That's just idiocy though. Littbarski was a gorgeous and inventive dribbler, the easiest on the eye of any of the great West German team in 1990.
Fantasy draft, SF2, Aldo Vs Annah
- Thread starter Chesterlestreet
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik @Rood and Imran @Annihilate Now! start with the good news by celebrating Manchester United Women's emphatic FA Cup win over Spurs at Wembley and the future of manager Marc Skinner.
Then it's the bad news and the ever worsening form of our Men with losses to Arsenal and Palace.
Finally the main debate - ETH Out now or keep him until the end of the season - if not longer. Are you Team Nik or Team Imran?
Lerby instead of Simeone here seems like the logical move.
Indeed. I'd have him up there with the finest in that regard. He would glide past folk like a ghost in his pomp - low centre of gravity and all. You'd have to be pretty damn good to be a better dribbler than Littbarski.
I think Simeone looks lovely in this set up so there is no need to take him off at all, that I can see.
Essien coming off would be a better change if you wanted to bring Lerby on, but no doubt the familiarity for voters of what Essien brings was a factor there.
Essien coming off would be a better change if you wanted to bring Lerby on, but no doubt the familiarity for voters of what Essien brings was a factor there.
I'd take it even further and say that a great dribbler always has the advantage in a 1 vs 1 set-up, the necessity to double up is on the defending team rather than on the attacking one.
Here it is more about playing a straight four man defense, as basic as it gets with full-backs alternating to move up. They aren't supposed to run to the corner flags, Gary Neville provided support and overlapping runs while remaining rock solid defensively. It heavily increases the chances of repeatedly getting past the full-backs though, especially on Boniek's side where I suspect him to actually work defensively as well.
It is pretty logical that having two brilliant full-backs supporting two wingers is going to provide more threat out wide than by attacking with a winger without the support.
Yeah, I think Lerby is the best option from the three of linking the defensive and attacking units of the team together.
Read my post again, I said Zanetti could move forward occasionally to mix things up a bit. The crux of the argument in any case is the whole 2v1 stuff. It's an illusion. Lucho in midfield will be bombing forward into the box for Conti crosses or to provide an option to Brehme (which may well be as part of a 2v1). You don't in the least bit need him to be "a winger" and it makes a gigantic difference in terms of how well protected your defence is. It's just a ridiculous idea TBH.
It's just you don't want to depict Brehme like that in case someone points out he can get caught out, while also wanting to support the 2v1 thing on both wings, while pointing out Lucho is versatile so can get into the midfield, as can Conti help defending... it's basically an "I want to have my cake and eat it" teamsheet whereby you try hide risks and highlight opportunities, when your tactical description and common sense dictates your team is better represented in the teamsheet I posted above. Of course you will get questioned for it and you can't complain when people interpret things differently. Telling them you said X, Y or Z here or there doesn't quite fly as an excuse.
It was even funnier, Gary Neville neutralised Francescoli by "tucking in" because Cabrini would be too busy defending to get up the pitch.
Aye - but in fairness the latter was clearly a very "managerial" argument, i.e. something you wouldn't claim as a neutral observer. It tends to get more than a little biased - which is natural. That said, I sometimes wonder whether it ain't more "tactical" to remain more open to suggestions that your own side might be vulnerable here and and there. It's common sense, after all - everyone is up against some of the finest players who have ever played the game in nearly every match. And the likelihood of shutting them down completely - while at the same time walking all over 'em when you're on the attack yourself - is rather slim.
To my thinking you don't need a completely water tight strategy in order to out-think your opponent in these matches. If you can demonstrate how you'd likely grab a goal or two through attacking in a certain way - and at the same time field a defense that ain't marred by any glaring weaknesses - well, that should be enough. Your opponent will grab a goal too - doesn't matter, does it, as long as you grab at least one more.
To my thinking you don't need a completely water tight strategy in order to out-think your opponent in these matches. If you can demonstrate how you'd likely grab a goal or two through attacking in a certain way - and at the same time field a defense that ain't marred by any glaring weaknesses - well, that should be enough. Your opponent will grab a goal too - doesn't matter, does it, as long as you grab at least one more.
I like your thinking 
Indeed, I find it a bit more refreshing when there's more open acknowledgement of strengths and weaknesses on both sides. Not that I ever do that as a manager. In fairness though, I rarely argue something I don't think it's true, the more telling thing is the stuff I shut up about and blissfully ignore any references to 
Indeed, I find it a bit more refreshing when there's more open acknowledgement of strengths and weaknesses on both sides. Not that I ever do that as a manager
. In fairness though, I rarely argue something I don't think it's true, the more telling thing is the stuff I shut up about and blissfully ignore any references to I don't at all have an issue with a full-back being claimed to be caught out, in the discussions regarding Aldo's tactics I clearly assume whichever full-back is pushing up - will be caught on the wrong side in the offense. That is natural and always happens, for all sides, if Evra is by the corner flag and puts in a low cross that is instantly intercepted - then he will be on the wrong side of the counter.
