Auction Draft: Round 1 - Skizzo vs. Don Alfredo/Enigma

[Indnyc]

Skizzo vs. ------------------------------------------ Don Alfredo/Enigma

vs.

Team Skizzo

Following on from my 442 in the last draft, I decided to try something else as opposed to the usual 4231 that I've used before.

Formation - 3-2-2-3/WM
Style - Direct/Fast break

In goal is the three time winner of the IFFHS Best Goalkeeper in the World winner, Walter Zenga. The high-flying Italian shot stopper will look to help marshall the defense behind three defensive leaders in their own right. Paolo Maldini, Ruud Krol, and Guido Buchwald make a 3 man defensive line and will look to shut down the opposition as they attack. All three are defense first, and with Maldini and Krol, we have two players who are comfortable on the ball and can help retain possession from the back.

Ahead of them is the one man wall, Claude Makelele, and one of the best box to box midfielders to have played the game, Roy Keane. Makelele will be more defense focused, helping out the back three, while Keane will look to push forward at times and use his passing to find the forward players.

Wayne Rooney and Valentino Mazzola will take up the attacking midfielder positions, but neither will be locked into those positions. Both have an eye for goal, and love to be involved in various aspects of play across the pitch. Both have an incredible engine, and look to press hard from the front.

Luis Figo takes up his position out wide right, and Oleh Blokhinslides in on the left. Figo would look to beat his man and get crosses and pull-backs into the box for the onrushing midfielders and striker. Blokhin would use his pace down the left to get in behind, as well as make penetrative runs into dangerous areas.

Gunnar Nordahl leads the line and the Swedish hitman would be right at home with the creative players around him, and the service from out wide. Fantastic write up on Nordahl.

Game Factors

• Goals. Between Rooney, Nordahl, Blokhin and Mazzola, we have multiple goal threats in a fluid set up to probe the defense, all of which are capable of making runs in behind and being rather predatory in the box.
• Different creative outlets. Too many to shut down by the assumed high press of the opposition. With players comfortable on the ball from back to front, and with both Mazzola and Rooney able to drop deeper and operate in various spots on the field, we would be able to attack and push through the high press and attack quickly.
• speaking of quickly, the pace we have up front out wide would cause a lot of issues for the opposition once we transition through any pressing and attack quickly on counters.
• Gunnar Nordahl would be a handful in the box, and with the various avenues to get the ball to him, the record holding Swede would look to put his predatory instincts to good use.

Team Don Alfredo/Enigma

Formation:- 4-3-3 with a false 9. Press the opponent into mistake, possession based, take control of midfield
Defensive line:- Normal to high.
Style:- Cruyff inspired 4-3-3. Form triangles and employ short, but more direct passing than tiki taka. Look for openings, stretch the opposition defence and a lot of movement in midfield and the front line. We're looking for quick passes using the space, forming triangles, double passes, depth, pausing, rhythm and thus open up the pitch in the attacking third.

GK:- Claudio Taffarel - Brazil are hardly known for their proficient goalkeepers, but Taffarel merits a better reputation than simply being the tallest dwarf. Only three players (Cafu, Roberto Carlos and Lucio) have earned more caps for the Seleção. Taffarel’s international career began in 1988, and his first major tournament was the 1989 Copa America. He would play in five Copa Americas and two World Cups, Brazil’s first choice as they won in 1994 and lost the final to France in 1998. It was his penalty saves in the semi-final shootout against Netherlands that took Brazil through.
Individually, Taffarel was named the third best goalkeeper in the world in 1991 and 1994.

RB:- Leandro - Leandro, and he was a magician on the ball, considered one of the most skilled players in the mythical 1982 World Cup. Attacking full back, whose career was cut short with injuries, forcing him to retire at the tender age of 30. Leandro spent his entire club career Flamengo, where he won four Brazilian national leagues, five Rio State championships, one Libertadores da América, and one Intercontinental Cup against Liverpool. He had top not positional sense and reading of the game, which allowed him to play as a CB later on in his career when he was marred with injuries.

CB:- Elias Figueroa - Don Elias is one of the finest defenders in history. Someone who neutralized Gerd Muller at the biggest stage and yet further afield he was a central defender playing at the very peak of his game during this era, a player good enough to be voted South American Player of the Year three times in succession between 1974 and 1976. Elías Figueroa was a revelation: a cultured sweeper with style, fine technique on the ball and an unusual penchant for clean play – he was sent-off on just one occasion during his 18-year career. His human qualities were considerable, too. This was a natural leader who was given the captaincy of every club he played for and who racked up no end of individual awards for his consistent excellence. To this day he’s considered the best foreign footballer to have played in both Uruguay and Brazil.

CB:- Hector Chumpitaz - One of the finest South American defenders, he was excellent on the ball - which dovetails our style pretty well. Fast, strong, solid defender who was part of Peru's golden generation that won Copa America in 75'

LB:- Eric Abidal - Abidal is one of the most decorated French footballers in recent history. A powerful left-back, he amassed over 400 club appearances, as well as 67 international caps, across a career spanning 15 years. At club level, Abidal won it all: eight league titles, a pair of Champions League trophies, a Club World Cup and numerous other cup competitions. He challenged himself across three different countries and succeeded in each.

DM:- Nestor Goncalves - A brief and accurate description, credit to @antohan - Captained the 1960's Peñarol side considered one of the greatest of all time and which was largely responsible for Peñarol being named South American Team of the Century by FIFA. He regularly featured in World XIs in his pomp, a deep-lying playmaker and mean defensive shield rolled into one. A one-club man, Gonçálves was a tough as nails defensive midfielder with an exceptional passing range.

RCM:- Xavi - At his peak, Xavi controlled every game he was ever part of. What Xavi engineered was trust. There was an old video that showed how him and Iniesta were so linked that they made the same gestures on the field. When Xavi was at his best, he transmitted that to all of his teammates. His Barcelona were so devastating because it seemed like they didn’t have to look to pass the ball, everything moved so fluidly because players could touch the ball into space knowing that their teammate would be there, or on the way there.

LCM:- Andres Iniesta - Him and Xavi are probably the best midfielders of its generation. He is brilliant in every aspect of the game. There is no other more complete footballer than Andres Iniesta. He can attack, defend, create and score. Probably the most versatile and unique player of all-time and one of the best players of his era. Under Rijkaard he played as a false 9, attacking midfielder and winger. Iniesta is a player who can not only win leagues but also matches when it matters with his consistency and sheer prowess.

