[antohan]

Originally Posted by Ralaks

I disagree, sure there are some allright ones left, but the difference in quality between the better left backs and the not so good is bigger than in every other position in this draft imo.

Not that a left back is the position people will look at when deciding a team anyway to be honest.

You answered yourself there

The only obvious vote winner is Carlos, the rest are just left backs, and there are enough of them to field a team without that position being a problem.

The only position that really looks completely shot for players is right wing. Quite bizarre as usually there's talk of scarcity on left wing, but quite a few tp players still left there.

[antohan]

Originally Posted by Team Brian GB

Ohh Jimmy Jimmy!!! Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink...

I wondered whether you would actually go for partnering them... Doesn't quite look right to me, although we will never know.

Did Brwned force your hand there publishing "I'm after two more forwards"? While surprised he hadn't gone, I can't see many who still had an opening for him.

[Brwned]

Originally Posted by antohan

I wondered whether you would actually go for partnering them... Doesn't quite look right to me, although we will never know.

Did Brwned force your hand there publishing "I'm after two more forwards"? While surprised he hadn't gone, I can't see many who still had an opening for him.

Drogba always seemed the type to play best up on his own but he did surprise me with how well he partnered Anelka a couple of seasons ago and I'd imagine Hasselbaink could strike up a similar partnership with him.

[Crustanoid]

There are still a couple of top drawer forwards that I am amazed have not gone yet. I might just add them to my array anyway

[antohan]

Originally Posted by Brwned

Drogba always seemed the type to play best up on his own but he did surprise me with how well he partnered Anelka a couple of seasons ago and I'd imagine Hasselbaink could strike up a similar partnership with him.

Indeed, Anelka adapted well to playing second fiddle to Drogba, letting him do his usual stuff and not getting in the way, which ironically made him very difficult for defenders to deal with.

If Hasselbaink did the same and they clicked they would be quite formidable in their prime.

[Team Brian GB]

Originally Posted by antohan

Indeed, Anelka adapted well to playing second fiddle to Drogba, letting him do his usual stuff and not getting in the way, which ironically made him very difficult for defenders to deal with.

If Hasselbaink did the same and they clicked they would be quite formidable in their prime.

Anelka and Drogba never played together per se, Anelka played as a wide striker on the right with Malouda on the other side as a left winger - Anelka's best time at Chelsea is when Drogba went awol under Scolari and Anelka played through the middle alone in late 2008.

Hasselbaink was a very adaptive striker and worked well at Chelsea with a variety of different strike partners, attacking midfielders, wingers and left/right sided midfielders and always found a way to be productive. I said a few weeks ago that I see Daniel Sturridge being a striker in his mould, a striker with great versatility who can go wide, be a goal hanger and be very effective from range outside of the area.

From the beginning I wanted Hasselbaink with Drogba and I expected when I went for Helguera and Samuel in the last run through that Hasselbaink would go before I would get another chance to get him. Otherwise I was concerned my side would be a one trick pony if I only had Drogba to rely on.

[Top]

Who will be in charge of setting up the vote threads? Let me know and I'll give you the poll creator permission, I gave Polaroid.

[Brwned]

Drogba didn't play alongside Anelka when Ancelotti tried that diamond in the opening months which worked to good effect? Start of 09/10 it was often Ballack-Essien-Deco-Lampard and Anelka-Drogba, from what I can see...and Drogba scored in 10 of his first 13 games. It was the period before and after that when Anelka played out wide, I thought.

[Team Brian GB]

Originally Posted by Brwned

Drogba didn't play alongside Anelka when Ancelotti tried that diamond in the opening months which worked to good effect? Start of 09/10 it was often Ballack-Essien-Deco-Lampard and Anelka-Drogba, from what I can see...and Drogba scored in 10 of his first 13 games. It was the period before and after that when Anelka played out wide, I thought.