I don't see a need to depict Brehme as a LWB here, the same way Barcelona has been been lined up in the team graphics as a 3 man defense with Alves as a wing-back. They are a four man defense, even if Alves is extremely winger. I don't think it makes any difference what so ever whether one portrays Alves as a wing-back for Barcelona or as a full-back.
His role would be exactly the same as it is a .jpg of the tactic, the more important aspect is found inside the tactics.
I agree that the defense centrally could be even stronger, but with Guardiola tracked and terrorized by Klinsmann - the match-up is Simeone-Essien-Platini VS Deschamps-Effenberg-Maradona. A clear win in my favour where every player in my side has an edge on the ones in Aldo's team.
How will Guardiola-Essien and Simeone handle the offense of Maradona-Effenberg-Deschamps? My wide midfielders will certainly do more to help my defensive work than Cristiano and Boniek will to help Aldo when I am attacking. My full-backs are better offensively, and defensively and will play a bigger role in this game than Bossis and Irwin.
It helps if the jpg more clearly represents the tactics. For starters, not everyone reads them. I myself look at the teamsheets and then scan through the tactics looking for specific things, don't read them in detail, certainly not the walls of text in this game!
He is a striker for god's sake. You can ask him to help pressing but you can't seriously expect Klinsmann to be terrorising Guardiola. I can picture Guardiola thinking "Oh God, here comes the hun... good thing I passed that ball ages ago". There's not a chance in hell the striker leading the line can stop Guardiola passing the ball upfield, it would mean he isn't doing his primary job at all. Ask him to terrorise Koeman and you may get to harass him off the ball every now and then, but you don't even have to ask him, Klinsmann isn't stupid, he would do that, not to defend, but because if he does get the ball he is through on goal.
What match-up? Aldo isn't engaging you in a man-for-man midfield battle, he is bypassing the whole thing, that's what Koeman and Guardiola did for a living, take out entire defences with one swing of their boot.
Sitting deep and staying compact I presume, that's what you do when you play with that XI.
Your wide midfielders are irrelevant, they are miles away from being able to do much at alll about anything unless there's an outball or a set piece for Aldo that gives them the time to regroup. Watch a few Dream Team games and tell me on how many the rival wingers became even remotely useful defensively (bar pressing upfield, obviously), however hardworking they were. Sure, if you have gained a lead you can get them all to sit back, but in the normal course of the game they will contribute nothing, which is why I think Lucho should start deeper and more centrally, that should be a clear instruction, that should be his primary responsibility, being box-to-box, not a makeshift winger so Brehme can do 2v1s on Bossis.
Agree on your fullbacks, they are awesome, best pair in the draft by a mile. I don't get why you made those references to catenaccio earlier as something you shouldn't be associated with. Why not? I would rate Brehme as the very best alternative you could have to Facchetti in that constant to and fro, and I'm sure your other three could do a very good catenaccio impersonation. I would argue that's exactly what you want against these fellas.
I am fine with him sitting deep, he has no way to cover out wide without completely nullifying his nearly only route to goal which are the direct counters. Maradona orchestrating the wide attacks with my wingers and full-back, or just staying centrally and dominating Essien-Guardiola-Koeman who won't keep tabs on him at all. I can score out wide, centrally, through crosses, dribbling raids or free-kicks gained from Maradona being hacked down.
He doesn't have the defense to soak up pressure here without conceding more than he scores, he has blown the big bucks up front and it is quite apparent. Guardiola-Koeman against Maradona, the dream-team conceded plenty and I can't really see this version being less gung-ho, considering who they are up to.
Also I think it is the 2nd or 3rd time you critique my formation because I have one full-back who is better offensively than the other and I don't play a catenaccio like defense in the .jpg.
Really? Which other team and fullbacks are we talking about? I don't remember doing it, but I'm sure I was rightAlso I think it is the 2nd or 3rd time you critique my formation because I have one full-back who is better offensively than the other and I don't play a catenaccio like defense in the .jpg.
Don't remember exactly which team it was, just remember having this exact same conversation. Anyhow, I by no means believe that my opponent won't get any chances. The dream-team set up always assured there were chances, but I do believe that just like the dream team Aldo will be very suspect defensively here considering the quality of players he is up against.