LW:- Rivaldo - After a storming season with Deportivo Rivaldo came into prominance at Barca. Deceptively quick, often using sideways step-overs and feints, and with the ability to drill low, powerful shots from seemingly any distance, Rivaldo was deployed by Van Gaal on the left of midfield in the Dutchman’s Ajax model. Rivaldo would drift inside, often to devastating effect on slaloming runs or to unleash swerving, bending shots from all angles. All with that unique long-legged gait and magical left foot.

The opposition knew what was coming but still found it impossible to stop him. In fact, the longer Rivaldo remained at Camp Nou, the more important and effective he became, with his goal tally rising every season until his last. After Valencia (10 goals), Real Sociedad (7 goals) and local rivals Espanyol (7 goals), Rivaldo’s next most favoured opponents while at Barça were Real Madrid, against whom he scored five goals. Four of them were decisive.

RW:- Daniel Bertoni - One of the best right wingers of the late 70's - early 80's. He scored the 3rd goal in the WC final in 78 and enjoyed a great career in Italy against the toughest of defences. He was very technical, quick and aggressive player who also scored a lot of decisive goals. Bertoni also boasts with 3 Copa Libertadores wins in his lucrative career.

False 9:- Johan Cruyff - One of the GOAT's. His claim to the best ever wasn't the pure goal number. His intelligence on the pitch, his awareness, and team work has higher importance than his personal goal tally. He hasn’t scored 1,000 goals in his career but he has assisted many and was involvement very much in every goal his team used to score. Whether it’s Ajax, Barcelona, or Dutch national team, each one of them owe something to Cruyff.

Defence:- Marshaled by Elias Figueroa, we have 2 excellent CB's on the ball, with two great stylistic fits in Leandro and Abidal. Both full backs will provide width in attack, and cover their man defensively. Figueroa and Chumpitaz will form and impassable wall for the opposition forwards and are both physical and great in the air and on the deck.

Midfield:- A midfield unit build around Xavi. He forms a familiar Xaviesta pairing and Nestor (Tito) Goncalves is anchoring behind them in his favorite deeper role. Tito will link the defence and midfield and his ability on the ball will be well appreciated and combined with the Xavi/Iniesta quality ahead of him should give us control of the game. An actual term in urban dictionary it has the best representative of their play - the amazing and god like combination of xavi and iniesta on the same pitch playing together with a telepathic like ability to find themself and others on the field.

Attack:- Ballon D'or winners Cruyff and Rivaldo will lead our attack. In their favorite roles, they will dovetail nicely and are one of the biggest match winners on the pitch. Daniel Bertoni has very consistent goalscoring record, and will stretch the opposition on the right, whilst creating space for other and finishing chances himself.

vs Skizzo:- Skizzo will most likely approach with a WM or some sorts of more adventurous formation as he doesn't have a right back. We have the needed personal to control the game - as we have the best midfielders on the pitch in Xavi and Iniesta. Cruyff and Rivaldo are the matchwinners that would give us edge in attack, whilst the complimentary pairing of Figueroa and Chumpitaz is likely to be up to the task of whatever gets thrown at them.

 

[Indnyc]

Good luck @Skizzo @Don Alfredo @Enigma_87

 

[Enigma_87]

Thanks for setting it up @Indnyc !

Best of luck @Skizzo !

 

[Šjor Bepo]

that team from don and enigma is insane, skizzo also has a good team but this is to much....even tactically probably the worst opponent for skizzo.

 

[harms]

I don't like Blokhin as an outside left in a WM. Yes, he has required pace and workrate, but he was, first of all, a forward and a goalscorer at his peak, and when he got older he moved centrally as a Giggsy-esque playmaker.

Xavi-Iniesta-Cruyff with Figueroa-Chumpitaz at the back is a freakishly good spine.

 

[GodShaveTheQueen]

that team from don and enigma is insane, skizzo also has a good team but this is to much....even tactically probably the worst opponent for skizzo.

Agree about the first part (Dogma team being insane) but not quite about the second (worst opponent for skizzo).

That defensive work rate and shape of Rooney/Mazzola/Makelele/Keane would be immense against a Xaviesta team.

And narrows defensive systems sound about right against Xaviesta + wing forwards too.

 

[GodShaveTheQueen]

I don't like Blokhin as an outside left in a WM.

Czibor was pretty much an outside left on paper too in a 5 man attack, but would score and move everywhere (including the right).

 

[Šjor Bepo]

Agree about the first part (Dogma team being insane) but not quite about the second (worst opponent for skizzo).

That defensive work rate and shape of Rooney/Mazzola/Makelele/Keane would be immense against a Xaviesta team.

And narrows defensive systems sound about right against Xaviesta + wing forwards too.

tbf i was more thinking about tactics then players on the pitch, though it would be interesting to see modern workhorses like Rooney in a WM system. Still dont think that would be enough for Xaviesta + Cruyff.

 

[harms]

Czibor was pretty much an outside left on paper too in a 5 man attack, but would score and move everywhere (including the right).

And Czibor was also a world-class crosser who played as a winger all of his career. Blokhin wasn’t.

 

[GodShaveTheQueen]

And Czibor was also a world-class crosser who played as a winger all of his career. Blokhin wasn’t.

Fair enough.

 

[GodShaveTheQueen]

@harms

How about Sweden 1958 and Hamrin?

 

[antohan]

You could knitpick on specific players, battles, etc. but to me it boils down to "what is Rooney adding there that is worth sacrificing a defender for?". I can't see it and, great as those three are, I reckon they will be picked apart.

 

[Skizzo]

Valentino Mazzola

“He alone is half the squad – the other half is the rest of us.”
​

In football, there are names that reverberate around the world. The Charlton’s won a World Cup together and Jackie took the Republic of Ireland to two himself as a coach. In Africa, the Ayews are thought of with love due to uncle Kwame and his nephews, Jordan and Andre. The Koemans are now making a mark on Merseyside themselves, but Erwin and Ronald enjoyed great success as players and coaches. Another name on that list, that many people are not aware of, is Mazzola. Now Sandro Mazzola was an excellent midfielder. He scored 22 goals in 70 appearances for Italy and 116 in 417 for Inter. But he isn’t the only member of his family to make a mark on Italian football. There is another who came before him that was equally adored. I give you, Valentino Mazzola.

Born in Cassano d’Adda, Italy in 1919, Mazzola had jobs before he even left school. After his father was sacked from his job in 1933, 14-year-old Valentino worked as a baker’s boy. He was noticed playing for his village team by a worker at a nearby Alfa Romeo plant, who offered him to play for the car manufacturers team. In 1939 he joined the Navy and played a couple of times for the Navy team, where he was noticed by Venezia. In 1942, after finishing second in Serie A behind Torino and beating Roma in the Coppa Italia final, it was the northerners who wanted Mazzola. However, Torino’s rivals and Mazzola’s boyhood club, Juventus, had a verbal agreement with Venezia for first refusal. Torino offered 200,000 Lira and two players for Mazzola though and eventually got their man, and, in 1943, he led Torino to the wartime Scudetto.

