Lone Star To Use 4-4-2 Tactics Against Zimbabwe Sunday!


The much anticipated contest involving the Lone Star of Liberia and the Warriors of Zimbabwe is just a day away and the major question on the lips of the Lone Star diehards or faithful is whether the team under new Hungarian coach Bertalan Bicskei can do wonders in first winning such crucial encounter at the SKD. But, tactically, the question that is often asked is how the Lone Star will play as it aims to bang the maximum three points.

Though not part of the technical crew and have in fact received no hint from any member of the crew, as a pundit, it is very much expedient to give an analytical view on the team’s style or options available for the benefit of the readers which will entice them more as they anxiously await Sunday’s clash.

Firstly, let it be generally accepted that the Lone Star will adopt its tried and trusted formation of 4-4-2 in a block form. Like Bisckei’s predecessor Antoine Hey, such formation was frequently used, and even before him, Frank Jericho Nagbe as well put all his trust in it.

Back Four
With either goalkeeper cum striker Sunday Seah or the most experienced gloves man on the local scene Saylee Swen expected between the sticks, there will be a flat back four where there will occasionally be the duo in the middle operated in a horizontal form and the two full backs operating in a vertical form.

For such department, there is quite a host of turning the dice needed. Sadly, the news that diagonal balls expert Gizzie Dorbor will not be coming from his base in Israel to operate the left full back position due to the lack of a work permit, the 66 year old coach Bicskei must now be sweating as to who he is to place at such position. There are however two genuine options. Firstly, the rising star Patrick Doeplah who though very deadly as an attacker, was actually introduced to the left full back position seasons or years back at Gardnersville FC in the Second Division. After that season, he moved to top flight side Roots FC where he operated in similar position.

The following season he cruised to Mighty Barrolle and operated in the same position for two seasons and even helped his club win the national championship as well as featured in the African Champions League against Ivorian club Sewe Sports where they were eliminated on a 3-2 goal aggregate. Due to his consistency in such position, fans of the Rollers gave him the name Patrice Evra (Manchester United adventurous left back) as he made such position his own. His speed, technique and precision timing down the flans from the defensive third to the final third were a handful to opponents. But, if Bicskei does not want to place the player in such position since it might have been more than two seasons or so since he last played there in a competitive fashion, then the diminutive Greek based defender full back Solomon Grimes could be a formidable option as he can operate there.

It can be recollected, the lad showed great quality at such position in the goalless draw with Equatorial Guinea at the ATS on match day five in the qualifiers of the 2010 African Nations Cup qualifier. Prior to that match, he also served as an emergency left back against Cameroun for more than 65 minutes after the then Greek based harder worker George Gebro was red carded. Solo as the youngster is widely known, had to obey Coach Jericho’s orders as he moved from the right back position to the left back position, and then a substitution was made for then Watanga FC defender George Baysah to operate at the position previously occupied by Solo. Grimes performance was so virtuoso that then Cameroonian Captain Rigobert Song Bahanag and teammate Salomon Olembe rushe to the teenager at the time asking “ which part of Europe do you play in Europe?”. His answer was “I am not playing in Europe, but Liberia”, but the duo said the player was not telling the truth. Solo insisted that he was playing for Mighty Barrolle, the champion club in Liberia. “Song said it’s unbelievable, but you belong in Europe”.

Solo’s runs were superb, crosses cleverly measured and over lapping runs scampering. But, if Grimes moves to such role, then the right full back position which he is more accustomed to will be vacant.

Such role however, could be operated by the Kenyan based young defender Alex Karmo, alias Liberian Puyol. One advantage the player has is that he is fleet footed as both legs are in working order and in a perfect manner. He has the power, pace, enthusiasm and above all the hunger to win balls and the gumption to attack efficiently.

Though very useful as a center back where he brings a new dimension to the team due to his aerial power, ferocious tackles, bite and uncompromising man marking ability, Karmo nonetheless can flow without much problem in the wide area of the defense due to his versatility. With the wide areas seemingly settled, the two center backs can obviously be the Israeli based George Baysah and the experienced Turkish based Jimmy Dixon.

Since his days as a local at the disbanded Mark Professionals, Jimmy Dixon had always been a “white collar “type of defender. In other words, he is like England and Manchester United rearguard Rio Ferdinand who rarely gets involve or is associated with rugged styled of tackling.

The always calm and intelligent defender will as usual be at the back to pick up the crumbs and then release on to a teammate quickly through his great distribution. So, his defensive partner George Baysah must not be as calm or soft like him, but must be the one to add steel, ruggedness and much aggression in the central defense. It will of course be ‘risky’ were both players to have similar style. Pace as well could be another factor, and playing in front Jimmy, Baysah who is younger must always be on the alert to provide coverage for one of the overlapping full backs and deal with any would be pacey opponent taking the more direct route towards goal.

Midfield Quartet
With Theo Weeks moving gingerly during the last few days of practice, the unattached David Gbemie could occupy the holding role position. The Former Bolton Wanderers trainee is endowed with power as his telling balls are a delight in switching play. One apparent weakness or problem with the ex- Bolton man however, is that he is a bit over enthusiastic and tends to want the ball always at almost every time which makes him to abandon his position at times. One other apparent weakness or fear is whether he can endure till the end. But, take nothing away from him he is a harder worker and seems to have the hunger to establish himself on the national team.

Theo in fact is quite a different player from Gbemie. The former Watanga midfielder is a player who always sits in the hole in front the back four and operates as the anchor in the middle third. He might not be moving in every position, or every area though, but his neat link up play is always an eye catcher. But, how often he links his side in terms of bringing to the fore the element of surprise by quickly supplying the “over the top” balls is one major question or apparent weakness. One may however argue that a holding midfielder is more of a ball winner and then quick passer in few meters or yards, one cannot in any way rule out the quick long balls aspect. However, when fit, Theo is a midfielder to watch out for. This does not however suggest that the last qualifier revelation is unfit; diehards of the balanced midfielder can concord that his movement during training has been troubling.