Guardiola/Koeman weren't known for shutting out the opponents, instead it was a game about who would score more and I believe I will do so. Maradona being up against Guardiola and Essien with Koeman in the defensive line means Maradona will certainly go on a solo-raid nearly every time he gets the ball. I really can't see Guardiola bully Maradona off the ball but if he doesn't Diego will have runs from either side of him from the wingers and Klinsmann in front of him.
I have attacking threat coming from out wide with two great winger/full-back combinations who are up against two weak full backs for the level we are at here. Centrally Klinsmann is absolutely brilliant as a target for crosses and with Koeman there being weak aerially it will be difficult for him to park the bus by any means.
I have Baresi, Vierchowod and one of my full-backs defending constantly and the easiest way to score for Aldo is still to score against those three. As well as Deschamps staying on the defensively right side of Platini constantly, who wasn't too fast which means Ronaldo and Boniek are up against the three defenders and Deschamps is doing a job on Platini.
Anyhow, I by no means believe that my opponent won't get any chances. The dream-team set up always assured there were chances, but I do believe that just like the dream team Aldo will be very suspect defensively here considering the quality of players he is up against.Guardiola/Koeman weren't known for shutting out the opponents, instead it was a game about who would score more and I believe I will do so. Maradona being up against Guardiola and Essien with Koeman in the defensive line means Maradona will certainly go on a solo-raid nearly every time he gets the ball. I really can't see Guardiola bully Maradona off the ball but if he doesn't Diego will have runs from either side of him from the wingers and Klinsmann in front of him.
I have attacking threat coming from out wide with two great winger/full-back combinations who are up against two weak full backs for the level we are at here. Centrally Klinsmann is absolutely brilliant as a target for crosses and with Koeman there being weak aerially it will be difficult for him to park the bus by any means.
I have Baresi, Vierchowod and one of my full-backs defending constantly and the easiest way to score for Aldo is still to score against those three. As well as Deschamps staying on the defensively right side of Platini constantly, who wasn't too fast which means Ronaldo and Boniek are up against the three defenders and Deschamps is doing a job on Platini.
Sorry guys, exam week, so forgive me for not visiting this earlier. Keeping myself up on redbull.
Anyway, just to clear it, it's pretty harsh to consider my attacking strategy as one dimensional as Annah has done saying the only way I can score is direct counter attacks. Of course I have all the tools to execute that and when an opening is there to do that, it will be done, sure. But you cannot ignore a player like Michel Platini and think he would do nothing apart from setting counters. He's regarded one of the best players in his position for a reason, and he's the sort of genius who will regulate the flow of the game to make it is tough for the opposition, and is capable of slowing things down when needed and penetrating through the tightest of defenses. That is without considering that he has Boniek with him. That was one of the best partnerships of the 80s and I am surprised annah has downplayed it considering he usually rates proven partnerships highly. As I mentioned in the OP, it's not just two players who played together at a club that I am hyping up here, it's a genuine world class partnership in which the two players got the best out of each other and were unplayable a lot of times. Both are capable of running through a defense with the quality close control and also capable of combining and creating highly unpredictable and swift buildups, while being ruthless and direct at the same time. Deschamps is a solid player but let's be honest, he's going to be in 1v1s a lot against Platini and I don't see him winning many of those. And then there's the portuguese fella lurking and dragging defenders all over the place. They need half a chance to get a shot away, and their consistency and clinical ability in front of goal sets them apart from others. Platini scored NINE goals in one Euro tournament, it's not a joke and he won't just give that threat up.
Another thing that anto also mentioned, is I don't understand the whole Klinsmann terrorizing a midfielder? It doesn't make sense to me. Has he ever done that job in his career against someone of the quality of Pep? Even so, it requires a great amount of discipline and work ethic to carry it out against one of the most technically gifted players of his generation. And it completely contradicts with the fact that Klinsmann would also take on CBs with the aerial supply? What happens when my defense wins the ball back in that situation and gives it to Pep? Klinsmann is not going to teleport himself in front of Pep and he's not going to travel faster than the ball either, nor would Pep wait for him to come near him before the gets the pass away. I don't see any "terrorizing" happening at all, and Pep would get ample time on the ball to do his thing.
These were the two main things I thought I needed two address before I head back to my textbooks. The rest is explained well in the OP, I believe and there's no point in repeating it. Lastly, I honestly didn't put a huge though while choosing two out of Simeone, Essien and Lerby because as previously, but I take the point about Lerby's forward play being an asset in a tight game such as this and with him, a left footed-right footed balance is also resumed in the midfield so I will bring him on.
@Annahnomoss please update this in the OP.
Will check back in later. Thanks.
