Lone Star Must Attack on all Cylinders


By Wleh Bedell
bedellblessing@yahoo.com
+2316106293

After their goal-shy 3-1 away loss to the Teranga Lions of Senegal on match day one of the 2014 group qualifier at the Stade Leopald Senghor in Dakar, the red, white and blue is expected to engage the Palancas Negras of Angola on match day two of the same competition this time at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium (ATS).

Under the tutelage of questionable tactics coach Kaytu Smith, the Lone Star has a weighty duel against the 2006 World Cup debutant and must attack on all cylinders. In a classical or tried and trusted 4-4-2 formation in the block form, the Lone Star should have a major boost to have back in its fold the scampering winger Sekou Jabateh Oliseh who missed the Dakar debacle due to injury. At least, the team has an idea of the style and the aggression of the Angolans as both sides met in an international friendly in 2011 in Monrovia in a nil biting finish.

As an antidote or a means of reviving their hope of being in contention for the qualifier, the Lone Star must avoid a loss and a win will be a massive result in their quest to make an impact in a group that also contains the Cranes of Uganda who surprisingly drew with the Angolans last weekend 1-1 at the Estadio 11 Novembre. After FC Porto's hard nimble footed winger Djalma Campos got the curtain raiser for the Angolans in the early stages of the contest, Tanzanian based forward Emma Okwi got the leveler in the dying amber to ensure both sides share the spoils.

The Lone Star must have penetration in its game, width, variation and the element of surprise if it must get the better of the quick and hardworking visitors that are under the guidance of caretaker coach Romeu Filemon. The nation's pride and joy must also show character, be more clinical and have the ability and gumption to fight to the end, the latter two which were amongst key reasons they were made a meat for the Lions Teranga last Saturday, June 2.

Kaetu's side must no doubt be lively and never forget he team element while they also count on individual brilliance. Against an Angolan side that will certainly implore a 4-3-3 formation which could be altered to a 4-5-1 especially when on the front foot, the Lone Star must get on the front foot as early as possible in attacking with at least seven players, notably the two full backs, offensive midfielder who should play in the hole behind the front two, the two wide players as well as the front runners.

The team must however not be carried away by the attacking play and ignore the defensive play as they need to have bodies behind the ball just as they will attack in droves. They can even defend with eight or nine men depending on the nature of menace of the opponents attack.

Probable Line up:
4-4-2
Goalkeeper (Usual Custodian)
Nathaniel Sherman

Back Four: (half moon shape-Two center back playing flat and two full backs slightly ahead)
Trokon Zeon, Jimmy Dixon, Patrick Gerhardt & George Gebro

Midfield Quartet: (Block Form) Two Central and two wide ahead
Theo Weeks Lewis, Alseny Keita, Sekou Jabateh Oliseh & Anthony Laffor

Front Runners: (The Second Striker slightly playing off the first striker)
Francis Doe & Dioh Williams

The full backs in local lad Trokon Zeon who is coming on as a replacement for the suspended Solomon Grimes must have an idea on the style of the Sunday's opponents as he was part of the Lone Star in the friendly against them. He and the other full back, the aging George Gebro must be lethal during the attack and accurate under pressure. Both players are expected to have tough battles against the deadly wide men Djalma Campos of FC Porto that will play on the left channel and German club FC Augsburg's Nando Rafel who will operate down the right channel.

The other two members of the back four in Jimmy Dixon and Patrick Gerdhardt are to be very effective in containing the agile, tall and aerially dangerous Manucho Goncalves of Spanish outfit Real Valladolid. Gerhardt is expected to be the sweeper with Jimmy expected to pick up the crumbs or pieces, but must not over rely on his defensive partner as he must get involved into action in showing 'controlled aggression' something he has being lacking in previous games. While they will be needed too to provide coverage for venturing full backs, they need to be the first in dealing with the first time balls.

Theo Weeks must serve as a shield in front the back four as a holding midfielder with Alseny Keita tasked to provide the final ball to the strikers and as well pull the strings in the middle of the park. There could be such problem though as both players are mainly holding midfielders who might not be endowed with the flair, short crisp cum defense splitting passes to release teammates. But, their work ethic will help a whole lot. They will however have interesting battles with the Cypriot based midfielder Dede of AEL Limassol and the Sweden based Dominique Kivuvu of Majilby AIF.

Marauding Captain Anthony Laffor and the ever lively Sekou Jabateh Oliseh are to explode down the channels as they will have the task to get pass the full backs of the Angolans that should include Greek club Atromitos Zuela and Mussumary of Recreativo Libolo.

The attacking duo Francis Doe and Dioh Williams are to be ominous with their skills and precision, but will have to firstly get the better of Dani Massunguna of Primeiro Agosto and Edson Silva of Recreativo Zuela.

Recreativo Libolo's shotstopper Landu should be in goal though he faces a stiff test from Jotabe of Petro Atletico.

It is expected to be a crunch pairing, and from a Lone Star perspective the Spanish based James Zortiah should be the super sub with Omega Roberts and Teah Dennis expected to help out in central defense in case of a problem in the center. Tonia Tisdell with his sweet left foot is should also get a chance later as the Lone Star aim to make amends.