Devil FM Genk playing the Barca way

Play Dirty, Win Ugly

Hello friends. My story with Dusseldorf didn't start on the right foot. The team was losing all it's matches and was sinking into the relegation pit without much  of a struggle. The tactics which i introduced in the game were not suited for the team as they lack fast wingers and wingbacks. As a result, the team was becoming a real 'minnow', being brushed aside by everyone with utmost ease. The team remained rooted to the bottom of  the table without even a single victory.

Matches before change of Tactics:

Then I decided to change the starting tactics entirely. You cannot play beautiful football or tiki-taka or any tactic based on attack when you are performing the way i was. You have to get the points somehow to save your team and your job. I tried  a few defensive tactics and finally settled on the following one:

3-4-3 Contain

I had a plenty of center backs in the game so I went for a flat backline of 3 Center backs. The philosophy is set to Balanced, strategy is Contain, tackling is Aggressive and pressing is more. The passes are set to short with zonal marking to retain possession. I have gone with 3 forwards to peg back the opposition's defense. I also went for the following alternative attacking tactic.

4-3-3 Fluid

The second tactic is a modified 4-3-3 with fluid tactics.
The former tactic caused a turnaround in our fortunes but nothing extraordinary.
Matches after the new tactics:

The turnaround began during the Bayern match when the team put up a good show against the League leaders but were beaten narrowly nevertheless. In the next match against Augsburg, we managed to get  our first point in 10 matches.

Augsburg 2-2 Dusseldorf

The tactics worked as our team clawed back two goals in the second half and managed to win 78% of the tackles. The next match was Wolfsburg and we were beaten 3-1.

Dusseldorf 2-2 Hoffenheim

We managed to frustrate Hoffenheim as well; stealing a point against tougher opponents.

Mainz 1-0 Dusseldorf

Our first victory came in the Bundesliga when we won 1-0 away at Mainz. Again the tackling was better and decisive in this match. We were hammered 4-1 in the next match by reigning champions Dortmund.

Nurnberg 0-1 Dusseldorf

This was an away win. Nurnberg had a player sent off in the 25th minute and Langneke scored from the resulting penalty. The team held off for 3 points.

Dusseldorf 1-0 Freiburg

First Home win of the season. Another 1-0 win and 3 points.
I'll take any win coming our way to get us out of this tight spot. The wins will raise the morale of the players and when we get to a safe place, we can start to play more attacking soccer.

League Table:

This is the League Table at the end of December at the half way point of the season. Although  we have moved up to 17th, there is still plenty of work to do in the second half of the season.

Dusseldorf Team Ratings

Only four of the first team regulars have an Average Rating of above 7.0. It is understood that the team needs strengthening in many positions. I will look forward to cooperation from the Board to either increase the Wage budgets or allocate some of the funds for Transfers. Loan signings look more feasible and likely at this stage.
The urgent requirement is a Goal Keeper. The other positions that need attention but not a priority are the AML, DM and the wingbacks.

I have reached January in the story now and there are a few friendlies which will give us an opportunity to raise the players morale. I will update about the Winter Transfers in the next post.