lyon (0-1)

            Juventus are going to win this one. Let's be honest, however bad they have become, they have shown up at big occasions usually and it is Portugal. 

Bayern V/S Chelsea (3-0)

            Bayern win an enjoyable show of leaky defense and tearing attacks, at 4-1 and the tie will stand at 7-1. 

FC Barcelona V/S Napoli (1-1)

            You would be foolish to bet against Barcelona at the Camp Nou, no one goes unbeaten from here. (used to) Now, a tough prediction but a 2-0 to Barcelona, 3-1 on aggregate. Off to Portugal. 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My Top Ten: Total Fiction- Three

No. 3. Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn Series by Mark Twain          The great American novels. The novels, set in and 'round Mississippi river, and the state of course, for all but one novel, are a jewel to read. They are humorous, rich and enjoyable. Truly one of the greatest American novels.          Plot- A painstakingly simple plot for each novel, woven around a million subplots, adding humor and there you have it. But, it is not that easy. To find the right subplot, to find the best position to add humor, even to decide on jokes, is hard. It's not that easy to satisfy neysayers and these novels have done just that.          Characters- I wasn't born in the U.S.A. and I do not know how the kids there are. But, if their lif can be this adventurous, count me in ! Mark Twain creates a bond so tight that I must believe whatever he writes. Tom steals a hot air balloon, of course he can do that.    ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Barca: A season to forget- Left Wing/ Midfielder

THE PLAYERS- I am not considering Coutinho and Griezmann Left Wingers. 1. Ansu Fati- An  astoundingly ridiculous revelation this season, Ansu Fati will surely be a major part any success we are * hoping * for. His speed and aggressiveness is always channeled and timed well. He can create something out of very little. This is the quality we were craving for, and we have got it in the form of Ansu.  2. Pedri- I know, he is not a first team member just yet, but that is not to say he won't recieve first time action. I think when Ansu needs rest, Pedri should get some starts against less physical sides like Villarreal. Conclusion- After two seasons after Neymar left, we finally have two very good wingers on both flanks. This is definitely good ! 
Post a Comment
Read more

My Top Ten: Total Fiction- Four

No. 4. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.  Yeah, it is not in my top three. I am disappointed too, but I can assure you, I like this book very much, it is just that I like three books more. It is Paulo Coelho's best work by far and understandably. According to him, it is based on Wisdom. It is more about dreams and how to chase them. Plot- A boy has had a dream, there is a treasure below the pyramids in Egypt and he sets off to find it. Oh, how simple that seems and yet I have barely seen a novel more difficult to get the true essence. His journey is filled with extra-ordinary coincidences and incidents, making the journey adventurous and also giving a scope for some wisdom to be shared. A book like no other, This is the first book I'd recommend to instill a reading habit.  Characters- Santiago....Melchizedek....the alchemist....the shopkeeper.... all of these characters have a separate soul. A person we could identify, not one we could relate with the author in any way. This is a...
Post a Comment
Read more