During this time, Mazzola worked at the Fiat plant in Turin. He made wartime vehicles for the army and so did not have to participate directly in the war. He married his wife in 1942 and a couple of months later Sandro was born. Three years later, Sandro’s younger brother Ferruccio (named after the then Torino president) came along. Mazzola was known as a quiet man who kept himself to himself and enjoyed his privacy. Torino players at the time were not considered professionals so had to take on jobs outside the sport. So to provide for his family, Mazzola opened a sports shop selling custom made football boots after the war.

Mazzola is seen as the first all round midfielder. Whilst being widely recognised as one of the best attacking midfielders the game has ever seen due to his vision, passing and shooting accuracy, and fantastic skill, he could also play up front and was an excellent header of the ball despite his small stature. His immense work rate and leadership skills (he was infamous for rolling his sleeves up when his team were getting beat, as a sign for his team-mates to improve their performance) meant he was competent defensively and was a talismanic captain for Torino. Due to the war, Valentino Mazzola only made 12 appearances for his country and scored 4 goals.

But Il Grande Torino was not just Valentino Mazzola. Castigliano, Rigamonti and Loik were also crucial parts of that legendary team. But they knew who their leader was. They knew who they looked to on the pitch and in the dressing room. Rigamonti actually said of Mazzola, “He alone is half the squad – the other half is the rest of us.” This Torino team was not just revered by the people of Turin and fans of Il Toro, they were icons of war-ravaged Italy. When a country was recovering from a dictator that scarred them, they needed a team of giants to look up to. Those giants played in maroon and Mazzola was a Goliath.

In 1949, after winning their 5th successive Scudetto, Torino agreed to play Benfica in Lisbon in a testimonial for their captain Francisco Ferreira. The match was personally organised by Valentino Mazzola. Although feeling unwell, Mazzola felt a personal duty to his good friend Ferreira and to Torino. So he went. On the way home, tragedy struck. The plane carrying Torino crashed into a hillside outside of Turin, killing all 31 passengers including Valentino Mazzola. He was 30 years old. Torino were crowned champions for the 1948/49 season and, as a mark of respect, all of their opponents for their remaining games fielded sides of youth players. For the funerals of the players, 4 million people filled the streets of Turin.

Of all the deaths, Mazzola’s was the one that struck a chord the most. Arguably the greatest player to never play at a World Cup, the Italian public mourned the passing of their hero. Torino, as a club and a football team, never again reached the heights set by Valentino Mazzola and Il Grande Torino.

Valentino Mazzola. Father. Husband. Messiah.


Style of play:
Mazzola is considered one of the best football players of all time, and perhaps the first modern all-around footballer; a well-rounded, versatile, and hardworking player, he was capable of playing in any position on the pitch, and was known for his strong character and winning-mentality, as well as his ability to lead his teammates to victory with his charismatic presence and leadership (Mazzola was famous for raising his shirt's sleeves when his team was not playing well as a signal to his teammates and the fans).

Mazzola was a quick, strong and energetic midfielder, with excellent technical qualities and dribbling skills, as well as notable stamina, positional sense, vision, creativity, and accurate shooting and passing ability with both feet. Because of his tactical intelligence and many attributes, he was capable of both scoring and creating goals for his team. He was also an excellent playmaker, and highly regarded for his ability to orchestrate his team's attacking moves. Although he was usually deployed as an attacking midfielder, he was also capable of playing in more offensive roles, as a main forward, as a winger on either flank, or as an inside or supporting striker. Despite his small stature, he excelled in the air, due to his power, timing, heading accuracy, and elevation, which allowed him to beat larger players for the ball.

Although he was mainly renowned for his offensive and creative capabilities, Mazzola was also highly competent defensively, often pressing and tackling opponents in order to win back possession, and was even capable of being deployed as a central midfielder, or as a defender.

In the Milan area, players who insist on dribbling rather than passing are called "Veneziani" (Venetians). This is a reference to when Mazzola played for Venezia. Jose Altafini, a forward who won the 1958 World Cup wit Brazil and also played for Italy, is called "Mazzola" in his home country due to his resemblance to Valentino

 

[Skizzo]

Wayne Rooney

You will only truly appreciate Rooney when he has retired. It's a shame but its always like that - Thierry Henry
​

Wayne Rooney ended a 16-year Premier League career on the back of a rather unspectacular season with Everton– but it should never be forgotten how good England’s record goalscorer was at his peak.

Rooney scored a respectable 10 league goals in his 12 months back at Goodison Park, but none since December.

Having scored only 13 league goals across his two final seasons at Manchester United and been pushed out of the England reckoning, there is a danger of Rooney’s legacy being tarnished.

But this is a player who scored 53 goals in 119 appearances for England. A player who scored 253 goals in 559 appearances for Manchester United, with whom he won 12 major honours. And most importantly, a player who provided fans with some unbelievable memories.

Particularly in his early years, Rooney was one of the most feared strikers in the game. His pace, energy and downright determination to have the ball saw him go on runs where he would bulldoze his way through defenders and score spectacular goals, many of which are still replayed today.


The one common denominator in any goal, of course, is the poor goalkeeper who has to pick the ball out of the back of the net, and there are many around the world who were on the receiving end of Rooney’s talents in front of goal.

First tournament
Switzerland international Jorg Steil was between the posts at Euro 2004 when Rooney burst onto the international scene. The teenager was being linked with every major club in England when he scored his first two major tournament goals against Steil’s Swiss team.

“Wayne Rooney was not really famous at that time,” says Steil. “We spoke about David Beckham and the others, these were the players you knew about.

“When we played against England, Rooney was still a teenager, but after our game Rooney was known all around the world.

“He was a really aggressive player. I remember a situation with a long ball, I came out for it and he left his right foot against me. I was like, ‘What an asshole!’

“But that was how he was and that’s what made him who he is. He was technical, he was fast, and I remember the second goal when he flew forward and scored a goal against my head!

“I was never the type to think too much about the other team, whoever they had. Beckham, Gerrard, Zidane, Totti, it didn’t matter. One player was never a thing for me, but after the game I knew who Wayne Rooney was.”

Impossible to stop
Rooney would go on to sign for Manchester United at the end of that summer and would score spectacular goal after spectacular goal on his way to breaking Sir Bobby Charlton’s record in 2017.

Many Premier League goalkeepers suffered at the hands of Rooney during his first few years at Old Trafford, but few more than Watford’s Richard Lee.

