Team Aldo
The team will be playing a 4-2-3-1 formation in this game, a change from the previous one and we will be now looking for gaining higher control of the game in midfield and using the creativity and class of the attacking midfield to carve up the opposition.
Starting with the keeper, no introduction needed for our European Cup winning keeper. No one can forget the heroic save he made against Eusebio in the final. I strong and reliable keeper, he will be forming a watertight unit with the two centerbacks ahead of him.
Firstly, there is Hector Chumpitaz, one of the greatest defenders of all time and a standout one in this draft, the complete defender, Chumpitaz would provide a strong physical presence here as well as the sort of drive and determination you need from your centre half in this sort of a match. Partnering him is the "Iron Rinus", Rinus Israel, who compliments Chumpitaz perfectly in bringing the calm and collected presence at the back. The two of them are one of the best CB pairs in the draft, and Chumpitaz would be a painful obstacle for Riva.
German legend, a contender for one of the greatest defensive fullbacks and man markers of all time, Berti Vogts joins the team and shores up right side of the defense. On the other side the Benfica legend Cruz would be asked to stay in shape with the rest of the backline. As usual, he will be covering for whenever one of the CBs want to drive up and initiate play.
Protecting the defence is the Italian workhorse Furino. Known as "Furia", Furino would provide endless reserves of tenacity and stamina and aggression, constantly winning the ball back and possessing good enough technical ability for a DM to turn defence into attack quickly.
Partnering him would be Madrid and Spanish legend and one of the best midfielders in the draft, Jose Pirri. An absolutely complete player, he has the tendency to be everywhere on the pitch and influence the game in both phases of the game. He will be sitting deeper in this game forming a double pivot with Furino, making a watertight shield for the back four as well as using his drive and energy to influence the proceedings and gain control of the game. Being as tactically aware and intelligent as he was, I expect him to make the crucial decisions in the middle of the park and dictate the game.
Starting the attack, sort of, the playmaker of the team is Ademir Da Guia, "The Divine One". An immense playmaker and dribbler, he brings exquisite passing and creative ability to the team that would unlock the tightest of defences. He will be playing a more advanced role in this game, in tandem with his Brazilian fella Rivelino conjuring some mouth watering phases of buildups and an array of passing not likely to be anticipated by the opposition. Lightning quick thinking and passing ability would be devastating with the front line ahead of him.
In comes the atomic kick, the magical left foot, the unrivalled tache, Roberto Rivelino. The Brazilian is often underrated when speaking of the all time great Brazilian legends, but he is right up there. A vital cog of the great 1970 Brazilian team, he will be playing the same role here, coming infield and dictating play. He will be compliment Best nicely on the other wing.
Lastly, the fifth Beatle, or whatever, George fkin Best. Best player on the pitch, easily, he is given a complete free role in the team to run absolutely anywhere across the frontline. He will be supplied the ball time and again by the rest of the team and run at players with pace and intent, leaving defenders for dead all over the place. He is against Facchetti, a fascinating battle indeed. However having a presence like George Best on his flank means the Italian would need to restrict his natural game. Having said that, Best will not stay isolated on the flank, and his incisive runs against the opposition CB pair could be decisive.
Boninsegna's power and physicality in occupying the CBs could be crucial as that allows the likes of Rivelino and Best to find the pocket of spaces between the lines and exploit them.
I believe the midfield battle to be close but with the class of Ademir, Pirri and Rivelino on the ball with all of them allowed the freedom to use the passing and creativity to the fullest means I would have an edge there on the ball. However what makes this midfield even better is the fact that Rivelino, Pirri and Furino combine a tremendous amount of energy, work rate, stamina and mental resilience. There's no shortage of steel and we can rough it up when we want to. There's very little weakness there and that should be a big factor in this game.
George Best made a career out of having defenders in threes and fours trying to stop him, great as the Italian counterpart is, Bestie will still draw defenders towards him and cause a fair bit of disarray in the opposition defense. With the likes of Ademir and Rivelino being allowed spaces due to the attention Best would draw, and Boninsegna being always waiting for a half chance, there's bound to be goals for my team. I don't know how many or whatever but they won't be keeping a clean sheet, not with that CB pair anyway.
On the other hand, in Israel, Chumpitaz and Vogts, we have a quality defensive core of names of excel in defensive masterclasses. Keizer, Jair and Riva is a tasty frontline but not one that I would be worried of hurting me to an extent that can cost me much here, especially since his midfield can't boast the same class of creativity and vision as mine. We will look to destroy the supply to the front three using that double pivot. Keizer's style of play suits Vogts to a T and he will be at home shutting down that channel.
Good luck, NM and EAP!
TEAM ALDO
TEAM NM/EAP
TEAM NM/EAP
Team NM/EAP
WHY WE WILL WIN:
Our Flanks better:
There is no denying the quality of Aldo's winger, but dominating a flank is much more than just having good wingers.
Facchetti will be a better fullback for Keizer than Cruz can be for Rivellino. Rivellino is not a standard winger and for him to be effective he is better off partnered with a overlapping full back for width. Not underestimating Cruz, but then he's no Facchetti.
Jair will be a better partner for Carlos Alberto than Best will be for Vogts. Both fullbacks here have good wingers facing them and are excellent defensively. I'd rate Carlos Alberto as a better playmaker than Vogts. My advantage is that Jair operated as one-man flank in Grande Inter (one of best club teams of all time) and his classic technique of picking up balls deeper will link better with Carlos Alberto and will make this wing far more functional than Best who needs a bit more service from the fullback.
Add in that Jair is facing off against Cruz, the weakest fullback in this match.
Better striker:
Boninsegna has the reputation of being a finisher himself. Not saying he is a poacher only, but with the setup Aldo has he is better off with a more rounded CF who can bring others into play, someone like....
LUIGI RIVA - The "Rombo di Tuono" (Roar of Thunder) is the best Forward of his generation as well as a GOAT. Great finishing, able to drift and bring others into play, powerful physique, volleying ability, superb heading accuracy his technical skill and dribbling ability is the perfect fit for our team. Either being at the focal point of attack, or pulling defenders and bringing my fantastic wingers into play, he'll definitely be on the score sheet.
Flexibility of Yakimov:
Yakimov was one of the greatest Bulgarian footballers of all time. There are many who consider him better than Stoichkov. Capable of playing an advanced attacking role (which he did for country) or a deeper creative role (which he did for club), he will be very elusive to get a hold off. Furino will have quite a job here and I certainly do see Yakimov dragging him off to the flanks and coming out better. Despite his playing position, one thing is a dead certainty....Yakimov's ability to score. He was one of the top club scorer despite playing a deeper role!
Countering his strengths:
- Aldo's strengths are his wingers. Here they are countered by the best pair of fullbacks in this draft.
- Ademir is against Stiles. There are few I'd take above Stiles to stuff out the creativity of oppositions best play maker and here Stiles would do what he does best and limit Ademir's creative involvement to a minimum.
- The woodpecker De Sisti was a Roma Hall of Famer who was renowned for his workrate and tenacity. Perfect to face Pirri!
To summarize:
I consider our team to be the worst possible opponents for Aldo. GOAT fullbacks to counter wingers, best DM to counter his creative AM, we have the stops where it matter.
A GOAT striker, Yakimov's flexibility and Jair vs Cruz are the advantages that will tilt this match in our favour.
