Physiocrat
Has No Mates
- Joined
- Jun 29, 2010
- Messages
- 8,969
EAP
Big Dunk
EAP
Peaks -
Gerd Muller 1969-72
Roberto Baggio - 1993-96
Laszlo Kubala - 1957-60
Roy Keane - 1999-02
Paul Scholes - 2006-09
Billy Bremner - 1972-75
Andreas Brehme - 1989-92
Oscar Ruggeri - 1988-91
Velibor Vasovic - 1968-71
Leandro - 1982-85
Oliver Kahn - 1999-02
Formation: 4-3-2-1 Christmas Tree
Inspired by: Ancelotti's AC Milan
An updated version of the formation used by AC MIlan when they made 3 CL finals between 2003-07.
The 2003/04 version was more attacking and free flowing with all of Kaka, Rui Costa and Pirlo in their peak, but they weren't defensively sound. as evidenced by the 2005 loss to scousers and other matches. So Ancelotti dropped a bit of flair by adding Ambrosini's defensive nous to the midfield and moving Seedorf ahead to bridge gap to attack and a bit more dependent on counters and the pace of Kaka/Inzaghi to score.
Personally a blend of both the teams would be the ideal setup in my opinion, which is what I've tried to build here.
&
Tactics:
vs Big Dunk:
Big D will be playing catenaccio tactics and sports a solid Italian defence.
The match up is beneficial to my team
- I have better CMs in Keane and Bremner which will help a lot against Zidane.
- Deschamps will have a hard time sandwiched between Baggio and Kubala.
- My CBs match well to his forwards.
BIg Dunk
Inspiration/blueprint
Nereo Rocco's AC Milan 1st spell (1961-63) and 2nd spell (1967-73).
Team specific: 1969 European Cup Final - AC Milan 4-1 Ajax
Playing style, tactics
Highly disciplined and defensively organised 4-3-3, while still being very potent and direct on the counter attack. Scirea performs the libero role (modern ball playing centreback) whose expert positioning and movement is still effective with the modern offside rules. Bergomi, Gentile and Maldini can be assigned specific man marking duties, while also incorporating the modern catenaccio variation of mixed zonal marking. Deschamps can hold while Maldini or Scirea move forward. Bergomi, Scirea, Gentile and Maldini are all competent on the ball and with the ball, able to initiate attacks.
Our industry is matched by our artistry and prolific threat in attack. Having three in midfield will help to contest against possession-focused opponents, and help to control the game with and without the ball. We can build play though Scirea from deep. Our defence and attack is linked by Deschamps and Bagni. Our creative play will flow through Zidane, and with Del Piero and Conti on the flanks. Conti can change wings or move centrally. Our attack is very dangerous on the counter attack and on well-timed vertical passing transitions. Del Piero will cut in from the left wing, whose runs will create space for Batistuta.
By allowing and encouraging our opponent to attack, I believe I have the ultimate defensive platform to nullify my opponent, then counter with a very potent and clutch attack. We possess defensive strength, all-round team balance, workrate, creativity and goals. We have the tools to adapt to each opponent and exploit their weaknesses.
Player roles
Gianluigi Buffon (Goalkeeper) - the greatest goalkeeper of all time, Gianluigi Buffon. He will form an impenetrable unit alongside Maldini, Gentile, Bergomi and Scirea. I have not seen a more complete goalkeeper than Super Gigi.
Giuseppe Bergomi (Right back) – you cannot get a superior upgrade for Angelo Anquilletti than Bergomi. Angelo Anquilletti was actually an inspiration for a young Claudio Gentile. Bergomi will be utilised as my defensive right back. Bergomi is one of the greatest man-markers of all time, if not Italy’s best ever stopper. His defending style combined the no-nonsense tough-tackling reminiscent of classic catenaccio, with defensive discipline that set him apart from other tough markers of his era and before. Giuseppe was a tenacious but very efficient tackler, whose awareness for danger and space helped him to break down attacking moves and anticipate counter attacks. A versatile defender, Bergomi was very consistent at both centreback, sweeper and fullback though-out his career.
