VS
............................................. TEAM STOBZILLA ................................................................................... TEAM CUBEMINE .......................................
TEAM STOBZILLA
Tactics
As can be seen, we are lined up in a standard 4-3-3 with a false 9 configuration. Cruyff being one of the most perfect candidates to play in such a position.
From front to back we are blessed with players who are fantastic on the ball, each capable of playing in tight spaces, dribbling, passing, attacking, defending, it is truly an ode to total football.
Campos is certifiably mental, but he allows our defence to push up owing to his pace and positioning, he can also comfortably dribble and pass the ball, he will be our first attacker.
Andrade holds the attacking width on the right hand side, he was one of the first exponents of the modern full back duties of both attacking and defending.
John Charles operates as our stay at home centre back in this configuration, an imperious defender at his peak he is capable in the attacking phase here also, keeping it simple to feed into Haan, Andrade or Xavi. Sammer is a class defender and capable of bringing the ball out of defence, an excellent distributor of the ball to work 1-2's with Haan whilst progressing upfield or hitting a dropping deep Scholes or Cruyff.
Facchetti rounds out the defence probably the 1A or 1B of left backs in football history class in all phases of the game.
Haan is capable of running games on his own but will be asked to cover defensively when Sammer goes marauding forward, also capable of covering for the full backs in any quick transition. Scholes and Xavi are the perfect complimentary duo, their passing skills and overall range are not to be matched. Scholes will be asked to make his trademark runs into the box and get beyond Cruyff when the situation calls to do so.
Robben will be the winger charged with cutting in from his natural starting position to look to make any runs and finish any moves. Giggs will be the one to hold the width on the left hand side but can easily tuck into a more central position to link up with his Manchester United team mate Scholes and Cruyff.
Cruyff acts as the teams defacto creative hub in the opposition half of the pitch, his ability to find space will force the centre backs to be constantly asking whether to stay with or go with him.
If the former, then he will have all the time and space in the world to operate with, if the latter then it leaves space for Scholes, Robben and Giggs to exploit. Given the energy of our midfielders we will be able to control the possession to our liking, allowing us to be smart and hold our shape when needed. Especially if the midfielders are then expected to help with Cruyff. There will always be space to exploit for our attacks.
TEAM CUBEMINE
I am copying the tactics of the Arsenal Invincibles season (2003/04), and upgrading some of the players.