One other option in such role is the Indonesian based multi dimensional player Stephen Mennoh. In fact, he is one player who can safely operate as a holding and offensive midfielder with immense potency and admiration.

He has the power, pace and work ethic in bringing stability to the midfield and as well initiating his side build up. He is a man that can well operate in the engine room. Mennoh is as well good at linking play, is blessed with long rage shots and can strike from 30 or more yards towards goal and is an asset. Mennoh is the Michael Essien type of footballer as his industry says it all. Not the most gifted of passers from close range where the defense will split wide open to set a teammate out for goal; he is still an ideal performer.

For the wide areas, players operating there will be required to provide width. The likely candidates for the two wide areas or the left and right channels are Captain Anthony Snothi Laffor and Sekou Jabateh Oliseh. With incisive speed, precision, work ethic and technique of the South African and Russian based, both sides are expected to be lively. They will be needed to give cleverly measured crosses and as a variation, they could cut in deep and take another route in bringing a teammate into play who could be posted at the edge of the deep or box. But, how frequent will they be in joining the rest of the team on the back foot is what remains to be seen.

Their recovery runs should be of major concern, and if they are succeeding in becoming a handful for their direct opponents, they might be carried away in wanting to remain on top and rely on the wing backs to do for them the donkey work and at the same time supply or feed them. Also, if they are the team’s two most deadly men from wide areas and a lot of energy been used to take on opponents, the decision to compel or obligate them to always join the team in defense when they are without the ball will be highly innocuous as they will instead be using a lot of energy in defensive function order that offensive function.

However, one major worry is that Laffor is an enigma as far as his performance for country is concerned. Whether he has been unlucky or whatsoever, the former Asanti Gold Fields understudy have not replicated his Super sports united form to his native land national team. Whether he can break the jinx is what connoisseurs are craving for.
But, if Doeplah is not played at the left full back position, he will definitely be a candidate for one of the wider areas especially in the second period. His cultured left foot, unaware shots, weaving runs and work rate puts the Israeli based winger cum striker amongst the elites of the Lone Star. He could be used down the left channel and his towering compatriot and Captain Anthony Laffor be used down the right channel.
For the attacking midfield position, there are many options at the Hungarian disposal which makes him to be faced with a selection dilemma.

The silky Isaac Pupo from Greek club Pananios here too and as earlier mentioned Stephen Mennoh form Indonesian club Persipasi, the options are many with regards to who will operate as the trequartista.

Isaac Pupo is gifted with a very sweet left foot and his best role in the modern game is to play just behind the front two where his defense piercing passes and Midas touch creates a nightmare for opponents and illuminates his side attacking foray. He is so silky, stylish, technically gifted that even the opponent at times enjoys his handiwork.

But, he is at times accused of been a bit stereotype in his game as his left footed passes are frequently read. Moreover, his recovery runs are questionable and his joining the team in defensive duties is a serious hurdle. To make him operate in a classic fashion, there must be someone playing alongside him who would do the destroying in midfield and allow the player (Pupo) to dance the ballad with his flair.

Front Two
Goals they say are the life blood of the game. They are the statistics that matter. While in the modern game goals can come from various areas on the field, the cardinal objective of the two in the final third will be to squarely put the ball at the back of the net.

With the bubbling Francis Doe and the mesmerizing Dioh Williams been axed for boycotting the team’s training camp, the options for the attack at Bicskei’s disposal include Sekou Jabateh Oliseh, Perry Saah Kollie and Patrick Doeplah. Though Jabateh is more useful as a wide man, his pace and incisive finishing makes him to have the characteristics of a deadly striker.

He can be a predator in the box, as his subtle moves, and neat finishing can make the Lone Star to have a reliable front man. The CSKA Moscow man could as well play off the first striker as he could be required to play off his strike partner, make some jinks, and be involved with the buying and selling of dummies. He can as well collect the ball from deep to run at opponents, set up some nice one twos with teammates and as well go for the ultimate which is the most important thing in any match, goal.

Perry Saah Kollie is another player in the fold for a place in such department. He is a cool head in front goal and could make a good pair with the vast speed Jabateh. Perry could play the first striker role where he will be needed to carry the team’s attack with his back turned to goal. He could as well go deep at seldom or in wide areas to either find space to move at the opponents with ball, strike on goal or serve as a dummy for a teammate.

He is strong and has the killer instincts. Not the best in terms of executing technique which has no substitute, but he can bull doze with his strength. Like Jabateh, Karmo, Dopelah and Gbemie, he is expected to make his debut and how well he will adapt is one major concern. After impressing in the recent justification tournament at the ATS where the former ASEC Mimosa player scored five goals in three outings, Perry seems to have his sight set on the international scene. Whether this will be his moment as far as performing in the qualifiers is concerned is what will be known in the days to come. One thing for sure is that he is a giant in the attack.

The name Doeplah comes up once more is an indication that he is such an outstanding player. The kid is no doubt multi functional. He can operate as a left full back, a left sided midfielder, a supporting striker and even behind the two strikers. One this is that his left foot is “God sent”. He as well has the mobility and for short is imminently dangerous in front goal.

Thus, there are quite a host of options available for the coach. There is plenty of talent available for the coach to choose from. With the technical crew involved with plenty of thinking in order to get the rightful blend of players and the attitude for Sunday, one major caution would be whosoever makes it in the pecking order must work harder. And one can only say the onus is on the entire team to deliver.