Claudio Gentile (Stopper) - the very master of the dark arts of defending, Claudio Gentile is one of the toughest man markers of all time. A tenacious and physically dominant stopper who would lockdown the opponent’s key creator, dangerous winger or goalscorer. Like the great Rocco, Gentile meticulously studied pre-game his marking assignment: identifying their strengths, and preying on their weaknesses. As with Bergomi and Maldini, Gentile can work across the back four in a variety of roles, with the tactical intelligence, technical ability and mobility to start a quick counter attack. Like the legendary Roberto Rosato, it is important that Gentile can operate as a centreback, fullback or defensive midfielder when called upon.
Gaetano Scirea (Libero) - il Grande Capitano, Juve’s greatest ever defender. Scirea is technically and tactically a perfect ball-playing central defender. Scirea transformed the limited and defensive interpretation of the sweeper role, and perfected it into the integral creative fulcrum from deep. Scirea possessed an allround game, demonstrating an elegance on the ball and passing skills that set him apart from other libero’s of his era. In this free role, Scirea will roam along his back line, shutting down attacks, closing down any spaces, covering his man-markers and anticipating any threat, then using his vision and playmaking skills to dribble the ball forward or pass to his midfielders and forwards with accurate longballs. Scirea wasn’t an aggressive tackler, but instead made well-timed interceptions and slide tackles. One-on-one against a striker or winger, you could almost always guarantee Scirea coming out with the ball, gracefully gliding forward to initiate another attack.
Paolo Maldini (Left back) - Not only the greatest left back of all time, Maldini is unquestionably one of the best players in football history. Paolo Maldini is the ultimate defender; in the sense he has every quality and skill you need at fullback or centreback. In the 90s you could appreciate him as a true athlete, nearly impossible to run past and powerful charging forward with the ball. Maldini controlled, crossed and passed the ball with great composure and precision. Maldini’s positioning, reading of the game and discipline was world-class. He executed perfectly- timed slide tackles and strong interceptions. When he positioned himself between the ball and attacker, his opponent had no chance in outmuscling and winning back the ball from the strong, agile and towering figure of Maldini. Maldini has more attacking licence down his flank than Bergomi, while also forming a solid 3-man defence with Gentile and Bergomi, when Scirea joins the attack. There is no finer upgrade to Schnellinger or Sabadini than Paolo Maldini.
Didier Deschamps (Defensive midfielder) - The highly disciplined Didier Deschamps will break down my opponent’s attacks, screen my back four and distribute the ball with accuracy. His tactical and positional intelligence in the enforcer role is very important. Deschamps has a massive match engine too, demonstrating his tenacity and pressing in areas across the midfield, both deep, central and high up the pitch. For the sheer balance he brings, vision and leadership he possesses, Deschamps is a key cog here. Giovanni Trapattoni was Nereo Rocco’s anchor, linking the Rossoneri’s defence and attack. Deschamps is the clinical master of this.
Salvatore Bagni (Box to box midfielder) - A combative midfielder who allows his playmaker the freedom to express himself is invaluable. ‘The Warrior’: Bagni was a complete midfielder, a tenacious workhorse in midfield, who would win the ball aggressively then build the next attack. Bagni was composed on the ball, an astute reader of the game, able to bring the ball forward, while also showing the tactical ability to operate out-wide too. Bagni is also a fierce man-marker, offering great protection for his back four. Salvatore represents the engine room of my team, as both Benetti and Lodetti so perfectly served under Rocco.
Zinedine Zidane (Attacking midfielder) - The artist amongst all the industry, Zizou is my fantasista. Not only one of the best playmakers of all time, but one of the all-time greatest footballers. A creative midfielder possessing pure technique: whether it be his elegant ball control and dribbling, accurate passing or highly technical shooting, Zidane moved with the ball with balance and grace like no other. Excellent vision, football IQ and an ability to shine the brightest in the biggest games. Zidane has the perfect defensive cover and workrate in Deschamps and Bagni, and the ideal attacking partners in Del Piero, Conti and Batistuta. As Gianni Rivera before him, Zidane is the dream artist to complement the ruthlessness of Catenaccio.