With Ben Foster the club’s No.1 during their first season back in the Premier League, it was left to Lee to stand in against United with Foster, on loan from United, ineligible.

It meant Lee experienced first-hand what Rooney could do in a 4-0 defeat to United in the league at Old Trafford and then a 4-1 defeat in the FA Cup semi-final at Villa Park.

“I was a Man United fan as a kid so in general it was surreal playing against them in general,” Lee says. “Like any player you do your homework and your analysis and I was aware of what Rooney could do.

“The goal he’s scored past me at Villa Park, I don’t think I’ve ever faced a shot quite so hard. He absolutely boomed it in the top corner, and he’s lobbed me at Old Trafford with a beautiful finish.”

Despite doing all the homework in the world, Lee says there are some goals you simply can’t do anything about.

“You base a lot of what you do on percentages. The problem is that goal at Old Trafford is a good example of when you can’t do anything.

“He’s about 15 yards out so as a goalkeeper you come out and try and make yourself as big as you can. That’s what I did but he put it so high that it would have probably dipped over me even if I’d been stood on my line.

“That’s where he’s clever, I think he was aware of what a goalkeeper was going to do. It was like a game of chess.”

Lee was beaten at his near post for the goal in the cup semi-final, something which often leads to a goalkeeper being criticised, but in this case the Watford man felt he could be excused.

“I was beating myself up a bit during the game but when I watched it back I just thought, ‘I don’t know what I could do differently,’” he says.

“My position was good and I just didn’t have enough time to react, it was past me in a split second. I’ve watched it over and over and I just don’t know how he generates that power.

“I kind of made peace with it and accepted there was nothing I could do. I could face that shot 100 times and I don’t see myself saving it.”

‘He had everything’
Another goalkeeper who found out just how deadly Rooney could be was Reading and USA goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann a season later.

After keeping an impressive clean sheet at Old Trafford on the opening day of the 2007-08 season, Hahnemann looked on course to frustrate Rooney again at the Madejski with the game poised at 0-0 and only 15 minutes to go.

Then Rooney cutely flicked a Carlos Tevez pass into the far corner, giving United the win and leaving the American with little chance of making a save.

“He was strong, he was fast, the skill he had, he had everything,” Hahnemann says. “His power and his willingness to run and close down and then his quality of finishing.

“It was very, very difficult to prepare for. You go over film, but you knew about United and you knew about Rooney.

“He was scoring goals from 16 years of age. I’m coaching high school kids now and you put that in perspective. You’ve got kids who are 17, 18 and you tell them stories about players like him and it’s pretty remarkable the impact he had from a pretty young age.”

Rooney wasn’t the only superstar in United’s team at that time, of course, and Hahnemann laughs recalling the time Reading manager Steve Coppell was preparing the Royals for a game against the then-champions.

“I still remember we were having a team meeting and watching videos of Cristiano Ronaldo and Rooney,” he says.

“Steve Coppell turns to our captain Graeme Murty and goes, ‘Okay Murts, he’s going to be playing on your side so you’re probably going to be marking him the whole game.’

“We were all just laughing because it was just so surreal we were playing against the best players in the world. The combination of Rooney and Ronaldo, you were just like, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’”

Hahnemann echoes Lee’s sentiments that you can prepare and prepare for a player and a team, but it could all go out of the window pretty quickly on the pitch against Rooney.

“There’s no way you can prepare. You try and keep it tight and you could have the best game of your life, but there’s nothing you can do sometimes. He’d chase everything down, whether it was a ball from his own team-mate or a back pass.

“I kept a clean sheet against them on the opening day and that’s probably still one of the highlights of my career. I made something like 20 saves, the pressure they put you under was crazy.

“I did dribble past Rooney once by the way! I didn’t mean to, I had nothing else. I was outside the box and was just going to clear it up the line, but he just completely closed me down and the only thing I could do was chop him.

“He slid in to try and block it so I had to cut past him, he goes flying past me and I take a half glance back and he’s already up.

“I cleared the ball and I remember actually apologising to him. I was like, ‘I’m so, so sorry.’ I told him I didn’t mean to do that, but I just couldn’t believe how fast he closed me down.”

It’s fair to say Wayne Rooney probably didn’t apologise for the goal he scored past Hahnemann later that season – or any of the other 207 he scored in the Premier League.

He might not have finished on a high, but anyone who faced him at his peak will always remember just how good he was.

[/QUOTE]

 

[Skizzo]

Premier League Stats

Appearances 491
Goals 208
Assists 103

And if you ever doubted his desire to win and give it all for the team...



What they say...

Teammates

There are players that have fire in them and he’s one of them. Take it out of him and you won’t get the same player. It’s about striking a balance. Roy Keane was the same, as was Paul Ince. You just hope the character of the player and the experiences of playing create that balance.

There are certain players you play with throughout your career that you like playing with for different reasons. Wayne hits all those reasons. You knew he would run through a brick for you, for himself, for the team, for the fans. That’s the type of player you want playing for England.

As a player he’s got everything. He can play deep, left, right or in the middle. He scores goals inside the area but can also score from outside the box. As if that wasn’t enough, he sometimes plays in goal in training.

He’s an excellent player, he proves that week in, week out. The thing about Wayne is that it’s so easy to forget that he’s only just turned 20. He’s still only a young man, yet he plays and has the strength of a seasoned professional. I watch so many games from Holland, Germany and Spain but I haven’t seen a young player who is as good or as mature as he is. He’s an exceptional talent and there’s better to come as he matures.

He was the kid of England, everyone loved him. He was so powerful I was calling him ‘Pitbull.’ The power of Wayne Rooney is his mentality and strength and he never stops. He’s a fantastic team player and he scores. He’s a fantastic boy and he helped me a lot when he came to join us in Manchester.

I’ve had the pleasure to play alongside Wayne and for me he’s England’s best EVER. I’ve seen first hand him do things with the ball that I’ve never seen before.

Wayne is our leader. He is the best English player in English history and we are lucky to have him.

He inspires others in the way he plays. His technical ability is huge and his passing and finishing is fantastic, but his passion for the game is amazing. Some players might get older and their passion fades away but that’s not the case with him. His passion is getting stronger and stronger every day. In training, he always wants to win and in matches, of course. He’s a great lad, an unbelievable player and probably one of those who will go down as an all-time great for Manchester United

He brings a lot more to the team than just goals; he brings other people into the game, he can set up scoring opportunities, and his work rate is up there with the best of them. Even if he isn’t scoring goals, many defenders don’t like playing against him.

