British+Irish Draft - Gio vs Stobzilla (Group A)

Who would win assuming all players are at their peak?


  • Total voters
    18
  • Poll closed .

crappycraperson

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----------------------------Team Gio --------------------------------------------vs--------------------------------------Team Stobzilla



Gio Tactics-
TEAM
Every player in the team was either best-in-the-world-in-their-position calibre or were strong performers when their national teams were the best in the world (see England in the 1960s and 1990, Scotland in the late-1920s and 1930s). In Banks, Cole, Finney and Greaves, we have four who would qualify for an all-time Britain and Ireland select. That's over a third of the starting XI. The defence combines sheer pace in Walker and Cole with Scottish steel in Miller and Young. The great all-round leader Meiklejohn and the gritty Mullery combine to hold the midfield. Together they will do the dirty work and cancel out any threat from Giles. They will support an exceptionally talented front four. Alex James, the passing master, will link midfield and attack, feeding the elusive trio up top. Morton is the wing wizard on the left, one of the very best these Isles have produced. On the right but with freedom to roam is the great Tom Finney who will surely get the better of many, if not all, the full-backs in the draft. The predator up front is Greaves, the foremost goalscorer in the draft, who will thrive on the service provided by Finney, Morton and the assist king James. Read more in the Player Profiles.

THE WAY IT WILL GO
A lot of quality on my left and Stobzilla's right flank with the two strongest full-backs in the draft = likely to cancel each other out. Down my right and Stobz's left, Gray and Young will likely cancel each other out. The difference will be between Tom Finney and Stuart Pearce. Through the middle of the park, as much as I rate Everton's mid-80s vintage, Peter Reid and Kevin Ratcliffe look slightly vulnerable in this company against the likes of Alex James and Jimmy Greaves. Our pace at the back affords a relatively high line that will squeeze the space for Sheringham to operate in, blunting Stobz's attack and presenting a perfect platform for the front four to show their quality.
Stozilla's tactics

Tactics

We operate in the standard 4-4-2/4-4-1-1 Giles further advanced than Reid and allowing Gray, Johnstone, Sheringham and Shearer to dominate. Johnstone can do Cole, who whilst great is up against the best of the best here. Pearce Vs Finney will be tightly contested but I feel the centre of my defence has enough about it to deal with the threat of Greaves we have pace and legs in all areas to hit on the break should we get penned in and the quality of distribution in the 4 of Reid, Giles, England and Hansen is fantastic, we will find our outlet passes quickly and be swift in taking advantage. But we also have the capability of slowing the game right down and keeping possession when needed.
Stobzilla player profiles -
Ron Springett - England's number one shortly before the 1966 finals getting 33 caps, made 384 appearances for Sheffield Wednesday and is widely regarded by their fan base as their greatest ever goalkeeper.

Danny McGrain - 659 competitive games for Celtic between 1970 and 1987. He won seven League Championships, five Scottish Cups and two Scottish League Cups. McGrain is regarded as one of Scotland's greatest players and award winning sports writer Hugh McIlvanney commented, "Anybody who saw him at his best had the unmistakeable impression of watching a great player, probably one who had no superior anywhere in the world."

Alan Hansen - In Hansen's illustrious playing career for Liverpool, his winners medals include 8 league titles, 3 European Cups, 2 FA Cups and 4 League Cups. Perhaps the classiest defender in the draft capable of bringing the ball out of defence and more comfortable on the ball than most midfielders.

Mike England - An FA Cup winner in 1967, League up in 1971 and 1973, either side of winning the first ever Uefa Cup in 1972, It is often said that Spurs never replaced Mike England until Sol Campbell came along, high praise indeed. Much the same as Hansen with a bit of added bite, the left footer adds a more defined ariel presence as well as fantastic ability on the ball.

Stuart Pearce - Best known for his spell at Nottingham Forest, where he regularly captained the team and became the club's most capped International, making 76 of his 78 appearances for England while with the club and captaining the side on 9 occasions. A free kick specialist, like McGrain on the other side, offers tireless legs and an attacking threat.

Jimmy Johnstone - One the legendary "Lisbon Lions" and former 3rd place in European Footballer of the Year voting. He made 308 league appearances for Celtic, scoring 82 goals and playing a further 200+ in Cups and European Competition. Regarded as Celtic's best ever player.