That is my point, when Anelka was at his best for Chelsea was under Scolari when Drogba went AWOL and played through the middle alone, and was scoring like Van Persie is now for half a season. They never played well together but that is more to do with the midfield behind them being too narrow when two strikers were playing - the exact same thing happened with Mourinho as did Ancelotti when he tried a diamond. We became infamous for 1-0 wins but when Robben came to fitness and we went 4-5-1 the goals came rolling in, as they did in early 2010 when we went 4-3-3.

[Brwned]

Originally Posted by Team Brian GB

That is my point, when Anelka was at his best for Chelsea was under Scolari when Drogba went AWOL and played through the middle alone, and was scoring like Van Persie is now for half a season. They never played well together but that is more to do with the midfield behind them being too narrow when two strikers were playing - the exact same thing happened with Mourinho as did Ancelotti when he tried a diamond. We became infamous for 1-0 wins but when Robben came to fitness and we went 4-5-1 the goals came rolling in, as they did in early 2010 when we went 4-3-3.

Ah, I had this idea that they really clicked and I was taken aback because (much like Torres) he seemed like he needed the attack to be based around him being the sole forward...must've just been misled by the highlights! I do remember Anelka stepping it up once he moved inside but I thought he did well all season. In that case I'm a lot more dubious about this JFH-Drogba partnership.

Originally Posted by Top

Who will be in charge of setting up the vote threads? Let me know and I'll give you the poll creator permission, I gave Polaroid.

I'm happy to volunteer. That said Antohan since you're the one who started it makes sense for you to continue these...what d'you reckon?

[Team Brian GB]

Originally Posted by Brwned

Ah, I had this idea that they really clicked and I was taken aback because (much like Torres) he seemed like he needed the attack to be based around him being the sole forward...must've just been misled by the highlights! I do remember Anelka stepping it up once he moved inside but I thought he did well all season. In that case I'm a lot more dubious about this JFH-Drogba partnership.

As I say, the problem at Chelsea was not in playing two strikers but in having a midfield that couldn't accommodate them - and I am not going for a Chelsea midfield.

[Brwned]

That might well be true but the simple fact that Drogba never was a success in a two man strikeforce - for whatever reason - gives reason for people to doubt whether he could...I don't think it'll factor into it much though in all honesty.

[Team Brian GB]

Originally Posted by Brwned

That might well be true but the simple fact that Drogba never was a success in a two man strikeforce - for whatever reason - gives reason for people to doubt whether he could...I don't think it'll factor into it much though in all honesty.

That is interesting, I don't know what his record at Marseille was like to that effect, especially so when Hasselbaink was very adaptable.

[Jayvin]

Dammit Snow went offline, did anyone PM him?

[Team Brian GB]

He responded to my choosing Hasselbaink immediately and he directly follows me so he got the message.

[antohan]

Originally Posted by Brwned

Ah, I had this idea that they really clicked and I was taken aback because (much like Torres) he seemed like he needed the attack to be based around him being the sole forward...must've just been misled by the highlights!

Same here. I had interpreted Anelka's "wide striker" role as "strike partner that avoids getting on Drogba's way".

In that case I'm a lot more dubious about this JFH-Drogba partnership.

Same here, we'll see if the "but the midfield is different" argument works out well in practice.

I'm happy to volunteer. That said Antohan since you're the one who started it makes sense for you to continue these...what d'you reckon?

Cal? actually started it, I've been trying to help move things along, but have a terrible February ahead workwise. It will probably be best if either of you do it.

[Snow]

I've thought long and hard about this. Not many big quality defenders left but this one has to be one of them. In his prime he was the best player at Manchester United over the course of a season. 79 caps for Argentina and spells in France and Real Madrid.

Gabriel Heinze


I'm going to continue with my long haired band-in-hair theme and pick a midfielder that's going to fit nicely in my midfield with his passing vision, shooting abilities and tackling.

Torsten Frings

[TheReligion]

Frings is a good pick

Well done Sir

[TheReligion]

Originally Posted by Crustanoid

There are still a couple of top drawer forwards that I am amazed have not gone yet. I might just add them to my array anyway

There is one I have my eye on in particular

[TheReligion]

Come on Brian

The top half have been far better at keeping this flowing. Let's crack on!