Bruno Conti (Right winger) - Italy’s greatest ever winger, The Mayor of Rome. The diminutive winger was a dynamic attacking and creative force on the wing for Roma and Italy in the 80s. His worldclass ball control, feints, vision and dribbling skills earned him the nickname ‘MaraZico’. Bruno Conti was effective on both wings, or roaming centrally, an excellent counter-attacking threat. To ease the creative responsibility on Zidane, I will make use of Bruno Conti’s high workrate on the right wing - Batistuta will no doubt benefit from Conti’s accurate crosses from the flanks, through-balls and drilled cut-backs. As a playmaking pure winger, very few #7’s have had such a clutch impact at the World Cup stage too.
Gabriel Batistuta (Centre forward) - I needed a clinical finisher, lethal with both feet, in the air, in the box and from long range. A complete striker who was arguably the most consistent and finest striker in Serie A in the 90s, and regarded as one of the greatest centre forwards of all time. ‘Batigol’ is both a prolific goalscorer and a creative team player (excellent link-up play with his secondary strike partner/playmaker). His sheer power and shooting technique was world-class, adding to his predatory instinct and intelligent positioning. Batistuta represents all the qualities of José Altafini and Angelo Sormani wrapped in one offensive package.
Alessandro Del Piero (Supporting striker) – there is no forward in football history who can encapsulate Pierino Prati’s role more wonderfully than Del Piero: a secondary striker who can play anywhere along the front-line, but primarily here off the left wing, employed as both a creative and goalscoring threat. A highly skilled technician whose dribbling, set-piece, crossing and shooting technique were worldclass. Del Piero fits perfectly here as he works seamlessly in an attacking triumvirate: his creativity, link-up play and support for a centre-forward (Batistuta) and his fluid movement and quick-passing partnership with my playmaker (Zidane) is tactically vital. Operating in his famous ‘Del Piero Zone’, we’ll take advantage of his assists, sharp turns, curling shots and direct penetration cutting inside. His workrate on the wing, also adds cover and helps to create space for his teammates. A consistent goalscorer, Alex will ease the scoring burden on Batistuta.
Alterations from the original
Nereo Rocco’s system evolved though the eras, and he was open to make the necessary tactical adjustments. Here, we apply the modern adaption of the offside rule and positional discipline in the back four. Including an update to the mixed man/zonal-marking duties, in order to keep shape and not allowing any spaces for our opponent to work in. Rocco’s expectation of hard-work and adaptive organisation is thus maintained.
Big Dunk
EAP
Peaks -
Gerd Muller 1969-72
Roberto Baggio - 1993-96
Laszlo Kubala - 1957-60
Roy Keane - 1999-02
Paul Scholes - 2006-09
Billy Bremner - 1972-75
Andreas Brehme - 1989-92
Oscar Ruggeri - 1988-91
Velibor Vasovic - 1968-71
Leandro - 1982-85
Oliver Kahn - 1999-02
Formation: 4-3-2-1 Christmas Tree
Inspired by: Ancelotti's AC Milan
An updated version of the formation used by AC MIlan when they made 3 CL finals between 2003-07.
The 2003/04 version was more attacking and free flowing with all of Kaka, Rui Costa and Pirlo in their peak, but they weren't defensively sound. as evidenced by the 2005 loss to scousers and other matches. So Ancelotti dropped a bit of flair by adding Ambrosini's defensive nous to the midfield and moving Seedorf ahead to bridge gap to attack and a bit more dependent on counters and the pace of Kaka/Inzaghi to score.
Personally a blend of both the teams would be the ideal setup in my opinion, which is what I've tried to build here.