He can do everything – that’s the thing about him. He can play in the hole as a No 10 or he can be the No 9. He’s cute up top as well – he’s got a great understanding of the game.

In years to come anyone who is looking at records and looks at goals and caps, Wayne Rooney’s name will come up and I think he deserves both accolades.

His aggression is one of his big strengths. He has no fear at all. Wayne knows he has the ability, but he has this knack of being able to go out there and not be scared of anyone no matter who he is up against.

Opponents and other players

Wayne Rooney is for me a once in a generation player. One of those special players, who is not comparable to any other. There are many special players, but Rooney has exceptional quality and technical ability as well as being one of the strongest players I have faced with an exceptional work rate – there is nobody like him.

It would be a dream to play with Rooney if Manchester United ever came to the point where they needed to sell him. I would personally go to the Barcelona president and ask that he be signed myself.

“There are always a handful of players in the world at any one time who can go down in the footballing history books. At the moment, there are maybe Ronaldo, Rooney, Xavi and one or two more – but I can’t think of one that plays with the desire of Rooney.

For me, Rooney is not the player who scores 40 goals a season. But he is the player who helps his partner score lots of goals because he is working for one, two and maybe three other players. It seems like he has a strong mentality to win – like me he doesn’t like to lose.

Wayne Rooney is a player I have admired for a long time. He is an extraordinary player with extraordinary capabilities.

You get to an age and you can’t play the game you once used to, you can’t cover the ground you used to. But intelligent players adapt and there’s no doubting Rooney has a very good footballing brain. [ . . . ] Rooney would be very dangerous in a deeper role. He has the vision and the passing range to play that role very well. If he can adapt, there’s no reason why he can’t play at the top level for another five or six seasons.

He’s not Manchester’s biggest star, but he has the most energy of their players. Like me, he attacks, but he defends too when his team lose possession. This is important. It’s not all about the glory of goals.

Rooney can do the lot. Eventually he’ll have all the United records. He has the ability and goal power to beat my 18 hat-tricks and, as for my 46 in a season, I don’t see any reason why he can’t overtake that. Every time he gets the ball there’s a buzz of expectation from the crowd and opposition defenders are in a panic.

I have always said that Wayne Rooney is an amazing player, the kind of striker which any team in the world would like to have. He has the sort of forward’s instinct which you cannot buy and no coach can teach. You are born with it. Of course you also need good team-mates around you to give you the ball and help set up chances. And Rooney has those players at Manchester United. But I like the sort of striker who will score all on his own if he wants to [ . . . ] He can shoot from distance, get on the end of crosses, hit free-kicks – anything. He’s not the same type of finisher as Michael Owen or Ruud van Nistelrooy but he is definitely the sort of player I would pay to watch. He is someone who plays with absolutely no fear and when you have a striker like that then there are no limits. English football is very fortunate to have such a great striker.

You will only truly appreciate Rooney when he has retired. It’s a shame but it’s always like that. I would absolutely urge all those youngsters in the squad, such as Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane, to watch and learn off Rooney from this day onwards. They are extremely lucky to be on the same training pitch as this guy and they must make the most of it. It will be a real waste if they do not. They must try to copy him. In terms of his dedication and the way he plays. I would also say this to the young lads at Manchester United. To play well for six months or a season in football is nothing. To do so for over a decade like Rooney is extraordinary. I know what it takes and it isn’t easy. Trust me, people talk about him outside of this country. In Spain and France, he is appreciated as a top, top player.

No player in modern football can match his efficiency and work-rate, and he’s not egotistical like many men of his speciality. He’s the sort of magnificent team player every coach wants in his starting XI.

Rooney is the archetypal modern attacker. He is more than a striker, so he should not be compared with ‘strikers’. He marks his generation. He’s very polyvalent and a fantastic team player – a dream for any coach. He scores goals and is a real finisher. He has fantastic vision, too. I like the fact that he is capable of recovering the ball, too. If you observe his gestures during a game it makes you think that as well as being a striker he could easily be a defender. He ranks among the best strikers of today’s generation.

Although he might not have the brute power of Drogba or natural goal instinct of Torres, his all-round ability means if I had £60million to spend on anyone in the Premier League, he’d be the striker I’d go for. Rooney is three world-class players in one and doesn’t have an identifiable weakness, which is incredible for a player who has just turned 24. I hadn’t even won my first England cap at that age. He is the consistent goalscorer whose ratio for Manchester United and England is the ‘magic’ one-in-two only the best strikers achieve. He is the pure footballer who can unlock a defence with a killer pass or create space with a sudden clever movement. And he is the unselfish team player who works harder than anyone else and can play anywhere on the pitch to help the cause; able to drop into midfield, go wide, operate as a lone striker or play in the hole, whatever the manager requires. [ . . . ] Talent-wise, Rooney has everything and [ . . . ] I’ve never seen anyone create space for himself so well on a pitch.

I’d always looked at his overall play and regarded him as an all-rounder rather than a striker. His game’s never just been based on the goals he gets. I still think that even though he’s become more of a striker since Ronaldo left. [ . . . ] He’s got just about everything. He’s powerful, he can head the ball, he can pass the ball, he can win the ball – and, of course, he can score goals. Also, importantly, he’s a winner.

He is certainly world class. It the consistent level of performance that he gives you that puts him up there along with his ability. He is not just a goal scorer having in the past been more of a provider. Now he is the main goal scorer who provides goals for other people as well.

Coaches and Managers

The first time I realised how special he could be was when I took an under-11 team to play Manchester United. It was eight-a-side on small pitches with small goals. All the parents were on one side of the pitch with the coaches on the other. At 11, Wayne scored an overhead kick from about 15 yards out that flew straight into the top corner. There was a silence around the pitch. I don’t know where it came from but someone started clapping and within seconds everyone was clapping – including the parents from the other team.

We had him in training (at Everton), he was only a young boy. We’d set up a small-sided game and Wayne was obviously involved in it, and he chipped the goalkeeper nearly from the byline. It was a moment where we all looked at each other and said, ‘Did he really do that? Did that happen?’ It was a great moment, and everyone said to themselves — we knew it before, but when we saw that we thought there’s a really special talent here.

We tried to sign him when he was 14, but he didn’t want to leave at the time, he was at the Academy at Everton. [ . . . ] All our scouting reports on him were fantastic; (we knew about) his natural ability, his energy, his enthusiasm to play the game, and these are all important issues when you’re looking to spend money on a player, and he had these fantastic qualities.

There isn’t another player in the world who has the ability Wayne has. He’s achieved so much at a young age – he’s the main man for club and country. He astounds me. He is a phenomenon.

Rooney is the biggest England talent I’ve seen since I arrived in England. There has certainly not been a player under 20 as good as him since I became a manager here.