P.S. @antohan I am disappointed you didn't read the walls of text in my OP.
Anyway, just to clear it, it's pretty harsh to consider my attacking strategy as one dimensional as Annah has done saying the only way I can score is direct counter attacks. Of course I have all the tools to execute that and when an opening is there to do that, it will be done, sure. But you cannot ignore a player like Michel Platini and think he would do nothing apart from setting counters. He's regarded one of the best players in his position for a reason, and he's the sort of genius who will regulate the flow of the game to make it is tough for the opposition, and is capable of slowing things down when needed and penetrating through the tightest of defenses. That is without considering that he has Boniek with him. That was one of the best partnerships of the 80s and I am surprised annah has downplayed it considering he usually rates proven partnerships highly. As I mentioned in the OP, it's not just two players who played together at a club that I am hyping up here, it's a genuine world class partnership in which the two players got the best out of each other and were unplayable a lot of times. Both are capable of running through a defense with the quality close control and also capable of combining and creating highly unpredictable and swift buildups, while being ruthless and direct at the same time. Deschamps is a solid player but let's be honest, he's going to be in 1v1s a lot against Platini and I don't see him winning many of those. And then there's the portuguese fella lurking and dragging defenders all over the place. They need half a chance to get a shot away, and their consistency and clinical ability in front of goal sets them apart from others. Platini scored NINE goals in one Euro tournament, it's not a joke and he won't just give that threat up.
Another thing that anto also mentioned, is I don't understand the whole Klinsmann terrorizing a midfielder? It doesn't make sense to me. Has he ever done that job in his career against someone of the quality of Pep? Even so, it requires a great amount of discipline and work ethic to carry it out against one of the most technically gifted players of his generation. And it completely contradicts with the fact that Klinsmann would also take on CBs with the aerial supply? What happens when my defense wins the ball back in that situation and gives it to Pep? Klinsmann is not going to teleport himself in front of Pep and he's not going to travel faster than the ball either, nor would Pep wait for him to come near him before the gets the pass away. I don't see any "terrorizing" happening at all, and Pep would get ample time on the ball to do his thing.
These were the two main things I thought I needed two address before I head back to my textbooks. The rest is explained well in the OP, I believe and there's no point in repeating it. Lastly, I honestly didn't put a huge though while choosing two out of Simeone, Essien and Lerby because as previously, but I take the point about Lerby's forward play being an asset in a tight game such as this and with him, a left footed-right footed balance is also resumed in the midfield so I will bring him on.
@Annahnomoss please update this in the OP.
Will check back in later. Thanks.
P.S. @antohan I am disappointed you didn't read the walls of text in my OP.
Constantly taking players on, that beautiful managing of tightest of spaces.
I said this in the previous game, there's no way I would have spent 80 odd mill with 6 TP on a player who was as one dimensional as Annah is portraying him to be. I've tried my best not to go into overdrive re: Boniek, but I think the point about the partnerships is an important one. Aldo here has somehow managed to make two things converge: the service from deep that the Dream Team had, with great options to aim for, and the most devastating attacking partnership of the 80s. Pre-Romario, the Dream team often had Laudrup deployed as false 9, and Platini suits that and adds more goals plus his understanding with Boniek. Cristiano is just a handy bonus.
I can't expect people to watch hours on end of Juve playing, but there's 2-3 examples in this clip where the telepathic understanding they had is plain to see. Keep an eye on when Platini receives the ball, watch out for how Boniek immediately goes into overdrive and no one bar Platini and him know exactly where he will place the ball. It was always like that, Platini received, looked up to see what Boniek was up to, processed the options in a second and delivered the ball exactly where Boniek expected him to deliver it or to someone else who would benefit from the attention Boniek was getting. It was bloody brilliant, and even in a crap pitch with a ball that bounces around like it has a mind of its own, they execute it perfectly.
I can't expect people to watch hours on end of Juve playing, but there's 2-3 examples in this clip where the telepathic understanding they had is plain to see. Keep an eye on when Platini receives the ball, watch out for how Boniek immediately goes into overdrive and no one bar Platini and him know exactly where he will place the ball. It was always like that, Platini received, looked up to see what Boniek was up to, processed the options in a second and delivered the ball exactly where Boniek expected him to deliver it or to someone else who would benefit from the attention Boniek was getting. It was bloody brilliant, and even in a crap pitch with a ball that bounces around like it has a mind of its own, they execute it perfectly.
Interesting how things play out I suppose, Diego getting very little attention here as opposed to the last game.
