Retro Fantasy Semi-Final 2 Team kps88 vs Team Gio

Polaroid · 11th January 2012, 09:29

This is a Fantasy Football Team competition. Managers are required to assemble their fantasy squads by selecting players BASED ON THE LEVEL THEY WERE AT IN THEIR PRIME. The limiting conditions are that the players must be born in the 1960s (from 1 Jan 1960 to 31 Dec 1969) and not named Diego Maradona. As this is meant to simulate a real match, team formation, balance, tactics and bench strength also plays a part. Hence please carefully consider the abovesaid factors and evaluate the merits of both teams before voting for the team which in your opinion is more likely to win the match.

Stadiums assigned for each match merely add colour to the game and do not have any material impact on the competition ie there is no influence (home advantage, crowd support, familiarity etc) on the players and the match at all.

Polls will last 1 day, except for the semi-finals and final which will last 2 days. Polls are open to all Redcafe members to vote. However, managers and assistant managers must not vote in their own matches or matches that provide their immediate next round opponent. Non-compliance could result in expulsion from the competition. To enforce this, the votes in polls will be made public.

The spotlight of the world's media and the eyes of over a billion TV viewers are on the second of 2 semifinals tonight at the Wembley in London. The fat lady has sung and the fireworks has begun. The atmosphere is electric and crackling in this famous stadium as the capacity crowd of 90,000 greet the two teams emerging from the tunnel with fluttering banners and flying confetti, their full-throated rip-roaring chants are like claps of thunder swaying the giant stands. Team kps88 vs Team Gio, two great teams on the cusp of making history and facing the biggest night in their career so far as they prepare to engage in an epic tussle that will undoubtedly add to the illustrious legacy of memorable contests witnessed in this historic stadium. This is footballing war, sweat and tears will be shed, blood maybe...but only one will survive, only one will savour the sweet reward of victory - progress to the grand final of the Retro Football Fantasy Championship. You, the all-powerful voter, shall judge and decide

All members of the Redcafe are eligible to vote (see above for voting restriction on managers and assistant managers). Voters are encouraged to comment on both teams and share with us the reasoning behind their choice. Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by kps88

Subs:
Di Canio
McMahon
Jugovic
Michel

Walter Zenga: Legendary Inter Milan GK. World’s best in the late 80s/early 90s. Won Serie A Footballer of the Year in 1987, despite Inter not winning the league that year. He was awarded “IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper” 3 years in a row from 1989.

Tomas Renones: Atletico Madrid’s Gary Neville. Won La Liga as well as 4 Copa del Reys. Was first choice for Spain in the 86 World Cup and Euro 88. That’s all I know folks.

Stuart Pearce: Psycho. Born leader and hard as nails. An uncompromising LB who could chip in with the odd goal. Le Tissier called him his scariest opponent ever and Keano regarded him as a “man amongst boys”. Was LB in the EPL Team of the Decade.

Gary Pallister: Pally. 9 glorious years at United. Legend.

Martin Keown: Horse whisperer. Very good defender at his peak with 300 odd caps for Arsenal. Was known for his excellent man marking skills (earning him the nickname “the rash”).

Ronald Koeman: A fantastic long range of passes will help him start attacks off. Thunderbolt of a shot and a set piece specialist.

Matthias Sammer: German great who played a huge part in their Euro 96 victory. Known for this composure, his team rarely lose the midfield battle.

Carlos Valderrama: At his peak - magic. The perfect number 10, he could dribble past players and play the killer pass at will. Great creativity and always looked a class apart when on the ball. 2 time South American Footballer of the year.

David Ginola: Magical with his right when cutting in from the left. French model and POTY award stealer. Another capable of coming on and winning a close game.

Romario: The ultimate goal scorer.