He’s a young player with remarkable physical and creative power. He has belief and determination and the physical ability to achieve what he sets out to do.

Rooney could be another George Best, I have no doubt. England is in need of a big, big star and he has what you need from that player. Would I like to work with Wayne Rooney? Who wouldn’t want to work with him. We all like to work with exceptional talent.

 

[Skizzo]

Roy Keane

He's fecking magic...
​

"He used to always say, 'If you're ever in trouble, even if I've got men around me, just give me the ball and I'll get you out of trouble.'"

For some, the question about which midfielder was better, Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard or Frank Lampard, is bound to raise a smile or a shake of the head. The debate is somewhat flawed because Roy Keane was better than the three of them. The Irishman is the best midfielder the Premier League has seen.

He wasn't as gifted as Scholes, as athletic as Gerrard and didn't score as many goals as Lampard. But this trio of Premier League legends couldn't control a game like Keane. None of them had the impact on their teams, or English football, the way Keane had at Manchester United for just over 12 years. He was the most important player for one of the world's biggest clubs during their most successful era.

However, Keane's personality and reputation, the anecdotes and the caricature, have almost overshadowed how he ascended to the peak of the sport and his achievements.

When he was 18, Keane was on the dole in Cork, overlooked by English clubs because of his height and about to sign for Cobh Ramblers in the second tier of Irish football. When he was 28, he was the best and most important player in English football, United's captain, the best-paid player in the Premier League and the best midfielder in the world.

He won seven Premier League titles, four FA Cups and the Champions League (despite missing the final through suspension). He was also named PFA Player of the Year and in the association's Team of the Century. He dragged the Republic of Ireland to the 2002 World Cup and United to the 1999 Champions League final.

Yet, any mention of Roy Keane the footballer is likely to be met with references to his tunnel dispute with Patrick Vieira, or his horror tackle on Alf-Inge Haaland, or how he put the fear of god into his teammates and the opposition. Keane's passing ability is rarely mentioned, and that is almost criminal.

In addition to his fierce intelligence, his limitless energy and his exceptional positional sense, the Irishman's passing was world class. Wayne Rooney said Keane was the best passer of the ball he ever played alongside. Rooney played alongside Scholes for nine years at Old Trafford, and with Gerrard and Lampard for 11 years for England, yet just one full season alongside Keane was enough to convince him of his excellence on the ball.

Darren Fletcher said his former captain had the best first touch he ever saw. Fletcher's claim is equally impressive considering the incredible footballers he played alongside and against.

As Rio Ferdinand can attest, Keane passed the ball forward.

"I got the ball and passed to Gary [Neville], who was on my team. In a normal game that was a great ball - pass to your teammate, go up the pitch. And then Keane turned round and just started going,

"Pass the fecking ball forward, take risks, you're not at Leeds or West Ham now, you're at Manchester United!'

"I got home later that day and thought, 'This guy is nuts, how am I going to deal with him on a daily basis?'

"And then I realised that you've got to take chances and that's how I ended up playing my career. Not just passing the simple ball to Gary, but into the strikers to make a difference."

As Gary Neville spoke about in his autobiography, Keane was extremely efficient in possession and expected the ball to be moved quickly.

"There was a time, a match at Coventry, when Keano came storming at me after I’d taken an extra touch to steady myself before getting a cross over. Thrusting his head forward – I honestly thought he was going to butt me – he screamed,'

"'fecking get the ball over!’

"'Can I not take a fecking touch?’

"'Who the hell are you talking to? Get the fecking ball over!’

"It was like having a snarling pitbull in my face. And I’d thought Schmeichel was a hard taskmaster. One extra touch and Keano was slaughtering me."

Keane demanded these standards of others, but he also practised what he preached.

He didn't play Hollywood balls, raking cross-field passes that looked good, but weren't always effective because they gave the opposition time to shift across and stifle out the attack.

Keane's passes were so effective because they broke the lines, and he always played the ball into teammates' feet.

He enabled Scholes to play further forward, brought United's strikers into play and the team sprang into life when he came into possession, with David Beckham and Ryan Giggs running off him and the full-backs pushing on. When Keane was on the ball, United were safe.

He kept it simple, taking one touch to control and another to play a sharp ball to his teammates. He landed the ball at their feet and rarely hit a loose pass.

In the late 1990s, when United were the most thrilling counter-attacking side in Europe, Keane's passing was vital in getting the team up the pitch and into areas where they could hurt the opposition.

He also drove forward from midfield in his early years.

In his first couple of seasons, he played as a traditional box-to-box midfielder who got his fair share of goals.

Gradually he adapted to become more of a controlling presence in midfield, winning the ball and starting attacks rather than running beyond the opposition.

United became more cautious in the early 2000s, switching from a 4-4-2 formation to playing a lone striker, and Keane himself slowed down. After a hip operation in 2002, he could no longer be the driving force from midfield he had been. His intensity dipped a level or two on the pitch and he adapted his game somewhat, but his passing remained impeccable and helped United control games. His influence remained as strong, despite his advancing years.

No touch was wasted, the ball never went sideways or backwards for the sake of it and it was never aimlessly lumped towards a forward's head.

He was precise, efficient and effective. The complete midfield player.


There is absolutely nothing flashy about any of these passes, and they aren't aesthetically eye-catching, but their effectiveness can't be understated and they would have been greatly appreciated by teammates.

His touch was immaculate, he had the best first touch. All these things were so underrated in his game,"

"Everyone looked at him as this ferocious competitor and box-to-box runner and tackler. That wasn’t false, but, with the ball, he had one of the best first touches and the best pass forward into the attacking half to break the lines of the opposition that I’ve ever seen... Because Roy controlled the midfield, Scholesy was then the one who got forward and got goals and used his technique higher up the pitch.

Keane's ability on the ball has been called "underrated" by Neville, who said his former captain used the ball "astutely."

But perhaps his greatest gift was to create a standard of performance which demanded the very best from his team. You would look at him busting a gut and feel that you’d be betraying him if you didn’t give everything yourself.

Keane's excellent passing contributed to this "standard of performance" that Neville spoke about.

According to Phil Neville the Irishman told him that, "If you're ever in trouble, even if I've got men around me, just give me the ball and I'll get you out of trouble." This is the type of leadership that goes beyond barking at teammates or flying into tackles, or the traditional British and Irish ideals of what constitutes a leader on the pitch.

It could be argued that this image of a leader, which Keane embodied, in part explains why his passing has been underrated by many. People remember him snapping into challenges and screaming at teammates, but the impressive passages of play aren't always recalled. A perfect example of this is Keane's performance against The Netherlands in 2001 when Ireland won 1-0 in Dublin on their way to qualifying for the World Cup.