Klinsmann is on Pep only when in an organized defense, I am falling low and Klinsmann will be on Pep like Welbeck was on Xabi Alonso. This forces your defensive line to step forward as otherwise you are attacking 5 vs 9, which opens up opportunities for me as well on the counter. I don't think your organized defense is as strong as mine by any means, I have 10 players who all have a defensive role and were known for fighting hard defensively. Baresi and Vierchowod with one of Brehme/Zanetti is as good as it can get to handle a counter-attack against just Cristiano - or if he is even more gung-ho Boniek as well.
Deschamps will be on the correct side of Platini always, who wasn't very fast, instead he relied on crisp passing and great dribbling/ball control. So I will cut out the supply to Boniek and Ronaldo and by doing so Platini will hold the ball enough until my defense is organized.
My organized offense will dominate the wide areas where the full-back/winger combination(one full back at the time) will prove too much for a single Bossis/Irwin. Centrally Guardiola/Essien has no chance handling Maradona, by any means, he will find space centrally just in front of Koeman and Montero who aren't the defenders you want against Maradona running at you.
Conti/Enrique/Brehme/Zanetti all got great crosses and Koeman isn't good aerially which Klinsmann is great at, so I have a lot of clear routes to goal and Maradona was an excellent free kick taker. Which will be important considering how often he was completely hacked down ruthlessly, which here won't be possible with the modern rules.
On the other side when Aldo attacks he has Platini who is well handled by two defensively great CM's in Effenberg and Deschamps, Effenberg has the cuntishness needed to handle a player like Platini. Platini will of course find space, but he will have to do it like Maradona by seeking it out wide or by falling down which is Maradona's speciality and far from a good game for Platini.
Deschamps will be on the correct side of Platini always, who wasn't very fast, instead he relied on crisp passing and great dribbling/ball control. So I will cut out the supply to Boniek and Ronaldo and by doing so Platini will hold the ball enough until my defense is organized.
My organized offense will dominate the wide areas where the full-back/winger combination(one full back at the time) will prove too much for a single Bossis/Irwin. Centrally Guardiola/Essien has no chance handling Maradona, by any means, he will find space centrally just in front of Koeman and Montero who aren't the defenders you want against Maradona running at you.
Conti/Enrique/Brehme/Zanetti all got great crosses and Koeman isn't good aerially which Klinsmann is great at, so I have a lot of clear routes to goal and Maradona was an excellent free kick taker. Which will be important considering how often he was completely hacked down ruthlessly, which here won't be possible with the modern rules.
On the other side when Aldo attacks he has Platini who is well handled by two defensively great CM's in Effenberg and Deschamps, Effenberg has the cuntishness needed to handle a player like Platini. Platini will of course find space, but he will have to do it like Maradona by seeking it out wide or by falling down which is Maradona's speciality and far from a good game for Platini.
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My offense seems very forgotten here and has rarely been touched except with critique. I am not sure what else one could want? If I attack down the left I have Brehme/Enrique being up against Bossis who's only help comes from Essien - with Maradona looking to link up with them.
On the right I have Zanetti/Conti which is basically as good as you can get a right flank to be, both are absolutely top notch offensively and defensively. Irwin will be beat by Conti often in this game without a doubt.
Centrally I have Maradona with the runs around him from Conti, Enrique, Klinsmann and on the overload I have Effenberg who will pick his moments to show why he was one of the best CM's ever and his offense was brilliant.
He doesn't have the defense to park the bus here, it will be about who scores more goals and I have a threat in every area of the pitch - I can counter-attack, I can attack right/left/centrally and take advantage of any possible hole wherever it presents itself.
Aldo will at a very best score 1 against my organized defense, if he pushes up his full-backs high and Koeman and Montero tries to dominate this game from the midfield line. In case I have a great chance to counter against him, considering my defenders are better at intercepting the ball and my team will win the ball back much, much easier than Aldo's would.
Who can see Koeman, Essien and Guardiola boss Maradona off the ball here without causing a free kick? Wherever Maradona receives the ball it is a good goal scoring chance for me here. I don't see who in Aldo's team has a style suited to defensive work of that stature except for Simeone.
On the right I have Zanetti/Conti which is basically as good as you can get a right flank to be, both are absolutely top notch offensively and defensively. Irwin will be beat by Conti often in this game without a doubt.
Centrally I have Maradona with the runs around him from Conti, Enrique, Klinsmann and on the overload I have Effenberg who will pick his moments to show why he was one of the best CM's ever and his offense was brilliant.
He doesn't have the defense to park the bus here, it will be about who scores more goals and I have a threat in every area of the pitch - I can counter-attack, I can attack right/left/centrally and take advantage of any possible hole wherever it presents itself.