Batistuta: Batigol. Unstoppable. All time leading goalscorer for Argentina as well as Fiorentina. One of the greatest strikers of all time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gio

subs:
Zamorano
Bebeto
Mikhailichenko
Alemao

Tactics - The best international team of the era, West Germany, provide three of the back four. Elsewhere Couto and Baia shared long club and national careers together. Hierro, Prosinecki and Gullit will pull the strings from the middle of the park. Hagi will drift into the inside left channel to link up with Bernabeu colleague Hierro, allowing Brehme's attacking game to be fully exploited on the overlap. The best club team of the era and perhaps all time provide the bulk of the attack. Effervescent width of Donadoni is complemented by Gullit who renews his world-beating partnership with Van Basten. World-class goalsmiths in Zamorano and Bebeto wait on the bench to offer an alternative and additional threat.

Vitor Baia - The most expensive goalkeeper in the world following his transfer to Barcelona in 1996. Considered amongst the top three or four in Europe during the mid-1990s, latterly voted as goalkeeper of the year during Porto's treble success of 2004.

Thomas Berthold - An important player for West Germany both in 1986 and 1990, his pace and overall defensive game ensured a well protected right flank. Classy full-back spent four seasons in Serie A before joining Bayern Munich.

Jurgen Kohler - One of the greatest man-marking centre-halves of all time and a pivotal figure for the Germans.

Fernando Couto- A beast of a centre-half in his mid-1990s pomp. Would go on to amass 110 caps for the national team.

Andreas Brehme- In Europe's three major leagues, Brehme is one of only two full-backs to have won player of the year in the last four decades. Brehme achieved this in 1989 - when Serie A was at its fearsome best. Defensively robust, two-footed and a set-piece expert, has also scored three goals in World Cup semi-finals and finals.

Fernando Hierro – Very few deep-lying midfielders have combined defensive nous with such attacking verve as the Real Madrid and Spain captain. Imperious in the air, Hierro was equally comfortable on the ground, displaying savvy positioning at both ends of the park and commanding a delightful range of passing. Netted an outrageous 29 goals for club and country in 1991/92 alone.

Robert Prosinecki - Gifted playmaker, driving force and architect of Red Star's European Cup triumph in 1991.

Roberto Donadoni - One of the trickiest and most industrious wingers of the early 1990s, Donadoni was an important cog in the all-conquering Milan team.

Gheorge Hagi – Along with Andreas Brehme, probably possesses the best left peg in the competition. A majestic player in his pomp who orchestrated the talented Romanian team which captured the global imagination in 1994.

Ruud Gullit - An outstanding physical specimen, Gullit was famed for his cerebral playmaking talents and ability to operate anywhere along midfield or in attack. From 1987 to 1989, Gullit was widely regarded as second only to Maradona, winning a Ballon D'Or along the way.

Marco Van Basten - Three-time Ballon D'Or winner and the standout striker in the competition. Technically perfect with supreme mental attributes, he was unplayable in 1988.

Subs:

Ivan Zamorano - A classic number nine and unstoppable goalscorer with Real Madrid and Chile, he twice broke the 30-goal barrier for the Spanish side.

Bebeto - The fifth highest Brazilian goalscorer of all time with 39 international goals. South American footballer of the year in 1989, Bebeto formed a scintillating partnership with Romario as Brazil won the 1994 World Cup.

Alexei Mikhailichenko - Talented and versatile attacking midfielder who was part of the great Soviet team of the late 1980s where his exploits saw him reach 4th place in the Ballon D'Or in 1988.

Alemao - Anchored the Brazilian midfield through the 1980s. One of the few Brazilian central midfielders to enjoy a successful career in Europe, Alemao was a key man in Napoli's Serie A and UEFA Cup successes and earned EFE's South American Player of the Year award whilst at Atletico Madrid in 1988. More than capable of anchoring the midfield should Hierro be required in defence.

Brwned · 11th January 2012, 10:03

Would've been magical to see the Valderrama-Batistuta-Romario triumvirate on the pitch.