Tactics:
Personnel / Tactics - Ancelotti's Milan | Personnel / Tactics - Team EAP's Christmas Tree | |
---|---|---|
Goalkeeper | Dida was a keeper who had moments of brilliance mixed with penchant for lapses in concentration | Oliver Kahn is an upgrade in every facet of the role. More commanding, better technique, shot stopping ability, fitness etc. |
Centre Backs | Nesta/Stam | Maldini/Nesta - Top notch world class duo who sets the base of the defence. | Velibor Vasovic | Oscar Ruggeri - A more traditional sweeper/stopper combo, defensively stout and with complimentary skills. |
Full Backs | Maldini/Cafu | Jankulovski/Oddo - Cafu, Jankulovski and Oddo are all very attacking full backs able to provide the width to the narrow formation. Despite perception Maldini did venture forward and contribute to attack regularly. | Brehme/Leandro - Balanced top class fullback defensively stout and able to provide width all game. One man flanks. |
Deep Lying Playmaker | Pirlo - Legendary long passer who liked to play in front of defence. | Scholes - In his older version, he's at par with Pirlo in ability to control the pace and dictate the flow of game. A complete world class DLP. Plus having an added advantage of being defensively more solid than Pirlo. |
Centre Midfielders | Seedorf/Gattuso | Ambrosini/Gattuso - The team was dependent on the water carrier workrate of Gattuso to do the job of holding that midfield. Seedorf added a bit of workrate and playmaking from the middle too, but it was still defensively not enough as evidence by the inclusion of Ambrosini later on. | Bremner/Keane - Bremner is a upgrade on Gattuso in every sense. A spark plug of a player with excellent ball winning skills and a lot of heart. No introduction needed for Keane who reprises his traditional box-to-box role. The iron will and inspirational presence of Keane and Bremner will be the heart of the team. |
Attacking Midfielders | Rui Costa/Kaka | Seedorf/Kaka - A blend of a traditional #10 in Rui Costa (and then a bit more defensive presence in Seedorf) blended with direct play making of Kaka formed the base of the attacking trio. | Baggio/Kubala - With a far stronger midfield, the team has Baggio alternating between a #9.5 and #10 plus the direct trickery and pace of Kubala. Both are quite versatile and can alternate their roles as the game requires. |
Centre Forward | Shevchenko/Inzaghi - With 2 AMs (Rui Costa and Kaka) Sheva was the complete CF glue that briught them together. With Seedorf being a more defensive presence, the team switched to a proper poacher like Inzaghi to keep the balance. | Gerd Muller - A complete CF bringing in the best qualities of both Sheva and Inzaghi. Lethal in front of goal, yet able to bring others into play too, he'd be the tip of the attack. |
vs Big Dunk:
Big D will be playing catenaccio tactics and sports a solid Italian defence.
The match up is beneficial to my team
- I have better CMs in Keane and Bremner which will help a lot against Zidane.
- Deschamps will have a hard time sandwiched between Baggio and Kubala.
- My CBs match well to his forwards.
BIg Dunk
Inspiration/blueprint
Nereo Rocco's AC Milan 1st spell (1961-63) and 2nd spell (1967-73).
Team specific: 1969 European Cup Final - AC Milan 4-1 Ajax
Playing style, tactics
Highly disciplined and defensively organised 4-3-3, while still being very potent and direct on the counter attack. Scirea performs the libero role (modern ball playing centreback) whose expert positioning and movement is still effective with the modern offside rules. Bergomi, Gentile and Maldini can be assigned specific man marking duties, while also incorporating the modern catenaccio variation of mixed zonal marking. Deschamps can hold while Maldini or Scirea move forward. Bergomi, Scirea, Gentile and Maldini are all competent on the ball and with the ball, able to initiate attacks.
Our industry is matched by our artistry and prolific threat in attack. Having three in midfield will help to contest against possession-focused opponents, and help to control the game with and without the ball. We can build play though Scirea from deep. Our defence and attack is linked by Deschamps and Bagni. Our creative play will flow through Zidane, and with Del Piero and Conti on the flanks. Conti can change wings or move centrally. Our attack is very dangerous on the counter attack and on well-timed vertical passing transitions. Del Piero will cut in from the left wing, whose runs will create space for Batistuta.