Aldo will at a very best score 1 against my organized defense, if he pushes up his full-backs high and Koeman and Montero tries to dominate this game from the midfield line. In case I have a great chance to counter against him, considering my defenders are better at intercepting the ball and my team will win the ball back much, much easier than Aldo's would.
Who can see Koeman, Essien and Guardiola boss Maradona off the ball here without causing a free kick? Wherever Maradona receives the ball it is a good goal scoring chance for me here. I don't see who in Aldo's team has a style suited to defensive work of that stature except for Simeone.
Luis Enriques adds a great third source of goals from his wide role, he had a similar goal scoring record as Giggs and was bloody brilliant at getting past his marker but especially making runs in to space.
Even Klinsmann on his own would be a handful for any defender, he had dribbling skills, a great burst acceleration and was very all-round. Considered one of the best strikers ever, enough to cause trouble for any defense with the support he has around him here. He'd be one to thrive on Maradona's passes, or Maradona's greatest ability which was force the opponent to try and take the ball from him which opened up space for the others - and Maradona still kept the ball and found the pass in to that space.
Went for Annah, difference being the defense of the two teams. Aldo's drop in quality from his front three to back 4 is way too big.
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Cheers mate, haven't had your vote in ages so cool to get it again!
I agree, I think that for a draft like this the difference is very big. Baresi VS Koeman, for all ball playing ability Koeman is getting credited for - Baresi has a nearly equally spectacular ball playing game and his interceptions which instantly leads to counters is getting 0 credit here. Baresi is much, much more likely to intercept a bad pass and instantly turn it in to a counter.
Koeman's style of playmaking from deep was very slow, he most often had 3-5 touches before he found his wanted target. He by no means intercepted and started a counter as consistently as Baresi or Vierchowod did. Instead he was a player his team mates passed after winning the ball back - which meant more often than not he wouldn't be able to find that long-range missile and the play would instead go towards the midfield/full-backs.
Vierchowod was compared to Baresi, for his interceptions and reading of the game as well. Against such good passers, there is no two CB's I would rather have in my team - they are perfect for intercepting passes and reading the game so even if the pass is successful they have already seen it will be and acted accordingly.
Holy hell, this is some kinda thrilla. Several regulars have yet to vote.
Poll closes tonight, mate - so don't wait too long.
Updated yer formation pic now, @Aldo - sorry for the delay, haven't been around all day.
Video which shows why Vierchowod was compared to Baresi. He intercepted balls on the regular and this is how it could look when he did. Remember as a defender he was absolutely outstanding, had an acceleration and pace never seen before for a top CB and was hard as nails. Or "The toughest defender I faced" as Maradona/Lineker would have said.
Won the Guerin d'Oro ahead of Platini for the best average performance in Serie A in 1983, one of the peak years in Platini's career where he won the Ballon. Which shows his average level was incredibly high. Platini/Maradona/Baresi/Brehme also just won it once.
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I'm sorry Annah but you have gone into a bit of a hyperbole there. I can understand if you think your team will win but I just can't see this game being as one sided as you are predicting, by either team. It's gonna be a highly open game with both teams dealing punches back and forth and any one of the two can emerge a winner on a given day. Both have plenty of match winners to accomplish that.
It brings me to the fact how I have set up the team to have three of the most dangerous players in this competition to be in their element and play their natural game. Whereas you seem to have sacrificed your primary goalscorer to do a job which he, in my knowledge, has never done, let alone against a player of the caliber of Pep. Klinsmann's greatest strengths lied inside the box, playing off the shoulder of the CBs or being constantly around them to pose his threat, here he seems to be fluffing around deep in midfield doing something which he will eventually fail at. Again, I ask has he ever done a job like that? Players defensively a lot more capable with a lot more discipline tried to stop Pep and failed, and sacrificing your primary goal threat to accomplish that can end up making your attack toothless which would be a big loss in an open game such as this.
Whereas I am anything but toothless. And in a back and forth game, I believe I have the advantage because a) I have as quick a transition as you can hope for from back to front with great pace and movement and world class goal threats, multiple ones, to hurt the opposition defense and b) I have two players who have telepathic understanding, always an advantage over players who never had that sorta link. Teams in Seria A defended in 6s and 7s against Platini and Boniek and they ran through them on a regular basis. Platini won THREE Ballon D'ors in a row, and he didn't do that by getting shut out in 1v1s as easily as you are predicting. He will have the beating of Deschamps more often than not and it's straight on goal from there with two deadly options on either side to pick out. You also seem to have left just 4 players at the back while I attack which is highly dangerous against the movement, pace and understanding of my attack and puts the defenders in very high risk situations against players who excelled in 1v1s. That's as far as I would go into discussing how many players are at what area on the pitch, it makes for a boring discussion and a misinterpretation of the game, as football is a much more dynamic sport than any numbers can demonstrate. But if I were you I wouldn't have either of my fullback go forward without putting the rest of the defense under tremendous pressure.
