....................................... Team Tuppet ...................................................................................... Team diarm ..........................................
Team Tuppet:
New Addition:
Our team welcomes the best attacking left back in Roberto Carlos and a brilliant striker in Eto’o, fixing two of the biggest problem in our squad.
Tactic:
We’ll be playing a fluid 4-2-3-1/4-3-3 formation.
At the back we have 2 world class defenders, in Nesta and Costacurta. Both have won all there is to win and provide class and solidity to my backline also sporting 2 fantastic physical attacking fullbacks in Reuter and Roberto Carlos. Both of my full backs although attacking and aggressive are still very good in defending and have the ability to own the flanks all by themselves. This defense is then protected with one of the finest defensive midfielder Makelele. As good as Diarm’s attack is, its going to be very hard to break down our defense.
At Midfield, Makelele would play the holding role, doing the dirty work for Van Hanegem to run his magic. His extraordinary vision and passing, as well as ball retention abilities would help him to create many chances for our fantastic attack. Van Hanegem was an extraordinary playmaker, who was as tenacious as he was creative. As great Johan Cruyff said himself - “Van Hanegem has one advantage over me. When I have a bad game, I’m useless. When Van Hanegem has a bad game, he rolls up his sleeves and starts tackling.” He is right up there with the likes of Cruyff and is the standout midfielder on the pitch. To round of this midfield we have Gullit playing as the most advanced midfielder. A ballon d’or winner and one of the finest and most unique attacking midfielder, he provides further muscle and creativity to our midfield.
In attack Gullit with his explosiveness and physicality would run through the opposition midfield. Also he is one of the best header of the ball in game. A deep cross from Roberto Carlos, Van Hanegem or Reuter to Gullit is a simple yet very effective route to goal. In flanks I have Nedved, further adding work rate and creativity from the left side and he would look to stretch the defense of Diarm. He would provide overlaps to Roberto Carlos and together they should prove too much handle for Neville. On the other flank I have 2 times Ballon D’or winner Rummenigge, who along with Baggio is the standout attacker on the pitch. With Reuter overlapping while he cuts inside, Amoros is going to find it very hard to provide any attacking impetus or width to team Diarm.
Finally in Eto’o we have a lethal striker with pace to burn. His presence means the defenders can not live easily, or hold up a high line comfortably. Especially against Vidic, Eto’s pace would be very useful. With the likes of Van Hanegem, Nedved, Gullit providing chances to Eto’o and Rummenigge, I am sure our team would score goals here.
Why would we win:
Diarm has a brilliant team and there is not really much between our teams. Both midfields are fantastic and attacks are pretty even. The advantage our team has over him is in width, we have more varied attack and more ways to punish our opponent. Be it the lethal finishing of Eto’o or Rummenigge, or heading of Gullit. Especially Nedved - Roberto Carlos vs Neville is a great route for us. With no special wide threat Roberto Carlos would really dominate the left flank. The presence of Gullit - Hanegem allows us to hold on to possession, while our pace in wings and upfront means we can also play a quick counter attack.
Overall its going to be a very tight game, and with our advantage on the wings, I think we would nick a win here.
Team diarm:
Tactics
Formation: 4222 - "The Wonky Rhombus"
- Defence - The defensively excellent Neville alongside the magnificent defensive partnership of Ferdinand and Vidic. Amoros offers a more attacking threat from LWB.
- Midfield - Scholes as a deep lying playmaker, protected by a true box to box, all action footballer in Tardelli and a more advanced playmaker in Schuster who will offer width and class, linking with fake 9.5 Baggio in much the same way as he did with Maradona at Barca.
- Attack - An ideal trio combing an inside forward/No.10 extraordinaire in Baggio, a complete CF with pace to burn in Völler and a ruthless striker in Klinsmann. This exceptional partnership will torment our opponents defence and create space for Baggio to punish.
- Dominate possession with Scholes, Tardelli and Schuster dictating the tempo of the game.
- Use Amoros and Schuster, along with the movement of Baggio and Völler to provide width and pace.
- Look to exploit the excellent movement of our front 3 by making use of Scholes long range passing, Schusters slide rule passing (delicious through balls!) and Tardelli's running from midfield to join the attack.
- World class, balanced midfield. Scholes and Schuster are two of the finest midfielders ever to pass a ball and Tardelli is the sort of warrior every manager wishes he had in the middle of the park. We plan to dominate possession of the ball, allowing our two playmakers to put the ball in areas where Baggio, Völler and Klinsmann can hurt the opposition.
- We have a beautifully balanced and incredibly talented front 3. The dribbling and general brilliance of Baggio operating between the lines and able to attack the box from central or wider areas will be complimented by the pace and movement of Völler. The German's ability to both run at defenders and to pull into wider areas, looking to receive the ball from Scholes or Schuster, will pull defenders out of position and create space for Baggio to dribble into. Once in the box, both players are lethal and here they'll be joined by a sublime striker who is no less deadly.
- Incredible defence with three of the finest defenders in Manchester United history in Rio, Vida and Neville, plus the superb Manuel Amoros. Strength, balance, pace and understanding will allow this four to come out on top of what is a fine, but not overly cohesive attack.
- Proven partnerships and understanding in key areas. Neville, Rio, Vidic and Scholes have done it together at the highest levels of the European game. The centre back pair in particular will have a massive impact in this game, while on the other side Costacurta/Nesta doesn't look a partnership with the same balance or ability for me. Up front we have one of the finest strike partnerships of all time and two ruthless German predators in their own rights. Behind them, Baggio and Schuster look like they were meant to play together and Tardelli as an upgraded Roy Keane is a perfect partner for the brilliant Scholes.
Best of luck to our opponents and here's to what should be a great game.
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. Its incredibly difficult to even begin to seperate these two teams, although Roberto Carlos/Nedved look well poised to give Nevillea tough game. That said I'm a bit disappointed that Del Piero hasn't retained his starting role at inside left, particularly given that Carlos will be providing so much width. Nedved vs Del Piero is a tough decision of course, but Im just very high on Del Piero circa 1998 at the minute, and his additional goal threat and set piece ability would offset Baggio's qualities nicely.
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