why would you want to use hard tackling against the longball speedsters?

See how far his players are apart? They depend on kick and rush with long highballs, you don't want offside trap.
I like this, but up to you"

ST
AMC AMR
ML MC
DMC

DL DC DC DR *mixed passing, mixed focus, whole pitch pressing but only use normal or easy tackling, no offside, yes
counter. You want to frustrate him and break his formation then counter, don't use short passing.
This formation has a player in every line horizontally and vertically, you wont be afraid of pace whores.

Cheers.