It brings me to the fact how I have set up the team to have three of the most dangerous players in this competition to be in their element and play their natural game. Whereas you seem to have sacrificed your primary goalscorer to do a job which he, in my knowledge, has never done, let alone against a player of the caliber of Pep. Klinsmann's greatest strengths lied inside the box, playing off the shoulder of the CBs or being constantly around them to pose his threat, here he seems to be fluffing around deep in midfield doing something which he will eventually fail at. Again, I ask has he ever done a job like that? Players defensively a lot more capable with a lot more discipline tried to stop Pep and failed, and sacrificing your primary goal threat to accomplish that can end up making your attack toothless which would be a big loss in an open game such as this.
Whereas I am anything but toothless. And in a back and forth game, I believe I have the advantage because a) I have as quick a transition as you can hope for from back to front with great pace and movement and world class goal threats, multiple ones, to hurt the opposition defense and b) I have two players who have telepathic understanding, always an advantage over players who never had that sorta link. Teams in Seria A defended in 6s and 7s against Platini and Boniek and they ran through them on a regular basis. Platini won THREE Ballon D'ors in a row, and he didn't do that by getting shut out in 1v1s as easily as you are predicting. He will have the beating of Deschamps more often than not and it's straight on goal from there with two deadly options on either side to pick out. You also seem to have left just 4 players at the back while I attack which is highly dangerous against the movement, pace and understanding of my attack and puts the defenders in very high risk situations against players who excelled in 1v1s. That's as far as I would go into discussing how many players are at what area on the pitch, it makes for a boring discussion and a misinterpretation of the game, as football is a much more dynamic sport than any numbers can demonstrate. But if I were you I wouldn't have either of my fullback go forward without putting the rest of the defense under tremendous pressure.
Point about Klinsmann being asked to do a job on Pep is a good one. Not gonna work. He needs to be upfront at almost all times.
Very hard to disagree with this - think it's the main point for me.
I think Annah has the bigger and better 'names' in his side, but I just don't think they are being played in a way that gets the best out of them. In contrast Aldo has constructed something which is primed to get the best out of:
1. The best goalscorer on the pitch in Ronaldo - he's in his absolute element here with this service. I don't see a lot - in many situations - that the defence can do here.
2. His best player in Platini - Recreating the devastating partnership with Boniek and linking him up with the pace and movement of Ronaldo.
Klinsmann's defensive job is not his offensive job mate. His offensive job will of course be as a target striker trying to dominate the box for crosses and through-balls.
This will indeed be a game with goals from both sides, I don't believe I am dominating this game completely but with the defense I have I believe it will be hard to score more than I will be able to score against you. My right flank has an upper hand on yours, my left has an upper hand on yours and centrally I can still create things with Maradona as your midfield line aren't defensively great enough to keep him from receiving the ball.
On the counter I have Conti-Maradona-Enrique and Klinsmann which is very equal to Boniek-Cristiano and Platini. I also have 10 outfield players who are hard workers in the defense so my chances of winning a ball back is going to be much bigger than yours here.
I think my defense against counters is stronger than yours, my defense is also much stronger if you are attacking against my organized defense. I think my organized offense has a bigger threat than yours and in terms of counter it is very even here.
Koeman/Guardiola have a longer range of passing no doubt, but Vierchowod and Baresi has a much better ability to actually regain the ball and instantly turn it in to a counter. Baresi and Vierchowod also have a great ability to read the game and intercept these long balls - in which case I would be very dangerous on the counter as you are pushing players forward.
This will indeed be a game with goals from both sides, I don't believe I am dominating this game completely but with the defense I have I believe it will be hard to score more than I will be able to score against you. My right flank has an upper hand on yours, my left has an upper hand on yours and centrally I can still create things with Maradona as your midfield line aren't defensively great enough to keep him from receiving the ball.
On the counter I have Conti-Maradona-Enrique and Klinsmann which is very equal to Boniek-Cristiano and Platini. I also have 10 outfield players who are hard workers in the defense so my chances of winning a ball back is going to be much bigger than yours here.
I think my defense against counters is stronger than yours, my defense is also much stronger if you are attacking against my organized defense. I think my organized offense has a bigger threat than yours and in terms of counter it is very even here.
Koeman/Guardiola have a longer range of passing no doubt, but Vierchowod and Baresi has a much better ability to actually regain the ball and instantly turn it in to a counter. Baresi and Vierchowod also have a great ability to read the game and intercept these long balls - in which case I would be very dangerous on the counter as you are pushing players forward.