Everyone in Ireland remembers Keane's crunching tackle on Marc Overmars in the opening minute, seeing it as a defining moment of the game, a marker set down that showed it wouldn't be the Dutch team's day.

Which is was, but Overmars still went on to play well, and Keane's contribution went way beyond that tackle.

The Ireland captain played a massive part in creating Jason McAteer's goal, collecting the ball out wide, he forced his way past Mark van Bommel and drew a tackle from Jaap Stam before laying the ball off to Damien Duff.

Duff then played it out wide to Steve Finnan, who found McAteer to score and set Ireland up for a place at the World Cup.

The goal came about because of Keane driving the team forward, by taking responsibility as he did on countless occasions for United and Ireland. The bigger the game, the better Keane played. He was never rotated or rested by Alex Ferguson for the important matches. He played 79 times in the Champions League and only one appearance was as a substitute. Unlike the rest of United's talented team, Keane was indispensable.

His explosive argument with Ferguson hastened his departure from Old Trafford in November 2005, rather than his declining ability on the field. Keane wasn't the player he had been a few years previously, but he was still capable of dominating a game, as evidenced by his display against Liverpool in January 2005.

United won the game at Anfield 1-0, thanks to Wayne Rooney's goal, and their captain's performance proved pivotal. Olivier Kay, writing in The Times, said Gerrard "was in Keane's shadow throughout", called the Irishman's performance a "masterclass" and a "lesson in how to control midfield." Gerrard was entering the peak years of his career, but the Liverpool captain couldn't get near the 33-year-old Irishman who would be retired within 18-months.

Against one of the best midfielders in the world, after several injuries and a hip-operation, in the winter of his career and at the most hostile ground in Britain for United, Keane ran the game.

Keane's mythical status has grown since he retired, thanks to the anecdotes and autobiographies, and this caricature has arguably overshadowed his ability as a footballer. By always showing for the ball, using it efficiently and effectively, and bringing the best out of his teammates, he led by example. Shouting and screaming, and being excessively demanding of your teammates, will only get you so far. You need to be able to play, and Keane was one of the best.

Underpinning his intensity and drive, his ferocious competitive spirit and his aggression, was a brilliant, intelligent footballer. 12 years after he retired, Keane remains the best midfielder the Premier League has seen.

 

[Skizzo]

Key points

• With Keane and Makelele, Rooney and Mazzola, we have players who can all look to drop into the midfield battle and condense the space. with the attacking wingers we have, it limits the ability of Leonardo and Abidal to push up and open space for the narrow attack.
• With Keane's passing ability, when we win the ball we can quickly break the lines and get the ball past the oppositions quick press, and into our forward players.
• Mazzola and Rooney can operate and float in the spaces in front of the defense, creating a problem for Gonvcalves and who to pick up. Both demand attention and can't be left to get a hold of the ball in dangerous areas.
• With Blokhin, Figo, Nordahl, Mazzola and Rooney all looking to break forward quickly, it creates many avenues to goal:
• Figo crossing to Nordahl/Rooney/Mazzola

• 
  
  • Blokhin having one of his moments of magic on the break

• 
  
  • Rooney with a thunderbolt from outside the area, knockdown or otherwise

• Not to mention just Nordahl getting the ball into feet and creating a yard of space for himself to get off a shot.

 

[Skizzo]

that team from don and enigma is insane, skizzo also has a good team but this is to much....even tactically probably the worst opponent for skizzo.

With everyone coming centrally, and the full backs unable to create the necessary width, the threat is pretty much contained to one area. While centrally Cruyff-Xaviesta is a great combination, they still need players to make the space for them. Rivaldo isn't hugging the line to open anything, and with Buchwald on him, he won't enjoy the attention. Maldini on Bertoni is in our favour, and Cruyff drops into a space of Makelele-Keane-Krol. There's plenty of ability to move the ball around, but in terms of a actual threat, its more limited than would appear just because of Cruyff in a Xaviesta team.

And Czibor was also a world-class crosser who played as a winger all of his career. Blokhin wasn’t.

I don't need him to hug the line constantly. He'll offer more width there than anyone on the opposition will, which is what they'll require to make space. Rooney also moved wide and got crosses in (check his video's posted above) and Mazzola would also play as a winger at times. With the fluidity there, it creates a problem for Goncalves on who to pick up, as well as letting Blokhin have some freedom to move inside and attack at pace.

We aren't going to be holding onto the ball and knocking it around to probe for an opening, we're hitting it forward quickly (keane, Krol etc) and attacking while they're still on the back foot and we push pass their press.

 

[Enigma_87]

With everyone coming centrally, and the full backs unable to create the necessary width, the threat is pretty much contained to one area. While centrally Cruyff-Xaviesta is a great combination, they still need players to make the space for them. Rivaldo isn't hugging the line to open anything, and with Buchwald on him, he won't enjoy the attention. Maldini on Bertoni is in our favour, and Cruyff drops into a space of Makelele-Keane-Krol. There's plenty of ability to move the ball around, but in terms of a actual threat, its more limited than would appear just because of Cruyff in a Xaviesta team.

Not really mate. With Bertoni and Leandro on the right you can hardly ask for more width there. Leandro is one of the most skillful Brazilian full backs ever.


^^ here's a glimpse.

He was fast, top notch dribbler, able to turn and twist opposition players like a winger and delivered fantastic crosses. He was pretty highly rated by Brazillians and one of the best full backs of the 80's.

Bertoni as well was a world class winger who is able to create and also cut in and score, but was primarily a right winger. It's a perfect overlapping full back cut inside winger pair which will stretch your left side.

Our left side is pretty well covered in terms of width as well. Abidal played in the exact same role for Barca team with Xavi and Iniesta in it. Iniesta himself has played as a winger on more than one occasion and is comfortable drifting wide.

I don't need him to hug the line constantly. He'll offer more width there than anyone on the opposition will, which is what they'll require to make space. Rooney also moved wide and got crosses in (check his video's posted above) and Mazzola would also play as a winger at times. With the fluidity there, it creates a problem for Goncalves on who to pick up, as well as letting Blokhin have some freedom to move inside and attack at pace.

We aren't going to be holding onto the ball and knocking it around to probe for an opening, we're hitting it forward quickly (keane, Krol etc) and attacking while they're still on the back foot and we push pass their press.

I rate Makelele a lot, obviously, one of the best in the anchor position. But as a left half back in WM, IMO it's not his best use. Leandro and Bertoni on that side will give him all sorts of trouble and pull him outside to create pockets in the middle for Xaviesta and Cruyff.