One story goes that Johnstone had a fear of flying, Jock Stein told him that is they won their first leg european match against Red Star by more than 3 goals, he would not have to travel to Yugoslavia for the 2nd leg. He produced an outstanding performance scoring 2 and assisting the other 3 in a 5-1 victory.

Peter Reid - The heartbeat of arguably Everton's best ever side. A battler in the middle of the park with a fantastic passing range, he was once voted 4th in World Player of the Year behind Michel Platini, Preben Elkjar and Bernd Schuster. Not bad company. He was also voted 1985 PFA Players Player of the Year.

Johnny Giles - Amazingly calm player, who again, like Reid has a fantastic and creative passing range but can also handle himself when he needs to, one half of English footballs best club centre midfield partnerships. Their pairing helped yield several major trophies in the most successful era in Leeds' history. By strange coincidence, Giles and Bremner would both score exactly 115 goals for the club

Eddie Gray - In 1968 he was in the Leeds team which won the League Cup and the Fairs Cup double, scoring winning goals in both semi finals, including a memorable individual goal against Brian Clough's Derby County in the semi final of the League cup. He was then an important part of the team that won League championship a year later, making 33 appearances and scoring 5 goals, during a season in which United would score a record number of championship points and lose only two matches along the way to conquering the title. Voted 3rd greatest Leeds player of all time behind a certain Bremner and Charles.

"When he plays on snow, he doesn't leave footprints" - Don Revie

Teddy Sheringham - 898 appearances and 355 goals, with probably untold amounts of assists via quick thinking, flick ons and knock downs, Teddy provided the perfect foil for whichever striker he played with, unplayable on his day, both in the air and on the deck. Was finally named PFA Player of the year in 2001 and the age of 35 after just having his most accomplished season in a United shirt.

Alan Shearer - The last great English number 9. 734 games and 379 goals in all competitions. He resumes what is probably England's greatest strike duo with Teddy Sheringham. A scorer of all types of goals, but also brilliant at holding up play and bringing others into the game. When he hits them, they stay hit.
 
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Lynk

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I'm gonna back Stobzilla's team. Stronger midfield, a defense that compliments each other and a good partnership up front.
 

Skizzo

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Looks like Stobz jumped out ahead early. Is he putting an end to his self proclaimed crap draft performances?

Ill see how this one works itself out a bit before voting.

I agree that the wings would mostly cancel each other. .. both teams would have a bit of luck at various times, maybe not consistently enough to say the game because if it.

shearer and teddy vs james and greaves is a tasty battle to witness. Don't know which would have more consistent threats going forward.
 

sajeev

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i like Gio's team better, was bit of a struggle though
 

Gio

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I'm gonna back Stobzilla's team. Stronger midfield, a defense that compliments each other and a good partnership up front.
I'm not sure about stronger midfield. If we take it man-for-man, we're pretty much stronger across the board. Any Scot would place Alan Morton ahead of Eddie Gray on the left. On the other flank, Jimmy Johnstone is great but Tom Finney is even better. In the middle Jonny Giles is a class act but I can see him being equalled in there by Meiklejohn: both are up there as club and country legends. Similarly with Peter Reid and Alan Mullery, I'd fancy Mullery to edge that battle but Reid's gritty enough to make a decent fist of it.

The main point though is that Alex James would effectively be up against Peter Reid. That's a mis-match that could decide the game.
 

Stobzilla

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I wouldn't call it a mis-match in fairness. Talented though James is, Peter Reid was a shite side better than he is remembered.
 

sajeev

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:lol: here it goes again.
you have got a very well-assembled team but Gio's firepower up front is winning it.

until you can make a strong argument regarding your defense vs his attack, i think Gio is going to shade it
 

Skizzo

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Shame there hasn't been more discussion with this.

I thought the first few games would be packed with discussion since there's so many older, and lesser known, players. Managers trying to sway their golden oldie to voters...then expected it to maybe get a little slower as the group games wore on before teams got reshaped with reinforcements.

First game, 16 votes, but hardly any conversation.
 

Pat_Mustard

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A never-nude? I thought he just liked cut-offs.
Finney and greaves are the two standout players on the pitch imo
That is the main difference for me
I'm finding it hard to seperate Finney/Greaves and Johnstone/Shearer in terms of danger to the opposition. Both look deadly, although Stobz possibly gets bonus points for the proven Shearer and Sheringham partnership as well.
 

