Well we can look farther back to if you like? It's probably a bit easier to play 10+ years in Italy if you've missed the equivalent of a whole season through suspensions.
and a bit more on his time in Milan, where they had a great defensive record with him too...
Who wouldnt compared to those four? (I do agree with your point about mexes but found that piece of criticism funny)
I had to include that bit as a little tongue in cheek comment. You could compare plenty to those fellas and most would come up short.I really don't get the idea of someone needing to 'cover' for a full back. It's not as it fullbacks suddenly needs cover everytime they go forward, do they?
What's your point with his disciplinary records? Effenberg doesn't have a great record either, but that doesn't take away from what he gets on the field, does it? Milan has history of world class partnerships. I never tried to sell Mexes as a heir to those greats. Just that he can be a great partner to Augenthaler in holding the line. He may be the least stellar name in the team sheet for this match, but that certainly doesn't make him a liability.
Not Everytime, no. However, if Sagnol bombs forward, we have fantastic distribution from the back in Hierro who will get the ball there quicker than Sagnol can recover. Mexes then has to cover. He struggles against quick, pace players, but also against tall physical ones. I have one of each attacking the space he'd be in.
Not all could, no. Good thing I have one of the best Spanish midfielders of all time who could play there.
My point is that he's rash, reckless, and hot headed. He's gonna make some bad tackles in or around the box, and that will lead to some good chances and goals for my team.
He does have the better attacking full back outlet, but his glaring weakness also leads to the best chances of goals. It isn't like a midfielders is pushed wide and won't have as much of an impact....The biggest weakness on the pitch is up against Sivori and Charles. Either on the ground, or in the air, both have an advantage over him.
It is indeed what keeps me unsure. I will have to watch them play together to get a better picture of it!He does have the better attacking full back outlet, but his glaring weakness also leads to the best chances of goals. It isn't like a midfielders is pushed wide and won't have as much of an impact....The biggest weakness on the pitch is up against Sivori and Charles. Either on the ground, or in the air, both have an advantage over him.
Charles is also taller than both center backs, and has a tremendous leap. A ball in from Camacho, Sivori or one from Hierro and Charles is on the scoresheet.
Just something to keep in mind
I'll see if I can find you the footage I watched.
Great video! The highlight is obviously the pissed off Lazio defender cracking the ball off the referee at 1:09 though!
I liked that too. Just holds his hands up afterwards.Great video. Interesting that so many of Charles goals came when being absolutely swarmed with defenders, yet somehow he looked like he had found a comfortable amount of space every time. Not a lot of goals where someone put him through on clean chances, most seems like 50-50 crosses, passes and loose balls that he converts.
)He seems to be thought of as a big target man, in the mold of a muscular Peter Crouch. His strength let him run with the ball, and his pace often let him get in behind and run past defenders. So much more to his game than a big lug up front.
Think that works out better for me now (which is always the cliche thing for the opposition manager to say after a sub in these games I know
Riquelme has a whole pocket of space now without anyone matching up to him. With extra space, he'll have more joy running the game in there.
On the flip side, Totti gets a bit shunted in to accommodate another player to occupy a similar space, crowding each other out.
Because neither one are picking him up. Unless you're wasting one of them on a defensive duty.
How does that work, Now he has to deal with two excellent defensive players instead of one underrated player.
It'd be Pirri who's is now in trouble. He has Ballack in front and Totti drifting behind him. Kalle is roaming on the other side. With Sheva occupying the CB's (unless you prefer to risk it one one one), this contest has turned towards my team quite significantly.
I still have the better fullbacks and that means quicker counters. If your midfielders stretch themselves to join in, then my counter will be quite devastating.
he'd be tearing through it. What's a quicker counter...your full backs running up the field, or Hierro hitting the ball to Charles before your team sets back up?
Absolutely this. Beautifully constructed.
He doesn't have a diamond anymore
He doesn't have a diamond anymore
I had just started reading the thread.Again, at the risk of posting without reading the thread and knowing the reasons for the change... this absolutely!
But back then, in the newbs it was just names, no tactics or other stuff, so I got away with it. 
I assumed so, just wanted to make sure I covered my bases.So my two midfielders will be there doing nothing when Riquelme runs riot? You know having an AM doesn't always deserve a DM to hand hold!Because neither one are picking him up. Unless you're wasting one of them on a defensive duty.
You putting Totti and Ballack in the same area of the pitch just makes it easier to crowd them out. Unless you're shunting Totti wide, which is a waste of him, and negates most of the Totti stats you threw around earlier.