Cling Bak · 11th January 2012, 10:36

Tough one.

kp's defence looks impossible to break down. A defensive back five - all strong - plus Sammer and McMahon marshalling in front looks very tough to get past. The front three would, I'd imagine strike up a good chemistry and there are options from the bench going forward if needed. kp would be looking for more of a snatch I feel having kept the opposition at bay for so long.

Then we have Gio's back line, almost as impressive. Three Germans, two Portugese (including keeper) and all of them established stars. Those in front are also very impressive, possibly more so than his opponent; a great mixture of flair and function. Bebeto and Zamarano off the bench is mouth watering.

Both go for more natural centre-backs/sweepers in their midfield - Hierro and Sammer. Excellent passers of the ball, it could be a very good battle in there. Hierro is the one I question more in this position, though not much as he undoubtedly has the class.

Two very strong teams, here. I expect a tight game.

How would you both improve your squads with this win?

sajeev · 11th January 2012, 11:06

very tough to call. i would probably go with Gio, despite kps having a very very impressive front 3 and back3. He has too many players I don't like

antohan · 11th January 2012, 12:22

Not very keen on Baia+Couto and Hierro in midfield. The trio in attack for kps looks mouthwatering. But the team looks broken, I can't see the transition and it looks like the initiative is given away in the hope of sneaking one on the counter... with a long ball.

Hagi playing off Brehme will find van Basten. Game over.

Shame is the spoils from this battle won't be particularly useful. Zenga maybe?

Brwned · 11th January 2012, 12:43

For such a close game it's a pretty clear-cut result. Harsh on kp so far.

Gio · 11th January 2012, 12:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cling Bak

How would you both improve your squads with this win?

Hard to say. Romario and Van Basten up top would be mouth-watering, but perhaps Sammer in for Couto would make the defence near enough impenetrable (and four Germans as well).

kps88 · 11th January 2012, 14:05

Oh well that's that I guess.

For what its worth I think the game would be a very tight, cagey affair with my back 5 and two holding midfielders making it hard for Gio's lone front man and attacking midfielders to have much of an impact. I don't like the look of Gio's midfield two. Hierro's best at the back and Prosinecki not very useful defensively. Think Sammer and McMahon will control that area. I fancy the chances of my front 3 scoring past any defense.

antohan · 11th January 2012, 14:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by kps88

Oh well that's that I guess.

For what its worth I think the game would be a very tight, cagey affair with my back 5 and two holding midfielders making it hard for Gio's lone front man and attacking midfielders to have much of an impact. I don't like the look of Gio's midfield two. Hierro's best at the back and Prosinecki not very useful defensively. Think Sammer and McMahon will control that area. I fancy the chances of my front 3 scoring past any defense.

Precisely, but you seem to be sitting back too much considering he has only one -superb- striker. What I see here is your three up front are completely isolated.

Maybe you could throw in a tactical surprise at this point?

kps88 · 11th January 2012, 14:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by antohan

Precisely, but you seem to be sitting back too much considering he has only one -superb- striker. What I see here is your three up front are completely isolated.

Maybe you could throw in a tactical surprise at this point?

Yeah I guess I can see that now, it was hard fitting in two strikers. I don't see them as being isolated though. The way I see it, Koeman is a fantastic passer of the ball. He's the spare man in defense and can easily burst forward when needed to start off attacks. Valderamma is more than capable of coming deep to get the ball as well. I'll be controlling midfield and its pretty much a guarantee the front 3 will muster up some magic and get at least one goal. Once that happens Gio will be forced to bring on another striker and that's when my 5 man defense will come in handy and I'll be deadly on the break.