Gio

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I'm finding it hard to seperate Finney/Greaves and Johnstone/Shearer in terms of danger to the opposition. Both look deadly, although Stobz possibly gets bonus points for the proven Shearer and Sheringham partnership as well.
Agree with that. Although I'd add that Finney/Greaves are superior man-for-man. Importantly they are up against the weaker side of Stobzilla's pretty solid defence. Finney in particular will cause problems in the channel between Pearce and England.
 

Stobzilla

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Agree with that. Although I'd add that Finney/Greaves are superior man-for-man. Importantly they are up against the weaker side of Stobzilla's pretty solid defence. Finney in particular will cause problems in the channel between Pearce and England.
The problem is the left hand sides for both of us, if Cole is pushing on as he is shown then although Jimmy does have a task going back, it does leave a space to exploit.
 

Annahnomoss

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I like both teams here. Stobzilla is going all out with a classic all action, gung ho 4-4-2 and Gio is going for a sort of direct 4-2-3-1. Sheringham and Shearer partnered up and did great for England did they not? Anything you can show from those matches to convince?

Individually I think that Gio has that slight edge, Finney being the one pulling it slightly towards Gio for me at least. Would love some photage from the different players from both managers.
 

Joga Bonito

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Its just too damn close to call. Both teams don't really have too much flaws and it really boils down to nitpicking to choose the winner.

I like how Stob can build from the back with Hansen, Giles, Reid and McGrain being great on the ball and being good passers. The psycho could drive forward with the ball as well.

Gio has a great attack with James playmaking and 2 tenacious midfielders supporting him well.

I think that Pearce against Finney would be a mismatch though. He was rather suspect defensively wasn't he? Tbf Johnstone also has a slight edge on Cole but the margin is smaller imo. Sheringham and Shearer is also a proven duo but they are up against Miller and Walker a great defensive pair
 

antohan

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I've no idea who the other poor soul in this group is, but this is the battle for first or second here.

Know too little about a few, on both sides. Leaning to Gio for aesthetics alone right know (prefer player names in big caps).
 

crappycraperson

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I've no idea who the other poor soul in this group is, but this is the battle for first or second here.

Know too little about a few, on both sides. Leaning to Gio for aesthetics alone right know (prefer player names in big caps).
It's me :(
 

antohan

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Good thing I didn't place a provisional vote based on the use of big caps. That would be some way of settling a game :lol:

@crappycraperson, here's your opportunity. Beat either of them and you are through! Draws are a bitch in group stages, iirc that worked to my advantage in the 50s draft.
 

Balu

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Wait, a draw and no penalty shoot-out? Group stages suck.
 

Skizzo

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Wait, a draw and no penalty shoot-out? Group stages suck.
That's better than thinking you lost. .. told you drew. .. sending your info for the penalty shoot out... then being told you actually lost and there wouldn't be penalties. .. Then doing the penalties for shits and giggles. .. and then losing the shoot out anyway.
 

harms

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That's better than thinking you lost. .. told you drew. .. sending your info for the penalty shoot out... then being told you actually lost and there wouldn't be penalties. .. Then doing the penalties for shits and giggles. .. and then losing the shoot out anyway.
:lol:
 

Balu

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That's better than thinking you lost. .. told you drew. .. sending your info for the penalty shoot out... then being told you actually lost and there wouldn't be penalties. .. Then doing the penalties for shits and giggles. .. and then losing the shoot out anyway.
Almost everything is better than that.
 

antohan

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That's better than thinking you lost. .. told you drew. .. sending your info for the penalty shoot out... then being told you actually lost and there wouldn't be penalties. .. Then doing the penalties for shits and giggles. .. and then losing the shoot out anyway.
Pfffft, it would be far worse to be in a semi, five votes ahead, and getting cold feet because your rival manager has made a sub and narrowed it down... to four... after six out of the next eleven votes go for him (pretty even and settled, surely?). Logically, what you would do next is listen to all those that have ALREADY VOTED and take off... Garrincha. Seriously, Garrincha off, Luis Enrique on to protect the lead in a poll-based game. You couldn't make it up.

Next thing you know -you think- you are one down, and then this happens:

Should never have made those subs. My boys could have been in the final by now.