The basic premise of the team is to simulate those triangles that Cruyff and modern day Barca build their foundations on and move the ball quickly offering multiple passing options and alleys.

 

[Skizzo]

Thanks for setting it up @Indnyc !

Best of luck @Skizzo !

You too mate

 

[Himannv]

I like a WM formation. Always intriguing to see how it works. Having said that, I'm a big believer in Cruyff and this team suits him although I don't like Rivaldo and Bertoni much.

 

[oneniltothearsenal]

The DoGma side is pure eye candy. Bad match up for pretty much any of the other teams in the first round. Not a fan of Bertoni here is my only criticism. Hope that slot gets upgraded.

 

[harms]

I think that WM is pretty easy to visualize — Pep uses it frequently. But if you have a forward as an inside left, it’s better to have a winger on the outside. If there would’ve been someone like Silva/Iniesta in Rooney’s place, Blokhin would’ve looked better placed.

Why isn’t Makelele a good fit for that formation btw?

 

[Enigma_87]

I like a WM formation. Always intriguing to see how it works. Having said that, I'm a big believer in Cruyff and this team suits him although I don't like Rivaldo and Bertoni much.

The DoGma side is pure eye candy. Bad match up for pretty much any of the other teams in the first round. Not a fan of Bertoni here is my only criticism. Hope that slot gets upgraded.

Cheers, lads. We liked Bertoni in that role due to his aggressive nature - able to press high, his obvious quality on the ball and goalscoring ability, as we need someone to cut in when Cruyff drops deeper in his false 9 role.

 

[Enigma_87]

Why isn’t Makelele a good fit for that formation btw?

I'd like someone more mobile, who is more comfortable defending wide and bringing the ball forward.

Someone like Netto, Lerby, Davids, Edwards etc..

Not that Makelele can't do the job, but I feel there are better alternatives out there.

 

[Ecstatic]

This is the most exciting game to comment.

@Skizzo You have built a superb WM better than mine: I had Kimpembe instead of Maldini

Also hope that @Invictus and @Jim Beam will watch Kimpembe and understand that he could have blocked Amaro.

@Don Alfredo @Enigma_87 great team too even I think Thiago Motta (the best of the Italian-Brazilian-Barcelona football: vision, passing skills and agressivity) would have been a great fit for the theme.

I like the clash of style so will follow it closely

 

[Edgar Allan Pillow]

WM

 

[harms]

I'd like someone more mobile, who is more comfortable defending wide and bringing the ball forward.

Someone like Netto, Lerby, Davids, Edwards etc..

Not that Makelele can't do the job, but I feel there are better alternatives out there.

I think that Makelele is more than mobile. Obviously lacks an experience on the wing, but it's not crucial. Most WMs had a more defensive halfback, which is a role that suits him well.

 

[Gio]

I can see Nordahl using his size and aerial ability to get a goal, probably from Figo, but Xaviesta will create all sorts of problems against such an open set-up. Shape of the game will be similar to the Barcelona-Bayern semi a few seasons back when Pep set up in a crazy back three.

Plus points for Skizzo, Figo/Nordahl is a potent axis, while the defence is top class and great to see Krol in the sweeper role he was so highly regarded for in Serie A in the early 1980s.

Don and Enigma have built an excellent side though. Obviously Xavi and Iniesta were dirt cheap, but building a complementary set-up around them was the challenge which they passed with flying colours. Like the Leandro and Rivaldo picks, look tasty here.

 

[Skizzo]

Was happy to be able to set up mostly as I wanted and try something a little different.

Going through an Edgar phase

Once I saw the draw I knew it was only going one way though

 

[Don Alfredo]

Was happy to be able to set up mostly as I wanted and try something a little different.

Going through an Edgar phase

Once I saw the draw I knew it was only going one way though

Huge respect to you for all the effort you put into creating the player profiles and showcasing some rarely celebrated players like Rooney and Valentino Mazzola.

I feel very lazy in comparison, I have just created the team sheet while Enigma did the write up and gave some great arguments

 

[Edgar Allan Pillow]

Going through an Edgar phase

ironically this draft I decided to stick with the conventional. You're making me feel bad.

Good WM. In hindsight you could have skimped a bit on the halfbacks and splurged on a vote attracting forward.

 

[Skizzo]

ironically this draft I decided to stick with the conventional. You're making me feel bad.

Good WM. In hindsight you could have skimped a bit on the halfbacks and splurged on a vote attracting forward.

I’m hindsight it was probably the Blokhin bid that screwed me. I was skimming though the auction bids and saw gio/2muf nominated him.

Should have kept Overmars out left and saved the 70m for a better AM. Zidane perhaps.

Huge respect to you for all the effort you put into creating the player profiles and showcasing some rarely celebrated players like Rooney and Valentino Mazzola.

I feel very lazy in comparison, I have just created the team sheet while Enigma did the write up and gave some great arguments

I didn’t write much of it myself dug around a bit for some stories and some stats etc.

The Keane video was my favourite find. Both the chant and the one at the bottom of that post.

 

[Enigma_87]

@Skizzo great profiles there, loved reading them. WM is always tough to pull off especially in GOAT company.

 

[GodShaveTheQueen]

Incredibly unlucky Skizzo with that draw. Extra dissapointing when an unorthodox team gets drawn with the best drafted team.

Still don't think this would have been a battering in real life like the score even though Dogma would have probably won more than half of the times with the rest being draws and Skizzo wins. All close scorelines.

 

[oneniltothearsenal]

Cheers, lads. We liked Bertoni in that role due to his aggressive nature - able to press high, his obvious quality on the ball and goalscoring ability, as we need someone to cut in when Cruyff drops deeper in his false 9 role.

Can see the reasoning but with reinforcements I think you can select some more outstanding players for that role (plus you almost final worthy in every other position anyway)

 

[Skizzo]

@Skizzo great profiles there, loved reading them. WM is always tough to pull off especially in GOAT company.

Cheers. Good luck to you and @Don Alfredo going forward. Already got the spine of a great team!

 

[Ecstatic]

As usual, the W-M is severely punished but @Skizzo knew it in advance so bravo! Kudo

Like me in the previous draft, Greaves on the bench but I had an excuse: he was a star player!

Greaves had the 'inside-left forward' role at Tottenham while Smith was the target striker IIRC

If you had kept the same players and presented as a creative 3-5-2, you would have had a better result but I like the suicidal approach

Congrats @Enigma_87 @Don Alfredo

Pirlo instead of Goncalves could be nice for example. He hasn't the Barcelona label but Guardiola tried to recruit him!

Let's see if you'll target Figo, Messi, Busquets & co