[Snow]

1 Antohan: 1. ZIDANE 2. LUIS ENRIQUE 3. ZANETTI 4. SIMEONE 5. VIERI 6. FORLAN 7. MONTERO
2 DanNistelrooy: 1. RONALDO 2. LUCIO 3. CAFU 4. GILBERTO SILVA 5. PERNAMBUCANO 6. JUAN 7. JULIO CESAR
3 Rood: 1. RIVALDO 2. GUARDIOLA 3. R. CARLOS 4. GALLAS 5. OWEN 6. SCHNEIDER 7. DINO BAGGIO
4 TheReligion: 1. NESTA 2. PUYOL 3. RUI COSTA 4. VAN BOMMEL 5. TREZEGUET 6. PERUZZI 7. AMBROSINI
5 Cal? 1. KEANE 2. BECKHAM 3. PIRES 4. CRESPO 5. SOLSKJAER 6. G. NEVILLE 7. GROSSO
6 Gio 1. DAVIDS 2. MENDIETA 3. VERON 4. AIMAR 5. CLAUDIO LOPEZ 6. MAKAAY 7. GAMARRA
7 Cling Bak 1. HENRY 2. RIQUELME 3. OVERMARS 4. CARVALHO 5. VDS 6. ZE ROBERTO 7. EDMILSON
8 Jayvin 1. VIEIRA 2. AYALA 3. F. DE BOER 4. SCHOLL 5. JEREMIES 6. TOLDO 7. KLOSE
9 kps88 1. SCHOLES 2. GATTUSO 3. CAMPBELL 4. LJUNGBERG 5. ANDY COLE 6. YORKE 7. CORDOBA
10 Ralaks 1. NEDVED, 2. CANNAVARO 3. COCU 4. BARAJA 5. INZAGHI 6. MARCHENA 7. VAN BRONCKHORST
11 Cold Boy 1. STAM, 2. BALLACK 3. SHEVCHENKO 4. LITMANEN 5. HAMANN 6. ABIDAL 7. WILTORD
12 Zen 1. TOTTI, 2. THURAM 3. DECO 4. BUFFON 5. RAFAEL MARQUEZ 6. SENNA 7. SALGADO
13 Crustanoid 1. RAÚL, 2. DEL PIERO, 3. VAN NISTELROOY 4. ALBERTINI 5. CAMORANESI 6. EMERSON 7. SIMIC
14 Brwned 1. PIRLO, 2. R.FERDINAND, 3. ZAMBROTTA 4. SHEARER 5. HYYPIA 6. VALERON 7. SAGNOL
15 Team Brian 1. MAKELELE, 2. SEEDORF, 3. DROGBA 4. STANKOVIC 5. W.SAMUEL 6. HELGUERA 7. HASSELBAINK
16 Snow 1. GIGGS, 2. FIGO, 3. LAMPARD, 4. PETIT, 5. KUFFOUR, 6. KLUIVERT, 7. HEINZE, 8. FRINGS

[Brwned]

Originally Posted by TheReligion

Frings is a good pick

Well done Sir

Couldn't believe he'd gotten this far really, thought since everyone already had a DM he'd sneak through to the next round for me and all...shame. Great player at his peak, shame he never settled at Bayern.

[antohan]

Originally Posted by Team Brian GB

As I say, the problem at Chelsea was not in playing two strikers but in having a midfield that couldn't accommodate them - and I am not going for a Chelsea midfield.

You don't seem to have the personnel to play anything but a Chelsea midfield. Or am I seeing it completely wrong here? Where are these wingers that will feed them?

[antohan]

Originally Posted by Brwned

Couldn't believe he'd gotten this far really, thought since everyone already had a DM he'd sneak through to the next round for me and all...shame. Great player at his peak, shame he never settled at Bayern.

The one thing I regret from this draft is getting so anxious about midfield. The more I search for players for other positions the more midfielders I find. They seem to be growing on trees.

[Jayvin]

I thought Frings would go much earlier to be honest, i was going to nab him if i didn't get Jeremies. Great pick.

There's one other defensive midfielder of real quality i'm surprised hasn't gone yet as well.