By allowing and encouraging our opponent to attack, I believe I have the ultimate defensive platform to nullify my opponent, then counter with a very potent and clutch attack. We possess defensive strength, all-round team balance, workrate, creativity and goals. We have the tools to adapt to each opponent and exploit their weaknesses.
Player roles
Gianluigi Buffon (Goalkeeper) - the greatest goalkeeper of all time, Gianluigi Buffon. He will form an impenetrable unit alongside Maldini, Gentile, Bergomi and Scirea. I have not seen a more complete goalkeeper than Super Gigi.
Giuseppe Bergomi (Right back) – you cannot get a superior upgrade for Angelo Anquilletti than Bergomi. Angelo Anquilletti was actually an inspiration for a young Claudio Gentile. Bergomi will be utilised as my defensive right back. Bergomi is one of the greatest man-markers of all time, if not Italy’s best ever stopper. His defending style combined the no-nonsense tough-tackling reminiscent of classic catenaccio, with defensive discipline that set him apart from other tough markers of his era and before. Giuseppe was a tenacious but very efficient tackler, whose awareness for danger and space helped him to break down attacking moves and anticipate counter attacks. A versatile defender, Bergomi was very consistent at both centreback, sweeper and fullback though-out his career.
Claudio Gentile (Stopper) - the very master of the dark arts of defending, Claudio Gentile is one of the toughest man markers of all time. A tenacious and physically dominant stopper who would lockdown the opponent’s key creator, dangerous winger or goalscorer. Like the great Rocco, Gentile meticulously studied pre-game his marking assignment: identifying their strengths, and preying on their weaknesses. As with Bergomi and Maldini, Gentile can work across the back four in a variety of roles, with the tactical intelligence, technical ability and mobility to start a quick counter attack. Like the legendary Roberto Rosato, it is important that Gentile can operate as a centreback, fullback or defensive midfielder when called upon.
Gaetano Scirea (Libero) - il Grande Capitano, Juve’s greatest ever defender. Scirea is technically and tactically a perfect ball-playing central defender. Scirea transformed the limited and defensive interpretation of the sweeper role, and perfected it into the integral creative fulcrum from deep. Scirea possessed an allround game, demonstrating an elegance on the ball and passing skills that set him apart from other libero’s of his era. In this free role, Scirea will roam along his back line, shutting down attacks, closing down any spaces, covering his man-markers and anticipating any threat, then using his vision and playmaking skills to dribble the ball forward or pass to his midfielders and forwards with accurate longballs. Scirea wasn’t an aggressive tackler, but instead made well-timed interceptions and slide tackles. One-on-one against a striker or winger, you could almost always guarantee Scirea coming out with the ball, gracefully gliding forward to initiate another attack.
Paolo Maldini (Left back) - Not only the greatest left back of all time, Maldini is unquestionably one of the best players in football history. Paolo Maldini is the ultimate defender; in the sense he has every quality and skill you need at fullback or centreback. In the 90s you could appreciate him as a true athlete, nearly impossible to run past and powerful charging forward with the ball. Maldini controlled, crossed and passed the ball with great composure and precision. Maldini’s positioning, reading of the game and discipline was world-class. He executed perfectly- timed slide tackles and strong interceptions. When he positioned himself between the ball and attacker, his opponent had no chance in outmuscling and winning back the ball from the strong, agile and towering figure of Maldini. Maldini has more attacking licence down his flank than Bergomi, while also forming a solid 3-man defence with Gentile and Bergomi, when Scirea joins the attack. There is no finer upgrade to Schnellinger or Sabadini than Paolo Maldini.