He will be up front all game when I have the ball. The only time he won't be up front is when my opponent has an organized offense, in which case I will be defending deep and Klinsmann will be remaining close to Guardiola at all times unless Guardiola pushes forward - in which case he will switch to Koeman.
Just to clarify the fullback point before that argument goes in the wrong direction, I am usually one of those who don't support the argument when a fullback is supposed to be some headless chicken who if goes forard would just stay there and give his wingers acres of space. I mean fullbacks go up and down the whole game and Annah has two top fullbacks who would not be like Evra is currently for us, that is going AWOL at the back just because they attacked. Having said that, I will have you know that given the creativity and passing ability right in the area where I'll be winning the ball back, it's safer for the fullbacks to not be too ambitious with their attacking play. The pace of the two wide players is a serious, serious threat. I mean there are quick players then there are Cristiano Ronaldo and Zibi Boniek. Slightest of delays in returning to their post can give them a headstart that would be tough to overcome. But more than that, you are dealing with this.
Have a look at that video, just forget about this draft and watch that if you haven't before to see that he hardly ever needed an invitation or a large space to put the ball exactly where it should go. So for me, having someone with that ability picking out players as dangerous as my wide men, require a bit of respect from your fullbacks, more than they would give to their opponents usually.
Have a look at that video, just forget about this draft and watch that if you haven't before to see that he hardly ever needed an invitation or a large space to put the ball exactly where it should go. So for me, having someone with that ability picking out players as dangerous as my wide men, require a bit of respect from your fullbacks, more than they would give to their opponents usually.
Guardiola and Koeman's range of passing is the main threat people see here and my team has adjusted accordingly. I keep Deschamps, Baresi, Vierchowod and one of my full-backs back at all times. Even a perfect pass from Koeman/Guardiola would require Ronaldo/Boniek to take out two of histories absolute best CB's in 1 vs 1's and one of Zanetti/Brehme who are also among the very best full-backs to ever exist.
Knowing the threat of my opponent I will make sure that Cristiano and Boniek will never be able to find a ball behind my defense - without Neuer who is absolutely world-class as a sweeper-keeper getting there first. Neuer played a high line, and still managed to get on to those balls on a regular basis with his brilliance.
I will play a lower defense, with much better defenders and in Vierchowod's case possibly the fastest top CB in history. The only direction it will even be possible to find Ronaldo/Boniek will be a long ball towards the corner flags in to the missing full-backs area. Attempting long-balls in front of Baresi and Vierchowod is plain stupid considering they thrived at stepping up - taking those balls and instantly turn it in to a counter.
Maradona receiving the ball just in front of Koeman/Montero is a goal much more often than Ronaldo receiving the ball against Baresi and Vierchowod. I also have great passers through-out the team, and any of them can find Maradona in space, be it Brehme, Zanetti, Vierchowod or Baresi. All of them are as good as you can possibly wish for and that is just counting my defenders, Effenberg was absolutely brilliant in terms of his passing range and creativity - as was Enrique/Conti.
Knowing the threat of my opponent I will make sure that Cristiano and Boniek will never be able to find a ball behind my defense - without Neuer who is absolutely world-class as a sweeper-keeper getting there first. Neuer played a high line, and still managed to get on to those balls on a regular basis with his brilliance.
I will play a lower defense, with much better defenders and in Vierchowod's case possibly the fastest top CB in history. The only direction it will even be possible to find Ronaldo/Boniek will be a long ball towards the corner flags in to the missing full-backs area. Attempting long-balls in front of Baresi and Vierchowod is plain stupid considering they thrived at stepping up - taking those balls and instantly turn it in to a counter.
Maradona receiving the ball just in front of Koeman/Montero is a goal much more often than Ronaldo receiving the ball against Baresi and Vierchowod. I also have great passers through-out the team, and any of them can find Maradona in space, be it Brehme, Zanetti, Vierchowod or Baresi. All of them are as good as you can possibly wish for and that is just counting my defenders, Effenberg was absolutely brilliant in terms of his passing range and creativity - as was Enrique/Conti.
Yeah, I think that's pretty much the factors that I think can decide the game from my point of view. I was always the underdog in this one and it's no shame in going out against a finely constructed team like Annah's. I mainly tried to put out a team that will be happy doing their own thing and at the same time play some beautiful and entertaining football. It's not something that would guarantee me a sureshot win most times but at least every player will give his best in this setup, I believe, which is all you can ask for from your team at the end of the day.
Been a good game, Annah, I'd say.
Been a good game, Annah, I'd say.