[Cling Bak]

Originally Posted by antohan

The one thing I regret from this draft is getting so anxious about midfield. The more I search for players for other positions the more midfielders I find. They seem to be growing on trees.

Great ones? Not so sure. There are a few attacking midfielders left, I agree, but nothing spectacular I don't think.

You should be happy with Zidane and Simeone; regardless of what else you could have picked.

[antohan]

Originally Posted by Cling Bak

Great ones? Not so sure. There are a few attacking midfielders left, I agree, but nothing spectacular I don't think.

You should be happy with Zidane and Simeone; regardless of what else you could have picked.

I am, I just wonder if I could have got Simeone a round later, in which case I wouldn't have missed out on Abidal and/or Kuffour. Oh well, so long as their latest replacements don't get nabbed... (which looks very friggin' likely at this rate ).

I even had this crazy idea to get Zé Roberto as a left wingback. Probably a good thing that you got him as that was a bit gung ho

[Crustanoid]

Originally Posted by TheReligion

Come on Brian

This

[antohan]

Originally Posted by Cling Bak

Great ones? Not so sure. There are a few attacking midfielders left, I agree, but nothing spectacular I don't think.

You should be happy with Zidane and Simeone; regardless of what else you could have picked.

Why no mention to Luis Enrique? One of my favourite players ever.

[antohan]

Originally Posted by Crustanoid

This

Brian is trying to work out how to NOT have a Chelsea midfield and get width from Makelele, Stankovic and Seedorf.

[kps88]

I'm surprised Brain went with a strike partner for Drogba. Its tricky fitting in two strikers and no wingers.

[Crustanoid]

Originally Posted by antohan

Brian is trying to work out how to NOT have a Chelsea midfield and get width from Makelele, Stankovic and Seedorf.

I reckon you could get a Milan-style midfield of the mid 00s but you'd need a Pirlo type

[antohan]

Originally Posted by Crustanoid

I reckon you could get a Milan-style midfield of the mid 00s but you'd need a Pirlo type

They played one striker for the most part. Even when they played Shevchenko and Inzaghi... they are very different players to Drogba and Hasselbaink.

[Cal?]

will be offline for hours, PMed snow my next pick...

[Rood]

right so here is my team so far:
1. RIVALDO 2. GUARDIOLA 3. R. CARLOS 4. GALLAS 5. OWEN 6. SCHNEIDER 7. DINO BAGGIO

At the moment Im unsure what formation to go for and especailly where exactly to play Rivaldo - what do people reckon his best position was? I remember him playing as an out and out striker for Barca at times but then for Brazil they often played him deeper or even wide with 2 other forwards - decisions, decisions ...

[Brwned]

When we played Barca in '99 I'm pretty sure he played in a 3 man midfield home and away, Sonny up front with Figo on one side and someone else on the other...Zenden maybe?

I think you've got the makings of a decent midfield diamond there really, Guardiola and Rivaldo at either end with Baggio and Schneider either side and two up top with Carlos giving the width on Baggio's side.

[Cling Bak]

Originally Posted by antohan

Why no mention to Luis Enrique? One of my favourite players ever.

Because I was mentioning your CM's and you could play him in about 12 different positions! Shrewd move.

[Cold_Boy]

Come on!!! or my pick will be again between midnight and morning.

[TheReligion]

Why is it taking so long... yawnn

[Gio]

Originally Posted by Rood

right so here is my team so far:
1. RIVALDO 2. GUARDIOLA 3. R. CARLOS 4. GALLAS 5. OWEN 6. SCHNEIDER 7. DINO BAGGIO

At the moment Im unsure what formation to go for and especailly where exactly to play Rivaldo - what do people reckon his best position was? I remember him playing as an out and out striker for Barca at times but then for Brazil they often played him deeper or even wide with 2 other forwards - decisions, decisions ...

At Depor and under Van Gaal at Barca he often played wide left, occasionally playing centrally either through Van Gaal's instruction or his own volition. Always played centrally under Rexach and Ferrer. For Brazil, similar story often deployed at inside-left, moving central into the hole from around 1999 onwards.