Didier Deschamps (Defensive midfielder) - The highly disciplined Didier Deschamps will break down my opponent’s attacks, screen my back four and distribute the ball with accuracy. His tactical and positional intelligence in the enforcer role is very important. Deschamps has a massive match engine too, demonstrating his tenacity and pressing in areas across the midfield, both deep, central and high up the pitch. For the sheer balance he brings, vision and leadership he possesses, Deschamps is a key cog here. Giovanni Trapattoni was Nereo Rocco’s anchor, linking the Rossoneri’s defence and attack. Deschamps is the clinical master of this.
Salvatore Bagni (Box to box midfielder) - A combative midfielder who allows his playmaker the freedom to express himself is invaluable. ‘The Warrior’: Bagni was a complete midfielder, a tenacious workhorse in midfield, who would win the ball aggressively then build the next attack. Bagni was composed on the ball, an astute reader of the game, able to bring the ball forward, while also showing the tactical ability to operate out-wide too. Bagni is also a fierce man-marker, offering great protection for his back four. Salvatore represents the engine room of my team, as both Benetti and Lodetti so perfectly served under Rocco.
Zinedine Zidane (Attacking midfielder) - The artist amongst all the industry, Zizou is my fantasista. Not only one of the best playmakers of all time, but one of the all-time greatest footballers. A creative midfielder possessing pure technique: whether it be his elegant ball control and dribbling, accurate passing or highly technical shooting, Zidane moved with the ball with balance and grace like no other. Excellent vision, football IQ and an ability to shine the brightest in the biggest games. Zidane has the perfect defensive cover and workrate in Deschamps and Bagni, and the ideal attacking partners in Del Piero, Conti and Batistuta. As Gianni Rivera before him, Zidane is the dream artist to complement the ruthlessness of Catenaccio.
Bruno Conti (Right winger) - Italy’s greatest ever winger, The Mayor of Rome. The diminutive winger was a dynamic attacking and creative force on the wing for Roma and Italy in the 80s. His worldclass ball control, feints, vision and dribbling skills earned him the nickname ‘MaraZico’. Bruno Conti was effective on both wings, or roaming centrally, an excellent counter-attacking threat. To ease the creative responsibility on Zidane, I will make use of Bruno Conti’s high workrate on the right wing - Batistuta will no doubt benefit from Conti’s accurate crosses from the flanks, through-balls and drilled cut-backs. As a playmaking pure winger, very few #7’s have had such a clutch impact at the World Cup stage too.
Gabriel Batistuta (Centre forward) - I needed a clinical finisher, lethal with both feet, in the air, in the box and from long range. A complete striker who was arguably the most consistent and finest striker in Serie A in the 90s, and regarded as one of the greatest centre forwards of all time. ‘Batigol’ is both a prolific goalscorer and a creative team player (excellent link-up play with his secondary strike partner/playmaker). His sheer power and shooting technique was world-class, adding to his predatory instinct and intelligent positioning. Batistuta represents all the qualities of José Altafini and Angelo Sormani wrapped in one offensive package.
Alessandro Del Piero (Supporting striker) – there is no forward in football history who can encapsulate Pierino Prati’s role more wonderfully than Del Piero: a secondary striker who can play anywhere along the front-line, but primarily here off the left wing, employed as both a creative and goalscoring threat. A highly skilled technician whose dribbling, set-piece, crossing and shooting technique were worldclass. Del Piero fits perfectly here as he works seamlessly in an attacking triumvirate: his creativity, link-up play and support for a centre-forward (Batistuta) and his fluid movement and quick-passing partnership with my playmaker (Zidane) is tactically vital. Operating in his famous ‘Del Piero Zone’, we’ll take advantage of his assists, sharp turns, curling shots and direct penetration cutting inside. His workrate on the wing, also adds cover and helps to create space for his teammates. A consistent goalscorer, Alex will ease the scoring burden on Batistuta.
Alterations from the original
Nereo Rocco’s system evolved though the eras, and he was open to make the necessary tactical adjustments. Here, we apply the modern adaption of the offside rule and positional discipline in the back four. Including an update to the mixed man/zonal-marking duties, in order to keep shape and not allowing any spaces for our opponent to work in. Rocco’s expectation of hard-work and adaptive organisation is thus maintained.