70s Fantasy Draft - Snow v Ralaks

Originally Posted by Snow

I'm going for a very solid 4-2-3-1 formation that should be able to deal with any variation of 4-4-2.

If you have average full backs then you'll not want to play me. Threat from outside the box is as much as inside it. Lampard and Frings are both quite capable of shooting with great power. Even Petit has that ability.

My defense is composed of great veterans in both Champions and domestic league with their respected clubs as well as on the international stage.

Dida: Solid goalkeeper in his prime (which is all that matters) and voted the best goalkeeper in Europe when AC Milan won them CL in 2005. Highly successful in Brazil before he came to Europe and added to his trophy cabinet.

Phil Neville: Reliable player and was our very own John O'Shea before John O'Shea became John O'Shea. I use him at right back where I feel he's at his best. Did well at United and has become the captain of Everton.

Samuel Kuffour: Played many years in the heart of the Bayern Munchen defense along with Thomas Linke. They made up the best defensive pair in the Bundesliga and won the CL shortly after the famous final in '99. 2 times African player of the year (runner up) and the Ashford & Simpson song solid could well be a description for his defensive capabilities

Jens Nowotny: Leverkusen were a European powerhouse for two years with the likes of Nowotny and Ramelow in defense, Ballack and Ze Roberto in midfield. They're the reason for the teams almost success in every stage. Masters of runner-upery but that was not the defenses fault. Only player in my team who's not won a major trophy

Gabriel Heinze: He was purchased to United for being good at football. He certainly showed that and was voted our best player in the 04/05 season. A fan favorite before he became 2nd fiddle after a long term injury. But he moved on an went on to Real Madrid and then Marseille, picking up some trophies along the way. A veteran of every stage of football like his other defensive members.

Emmanuel Petit: He paired up with Vieira and won the WC and PL but before that he captained Monaco to a league title. His midfield prowess were rivaled only by his partner and our own midfield at the time and made for heated battles.

Torsten Frings: With Frings I've got a player with great vision and passing, hard tackling and a great shooter. He's like a mix between Pirlo and a regular German defensive midfielder. Sporting the hair, shooting and passing of Pirlo with the tackling, work rate and nationality of a German. Great fit next to Petit.

Luis Figo: I can't describe him properly without filling the page. Best player in the world in 2001 and one of the best almost his whole career. Not many have more trophies than him and he's achieved it with 3 different clubs. Simply a great great great player.

Frank Lampard: We love to hate him because he's just so damn good at scoring goals. Can't think of many midfielders that rival him in that aspect. An intelligent player who's a model of consistency. He plays in his favorite spot where I'll get the most out of him.

Ryan Giggs: It's Ryan fucking Giggs. Great now at age 38 but remember him in his prime? I certainly do

Patrick Kluivert: At birth him and Ruud decided to share their careers fairly. Patrick burst on to the scene with Ajax, who with their golden generation won it all. In his prime he played alone up front at Barcelona with Rivaldo behind him and that is the role he plays for me. In that role he managed to become the 4th ever top goal scorer for the Catalans (now 6th after Messi and Eto'o) and is still the top goal scorer for the Netherlands. He won the golden boot at Euro 2000 where the Dutch lost in penalties to Italy.

Substitute: Nicholas Anelka
A footballer who's been in an endless search to find himself. On his way he's won a number of league titles in different countries and a CL medal as well. Golden boot winner whilst at Chelsea he's a sub that can come on for any one of players really. Gives me the option of changing into a 4-4-2 with Frings, Petit or Ballack out. I could even play a three man defense and take out Neville if drastic measures are needed. Great bench option.

Footnote:
My team has 50 league medals, 9 CL medals, 1 EC winner and 2 WC winners, 1 Copa America and Libertadores winner and 96 different cup medals which include the Cup Winners Cup, FA Cup, various Super Cups etc.

Player honors they've got plenty of as well.

Originally Posted by Ralaks

Hans-Jörg Butt:
Twice champions league runner up, lived in the shadow of Kahn and Lehmann but still managed to have a decent career at club level.

Paulo Ferreira:
His peak is probably his 2003-2006 years in which he won the PL twice, CL once among other stuff, solid full back.

Fabio Cannavaro:
Very solid centre back, Ballon d'Or winner, one of the only centrebacks to win this ever. He more or less won every individual award available this year so I'd say it's safe to assume this is his peak.

Carlos Marchena:
Big part of Spains defensive unit during the 2008 EC where they only conceeded two goals, due to this he earned a spot in the team of the tournament, also featured a lot for Valencia during his 9 year stint where they managed to win the Spanish league twice.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst:
Originally a midfielder, however he was turned into a left back by Rijkaard at Barcelona where he won two league titles as well as a CL.


Ruben Baraja:
El Pipo. Complete midfielder, and I mean that in the sense that he was a great tackler with decent passing as well as a nose for goals. He was even Valencias topscorer during the 2001/2002 season. If I was to pick a period where he peaked it would be 2001-2004 where he picked up 1 Uefa Cup and 2 Spanish titles of note. During this period he scored a goal every fifth game, which is a decent record for a central midfielder.

Phillip Cocu:
Another midfielder who has the engine and ability to play in a midfield two. His abilities are more defensive oriented than Baraja imo, and he'll sit slightly deeper. Almost 300 games for FC Barcelona, he was the foreign player with most games for the club before Messi reached and passed him during this season.

Pavel Nedved:
Another Ballon d'Or winner. One of them players who could do anything with a ball with both feet. He was an beast between the years 2002-2004 (and well he was very good outsite that time span as well) but during those years he was one of the best players on the planet.

Hasan Salihamidzic:
6 German titles to his name as well as four cups and one Champions League. Quick winger with great crossing accuracy, very strong mentally as well which is important when coming across some of the great full backs in this tournament. Lastly he is also tall and somewhat strong in the air (especially compared to other wingers) and thus he'll be a danger to contend with for opposing defenses whenever a corner or a freekick appears.

Simão:
Very comfortable with the ball at his feet (like every other winger out of Portugal, minus Bebe). Can take a cracking freekick and has a brilliant strike on his right foot as well. Can play up front as well if the need arise.

Filippo Inzaghi:
Second most prolific striker ever in European competitions (4 goals less than Raul at 74), AC Milan's topscorer in international competitions, also holds two hattrick records (10 in Serie A and 3 in Europe (shared with Owen)). Two times Champions League winner with AC Milan, was named MotM in 2007 as well. He'll bang them in for me, no doubt.

Small notes:
People are probably bored of reading by now so I'll keep this short, Baraja and Cocu will obviously form my midfield partnership, Cocu will play the more defensive role and Baraja will have more license to attack. Nedved will be allowed to do what he pleases really.

Tried to keep this as short as possible since most people won't bother reading it if there is too much text.

Originally Posted by Cutch

An easy one for me this. Think Snow has more bite in the middle of the park, better wide players (not a fan of Simao or Salihamidzic) and a better striker at leading the line.

Originally Posted by kps88

Tough one. Giggs at his prime vs Ferreira sticks out. Ralaks has a stronger spine though. Will wait.