Retro Fantasy Quarterfinal 1 Team Brwned vs Team Cal?

Polaroid

Have to seriously question how much you saw of Angloma. As a reflection of how good he was, it suffices to say he was chosen by leading sports journalists across Europe in their Team of the Year 3 times, in an era of Cafu, Thuram and Javier Zanetti.

Johnsen was never in the top bracket of centrebacks (neither was Blind) hence my pick of Baresi to add to my team.

How are they out of position when they have played the floating attacking midfield role on so many occassions for club and country?

Team Brian GB

Would you consider going 5-3-2 taking in Costacurta - might be something to think about though I would be seriously thinking about Redondo.

I think you should have got Seaman and Bergkamp as your last two.

Brwned

I did think about Costacurta but then I'm playing a 3 man defence with just one wing-back, I couldn't play Myung-Bo there.

Like this then, antohan? With no width at all? I thought that's why Savicevic was useful.

TheReligion

Disagree about the Blind - Johnsen comparison.

Blind was far superior in every department. Angloma was nothing more than decent from what I can remember, certainly not in the same bracket as Zanetti, Thuram, Lizarazu and Cafu.

KM

Good god, that midfield three is sensational.

Cling Bak

I am surprised by this result.

Polaroid

So by your judgement, Blind was in the top bracket of centre-backs, far superior in every department to Ronny Johnsen, and Angloma was nothing more than decent. Wow...I would like to throw the question out there - who else shares the same verdict on the ability of these players as TheReligion?

Cling Bak

I would say all three - Blind, Johnsen and Angloma - were good players. If I had to place them in order, I'd go: 1. Angloma, 2. Blind, 3. Johnsen.

Ronny would be more distant in third, if I'm being honest. Still a very tidy player, but he didn't have the career or talent of the other two. Angloma was around during a fantastic French national team and enjoyed good spells at several clubs; Blind was part of a great Ajax side.

Pat_Mustard

Personally I'd keep Savicevic in there for that reason. I think Antohan's right about Vialli being essential for team shape, which leaves you with the difficult decision of who to drop between Cantona and Bergkamp.

antohan

The point being that you nullify his key strength. At the quarters, his midfield looked far and away the best around, now there's a case for yours being the tits.

I'm not sure if you can but I pictured Bergkamp being level with Eric with both closer to the corner of the box (as you had before changing the pic) and Vialli centre. Bergkamp can definitely go wide as and when if a game requires it, and don't forget you've got Benarrivo.

What I can't see is how you will have width on the right with that chap Bo and Eric there. Maldini is the left fullback, mind, not much joy there (although with width not an issue he may well play three at the back and reinstate midfield dominance).

I look at both teamsheets and can't avoid the feeling that you are playing 10vs11. You have to start posting some Myung Bo Youtube clips

Mmmm, maybe it is Vialli you have to drop after all and have Eric as some sort of false 9 with Bergkamp and Savicevic either side... After all, it is the quality balls from midfield and the movement of these three that will get you to carve up what is a very solid defence.

antohan

That is an impossible decision... because, quite frankly, it would have to be Eric. That's why I backtracked on Vialli and suggested Eric as a false 9. The teamsheet would look odd but it is not as bad an idea as it sounds.

But... you can't drop Eric Cantona on Redcafe.net and expect anything good to come from it

Brwned

Dropping Cantona's a huge gamble but there you go, it's done. Bergkamp was better. I've changed it so many times already so chances are it'll change during the game following outrage! Here it is:



And Myung-Bo was one of the very, very few defenders to be nominated for one of the top three players in a WC, he's not that bad. Captain of that '02 South Korea side while playing as the sweeper, supremely composed but with a real hardness to his game. You'll remember him if you saw him! Not exactly many videos knocking about though...there is this, with the comment just under it saying:

Gio

If we take Euro 96 as Kopke's and Seaman's peaks, there's nothing to split them. They're both great second-tier keepers from this era (first tier being Schmeichel and Kahn).

Pat_Mustard

I don't think its a bad idea at all, but there's been alot of complaints from others in this thread about a lack of balance in a Cantona-Bergkamp partnership. It looks like a definite vote loser to play them together from the comments so far.

TheReligion

I just don't think Angloma was as good as people are portraying.

Of course Blind is better than Johnsen. Would be madness to suggest otherwise!