DIP IN FORM OR A GRAND PLAN?
Questionable formation changes by Madeiros for the matches against Sannyamathland, Belnegau and Saterun leave critics wondering
Knowing Madeiros' aversion to risk-taking in competitions where it matters, Madeiros has presented more liberal formations for the past few games. While for the game against Sannyamathland this could be argued as a sort of charitable game time for less-experienced players, the decision to use inexperienced lineups against teams such as Belnegau and Saterun, with both of which the team has had not only a shaky record but really memorable hiccups that endangered the campaign. The former of the two also managed to get a victory against la squadra for yet another time, albeit on pens. This risk-taking did not stop until the game with Adab at which point it has already been too deep into the competition for any valuable change.
This article will serve as a semi-detailed analysis of what tactics were used and brief overviews of each game until today at such a pivotal spot in the competition.
VS Sannyamathland: On one hand, you saw a Juvencus team entering the game with a next stage qualification secured in the bag. On the other hand you saw a team that was holding the fate of two participants in its own group. And what did Madeiros do? He fielded the entire reserve lineup known as Equipo Arragoeta. While several of the players in said lineup had experience in the qualifiers against lower-ranked side, they had zero prior experience in any regional game and during the first few minutes of the game it clearly showed on the pitch. It did not help that Madeiros instead fielded said lineup in a 3-2-5 formation for no reason leaving a lot of gaps in the midfield that are usually covered in the typical 3-4-3. It is something that the communists took advantadge of and they eventually broke the ice. Gli attaccanti manged to turn this around pretty quick by the end of the first half with a Maria Zambrotta brace. The icing on top came at the end of the game with a Demetra Armando screamer, hitting top bins.
VS Belnegau: What was the team thinking? No backline from Madeiros? That was embarrassing, a team consisting of knights just went through, scored their goals and worst of all, la squadra only managed to equalise them each time? It was a shameful display, even more shameful to lose in the penalties, as that is starting to be a really weak spot for the team. Considering vengefulness is in the back of the minds of the Juven, this is just not the display anyone was expecting. Massive disappointment, but is a plan in the works? A lot of booing and jeering followed by the fans, but it almost seems like as if the team knew what it was doing all along.
VS Saterun: Lesson was learnt pretty fast, however the seriousness showed by Madeiros still seemed to be subpar. The faith he has in the team is probably too much for the Juven fanbase to comprehend perhaps. Gli attaccanti switched to gli difensiva, locking on the backline in a 5-4-1 formation. It seemed to work wonders for the most part as the Saterun side just could not break the defence. Oddly enough the attack was clinical as it managed to convert its 2 chances the entire game with a Campana brace to seal the fate of the Lazarus side. No celebrations followed, oddly enough.
VS Adab: While games versus Adab had historically been on the side of the Adabian team, recent results show a rise in Juven victories against a team that can be considered one of the great rivals for la squadra. This game was taken seriously this time, fielding the stronger line up in a 3-4-3 formation as usual. No nonsense gameplay and cannonballing the ball to the net of the Adabian side was the goal. Both teams entered the pitch with a lot of confidence and back and forth chances followed in an epic display of aggression. Thankfully the Juven team was the one that would manage to score first to start the dance, with a Ganymede Garcia masterpiece hitting the top right side of the net. An equalise and even a twist of fate followed by the Adabian offense, with a brace by Nadje Barzani but Garcia would go on to provide an assist to Martell and Campana each to make it 2-3 and as such, allow the Juven team to push to the round 1 game of the lower bracket side.
VS Abanhfleft: A strong competitor was met in Bikarish against the Fleftics and the match had a terrifying start as gli attaccanti found themselves to be 2-0 down by half-time. Whatever pep talk Madeiros gave the team, it surely worked wonders as the team went to work. Martell scored one and assisted another to Campana with the latter completing a hat-trick after being given two assists by Pereyra and the switcheroo was done with the game being 2-4. One of said efforts involving Pereyra and Campana received a standing ovation by everyone in the stadium, including Fleftic fans. Pereyra would nutmeg past Gary Sagun and also dribble through Chris Bellingham, leaving a big gap in the box, with a swift rabona he crossed it onto Campana who took the volley and nailed the ball on the top left side of Cardew, leaving him unable to react. The Revolutionaries did reduce the gap back to one goal but at that point it was too late.
With that said, gli attaccanti is meeting up against the hosts, Poafmersia and the lower bracket quarter-finals in a matchday that can only be described as CRUCIAL and nothing less. There are bragging rights at stake as well as the whole team's fate in the competition. With celebration still going strong in the Juven side, no interviews were given to the Juven team as Madeiros rejected them all stating "It is time to focus."