Sounded good in my head I guess.

antohan · 11th January 2012, 14:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by kps88

Yeah I guess I can see that now, it was hard fitting in two strikers. I don't see them as being isolated though. The way I see it, Koeman is a fantastic passer of the ball. He's the spare man in defense and can easily burst forward when needed to start off attacks. Valderamma is more than capable of coming deep to get the ball as well. I'll be controlling midfield and its pretty much a guarantee the front 3 will muster up some magic and get at least one goal. Once that happens Gio will be forced to bring on another striker and that's when my 5 man defense will come in handy and I'll be deadly on the break.

Sounded good in my head I guess.

The Koeman point is a valid one and I noticed it on your comments/rationale. Not sure everyone would look past the teamsheet though and there it seems you are giving him a sweeper role almost in goal when, in practice, you want him to spend most of his time further forward. I would have said "Koeman can drop back" rather than bomb forward.

Mind you, you still have a massive problem with Brehme and Hagi on your right flank.

Brwned · 11th January 2012, 14:58

Yeah with one forward there's no need for three centre backs, could've just pushed Koeman into midfield I thought. Would've been a bit strange to have two players who were best as sweepers playing in centre mid to be fair.

Snow · 11th January 2012, 16:00

Does anyone else see hidden trophies and alien faces on the grass pitches?

antohan · 11th January 2012, 16:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brwned

Yeah with one forward there's no need for three centre backs, could've just pushed Koeman into midfield I thought. Would've been a bit strange to have two players who were best as sweepers playing in centre mid to be fair.

Yups, the problem is his bench doesn't offer a lot of alternatives really.

kps88 · 11th January 2012, 18:45

Going for broke. McMahon off, Ginola on.

Cutch · 11th January 2012, 20:53

Easy decision for me in this one, Team Gio.

Not convinced at all on what Sammer and Koeman would be like as a midfield partnership. Can't really see them complementing eachother all that well. Sammer was a world class sweeper, not so good in midfield. Koeman was also better spraying the ball out from the back.

The only way i could see it work was a switch in formation to a 4-2-3-1 with Valderamma as a link man. Means dropping one of Romario/Batistuta as neither can play wide, but thats a hell of a call. Also could probably do with more attacking full backs to make up for the lack of genuine width (Ginola will be coming inside a lot on the left), not sure if Pearce is the best at exploiting the overlap.

Gio's team to be looks to have the better balance.

TheReligion · 12th January 2012, 01:17

Koeman should be at Centre Half

antohan · 12th January 2012, 02:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by kps88

Going for broke. McMahon off, Ginola on.

Decent comeback so far, wonder what would have happened if you started like this to begin with.

kps88 · 12th January 2012, 17:53

Right. Magic time. 7 more votes please.

Team Brian GB · 12th January 2012, 18:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheReligion

Koeman should be at Centre Half

It isn't 'the' Koeman, it is 'the' Koeman's brother.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snow

A balanced, more defensive minded midfield, and save to say the better Koeman.

Gio · 13th January 2012, 09:10

I'll bring on Bebeto and Mikhailichenko to keep Van Basten and Hagi's legs fresh for the final.

View Poll Results: Who will win based on players in their prime, team tactics, balance & bench strength?
Team kps88	9	34.62%
Team Gio	17	65.38%
Voters: 26. You may not vote on this poll

RedCafe.net

The Leading Manchester United Forum

Member's Login

Retro Fantasy Semi-Final 2 Team kps88 vs Team Gio

Latest Forum Topics

Jump to Forum

Not yet registered?

11th January 2012, 10:03	#2 (permalink)
Brwned Poster of the year: 2010 Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 33,938	Would've been magical to see the Valderrama-Batistuta-Romario triumvirate on the pitch.