Come on ref! There's still time

All square!!
KM you f**king beauty!!

I love you!
KM you sneaky bastard! :lol:


KM I salute you!
:lol:

Tito is such a nice manager, would be a travesty if he lost this now, like Bobby Robson losing to Mourinho (or some other unscrupulous so and so) !
So I win :D

Good game TITO. I shot myself in the foot early on, partly the spaghetti trial to see whether it would ever work in the final (NOT), partly getting tied up in pointless arguments, but your subs helped me back in it :nervous:
It's 20-20... or did KM make a mistake?
:confused: You have two, arguably three, banned votes to my one (which I only put in there so it didn't look weird!).

Antohan: Antohan
TITO: TITO, DanNistelrooy, Jiggs'Hamstring

And there's Jaybezia to boot wanting to change his vote.
Why is dan's vote banned?

Edit: I see what you mean now. Yeah Jiggs'Hamstring is my assistant so his vote doesn't count!

:(
He was involved in the other semi-final. Semi-finalists were banned from voting in them.

I actually said it ages ago on this thread.
Ah bollocks.

Congrats to Anto then. Well played.

Maradona is crying his fecking eyes out here. Poor bastard.
Its a travesty, a dark day for the game!

:lol:
This is definitely the kind of game where there would be a massive brawl at the end of it.
Right then lads, follow my lead... Get into them!!!

:lol: I like how Antohan waited until the end to remind TITO of the invalid votes.
I know! Cruel. And he waited until there were 2 minutes left to vote for himself. He's definitely Mourinho.

Cutch, good luck in the final. Glad you found Bestie after he went missing!
This is basically whats just happened there

The hopes of the entire footballing world rest on Cutch's shoulders!
Epic stuff. :keano:

God, I was such a cnut throughout that thread (or draft, really) but I had lost two finals in a row FFS! :mad:
 

Pat_Mustard

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A never-nude? I thought he just liked cut-offs.
Pfffft, it would be far worse to be in a semi, five votes ahead, and getting cold feet because your rival manager has made a sub and narrowed it down... to four... after six out of the next eleven votes go for him (pretty even and settled, surely?). Logically, what you would do next is listen to all those that have ALREADY VOTED and take off... Garrincha. Seriously, Garrincha off, Luis Enrique on to protect the lead in a poll-based game. You couldn't make it up.

Next thing you know -you think- you are one down, and then this happens:























Epic stuff. :keano:

God, I was such a cnut throughout that thread (or draft, really) but I had lost two finals in a row FFS! :mad:
:lol: That's bloody brilliant Anto, you cruel bastard!
 

Thisistheone

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Pfffft, it would be far worse to be in a semi, five votes ahead, and getting cold feet because your rival manager has made a sub and narrowed it down... to four... after six out of the next eleven votes go for him (pretty even and settled, surely?). Logically, what you would do next is listen to all those that have ALREADY VOTED and take off... Garrincha. Seriously, Garrincha off, Luis Enrique on to protect the lead in a poll-based game. You couldn't make it up.

Next thing you know -you think- you are one down, and then this happens:























Epic stuff. :keano:

God, I was such a cnut throughout that thread (or draft, really) but I had lost two finals in a row FFS! :mad:
:lol::lol:
:(

That was epic but serves me right for trying to be realistic and making a sub as if it was real life.
 

antohan

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:lol::lol:
:(

That was epic but serves me right for trying to be realistic and making a sub as if it was real life.
The thing was you made the sub to "protect the lead" thinking you were winning 18-14 when it was actually 15-14! Even in real life that is pretty much a draw and with the momentum on my side... Teams that do that regularly concede in ET :keano:

I kept saying "what lead?" but always stopped short of spelling it all out :lol:
 

Thisistheone

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The thing was you made the sub to "protect the lead" thinking you were winning 18-14 when it was actually 15-14! Even in real life that is pretty much a draw and with the momentum on my side... Teams that do that regularly concede in ET :keano:

I kept saying "what lead?" but always stopped short of spelling it all out :lol:
All true tbf so can't really argue with that. Guess it all added to the drama. It's genuinely a laugh out loud moment for me now looking back. I was so into it! Totally sucked in by the dramatic ending.

A big moment for you on your way to lifting the title. Diego deserved to join you and win it as well for carrying me. (which is also quite fitting given how he's carried a lot of sides in his career)