If Sheva is occupying my defenders, what the hell do you think Charles is doing at the other end?
You've already said how my full backs won't be attacking, so there's not much threat if you try and counter since everyone will be set up and still just as solid. It just leaves you even more open at the back with your full backs gone, no defensive midfielder on Riquelme....and Mexes.
So you bypass wout own 'excellent' midfield. Hierro's long balls can never be a consistent way to get forward, whereas my full backs can be.
Can't do much about Mexes now and I still maintain he is not a liability. Not in Skizzo's CB class, but certainly not a liability.
Doesn't always, no...but in this case Riquelme would have a field day. Earlier you were arguing that you would use Emerson to try and limit him...now all of a sudden no one is on him and he's not going to be effective? Right.
Camacho will at times, just not all game. My midfielders are comfortable out wide, so there's no issues with them moving wide to receive the ball in space.
there's no flexibility in shoving Totti over to try and make space for someone else. You're limiting your own players effectiveness....after banging on about him the whole time. Now all those Totti stats are a bit irrelevant with him not in his favored role.I mentioned it as another option, with all the space you'll be leaving. That's a part of my flexibility.
Mexes is a liability in this setting. He has no place in an all time draft, especially facing the quality of strikers he's up against.no two ways about that.
No but you were still winning with him being your main issue. I'm not sure you look as strong now.
Ballack is a fine player no doubt. When I said downgrade, I meant more in terms of the balance and shape of your side. Emerson behind allowed Effenberg and Breitner great license to drive forwards and to give some additional width. It also afforded Totti free reign to do his thing in space.
Ahem.
You could say that. Skizzo only has part time wide players and not much threat from his full backs. His route to goal will be more central and this approach clogs it up, while still retaining my superiority out wide. Between these two, they'll squeeze space for Riquelme to operate in. When he does get the ball, one of them will be on him with the other free to buffer against his other midfielders moving forward. Breitner did operate as a fullback early in his career, but was always a maverick moving up and dictating play on his own. He will certainly do that much better being actually in the midfield here. I fully expect him to make plays when we have the ball.
Ahh the newbie drafts where you could throw up a team sheet and come back a day later to see if you won.Again, at the risk of posting without reading the thread and knowing the reasons for the change... this absolutely!
Totti was in his element in the previous line up, now he's nothing more than being on the periphery. And he's not one to easily and happily adapt to such a role, there'll be a moan or two in the dressing room.
Funny thing is the first draft I played, organised and won on Redcafe over 4 years ago, I had Totti in the exact same role in the final.
Putting Ballack in for Emerson only clogs your own side up. You e essentially taken away the player tasked with keeping Riquelme quiet...and put another player into the same area as Totti
The reason for change was that nobody rated Emerson and the default view was that Riquelme will get the better. So he needed to go.Again, at the risk of posting without reading the thread and knowing the reasons for the change... this absolutely!
Totti was in his element in the previous line up, now he's nothing more than being on the periphery. And he's not one to easily and happily adapt to such a role, there'll be a moan or two in the dressing room.
Funny thing is the first draft I played, organised and won on Redcafe over 4 years ago, I had Totti in the exact same role in the final.
That will work with a lot of other central players but not this one. Things need to go through Totti, he has to be at the heart of it, not drift in at times, or anything, and that is how he is wired. He won't accept those instructions, he doesn't have the required mobility or the work ethic to do it anyway. It's a really bad use of him, not unseen earlier.
done@VivaJanuzaj change in formation:
Substitution:
The underrated Emerson is replaced with Michael Ballack.
Tactics:
Effenberg and Breitner have shifted a little deeper to shore up the defence. Between the two of them they'll have the tactical nous and workrate to shut out attacking threats.
The gap in attacking workload due to above has been taken on by Ballack. Physically strong with a commanding presence and a great passing range, Ballack will add steel to the midfield. His late runs into the box will be difficult to track and he brings an added goal threat to the team.
Totti will shift a little bit towards the Inside Left channel to accommodate Ballack. It's a role he has played before and is quite comfortable. It also helps him link up more easily with Brehme. He still has a free drifting role and his pace and movement will cause more confusion for Pirri who needs to contend with Ballack and his runs.
50s
Kalle
Breitner
Augenthaler
60s
Effenberg
Brehme
70s
Shevchenko
Totti
Ballack
Sagnol
80s
Mexes
Not sure why, considering he has been operating in multiple positions all through his career. Lone CF, SS, IF, AM, he has pretty much been through the cycle. The flexibility which Totti offers over a standard #10 is now considered to be a liability?