11th January 2012, 10:36	#3 (permalink)
Cling Bak Hi, I'm Barry Scott Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 6,391	Tough one. kp's defence looks impossible to break down. A defensive back five - all strong - plus Sammer and McMahon marshalling in front looks very tough to get past. The front three would, I'd imagine strike up a good chemistry and there are options from the bench going forward if needed. kp would be looking for more of a snatch I feel having kept the opposition at bay for so long. Then we have Gio's back line, almost as impressive. Three Germans, two Portugese (including keeper) and all of them established stars. Those in front are also very impressive, possibly more so than his opponent; a great mixture of flair and function. Bebeto and Zamarano off the bench is mouth watering. Both go for more natural centre-backs/sweepers in their midfield - Hierro and Sammer. Excellent passers of the ball, it could be a very good battle in there. Hierro is the one I question more in this position, though not much as he undoubtedly has the class. Two very strong teams, here. I expect a tight game. How would you both improve your squads with this win?

11th January 2012, 11:06	#4 (permalink)
sajeev Reserve Team Player Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,396	very tough to call. i would probably go with Gio, despite kps having a very very impressive front 3 and back3. He has too many players I don't like

11th January 2012, 12:22	#5 (permalink)
antohan First Team Sub Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Montevideo Posts: 5,919	Not very keen on Baia+Couto and Hierro in midfield. The trio in attack for kps looks mouthwatering. But the team looks broken, I can't see the transition and it looks like the initiative is given away in the hope of sneaking one on the counter... with a long ball. Hagi playing off Brehme will find van Basten. Game over. Shame is the spoils from this battle won't be particularly useful. Zenga maybe?

11th January 2012, 12:43	#6 (permalink)
Brwned Poster of the year: 2010 Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 33,938	For such a close game it's a pretty clear-cut result. Harsh on kp so far.

11th January 2012, 14:05	#8 (permalink)
kps88 First Team Sub Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Coventry (SM) Posts: 8,717	Oh well that's that I guess. For what its worth I think the game would be a very tight, cagey affair with my back 5 and two holding midfielders making it hard for Gio's lone front man and attacking midfielders to have much of an impact. I don't like the look of Gio's midfield two. Hierro's best at the back and Prosinecki not very useful defensively. Think Sammer and McMahon will control that area. I fancy the chances of my front 3 scoring past any defense.

11th January 2012, 14:58	#12 (permalink)
Brwned Poster of the year: 2010 Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 33,938	Yeah with one forward there's no need for three centre backs, could've just pushed Koeman into midfield I thought. Would've been a bit strange to have two players who were best as sweepers playing in centre mid to be fair.

11th January 2012, 16:00	#13 (permalink)
Snow First Team Regular Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: I like turtles Posts: 12,319	Does anyone else see hidden trophies and alien faces on the grass pitches?

11th January 2012, 18:45	#15 (permalink)
kps88 First Team Sub Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Coventry (SM) Posts: 8,717	Going for broke. McMahon off, Ginola on.

11th January 2012, 20:53	#16 (permalink)
Cutch Shit stirrer (Literally) Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Northern Ireland. W3101, Row 29, Seat 174 Posts: 5,498	Easy decision for me in this one, Team Gio. Not convinced at all on what Sammer and Koeman would be like as a midfield partnership. Can't really see them complementing eachother all that well. Sammer was a world class sweeper, not so good in midfield. Koeman was also better spraying the ball out from the back. The only way i could see it work was a switch in formation to a 4-2-3-1 with Valderamma as a link man. Means dropping one of Romario/Batistuta as neither can play wide, but thats a hell of a call. Also could probably do with more attacking full backs to make up for the lack of genuine width (Ginola will be coming inside a lot on the left), not sure if Pearce is the best at exploiting the overlap. Gio's team to be looks to have the better balance.

12th January 2012, 01:17	#17 (permalink)
TheReligion First Team Sub Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 9,461	Koeman should be at Centre Half

12th January 2012, 17:53	#19 (permalink)
kps88 First Team Sub Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Coventry (SM) Posts: 8,717	Right. Magic time. 7 more votes please.

13th January 2012, 09:10	#21 (permalink)
Gio Reserve Team Player Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Bonnie Scotland Posts: 4,682	I'll bring on Bebeto and Mikhailichenko to keep Van Basten and Hagi's legs fresh for the final.